Don't think too many upsets in the games yet - nearly all the favourite's have been winning and mostly comfortably.
Some of the minnow countries have had huge head starts in the betting lines, sometimes up to 30 points and beyond, and hasn't been enough with some losing by 40 and 50 points! Senegal had a 25.5 point head start against Lithuania and needed to have a lot more. Opening games on the Saturday also much the same.
Canada had just a +6.5 point head start against Australia and blown away ( eventually ). Nearly 100% of fave's not only winning but also beating their respective lines.
The Tab always use to bet the $1.01 on any favourite but noticed these days when games are completely lopsided in any sport they won't bet the fave straight out to win. It's just $41 or something like that on the underdog and no bet available on the fave.
Times must be tough if can't bet the $1.01! But when it's games like USA v Czech Rebulic even $1.01 is overs.
Yes that was a good one for the underdog, NZ + line before the game was hovering between 9.5 and 10.5...NZ line backers were looking good, and even a possible win, but then Brazil went on a run and they looked like they would cover the line but the Kiwis came back and to close it to a 8 point loss, was enough to beat the 10 point spread.
Will be interesting, line is still 39.5 but have noticed the occasional edge to 40.5 in places.
Had two other goes on games - Japan with the 8.5 head start against the Czech Republic. Pretty confident Japan can keep it under 10, just hope they keep it under 9!
Also Brazil with a 13.5 head start against the powerful Greek team. Brazil might manage that.
Half time line down to 21.5...their game total way out too...has dropped from 162.5 to 148.5 under game total bettor's looking the goods so far on that one.
After Senegal lost by 54 to Lithuania they must have thought we can't go much lower than a line set of 40 points.
Got the money on Senegal but a loss on Japan. What ya make on the merry go rounds you lose on the swings!
Lithuania well on top of Canada early which is good for the Boomers. Lithuania and Australia to advance through to the next stage. The way Lithuania are going they'd be a big chance to get to final eight so a big test for Australia.
Tomorrow a pretty good Italy team are getting a 12.5 head start against Serbia, which shows how good Serbia is, they have to be a chance to win it and defeat the USA.
Brazil in a boilover and well and truly did the right thing for us by crunching the +13.5 line. Senegal ✔️ Japan ❌ Brazil ✔️.
That gives us the Meatloaf special - 2 outa 3 ain't bad. ( Terrible, terrible song ).
A great day for the underdogs - Turkey had a 20.5 head start against the USA - and poleaxed that line.
NZ fair dinkum their an amazing country..or island haha, just laid back, bugger all population compared to many others. Had a feeling they'd beat the line in the first game, and then they go out cause an upset and win game two.
South Korea ❌ Italy ❌ Russia ❌ Hopeless! Italy ( +13.5 ) lost by just one throw losing by 15.
But Russia (+7.5 ) was amazing - down by just by 2 points with under a minute to go and a big chance of winning, then under 20 seconds to go trailed by 4 points - missed a shot - then gave away a foul - Argentina go to 6 points in front then under 10 seconds to go Russia miss again, Argentina take it down and score 2 with the last throw of the game to give them an 8 point win and blow the 7.5 line apart.
Amazing how often handicappers get it down pat to the last one or two throws.
Great effort by Iran against Spain, wern't far off the boilover of the century!
Also Venezuela who beat the hosts China in an upset.
Iran had a 25.5 head start against Spain, early on Iran led 10-0 and even though eventually lost by 8, were still in front with just under 3 mins to go.
Games can change wildly in no time, Italy were just 8 down half way through the last quarter against Serbia, then bang Serbia blew that out to 22 before Italy closed it to 15 late.
Under a minute to go Russia have the ball, trailing by two and still manage to lose by 8!
Australia tonight have a 1.5 head start against Lithuania. Both will go through to the next round regardless of the result.
These early games come around as fast as the NBA games! Talking of which - the handicappers gave Japan close to a 40 point head start against team USA - it wasn't enough they lost by a cool 53.
Lithuania opened up a 1.5 line fave and heavily backed into into a 4.5 and some places 5.5 line favourite. Wrooooong! Australia never in doubt. Both advance through though.
