It’s that time again. Yes, it’s time for the Olympics! They’re the ultimate sporting spectacle and one of the only truly global events. The stage is set for Paris, France to host the 2024 Summer Games, with the Opening Ceremony starting on Friday, July 26 at 7:30 pm CEST or 1:30 pm ET and the games running through Aug. 11. There are 206 National Olympic Committees represented among the 10,000+ athletes who will be participating in the 329 events across 32 sports.
There is certainly no shortage of events for everyone to enjoy, and unsurprisingly, there are many bets to be made! To help you have a little fun and make a little money on this year’s games, I’ve compiled some of our favorite bets from the In-Between Media (IBT) family, with picks from Seth Woolcock, Conor Coughlin Nicolette @Nicolette Rojo and me, your favorite Trash Sandwich!
Without further ado, let’s get to our favorite Paris 2024 Olympics betting odds & picks!
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Paris 2024 Olympics Betting Odds & Picks
Country Gold Medals
USA Total Gold Medals Over 41.5 (-115)
Team USA has averaged almost 40 gold medals during each Summer Olympics since Atlanta in 1996 and got the most in six of seven cycles, with the exception being a second-place finish to China at the 2008 Beijing Games. They had a bit of a down performance with “only” 39 gold medals during the last cycle in Tokyo, but that was after the weird COVID-19 delay. Plus, in the previous two cycles, they got 46 in 2016 Rio de Janeiro and 48 in 2012 London. They’ll bounce back and smash the over, so you should, too.
China Total Gold Medals Under 34.5 (+115)
This could be a close one, but I will take the better odds and go with the under. China has averaged 33.9 gold medals in the last seven Summer Olympics and typically finishes second or third overall. I expect them to put up another strong performance this year. In fact, they were within one gold medal of Team USA during the last cycle, so it’s not entirely out of the question.
However, while Chinese athletes will likely dominate in their usual events, like table tennis (they lead in medals), diving or weightlifting, other events will have more open fields, and the medals are less of a sure thing. You might be sweating this one out until the end of the 2024 Paris Olympics, but at least we’ll be in it together!
France Total Gold Medals Under 24.5 (-170)
This is less of a “bet the under” and more of a “don’t bet the over,” but I’m wary about buying into the narrative that host countries get a medal boost. Yes, host countries do get a medal boost. France took the top spot in the 1900 Paris Olympics with 27 golds and third in the 1924 Paris Games with 13 gold medals. But 1900 was the only time they earned 20+ gold medals, and they’ve averaged only 11 golds since the 1996 Atlanta games. It would be a tall task to more than double their average, even with the host country boost.
Netherlands Total Gold Medals Under 15.5 (-115)
They may be known for their energetic and passionate soccer fans and Max Verstappen, but they are an up-and-coming squad Olympics-wise. I can see them winning 12, maybe 13 medals, but 16 is a little high for me, given their youth. – Nicolette
Soccer
USA Women’s Soccer To Win Gold (+175)
The US Women’s National Team has the most wins of any country in both the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. They have four Olympic golds, one silver and one bronze, as well as four first-place finishes in the World Cup, one time as the runner-up, and three times in third place. They’re the favorites, and I think they’ll take it.
