Paris Olympics Betting: Big Money Backing USA to Win Most Medals at 2024 Summer Games
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As the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris approach, all eyes are on athletes from the USA, which is heavily favored to dominate the medal counts. According to the latest odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, the United States is a strong contender to win the most gold medals as well as the most overall medals, and the big money is backing them to do so.
In a stark contrast to the the 2020 Tokyo Games which were marked by empty stadiums and strict health protocols in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Paris Games promise to be a full spectacle, with packed crowds and lots of betting action.
Team USA Heavily Favored and Heavily Bet to Win the Most Medals
Per DraftKings Sportsbook, in the race for the most gold medals, USA is listed at -750, with an overwhelming 92% of the handle (total money) and 88% of the bets (number of bets) placed in their favor. China follows at +350, garnering just 7% of the handle and 11% of the bets. Other nations like France, Japan, and Great Britain are considered longshots with odds of +6500, +8000, and +8000, respectively and hold less than 1% of the bets and handle combined.
The odds for the most overall medals show an even starker contrast. USA stands at -2500, capturing 90% of the handle and 92% of the bets. China is the next closest at +900, with only 5% of the handle and 4% of the bets. France, Japan, and Great Britain trail far behind, each holding just 1% of the handle and less than 1% of the bets each.
How Many Medals Will USA Win at 2024 Olympics?
In the 2020 Tokyo Games, the USA edged out China for the most Gold medals by just one 39-38, while they took home the most overall medals with ease, securing 113 compared to China's 89. It was a clean sweep as they edged out every country in Silver and Bronze totals as well.
This time around, their total medals line is set at 41.5, with identical odds of -115 to the over and under. DraftKings has China as their closest competitor once again, with a medal total set at 34.5, though more juiced to the Over (-150) compared to the Under (+115).
Team USA Athletes to Watch at 2024 Olympics
Many of USA's medal winners from Tokyo are set to compete again in Paris. Among them are swimmers Katie Ledecky, Caeleb Dressel, and Ryan Murphy, and sprinters Sydney McLaughlin, Rai Benjamin, and Vernon Norwood, all of whom took home at least two medals in 2020. The 27-year-old Ledecky won two golds and two silvers in Tokyo, bringing her career total to 10 Olympic medals, while Dressel, also 27, became the fifth swimmer in Olympic history to earn five golds in a single Olympic Games.
Gymnasts Simone Biles and Suni Lee, the last two champions in the women's all-around event, will also be competing in Paris. Biles, with seven career Olympic medals, and Lee, who won gold in Tokyo, are expected to add to their impressive records.
Golfers like Scottie Scheffler (favored at +310), Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa will represent the USA as well, and of course Teams USA for basketball and soccer, representing some of the best from the NBA, WNBA and MLS.
That's a lot of Olympics pedigree for the USA, so you can see why they're so strongly favored.