| The single largest sporting event in the world kicks off | | | | sports, you can actually wager on a draw (tie) being |
| on Friday. Countries stop wars for it. Churches, | | | | the outcome of the contest. Most books will only allow |
| Synagogues, temples and mosques devote entire | | | | money line wagers, but some select few books will |
| services to it in many countries. Shops close. Countries | | | | allow goal line (like the puck line in hockey or run line in |
| come to complete standstills. It's the World Cup, a | | | | baseball) as methods of wagering as well. |
| competition we see just once every 4 years. An | | | | So how do we know when a draw is the bet of |
| event that is so sacred in most countries, players and | | | | choice? As we stated before, the goal for each club is |
| families alike devote their entire lives to playing in it or | | | | to finish in the top 2 of your group. Therefore many |
| seeing a loved one get the chance. "I have waited my | | | | clubs will be satisfied with a tie as it gains them a much |
| whole life for this month" German Forward Michael | | | | needed 1 point. Let's give some examples |
| Ballack said after training Wednesday. "People devote | | | | The English are certainly the favorites of their group |
| their entire lives for just one chance to play in such an | | | | (Group B) with the second spot nearly lock for |
| amazing event." | | | | Sweden. With both clubs playing each other in the third |
| The fanfare and celebrations continue throughout the | | | | and final match of group play with probably nothing at |
| month long tournament with the first match set to kick | | | | stake, a draw in this ballgame is awfully likely. With a |
| off June 9th at 12:00 EST in Germany, the host nation, | | | | spot assured in the second round, coaches of both |
| culminating with the final match July 9th in Munich at | | | | squads will not risk injury to a key player or giving |
| 3:00EST. With all the anticipation from fans that goes | | | | away team strategy in a meaningless game. At the |
| along with this huge event, it's the sportsbooks that are | | | | same time, countries do not want to lose a ballgame |
| hungriest of all. | | | | strictly because of psyche. Therefore a tie is the best |
| Betting on Soccer has become a huge industry in | | | | solution for both clubs. |
| Europe the past 10 years with the introduction of the | | | | Another example of when a draw may be the correct |
| online offshore sportsbook. Handles from European | | | | wager is with evenly matched groups aside from the |
| bettors for this month can exceed what an entire | | | | #1 seed. Take group F with Brazil, Japan, Australia and |
| season of NFL brings in for most European based | | | | Croatia. Brazil is clearly head and shoulders above |
| books. | | | | everyone else. After that, Australia Japan and Croatia |
| With that being said, bettors can flourish in this | | | | are awfully even. Australia and Japan meet in their first |
| tournament. There is money to be made in this sport, | | | | match of the group. A loss here for either team would |
| but as is the case with all lined events, knowledge of | | | | mean devastation as both still have yet to play the |
| the sport is key. Knowledge of HOW the World Cup | | | | world power in brazil, an almost certain defeat. |
| tournament is to be played; rules, schedules and point | | | | Therefore a tie here does both clubs justice leaving |
| systems make all the difference here. | | | | the door open for a win vs. Croatia to put them |
| The World Cup is divided into eight 4 team groups with | | | | through. Of course this is assuming Brazil beats |
| a round robin system being used to determine the first | | | | everyone else. |
| round standings. A team receives 2 points for a win, 1 | | | | The key thing to remember here is that the countries |
| point for a draw and 0 points for a loss. The top two | | | | in this tournament know their limits; they know who |
| clubs in each group advance to the second round of | | | | they can and cannot compete with. Most countries |
| 16 where from there on out it is single elimination. Each | | | | main goal is to make it to the second round where |
| group consists of a #1 seed, just like the 4 regions in | | | | group play stops and single elimination play begins. This |
| the NCAA Basketball tournament. The only difference | | | | is when anything can happen. Therefore when |
| is the NCAA tourney has 4 regions; the World Cup | | | | wagering on this wonderful event, knowing the groups |
| has the aforementioned 8. This year the top 8 seeds | | | | the countries are in, their record up to the day of the |
| in the Cup are Brazil, Italy, Argentina, Germany, England, | | | | match and their future matches still in store can make |
| Portugal, Spain and France. | | | | all the difference in winning or losing on the World's |
| The difference with soccer betting as compared to | | | | most beautiful game. |
| any other sport is the draw factor. Unlike all other lined | | | | |