Free Soccer Picks (Today's Tips, Odds, Predictions)

2014 World Cup Handicapping: a Look at the Host Cities
by Trevor Whenham - 4/3/2014

The 32 teams in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will be playing in 12 new or newly-renovated stadiums during the tournament. Just think about how insane that is for a minute — building 12 stadiums when two or three would work just fine. You can accuse FIFA of doing a lot of things, but encouraging fiscal prudence isn’t one of them. Regardless, it is what it is, and for bettors it is a good idea to get to know the host cities and stadiums a little bit:

Germany Odds to Win 2014 World Cup with Picks and Predictions
by Strike Point Sports - 4/1/2014

Breaking down what some view the strongest team in the world, you can start almost anywhere. Led by experienced manager Joachim Low, the Germans have a dynamic attacking force, usually opting for one or two strikers up front in either or both of Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez. Complimenting their front men are one of the world’s best and deepest midfields to choose from. Long-capped veterans include Lukas Podolski, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mesut Ozil, Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller and Sami Khedira.

Columbia Odds to Win 2014 World Cup with Picks and Predictions
by Strike Point Sports - 4/1/2014

The fate of the Colombian national team rests with the uncertainly in their main striker, Radamel Falcao. Their leader and best player went down during club play with Monaco, and it a big toss up whether the striker will feature and lead his compatriots this summer in Brazil. While Falcao and his skills alone are enough to lift the hope of a nation, the load will also fall on another key man upfront, striker Jackson Martinez.

Belgium Odds to Win 2014 World Cup with Picks and Predictions
by Strike Point Sports - 3/17/2014

Led by manager Marc Wilmots, the Red Devils of Belgium are amongst what is thought to be one of the most talented and youthful squads featuring in Brazil this summer. Led by world-class players in the biggest leagues around Europe, the Belgians will look for nothing less then a successful and lengthy stay in South America this summer.

France Odds to Win 2014 World Cup with Picks and Predictions
by Strike Point Sports - 3/17/2014

French stars such as Juventus’ Paul Pogba, Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery and Paris Saint-Germain’s Blaise Matuidi are all set to shine in Brazil. This trio has struck a rich vein of form for their respective club teams during the current campaign, and their places for the national team will be looked at as crucial for any big time success at this summer’s World Cup.

Italy Odds to Win 2014 World Cup with Picks and Predictions
by Strike Point Sports - 3/17/2014

With a perfect balance of veteran leadership mixed with dynamic young options, the Italians will be right in the mix of things in the 2014 World Cup. Italy features many stars from Serie A, including the four defensive standouts from league leaders, Juventus. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will feature along with club teammates Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bunucci, who have played a huge role in what should be another Italian title for Juve.

Lionel Messi Odds for Golden Boot Top Goal Scorer at 2014 World Cup
by Trevor Whenham - 3/13/2014

You wouldn’t have to work too hard to make the argument that Lionel Messi is the greatest active soccer player in the world right now. He holds the record for being named winner of the Ballon d’Or (best player in the world) with four. After winning four years in a row, he fell short in 2013 — and then he finished second. Not bad for a player who is only 26. It also makes sense that he is favored here.

Neymar Odds for Golden Boot Top Goal Scorer at 2014 World Cup
by Trevor Whenham - 3/13/2014

Want to feel old? Neymar, the phenom who is leading strongly-favored Brazil into their home World Cup, just turned 22 years old in February. For the last year he has been playing with FC Barcelona. There is an embarrassment of riches on that squad — Lionel Messi, the favorite to be the top goal scorer in the tournament, is his teammate. So, can Neymar surpass his teammate and come out on top?

Cristiano Ronaldo Odds for Golden Boot Top Goal Scorer at 2014 World Cup
by Trevor Whenham - 3/13/2014

What stands out the most when you look at the career of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is the time he has spent at the top of the game. He has won the Ballon d’Or, awarded to the top player in the world, twice. That’s not unprecedented by itself — Lionel Messi has won four in a row.

