GAMBLING GUIDE
Jerry Bo's Bookie Busters World Cup Final: One more time, we’re going to celebrate
Jul 13, 2018, 9:06 am
Croatia is a surprise finalist. Dan Mullan/Getty Images
One more time to fight, Let's celebrate
Growing up, I remember past films ending with the words "The End," in some cases the screen would read "Fin."
While some would say this film has reached its climax, Sunday allows us 90 more minutes (or in Croatia's trends 120), to enjoy the bright green colors of the pitch and the vibrant shades of flags from diverse nations in the crowd. Sunday, in front of the universe, aficionadi of sport - not just futbol, but those that love a good war - will witness blood, sweat, and tears.
France: A 7-1 pre-tournament favorite, France comes into the final as arguably the best team in the competition from top to bottom and certainly the most expensive with over a $1.2 billion payroll. Les Bleus have managed to win one title in their national team's history, and that came in 1998 on home soil. Current Manager Didier Deschamps captained the French over Brazil on July 12, 1998, to their first and only World Cup title.
Croatia: Some like to use the term Cinderella after being priced at 33-1; I tend to lean on the phrase, "A team of destiny." Fighting for the 4,164,783 citizens back home, the hopes and aspirations lie on the foot of phenom Luka Modrić. A team that thrived on being disrespected by English pundits in the semifinal will take the pitch once again as underdogs.
Lights, camera ACTION
The world's most significant sporting event brings out the pocketbook of even the tightest character. For a unit of measure, soccer's other prominent event, the Champions League Final, receives about 6% more action in terms of wager size on the Final match compared to other games in the competition.
The World Cup sees a giant spike in numbers when it narrows down to the final. Figures indicate a 26% jump compared to other games during the month-long tournament. Also, the wager sizes are 17% larger than those that we see in the Champions League Final.
It's estimated that almost 80% of bettors in the World Cup final didn't wager on any other previous match in the tournament, showing us that even the most casual of fans like to get some money in on the last game.
As far as the teams involved, The difference in payouts is $10 million as the Champions will be receiving $38 million and the runner-up $28 million The payouts for the World Cup have seen a steady increase since 2002, where at that time the total payouts were $154 million. In 2018, an estimated $400 million will be paid out to the participating 32 countries.
England vs Belgium
England +234 +.5 -132
Belgium +121
Draw +273
Over
Under 3 -119
3rd place winner
England +140
Belgium -155
Croatia vs France
Croatia +409
France -108 -.5 -108
Over
Under 2 -122
Champion
Croatia -185
France -210
Picks
France Regular time MAX
France Champion 1 U
Kylian Mbappé Golden Ball 2U
Kylian Mbappé Scores goal 2U
Ngolo Kante Golden Ball 1/2 Unit +2000
Halftime-Fulltime Draw/ France +330 1U
The End
For any questions or comments reach me @JerryBoknowz on Twitter.
Jose Altuve and rookie Jacob Melton drove in three runs each as the Houston Astros jumped on Chris Paddack early and cruised to a 10-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.
Paddack (2-6) tied career highs by allowing 12 hits and nine runs — eight earned — in just four innings for his third straight loss.
Houston rookie starter Colton Gordon (2-1) gave up six hits and two runs with five strikeouts in a career-high six innings.
Jeremy Peña tied a season-high with four hits and rookie Cam Smith had two hits and two RBIs as the AL West-leading Astros won their third straight.
Willi Castro, Royce Lewis and Ty France all hit solo homers for the Twins, who were blown out for the third time in four games after losing to Texas 16-4 Tuesday and 16-3 Thursday.
Lewis, who missed the start of the season with a hamstring strain, pulled up as he was running to first base on a single in the ninth inning and was replaced by a pinch-runner. There was no immediate word on his injury.
The Astros got to work early in this one. The bases were loaded with two outs in the first when Smith hit a two-run single to center field to make it 2-0. Melton followed with a single to right field to drive in another run.
There were runners on first and third with one out in the second when Altuve’s double scored two to make it 5-0.
The Twins loaded the bases with two outs in the third but Carlos Correa grounded out to end the threat.
Melton hit a two-run triple with no outs in the bottom of the inning to push the lead to 7-0. A sacrifice fly by Mauricio Dubón made it 8-0.
The Twins got on the board with Castro’s two-out homer in the fourth inning.
Altuve homered to left-center to start the bottom of the inning and make it 9-1.
Key moment
Smith’s two-RBI single in the first that gave Houston the lead for good.
Key stat
The Astros had four doubles to give them 15 in their last three games.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (8-3, 1.82 ERA) opposes Twins RHP Joe Ryan (7-2, 2.96) on Saturday.