2024 Paris Olympics Soccer Odds & Picks: Wednesday (7/31)
The 2024 Paris Olympics Women's Soccer Tournament wraps up the Group Stage on Wednesday, meaning we have a plethora of high-leverage soccer on the horizon.
Below, I'll break down three of Wednesday's matches and let you know where I'm laying my money on the Olympic pitch.
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Tuesday’s Best 2024 Paris Olympics Soccer Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Japan (-205) vs. Nigeria (+550), DRAW (+340) | O/U 2.5 (-115/-110)
Nigeria's off to an 0-0-2 (-2 GD) start in the Olympics, which is good enough for last place in Group C. They'll try to break into the win column against Japan, who sits in second at 1-0-1 (+0 GD). Kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. ET from La Beaujoire-Louis-Fonteneau in Nantes, France.
I'm riding with Japan -1.0 in this match. They're currently seventh in FIFA rankings, while Nigeria sits all the way down in 36th. Japan is always a threat on the world stage, as they made it to the quarter-final in last year's World Cup just before finishing fourth in the SheBelieves Cup in April. They're easily the more battle-tested team. With the way the group is shaping up, it's safe to say they have the easier path to the Knockout Stage. I think they avoid a letdown in this spot and take care of business.
I'm pretty confident that Japan will at least win this match. However, it's realistic that they secure a multi-goal victory as well. They'll take on a Nigerian side that hasn't scored a goal in its last four matches. They lost 1-0 to both Brazil and Spain, so we'll see if Japan can break through for the double. I think they can, as they're averaging 2.33 goals per match over their last six contests.
Bet: Japan -1.0 (-130)
Australia (+600) vs. United States (-240), DRAW (+400) | O/U 2.5 (-160/+125)
The United States Women’s National Team looks like an absolute wagon to start the tournament. They're a perfect 2-0-0, out-scoring their opposition 7-1. They'll square off against Australia on Wednesday, who enters at 1-0-1 with a -2 goal differential. This Group B clash is set for 1:00 p.m. ET from Orange Vélodrome in Marseille, France.
This play comes with a bit of juice, but I will play the over at 2.5 goals. USA's offense is firing on all cylinders, racking up seven goals in their first two matches. Those wins include beating Zambia 3-0 and following it up with a 4-1 victory over Germany. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if their offense clears this total by themselves.
As for Australia, they're coming off of a 6-5 barnburning victory over Zambia. They're now 1-0-1, adding to a 3-0 loss to Germany in the opener. Both of Australia's games have eclipsed this number, and they've done so in their last three matches across all competitions. Furthermore, Australia needs to put on a big performance if they want to advance to the Knockout Stage, so they'll likely be playing an aggressive brand of soccer. That should open up their scoring chances, as well as potentially leave themselves exposed on the backend. Let's lock in the over 2.5 goals.
Bet: Over 2.5 (-160)
Columbia (+275) vs. Canada (-105), DRAW (+275) | O/U 2.5 (-130/+105)
The afternoon concludes with a high-stakes contest in Group A, where Columbia (1-0-1, +1 GD) takes on Canada (2-0-0, +2 GD). Despite the perfect record, Canada is in third place due to a six-point penalty for a cheating scandal. This ESPN article dives into all of the specifics. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET from Allianz Riviera in Nice, France.
Even with the six-point penalty, Canada can still qualify for the Knockout Stage. They simply need to win this match, and they'll advance. Momentum is on the Canadians’ side, and they also have an extra boost of motivation as they battle through the off-the-field allegations. The Canucks have won their last four games across all competitions, and they're an unbeaten 12-4-0 in their last 16 matches.
Meanwhile, Columbia isn't typically a huge threat on the world stage. Against teams that are 10th or better in the FIFA rankings, they're just 0-2-5 in their last seven matches across all competitions. I'm riding with Canada to secure the win and overcome the off-the-field adversity.
Bet: Canada Moneyline (-105)