Argentina Odds to Win 2014 World Cup with Picks and Predictions
by Strike Point Sports - 3/10/2014

There are a handful of teams headed to Brazil spoiled for choice when it comes to skilled attacking units, but Argentina might just take the cake. Lionel Messi has arguably been the best player in the world the last four years since his country failed to live up to expectations in South Africa. The knock on Messi, if there ever is one, would be his inconsistent form for country compared to his brilliance with club side Barcelona.

Brazil Odds to Win 2014 World Cup with Picks and Predictions
by Strike Point Sports - 3/10/2014

Youth will carry them. Manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has done an impressive job shaping his unit over the past few years, with this summer’s World Cup as the end result. This is his second stint as the Brazilian manager, the first being a hit success in the form of winning the 2002 World Cup. Scolari has guided Brazil to a 20-4-2 record heading into his squad’s final two friendly matches in early June prior to the start of the tournament.

Spain Odds to Win 2014 World Cup with Picks and Predictions
by Strike Point Sports - 3/10/2014

Six years ago, prior to the start of Euro 2008, you couldn't look at Spain without some cynical remark about their inability to win a major tournament. After all, it had been nearly 50 years since their last title. Fast forward a few months before the 2014 World Cup, and you see Spain as a completely different entity.

2014 World Cup Favorites: Teams with Best Chance to Win in Brazil
by Strike Point Sports - 3/7/2014

The 2014 World Cup is one of the more highly-anticipated sporting events over the last quarter century thanks in large part to arguably the most influential soccer country playing host. Brazil needs no excuse to party, but come this summer there will be an abundance of reasons to share joy in the world’s game, with its best on display for the right to be crowned world champion.

2014 World Cup Soccer Handicapping: the Coaches
by Trevor Whenham - 3/3/2014

Soccer coaches are an odd breed. They often don’t stay in the same place for very long, and they can’t help but be paranoid because they face so much blame whenever something goes wrong. As is always the case, there are some interesting characters and some intriguing storylines amongst the coaches this year at the World Cup. Here are six coaches that stand out as interesting:

2014 World Cup Group H Picks and Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 2/25/2014

This group is a perfect example of how even the most time-tested of phrases aren’t always true. We’ve heard all our lives about how they save the best for last. Group H will be the last group to start round-robin play, and they will play the last game of the round-robin portion of the tournament. And this most certainly isn’t the best group of the tournament.

2014 World Cup Handicapping: Easy Groups
by Trevor Whenham - 2/25/2014

When it comes to the groups in the World Cup, so much of the discussion is about the so-called groups of death. People want to focus on which group is the toughest and which teams could be left out of the round of 16. Just as interesting, though are the groups that are decidedly easy — at least in relative terms. The easy groups may be even more interesting for bettors than the most challenging ones.

Underrated Players in the 2014 World Cup
by Trevor Whenham - 2/21/2014

There are so many superstar players due to be playing in the World Cup this summer in Brazil that it can be very easy for very good, very influential players — the kind with the ability to impact the outcome of games to fly under the radar and not get the attention from the betting public that they deserve. Bettors who can spot these players and anticipate their importance can give themselves a big edge heading into the tournament.

2014 World Cup Group G Picks and Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 2/20/2014

This group is widely referred to as the Group of Death. While I think Group D has something to say about that, this nonetheless has the potential to be a tightly-fought battle. If things play out to form, though, the battle will be for the second qualifying spot. Germany is very talented and in strong form, and they have a long history of success in the World Cup, so they should be ready for the challenge here.

2014 World Cup Group F Picks and Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 2/13/2014

Argentina may be in an even better situation than Brazil is in this tournament. The immensely-talented team is good enough to win it all, and they get to play close to home where things will be familiar and fan support will be plentiful. They don’t have to deal with the pressure of playing at home, though, so they should be able to sleep a little more soundly than the Brazilians during the tournament.

2014 World Cup Handicapping: Most Overrated Players
by Trevor Whenham - 2/12/2014

If a player is good enough to make the national side for the World Cup and play significant minutes then they are very good. The public has a tendency, though, to assume that some players are better than they really are — or at least than they are likely to be at this point. High-profile players can have a reputation that doesn’t match realistic expectations, and that can lead bettors to inflate their importance — and the chances of their team as a result.