Spain Women’s Soccer To Win Gold (+200)
The U.S. deserves to be a top favorite with the addition of Emma Hayes as head coach. However, Spain is coming off a FIFA Women’s World Cup victory and UEFA’s first Women’s Nations League title. Many players are returning, including Patri Guijarro and Teresa Abelleira, who previously remained off the national team due to internal disputes. Aitana Bonmatí achieved multiple successes with La Roja and played a big part in Barcelona’s rise. Salma Paralluelo is a young and talented prospect. Spain will be a team to watch in the 2024 Paris Olympics. – Nicolette
Basketball
France Men’s Basketball To Win Gold (+1200)
First, I want to preface that I believe Team USA wins the gold at -500. Still, if you want a longshot without going for something too cute, France is a solid one, given their defense and home-court advantage. Facing the twin towers of Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert is no easy task, and Bilal Coulibaly is an elite wing defender coming off a strong rookie season. Their offense is a bit concerning, especially in the backcourt, but as the host nation in an easier Group B, they could shake things up. – Nicolette
Australia Men’s Basketball To Win Group A (+500)
Here’s a little sexier of a bet, given the group of death featuring Greece, Canada and Spain. Canada is favored to win -170, which is a bit low for me despite their stacked roster featuring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray. Greece has Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Spain is, well, Spain. Australia is simply a smaller Canada, which could hurt them, but they are bringing back most members of the bronze-winning team from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The roster notably includes Patty Mills, Matthew Dellevdova, Dyson Daniels and Joe Ingles, making Australia a solid sleeper team. – Nicolette
USA Women’s Basketball To Win Gold (-1800)
Team USA includes A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, Alyssa Thomas and more. They are simply dominant in all phases of the game, and Cheryl Reeve is the head coach. You’d have to parlay this with something to reduce some of the juice, but it’s about as easy of a win as you’ll find in the 2024 Paris Olympics betting odds. – Nicolette
A’ja Wilson To Lead USA Women’s Basketball in Scoring (+190)
This is one of my favorite bets. Wilson is simply Team USA’s best player, who can do it all on both sides of the ball. The last few times she suited up with Breanna Stewart (+260) on the same court, the Las Vegas Aces’ star scored at least 14 points. Stewart will likely be utilized more in the passing game, so her scoring varies on how many minutes she plays. Wilson is on her way to winning her second straight MVP and has that dog in her. – Nicolette
Rugby
USA Women’s Rugby Sevens To Win Gold (+2500)
Even longer and even riskier, but the U.S. Women’s Rugby Team is having a bit of a moment! They have yet to get their first Olympic medal, but the team took gold in the 2023 Pan American Games, and they’ve put up solid performances in other competitions over the years. I wouldn’t go wild on this wager, but these women are working hard, and I’d love to see them come home with some hardware. And, of course, shoutout to fellow Vermonter Ilona Maher!
Water Polo
USA Women’s Water Polo To Win Gold (-250)
I bet you didn’t know that the US women’s water polo team has won three straight Olympic gold medals. Or how about that 31-year-old Maggie Stephens owns the Olympic record for career goals with 56? The team is in great form, winning at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in February. – Seth
Golf
Xander Schauffele (USA) to Win Men’s Tournament Outright (+600)
The only player on the planet as hot as world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, is coming off his second Major win at the Open Championship and is the defending Olympic Gold Medalist. Podium finish for sure. Gold Medal repeat? Likely! – Conor
Other outright bets to consider:
Nelly Korda (USA) To Win Women’s Tournament Outright (+600)
Nelly Korda is having an unreal season. She has six wins and is currently ranked the No. 1 player in the world. Will she grab the back-to-back gold? Much like Schauffele, it seems very likely! – Conor
Other outright bets to consider:
Swimming
Ryan Murphy (USA) To Win Men’s 200m Backstroke Gold Medal (+125)
Ryan Murphy is currently the most dominant U.S. male swimmer. Murphy’s best event is the backstroke, where he became the first athlete to win both the 100m and 200m backstroke US Olympic Trials three consecutive times. He set his best time in three years in the 200m this year and is the favorite to win it again. He won gold in both races in 2016 and then settled for a bronze in the 100m and silver in the 200m at the last Olympics. I’ll take him to reclaim gold in the 200m backstroke. – Seth
Katie Ledecky (USA) to Win Women’s 400m Freestyle (+350)
Katie Ledecky is absolutely dominant in the water. She’s the favorite for the 800m freestyle (-400) and the 1500m freestyle (-3500), and I’m definitely not betting against her in those, especially since she typically excels in longer races. Accordingly, she is not the favorite in the 400m freestyle and that’s where I want to put down some money to make it more interesting.
Ledecky took gold in this event in 2016 Rio and silver in 2020 Tokyo, and won five golds in the 400m freestyle at the World Aquatics Championships since 2013. The favorite in this race is the reigning Olympic gold medalist Ariarne Titmus from Australia, who currently holds the world record. However, she took that record from Ledecky, and I think the most decorated female swimmer in history will want it back. Bet on her to win this, and maybe we’ll get to watch history being made!
