Team USA enters the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics as an established favorite at sportsbooks to win both the overall-medal and gold-medal count at the Games. The team is projected to win anywhere between 100 and 135 medals, with as many as 50 gold medals possible. The next closest nation in the overall and gold count is projected to be China.

The total for Olympic medals won by Team USA is 110.5 at DraftKings sportsbook, with the over at -134 and the under at -106.

Delayed a year by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Opening Ceremony for the Olympics takes place on July 23, 2021. The actual competition begins two days earlier. About 600 athletes are expected to represent the USA in Japan across 35 different events. The Americans’ projected large medal haul at top betting sites should be bolstered by the performance of their swim team and the track and field squad.

Russia has been a persistent nemesis against the United States in Olympic competition going back to its days as part of the Soviet Union. But it will not be fielding a team in Tokyo. Russia is amid a two-year international athletic ban due to systemic doping. But Russian athletes who have been clean in their respective sports will be able to compete as neutrals under the Olympic flag.

TOYKO OLYMPICS PREVIEW: 2021 Summer Olympics Odds & Betting Guide

Team USA Gold Medal Best Value Bets

The Team USA men’s and women’s basketball teams are monstrous favorites to win gold. The women are -1250 at DraftKings. The men were -305 at the same site before the market was temporarily halted. Both wagers are as close to sure things as one can get, but you’ll have to lay a substantial amount of cash to get any worthy return. Here are five more reasonable plays for those focused on the Red, White and Blue in Tokyo that offer a bit more value.

Most media projections have the Americans winning anywhere between 100 and 135. A sizable number of USA medals will come from the track and pool. But a much-younger than usual number of USA swimmers could hold back the total of golds.

Brady finished second at the Australian Open this year, which has a similar hard-court surface than the one that will be used in Tokyo. Moore and Reynolds are tops in the world in their respective sports and will enjoy an inherent edge with judges.

Each should prevail barring unforeseen mishaps. They are competing for the first time in the Games in their respective sports. That’s motivation aplenty.

US Olympic Betting Guide

USA Basketball Favorite For Men’s & Women’s Gold

The Americans are betting favorites to continue their dominance in men’s and women’s basketball. Both teams bring plenty of experience to Japan.

The Team USA women have won six straight gold medals in the Olympics. A seventh straight gold would tie the record set by the Americans from 1936-68. Five-time Olympians Sue Bird and all-time-WNBA scoring leader Diana Taurasi headline the Team USA roster. Fellow American Sylvia Fowles goes for her fourth gold.

The men are led by three-time Olympian Kevin Durant in playing for their fourth straight gold medal. Joining Durant will be the likes of Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, Draymond Green, Damian Lillard, Bam Adebayo and Jayson Tatum. The team is coached by Gregg Popovich. Durant and Green were on the 2016 Olympic gold medalist squad, while Durant and Kevin Love won gold at the 2012 Olympics.

‘Best US Gymnastics Team Ever’

The USA gymnastics teams will have to be nearly perfect to meet its pre-Olympic hype. ESPN calls it “the best US Olympic gymnastics team yet.” The four-member team consists of Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles and Grace McCallum. Biles and Lee have the potential to post a 1-2 finish in each individual event.

In addition to presence of Biles, who has developed into a superstar on and off the mat, the sports has been ravaged by scandal in recent years. That combination of pain and expected triumph should produce high TV ratings and plenty of drama for NBC’s viewers.

There are 120 members of the Team USA track and field squad. The American athletes could win as many as 30 medals in Tokyo, including at least a dozen golds.

.@GoSydGo sets the WORLD RECORD and is going to the #TokyoOlympics! ⚡️@usatf | #TrackFieldTrials21 pic.twitter.com/K0WYmiHiSn

— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) June 28, 2021

Women’s 400-meter hurdler Sydney McLaughlin broke the world record during the U.S. Olympic trials in her event. Gabby Thomas ran the third-fastest 200 meters of all time in the Trials. Over 800 meters, 19-year-old Athing Mu ran the second-fastest time ever in the Trails while qualifying for the Games. Mu would be the first American woman to medal in the 800 meters since 1988.

With the absence of Usain Bolt this year, American Trayvon Bromell at +120 is the betting favorite at at William Hill sportsbook to take gold in the 100. American Grant Holloway, who missed the world record by 0.01 seconds in Olympic qualifying, is projected by many to take gold in the 100M hurdles.

Other Americans likely to medal in Tokyo on the fast track include Michael Norman in the 400 meters and Raj Benjamin in the 400 hurdles.

USA Kids Ready To Rule Pool

The United States should continue its reign in the Olympic pool with a team full of young talent and new names.

Katie Ledecky doing what she does: Being Katie Ledecky.#SwimTrials21 (📽️ @NBCOlympics)pic.twitter.com/0fcyrXH9IH

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 18, 2021

The USA swimming team has 53 members, with Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel predicted to win multiple golds. Many of the Team USA swimmers are first-time Olympians and the roster includes 11 teenagers.

How the Tik-Tok kids will fare thousands of miles away from home, friends and family remains the greatest unknown for the Americans. But they are projected to win as many as two dozen medals. The youngest swimmer on Team USA’s roster is Katie Grimes, just 15. Ledecky was only 15 when she swam in her first Olympics.

Betting Markets In Golf, Tennis Should Be Strong

Olympic golf and tennis betting markets will be missing some big American names. Serena Williams will skip the Games. She was the American’s best chance for a medal on the women’s tennis side.

Team USA is sending four women golfers – Nelly and Jessica Korda, Lexi Thompson and Danielle Kang – each of whom should be able to contend with their powerful South Korean counterparts. Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa will represent Team USA from July 29-Aug. 1 at Kasumigaseki Country Club. The women will play Aug. 4-7 at the same locale.

Dustin Johnson, the top-ranked American in the world and No. 2 overall in the Official World Golf Ranking, opted out of the Games. Defending gold medalist Justin Rose of England did not qualify.

Best Sportsbooks for Team USA Olympics Betting

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