2008 Beijing Olympics Betting Odds
Beijing Olympics Betting preview courtesy of Alex Smart, A Professional Sports Handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are betting on the 2008 Beijing Olympics be sure to buy Alex’s Expert Betting Predictions.
The fast-approaching Beijing Olympics are going to provide clued up backers with some strong betting opportunities. Sportsbooks are on unfamiliar ground in Olympic events, and it is not uncommon to see them get their prices wrong.
I reckon we could well see some great value, either because the ‘form’ is a little unclear, or because the linemakers may well seriously underestimate an athlete’s chances.
2008 Olympics Betting Odds – Bet on the Olympics at BetUS
Mens 100 Meters
The fastest times set in the Men’s 100 this year are;TIME ATHLETE,9.72 Usain Bolt ,9.74 Asafa Powell, 9.77 Asafa Powell, 9.77 Justin Gatlin,9.77 Asafa Powell,9.77 Asafa Powell, 9.78 Asafa Powell, 9.79 Maurice Greene, 9.80 Maurice Greene, 9.82 Maurice Greene.
The fastest time set this year has been Jamaican Usain Bolt who set a new world record of 9.72 in New York in May. The 6 foot 5 inches Bolt is far better known as a 200 meter runner, and until now has been just dabbling in the 100 meters for ‘speed work, but Usain now intends to keep his options open and could well run both distances in Beijing.
The linemakers were clearly impressed inserting Usain Bolt as favorite with a +150 quote, just in front of +165 chance Tyson Gay. Lurking right behind these two is Asafa Powell at +300. It really is on paper a three man race as any other athlete is quoted at +1000.
But have the books got it right? Neither Justin Gatlin or Maurice Greene will be running in Beijing, leaving Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt the fastest men in the race – so why is Tyson Gay the favorite?
Asafa Powell’s problems, have in the past, been that he has not always produced his top times when he really needed to in the biggest races. The problem with Bolt is that he only just exploded onto the 100 meters scene and watchers are unsure whether he can run like this consistently – or whether he is even certain to run in the 100 in Beijing anyway. Tyson Gay is their favorite because he’s at least a strong and consistent runner in the top events – if not the outstanding one.
For me – these fastest times can not be overlooked in an event that is a blast from gun to line and I wouldn’t want to be on the third fastest man in the race. Though Bolt currently holds a faster time than Powell it’s only by two hundredths of a second.
Unless any injuries or other news comes to light that may effect performances in the pursuing weeks leading up to the games, for me and my money, it’s Powell at what looks an over-priced +300.
Mens 110M Hurdles
Dayron Robles of Cuba set the World Record of 12.87 at a meeting in Ostrava just back on June 12. Although two Americans follow him in the rankings his main threat is generally regarded as Xiang Liu, whose world record he broke. Robles has very strong claims and is competitively priced at around -120 given he faces some strong completion.
Mens Decathlon
Bryan Clay of the USA has like many multi-eventers had trouble with injuries. So much varied punishment to the body has to take its toll. As a result his record may not look that impressive at first sight. However if you look closely, you will see that virtually all his poor results are DNF (‘Did Not Finish’ or, in other words, retired injured).
There is no real current form for this event but Clay did win the heptathlon at the World Indoor Championships earlier in the year. There have been a number of great decathletes who have retired recently (or should have), most notably Roman Sebrle, and Clay should go very well in this. At present no lines are available, but keep an eye out nearer the time as Clay should be a nice price.
