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.
Cam Smith hit an RBI single in the eighth inning to give the Houston Astros a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.
CAM SMITH COMES THROUGH! #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/Y6dtPpXF9J
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 26, 2025
The rookie's second hit of the game came off Orion Kerkering (5-3) and gave the Astros their fourth straight win.
Brandon Marsh tied the game on a sacrifice fly in the top of the inning to end the Phillies' 26-inning scoreless streak.
The Astros took a 1-0 lead on Yainer Diaz’s RBI single in the second inning. They only managed three more hits off Phillies starter Christopher Sanchez, who struck out 11 with zero walks over six innings. Sanchez has not issued a walk in three straight starts.
Hunter Brown lowered his league best ERA to 1.74 by scattering three singles over seven shutout innings, with nine strikeouts. He did not allow a runner to reach second base.
FULL THROTTLE.
Hunter Brown now leads the MLB in lowest ERA (1.74). #BuiltForFuel pic.twitter.com/nkwT2MpgJQ
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 26, 2025
Bryan Abreu (3-3) struck out Trea Turner to end the eighth, and then struck out Kyle Schwarber, Alec Bohm, and Nick Castellanos in the ninth.
Abreu joined Julia Morales after the game and talked about his impressive performance!
🧹🧹🧹
After the @Astros completed their sweep of the Phillies, @JuliaMorales visited with Bryan Abreu!#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/UeOOSNDKwW
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) June 26, 2025
Rafael Marchán had two of the Phillies' four hits. Bryson Stott reached base twice and scored the Phillies' lone run.
Smith’s RBI.
Brown’s 1.74 ERA is the fourth best in Astros history through 16 starts and the best since Justin Verlander posted a 1.60 ERA through 16 starts in 2018.
The Astros open a three-game series against the Cubs on Friday with LHP Brandon Walter (0-1 3.80 ERA) on the mound.
The Phillies open a three-game series at the Braves on Friday with RHP Mick Abel (2-1 3.47 ERA) against Atlanta RHP Bryce Elder (2-4 4.77).