Gretchen Walsh (USA) To Win Women’s 100m Butterfly Gold Medal (-145)
Gretchen Walsh is the future of American swimming. She’s a 21-year-old swimmer at the University of Virginia who broke the 100m butterfly world record this year at the trials. Considering the next favorite is fellow Team USA swimmer Torri Huskem, who Walsh beat by over two 10ths of a second at the trials, this is a hammer down. – Seth
Track & Field
Noah Lyles (USA) To Win Men’s 100m Track (+200)
It’s hard to imagine anyone filling Usain Bolt’s size 13 shoe, but Noah Lyles could be on his way. Lyles won gold in the 100m, 200m and 4×100 relay during the 2023 World Athletics Championships; Bolt was the last one to achieve that sweep in 2015. The American sprinter already has an Olympic bronze from 2020, and he stated that he wants to win “all of the medals” this year. As they say, “bet.”
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PUR) To Win Women’s 100m Hurdles (+275)
No, I cannot fully explain why Puerto Rico competes on their own Olympic team. However, I can tell you that Jasmine Camacho-Quinn got gold in this event in the 2020 Tokyo Games, as well as silver in the 2023 World Championships and bronze in 2022. Her main competitor is Cyrena Samba-Mayela, a French athlete who is participating in her first Olympics. Still, even with the home team advantage, I expect Camacho-Quinn to bring home Puerto Rico’s third-ever Olympic gold medal.
Canoe/Kayak
Sebastian Brendel (GER) To Win Men’s 1000m Canoe Sprint (+900)
Sebastian Brendel won gold in this event in 2012 London and 2016 Rio and has more than 30 world and Olympic medals. He’ll be taking on defending 2020 Tokyo gold medalist Isaquias Queiroz dos Santos from Brazil, who is the favorite at +100 and not a bad bet either. I think either could take it, but I’d prefer Brendel here, as it might be his swan song; he’s been competing since 2007 and took Bronze in the 2020 Tokyo Games, so I could see him making a push for one final gold.
Camille Prigent (FRA) To Win Women’s Single Kayak Slalom (+900)
Gold medals are in the Prigent family’s blood. Not only has Camille medaled at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships, but her father, Jean-Yves Prigent, and brother Yves Prigent have as well. She has tough competition in the form of Aussie favorite Jessica Fox (-125), who took bronze in the 2020 Tokyo and 2016 Rio, as well as silver in the 2012 London games. PLus, there is also 2020 gold medalist Ricarda Funk.
It may be Prigent’s first Olympics, but she is on a hot streak after edging out Funk in the 2024 ICF World Cup by 0.04 seconds in a clean run. This is one race in which I expect the home team boost to actually matter, and Prigent should carry her momentum to the top of the podium.
Fencing
Nick Itkin (USA) To Win Men’s Individual Foil (+500)
Nick Itkin is currently the top-ranked men’s foil fencer and the first man from the U.S. to win individual medals at consecutive world championships after taking second in 2023 and third in 2022. Of course, he will have to beat Italy’s Tommaso Marini (+200), who edged out Itkin at the last two world championships, with first and second, respectively. The 2023 competition was tight, with Itkin coming back from a deficit of 11-6 before Marini finally won 15-13 in front of a loud home crowd in Milan.
But as Itkin said after, “A couple of tactical mistakes cost me the world championship, but it makes me hungry for the next.” With a more neutral crowd in France and something to prove, I think Itkin can bring home the gold.
Check out all of our content for the 2024 Paris Olympics:
- Between Bets: 2024 Paris Olympics Golf Competition
- PropKings: 2024 Paris Olympics Golf Competition
- PGA DFS: 2024 Paris Olympics Golf Competition
- Paris 2024 Olympics Betting Odds & Picks
Thanks for reading my 2024 Olympics Betting Odds & Picks! If you like my kind of trash, you can read more here and follow me on Twitter @trashsandwiches. Check out more from Seth (@Between_SethFF), Conor (@Cough_DFS) and Nicolette (@nrojo5), and follow the whole In-Between Media family at @IBT_Media.
*Photo Credit: Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports*
