GAMBLING GUIDE
Jerry Bo's bookie busters 2018 World Cup quarterfinals analysis: Break on through to the other side
Jul 6, 2018, 6:50 am
Eight countries left, all chasing the 18 for 18; I refer to pounds in karats of gold. Well, not all of it is solid, but 75% happens to be.
The current trophy has been around since 1974, replacing the Jules Rimet Trophy, which was kept by Brazil in 1970, after winning the tournament for their 3rd time (1958, 1962, 1970).
Valued at approximately $161,000, will one of the underdogs manage to steal a few games and take home the coveted prize? We use the term "steal," as thats what ultimately happened to the original Jules Rimet Trophy, when it was stolen on December 19th, 1983, in Rio De Janiero. The trophy has yet to be recovered until this day, but it is said to have been melted down and sold.
Enough about the prize, first these teams must handle business, and four teams will break through into the semifinals; the question, which flags will they carry?
Break on through.....
If trends are your type of thing, 17 of the past 20 semi-finalists in this tournament have been group winners. The last team to be runner-up and be crowned Champion was Italy in 1986. Again, these are just numbers.
Women lie, Men lie, but the numbers don't. We have six group winners and two runner-ups; keep these things in mind.
Brazil +300
France +400
England +400
Belgium +500
Croatia +600
Uruguay +1600
Russia +2000
Sweden +2500
When picking some of these futures, make sure you get a better price playing it now rather than doing a moneyline roll over. The possible semifinal match-ups have been released, and at many spots, you can find the projected lines, so use them to your advantage. Dig into the numbers to make sure you're getting the most value per wager.
Friday 7/6
France vs. Uruguay
France +106
Uruguay +367
Draw +214
Over
Under 2 -119
Advance
France -215
Uruguay +185
Belgium vs Brazil
Belgium +275 +.5 -127
Brazil +116
Draw +246
Over 2.5 +102
Under
Advance
Belgium +150
Brazil -165
Saturday 7/7
England vs Sweden
England -103
Sweden +375 +.5 -108
Draw +233
Over
Under 2 -115
Advance
England -230
Sweden +200
Croatia vs Russia
Croatia +124
Russia +302 +.5 -136
Draw +209
Over
Under 2 -117
Advance
Croatia -165
Russia +150
Friday plays
Uruguay/ France Under 2 1U
First-half draw 1U
France Advance 1U
Brazil/Belgium Both teams to score -130 MAX
Over 2 -178 MAX
Over 2.5 +102 MAX
Total corners over 9½ 3U
Philippe Coutinho scores a goal +330 1U
Penalty kick awarded YES +170 1U
Peoples Parlay 1U (4 spots leave 2 open)
France Advance
Brazil/Belgium BTTS
For any questions or comments reach me @JerryBoKnowz on Twitter.
Jalen Green scored 22 points, Dillon Brooks added 21 and the Houston Rockets beat the Utah Jazz 143-105 on Wednesday night for their 50th win of the season.
Jabari Smith Jr. finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds off the bench, Tari Eason had 15 points and nine rebounds and Alperen Sengun had 15 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists for Houston, which shot 54% and was 19 of 45 on 3-pointers.
ALPI TO THE 🔝 FLOOR pic.twitter.com/kJ83aaNcSV
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) April 3, 2025
Isaiah Collier had 22 points and 10 assists, Collin Sexton finished with 18 points and Keyonte George had 14 points, for the Jazz, who lost their seventh straight game. Walker Kessler added 11 points and 12 rebounds. Utah shot 43% and were 10 of 40 on 3-pointers.
Brooks was issued a technical foul with seven minutes left in the first quarter after appearing to kick Sexton in the groin on a loose ball. If the technical is not rescinded, it would be Brooks’ 16th of the season, and he would be suspended for the Rockets’ game Friday night against Oklahoma City.
Houston's Fred VanVleet missed the game with soreness in his knee and right ankle.
Jazz: Utah dropped to 1-17 since the end of February.
5️⃣0️⃣ WINS.
Your Houston Rockets are the NBA’s Southwest Division Champs!#Rockets | #Liftoff pic.twitter.com/ll4wKitpgX
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) April 3, 2025
Rockets: Houston, which last won 50 games in the 2018-19 season, clinched a top six seed in the Western Conference.
4 years together. Headed to the playoffs for the very first time.
On this journey together 🤝@alperennsengun | @JalenGreen pic.twitter.com/SLBnYygGkN
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) April 3, 2025
Trailing 20-16, Green made a layup with four minutes left in the first quarter to begin a 17-6 Houston run to end the quarter. The Rockets built a 70-46 lead at halftime.
Houston outrebounded Utah 63-39 and had a 23-6 advantage in second-chance points.
Utah travels to Indiana to face the Pacers on Friday night, while Houston hosts the Thunder that same night.