Comments
Some of the minnow countries have had huge head starts in the betting lines, sometimes up to 30 points and beyond, and hasn't been enough with some losing by 40 and 50 points! Senegal had a 25.5 point head start against Lithuania and needed to have a lot more. Opening games on the Saturday also much the same.
Canada had just a +6.5 point head start against Australia and blown away ( eventually ). Nearly 100% of fave's not only winning but also beating their respective lines.
The Tab always use to bet the $1.01 on any favourite but noticed these days when games are completely lopsided in any sport they won't bet the fave straight out to win. It's just $41 or something like that on the underdog and no bet available on the fave.
Times must be tough if can't bet the $1.01! But when it's games like USA v Czech Rebulic even $1.01 is overs.
Senegal $101
Australia - nothing - can't even get the Pikey $1.01
Line betting....wait for it.....39.5!!
Game total line 162.5.
Am going Senegal +39.5 ( gawd help us ) and think the total might go over 162.5, Australia to score heavily and just hope Senegal scores enough.
Some of the Corporates will bet $1.001 or even $1.0001. Goodness gracious.
$1000 to win $1. And yes apparently they do get takers!
Had two other goes on games - Japan with the 8.5 head start against the Czech Republic. Pretty confident Japan can keep it under 10, just hope they keep it under 9!
Also Brazil with a 13.5 head start against the powerful Greek team.
Brazil might manage that.
Three games - need two correct for a profit.
That's based around their game total of around 160 and Senegal with about a 40 point head start.
Australia were $1.01 and fell in 18-16 and were down 11-16.
In the run line betting now at 31-28 is still 25.5 but that's a 15 point swing against the line.
After Senegal lost by 54 to Lithuania they must have thought we can't go much lower than a line set of 40 points.
Lithuania well on top of Canada early which is good for the Boomers. Lithuania and Australia to advance through to the next stage. The way Lithuania are going they'd be a big chance to get to final eight so a big test for Australia.
Tomorrow a pretty good Italy team are getting a 12.5 head start against Serbia, which shows how good Serbia is, they have to be a chance to win it and defeat the USA.
None bigger than Germany going down, again.
Kiwis post a W as well.
(Nearly - OT)
4 missed free throws in the last 8 secs
Senegal ✔️ Japan ❌ Brazil ✔️.
That gives us the Meatloaf special - 2 outa 3 ain't bad. ( Terrible, terrible song ).
A great day for the underdogs - Turkey had a 20.5 head start against the USA - and poleaxed that line.
NZ fair dinkum their an amazing country..or island haha, just laid back, bugger all population compared to many others. Had a feeling they'd beat the line in the first game, and then they go out cause an upset and win game two.
Am an underdog line bettor, so will have a crack on these.
South Korea @ +11.5 against Nigeria.
Italy @ +13.5 against Serbia.
The Russkies @ +7.5 against Argentina.
Italy ( +13.5 ) lost by just one throw losing by 15.
But Russia (+7.5 ) was amazing - down by just by 2 points with under a minute to go and a big chance of winning, then under 20 seconds to go trailed by 4 points - missed a shot - then gave away a foul - Argentina go to 6 points in front then under 10 seconds to go Russia miss again, Argentina take it down and score 2 with the last throw of the game to give them an 8 point win and blow the 7.5 line apart.
Amazing how often handicappers get it down pat to the last one or two throws.
Great effort by Iran against Spain, wern't far off the boilover of the century!
Also Venezuela who beat the hosts China in an upset.
Games can change wildly in no time, Italy were just 8 down half way through the last quarter against Serbia, then bang Serbia blew that out to 22 before Italy closed it to 15 late.
Under a minute to go Russia have the ball, trailing by two and still manage to lose by 8!
Australia tonight have a 1.5 head start against Lithuania. Both will go through to the next round regardless of the result.
Lithuania opened up a 1.5 line fave and heavily backed into into a 4.5 and some places 5.5 line favourite. Wrooooong! Australia never in doubt. Both advance through though.