2024 Summer Olympics: Thursday's best bets, picks and predictions (2024)

The 2024 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, run through Aug. 11 in Paris, France. We’ll review the best bets for Thursday. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines for the best bets and prop plays for Thursday’s Olympic action, and make our expert Summer Olympic picks and predictions.

Each day we’ll check out the best bets, as well as the top prop plays when applicable.

For Thursday, Aug. 1, it’s another full schedule of Olympic activity.

The men’s 20km race walk kicks off the new day in Paris, while the men’s golf tournament also gets underway.

In addition, we have men’s and women’s badminton, men’s and women’s 3×3 basketball, women’s handball, men’s and women’s shooting, men’s and women’s volleyball, women’s 20km race walk, men’s and women’s archery, men’s and women’s rowing, men’s field hockey, judo, men’s and women’s table tennis, men’s water polo, women’s basketball, men’s and women’s boxing, equestrian, men’s and women’s swimming, women’s fencing, men’s and women’s beach volleyball, tennis, men’s and women’s sailing, women’s artistic gymnastics and men’s and women’s cycling BMX racing,

Medals will be awarded in men’s and women’s race walk, men’s and women’s shooting, men’s and women’s rowing, men’s and women’s sailing, men’s canoe slalom, women’s artistic gymnastics, judo, women’s fencing and men’s and women’s swimming.

Thursday’s 2024 Olympics best bets

Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 4:19 a.m. ET.

Men’s water polo: ROMANIA +6.5 (-122) vs. Croatia

In the pool, Romania (0-2) is looking for its 1st win when it faces Croatia (1-1) at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Romania was doubled up by Greece 14-7 Sunday in a preliminary round match, while falling 14-8 to the United States (1-1) Tuesday. With a match looming against powerful Italy (2-0) Saturday — Greece is also 2-0 — it’s imperative Romania finds a way to grind out a win to remain alive in pool play.

Croatia eased by winless Montenegro 11-8 Sunday, while holding its own against Italy in a 14-11 loss Tuesday. While the Croats are fully expected to win this match, laying more than 6 points is a rather tall order.

BACK ROMANIA +6.5 (-122) with the points.

As a bonus play, also BET UNDER 21.5 (-114) for the total, although it cannot be combined for a Same-Game Parlay (SGP) wager.

Romania is averaging just 7.5 goals per match (GPM) and has allowed 14.0 GPM in its 2 contests. Croatia is averaging 11.0 GPM on offense, while allowing 11.0 GPM on defense.

Men’s BMX racing — To win a medal: DIEGO OSPINA, Colombia (+200)

Colombia’s Diego Ospina can help you double up if he is able to get onto the podium.

Ospina is behind France’s Joris Daudet (-250), the 2024 UCI World Champion, France’s Romain Mahieu (-180), the 2023 UCI World Champion, and fellow Colombian Carlos Alberto Ramirez Yepes (+185) to secure a medal. It won’t take much for Ospina to find his way to at least a bronze, if not more.

The competition starts at 2 p.m. ET.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

Men’s handball: NORWAY -0.5 (-102) vs. Egypt

– This is a Friday matchup.

After Egypt (1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss) claimed an opening 35-32 win over Hungary (1-0-2), the Pharaohs have had a rough go of it, playing gold medal favorite Denmark (3-0-0) and host nation France (0-1-2). Now they must face gold medal contender Norway (3-0-0) Friday at 3 p.m. ET.

Egypt was getting buried by Denmark Monday, before making it respectable in a 30-27 setback while cover as a 5.5-point underdog. Two days later, Egypt allowed France to score at the buzzer for an emotional 26-26 draw — but the Pharaohs covered as 3.5-point dogs.

Egypt a sparkling 3-0 against the spread (ATS) in preliminary round play.

Norway (3-0-0) spanked Argentina 36-31 Saturday, before dropping France 27-22. It was forced to rally Wednesday for a 26-25 win over Hungary, but it failed to cover the spread for the first time in 3 tries.

Norway has been fairly consistent, and high-scoring. The Norwegians are the play, laying the half point, rather than playing the -136 draw-not-bet moneyline, for a slightly better value. However, even if Egypt falls into a hole, it has proven it plays to the final buzzer, and no deficit is too large.

BET NORWAY -0.5 (-102)

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More USA TODAY Summer Olympics coverage:
News | Medal count|Meet Team USA