Saturday's Euro 2024 action gets started bright and early as Hungary and Switzerland square off at 9:00 a.m. ET. There are a trio of matches on the docket, and I'll dive into each contest from a betting perspective. Here are my three favorite Euro 2024 bets for Saturday's slate. Check out each of my top 2024 Euro Picks for Saturday below.
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Saturday's Best Euro 2024 Bets
(2024 Euro odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Hungary (+270) vs. Switzerland (+115), DRAW (+225) | O/U 2.5 (+130/-160)
Germany and Scotland faced off in the tournament opener on Friday, and the other two teams from Group A, Hungary and Switzerland, get things rolling on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. ET from Cologne Stadium in Köln, Germany.
Being that we don't have a huge data set, these early international matches can be tough to handicap. I'll often find myself weighing unquantifiable factors, like coaching and meaningless friendlies. With that said, I'll keep the analysis portion short and sweet for the first matchday, and broaden my reasoning as we go deeper into the tournament.
I'm playing the double chance prop for Saturday's opener, and I'll take Hungary to win or draw at -155. Mostly, I was impressed with their performance in the qualifying round last fall. They went unbeaten over eight matches, posting a record of 5-3-0. The offense showed up in a major way, averaging 1.75 goals per match while scoring multiple goals in six contests.
Ultimately, I believe the Hungarians have the offensive firepower to at least secure a draw in this spot. They're fortified on the backend, having four defensive players with at least 44 international caps. Péter Gulácsi (54 caps) will be in net and he's familiar with playing on German soil as a member of RB Leipzig. Let's take a flier on Hungary to win or draw the opener.
Bet: Double Chance: Hungary or Tie (-155)
Spain (-110) vs. Croatia (+330), DRAW (+245) | O/U 2.5 (+115/-145)
The soccer continues at noon ET from Olympiastadion Berlin in Berlin, Germany, as Spain squares off against Croatia in a Group B showdown. Spain's currently priced at +800 to win the tournament, while Croatia sits at +4000.
Group B has been dubbed the 'Group of Death', and for good reason, since there is a trio of juggernauts looking to advance to the knockout stage. I'm going to buy in on Croatia in this match. I'll play the same exact prop as above, locking in Croatia on the double chance, to either win or draw (-115).
Including friendlies and a pair of qualifying matches, Croatia is an impressive 5-1-0 in their last six international matches. This includes a current 3-0-0 streak during friendlies, where they've racked up nine goals. Their most recent victory was a 2-1 win over Portugal, who's certainly no slouch.
This team is deep and experienced with players like Luka Modrić (175 caps), Domagoj Vida (105 caps), and Marcelo Brozović (96 caps). They've shined bright on the big stage before, placing second in the 2018 World Cup and third in the 2022 edition. I think their experience under the bright lights will give them the edge in the opener against a Spanish side that's stacked with talent, but may go through some growing pains early in the tournament.
Bet: Double Chance: Croatia or Tie (-115)
Italy (-260) vs. Albania (+800), DRAW (+380) | O/U 2.5 (+105/-130)
The reigning champion Italians have the nightcap on Saturday, and they'll take on Albania in their tournament opener. Italy's +1600 to repeat this year, while Albania's +25000, the third-longest price in the market. This Group B match is set for 3:00 p.m. ET from BVB Stadion Dortmund in Dortmund, Germany.
I'm looking to back the champs in this match, but I'm not trying to lay -260 vig on the full-game Moneyline. Instead, I think this sets up as a match where the Italians can win the first half outright. It's odd to say the first match of a tournament is a must-win, but with Spain and Croatia on the horizon, these are much-needed points for the Blues.
Italy has covered this first-half line in two of their last three friendlies, taking 1-0 leads into the break against Ecuador and Bosnia Herzegovina, more recently. On the flip side, Albania is just 2-2-2 in their last six matches across all competitions. The lone wins came in friendlies against Liechtenstein (3-0) and Azerbaijan (3-1), and with all due respect to those nations, they're not exactly soccer powerhouses. I think we'll see Italy outclass their opponent in this one, securing an early lead before shifting to a defensive-minded scheme to hang onto the victory.
Bet: Italy 1st Half -0.5 (-105)
