Free Soccer Picks (Today's Tips, Odds, Predictions)

Columbia vs Ivory Coast Group C Free World Cup Picks & Odds
by Tony Sink - 6/17/2014

While conventional wisdom suggests two teams coming off wins would settle for a draw and take a safe point, I think both want to put one foot through the door as the group winner with a second straight victory. Expect both to attack with that in mind, and I see an entertaining match playing out between these two.

Cameroon vs Croatia Group A Free World Cup Picks & Odds
by Guy Bruhn - 6/16/2014

Croatia are comfortable favorites at -125 while Cameroon are priced as +500 underdogs in this Group A encounter on Wednesday. The draw can be had for +270 while the total is 2 goals, -145 for the ‘over’ and +125 for the ‘under.’

Australia vs Netherlands Group B Free World Cup Picks & Odds
by Tony Sink - 6/16/2014

The Netherlands are listed as huge favorites after their win over Spain, priced at -366 here. Australia enters their second group stage match as +1400 underdogs. The draw is +550. The total is set at 2.5 goals, -120 for the ‘over’ and EVEN for the ‘under.’

Spain vs Chile Group B Free World Cup Picks & Odds
by Josh Schonwald - 6/16/2014

Spain are favored at -133 to bounce back from their opening defeat. Chile are +400 against a team they played in the group stages in the 2010 World Cup. The draw is priced at +333 while the total is listed at 2.5 goals, -120 for the ‘over’ and EVEN for the ‘under.’

Russia vs South Korea Group H Free World Cup Picks & Odds
by Guy Bruhn - 6/15/2014

Russia is seen as the second best team in the group after favorites Belgium. I am not sure, however, if they are willing to accept a point from this first match, or run with it and go for all three. South Korea would gladly take a draw. I think Russia’s defending is the key to their ability to break on the counter.

Brazil vs Mexico Group A Free World Cup Picks & Odds
by Josh Schonwald - 6/15/2014

Brazil will be looking to atone for its own goal against Croatia by jumping on Mexico early and seeing what perhaps a quick strike could mean for this match. Mexico needs to defend flawlessly to have a chance in this match, and they can build off their 1-0 win against Cameroon.

Belgium vs Algeria Group F Free World Cup Picks & Odds
by Tony Sink - 6/15/2014

Group favorites Belgium are listed as -187 chalk in their World Cup opener. Algeria are sizeable underdogs at +750 while the draw in this match is listed at +333. The total here is 2.5 goals, +115 for the ‘over’ and -135 for the ‘under’.

Ghana vs United States Group G Free World Cup Picks & Odds
by Tony Sink - 6/14/2014

Rivals meet once again. Ghana defeated the States in each of the best two World Cups and eliminated them from the tournament in the process. Now is it time for revenge? In this tournament, the USA does have the better team, but with that comes added pressure and the need to finally win some big matches when it matters most.

Germany vs Portugal Group G Free World Cup Picks & Odds
by Josh Schonwald - 6/14/2014

These two played in the group stages at Euro 2012 with Germany winning a cagey 1-0 match. I think a similar result will be in order. The Germans have more balance and depth, but no one can account for the brilliance of Mr. Ronaldo. Germany will attack through the middle of the field while the Portuguese do the same out wide on the flanks.

Iran vs Nigeria Group F Free World Cup Picks & Odds
by Guy Bruhn - 6/14/2014

Knowing that Argentina is pretty much a lock to win the group, both teams will come out defensive-minded, not wanting to risk allowing an early goal that could leave them with a loss after one match. Both would settle for a draw, but Nigeria will be thinking about three points as well once the second half gets underway.

Argentina vs Bosnia and Herzegovina Group F Free World Cup Picks & Odds
by Guy Bruhn - 6/13/2014

Argentina wants a fast tempo. They will run as if it were an up-and-down basketball game. Their strength is going forward, so expect to see the majority of play in the Bosnia half of the pitch. The underdogs won’t back down, however. There won’t be any slowing Argentina down during the group stages based on how dominant they are at asserting their style of play, so it’s a matter of whom, if any, can best them at their game.

France vs Honduras Group E Free World Cup Picks & Odds
by Josh Schonwald - 6/13/2014

France has world-class players at every position. Honduras does not. While the World Cup does offer a ton of enticing match-ups, it also produces some big time mismatches, and this is one of them. The French won’t be slowed nor stopped here. Expect a one-sided affair.

Switzerland vs Ecuador Group E Free World Cup Picks & Odds
by Tony Sink - 6/13/2014

Ecuador no longer can rely on the high altitude to prevail against weakened lungs of their opponents. That was a huge asset during the South American qualifying process. Switzerland, despite France being the favorite of the group, is actually the top rated seed in this group, and they’ll carry the momentum from their own UEFA qualifying success into this opening match.

Ivory Coast vs Japan Group C Free World Cup Picks & Odds
by Josh Schonwald - 6/12/2014

This is going to be one of the more entertaining matches of the group stages. I think both teams, despite Colombia being the favorite in Group C, believe they can claim the top spot. They’ll bring that approach into the match, both knowing that three points from this match would be crucial to the cause. Expect both sides to attack early and often in a back-and-forth affair.

England vs Italy Group D Free World Cup Picks & Odds
by Tony Sink - 6/12/2014

England is +200 to win the match, and alternatively can be had as a PK (draw is a no bet) for +105. Italy are +160 and likewise can be bet as a PK at -125. The total is 2 goals with +110 being on the ‘over’ and -130 for the ‘under’.

Uruguay vs Costa Rica Group D Free World Cup Picks & Odds
by Guy Bruhn - 6/12/2014

Uruguay will look at this match as a must win with its latter two group stage matches against England and Italy providing more difficult challenges. The price to win certainly reflects that. I think this will be an entertaining match with both teams producing goals.

Columbia vs Greece Group C Free World Cup Picks & Odds
by Josh Schonwald - 6/12/2014

The Greeks play a very defensive and methodical style of football. Some could even label it as negative with their strong sense of sitting back to defend and creating defensive a shell around their goal. Still, with a physically imposing side, they always pose a threat from set pieces and balls sent into the box from out wide.

2014 World Cup Betting Props: Scoring Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 6/11/2014

Total tournament goals — “over/under” 154.5: On the surface the under would be the clear play here. In 2010 there were a total of 145 goals scored, and that was just two fewer than the 147 in 2006. The one thing that can elevate the totals, though, are a large number of lopsided blowouts in the opening round. So, are there enough of those to justify an over bet? In 2006 there were seven games decided by a margin of three goals or more in the opening round. There were five in 2010.

2014 World Cup Betting: Most Interesting First-Round Games
by Trevor Whenham - 6/11/2014

As we sit here on the eve of the great spectacle that is the World Cup, here are the five games in the first eight days of the first round action that have me most excited from a betting perspective along with some reasoning for my excitement:

2014 World Cup Betting Picks for MVP and Golden Ball Winner Props Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 6/11/2014

Sportsbook.ag offers an impressive list of potential World Cup MVPs — the Golden Ball — to bet on. In the dozens of names you can bet on are obviously very many players who can be ruled out almost immediately and others that are more intriguing. Before we get into looking at individual players, though, let’s look back at the last 10 World Cups to see what trends emerge amongst the winners of this award: