London Olympics 2012: 5 Events America Is Destined to Win

So far, so good.

The 2012 Olympics have been quite successful for the USA by just about anyone's standards. Currently, the USA is tied with China for the overall lead in the medal count, each country having 23 medals right now.

The USA is winning many of the events they were expected to win.

The swimming team is doing, well, swimmingly. Michael Phelps has solidified his status as the greatest swimmer ever as he has now captured his 19th Olympic medal, an all-time record. On the women's side of the pool, Missy Franklin, all of 17 years old, has emerged as the rising star for team USA.

The women's gymnastics team was a huge favorite to win their event and they did not disappoint.

Vincent Hancock was expected to win men's skeet shooting and he had no real problems accomplishing that.

With the USA off to such a good start, it is only natural to look forward a bit to try and gauge how well the US might do the rest of the way.

Here then are five events the USA is destined to win over the course of the remainder of these Olympics.

1. Men's and Women's Basketball

For all the debate over whether the 2012 men's basketball team could have actually beaten the 1992 men's Dream Team, there is not really much debate as to whether any of the world's other teams could beat the USA's current version of the Dream Team.

The US men's basketball team is an overwhelming favorite to take home the gold medals, as they should be. When you look at a lineup that features LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant, how can you not consider that team to be the best in the world?

The men's basketball team just has too much depth, too much skill and, actually, too much experience for any of the other teams to really have a shot. James, Bryant, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony all played on the 2008 Redeem Team.

Most important, the 2012 team's head coach, the legendary Mike Krzyzewski, is at the helm again this season. It all adds up to a tremendous team. Sure, I suppose Spain, with its full complement of players, could give the US a run for its money.

Of course you might win the lottery tomorrow as well. The odds are pretty similar.

For the women, there is no such debate. The women's basketball team has pretty much eviscerated every opponent that has dared to challenge it. They have won six of the past seven women's basketball tournaments. Since the Soviet Union disbanded, it has been all about the USA.

This year's version returns six gold medalists from the 2008 team. Led by Maya Moore and Tamika Catchings, the 2012 women's team looks like they could give the men's team a better challenge than they might get from the other teams from around the world.

There are just no other teams out there that can legitimately pose a challenge to either the men's or women's basketball teams and they should both cruise to gold medals.

2. Women's Soccer

While the US men's soccer team failed to even qualify for the 2012 Olympics, the women's soccer team has already advanced to the quarterfinals of the Olympic tournament.

For the women's soccer team, the Olympics are all about redemption. Practically every member of the Olympic team was there about a year ago when Team USA was upset by Japan in the World Cup, losing the lead twice, including in extra time, before finally being defeated on penalty kicks.

But the US women's soccer team isn't always one of the best in the world by accident—and they are off to a sizzling start so far.

Since falling behind to France 2-0 just 14 minutes into their Olympic journey, the US has been on fire. Led by Abby Wombach and Alex Morgan, Team USA has just been significantly better than anyone else. All the Hope Solo vs. Brandi Chastain drama (Sports Illustrated) can't take away from the fact that the Americans are really, really good.

It will not be easy and some very tough games lie ahead, but women's soccer is an event that the Americans are destined to win.

3. Decathlon

The decathlon is one of those events that a lot of the younger generation has never even heard of.

For the 40-something crowd though, we remember Bruce Jenner's tremendous performance in the decathlon at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. Well before he was a member of the Kardashian circus, Jenner was one of the most recognizable athletes to ever grace a Wheaties box.

Or perhaps you remember the whole Dan O'Brien vs. Dave Johnson fiasco from 1992?

The decathlon is an event unlike any other at the Olympics. It is not about being the best in the world at one event; it is about being excellent, and consistent, at 10 events. To win, you have to be a world class competitor at track and field events.

Ashton Eaton of the USA is destined to win the decathlon in London. Eaton is a machine as far as the decathlon is concerned.

He attended the University of Oregon where he racked up five NCAA championships.

In 2011 he took a silver medal at the Wold Championships in Athletics.

In 2012, he won a gold medal at the World Indoor Championships.

At the 2012 Olympic Trials, Eaton crushed the field and set a new world decathlon record with 9,039 points.

His career has just been a steady upward progression that will reach its apex in London in about a week.

4. Women's Singles Tennis

The 2012 Olympic tennis tournament can probably be called Wimbledon II. Being played on the fabled grass of the All England Tennis Club, just weeks after the actual Wimbledon tournament ended, is going to create a scenario unlike any other in Olympic tennis history—tremendous familiarity with the court and, to a lesser extent, the conditions.

This is a major reason why I feel Serena Williams is destined to bring home the gold medal for the USA in women's singles. After all, Serena just won the Wimbledon singles title a few weeks ago—and she did it against an arguably deeper and more talented field.

Now, that is not to say that the women's Olympic field is weak. Far, far from it. But when you watch the way Serena is playing, she has that look she gets sometimes, where she is very dialed in and focused.

To say she has been sharp so far would be somewhat of an understatement.

Without question, there are women left in the draw who could wipe out this prediction.

Maria Sharapova could do it.

Top seeded Victoria Azarenka can absolutely beat Serena.

Serena's next opponent, Vera Zvonareva, is a Wimbledon runner-up so she knows what it takes to win on the magical grass of Wimbledon.

And let us not forget that Serena's sister, Venus, is still alive and playing exceptionally well.

But after her tremendous performance at Wimbledon just a few short weeks ago, it has to feel for her like she never left. She is playing so well right now that I do not see anyone upending her.

There are times when Williams is vulnerable and can be beaten.

This is not one of those times. Look for Serena Williams to bring home a gold medal for the USA.

5. Feestyle Wrestling- 74 Kg

The United States used to dominate at freestyle wrestling.

The last few Olympics—not so much.

In Beijing, the US only came away with one medal. The fact that it was a gold medal cushioned the blow a bit. Nevertheless, there is no way to call Team USA's performance in Beijing anything but disappointing.

Certainly, one can say that the US in due to come through with a strong wrestling performance. Dare I say, they may be destined.

If there is one member of the US wrestling team who seems very poised to come through with a gold medal, it would be Jordan Burroughs, the reigning world champion at 74 kilograms.

Burroughs has been dominant as of late, having won 34 straight matches since the spring of 2011 (Associated Press via Yahoo! Sports).

If you watch Burroughs compete you will notice his speed and how silky smooth he moves. His transitions are effortless and he can take his opponent off his feet in the blink of an eye. He has no discernible weakness and looks to absolutely be at the very top of his game.

The road will not be easy as he will be challenged by Sadegh Saeed Goudarzi of Iran and Ashraf Aliyev of Azerbaijan.

But Burroughs is a very confident young man.

When you are printing off T-shirts that read "All I See Is Gold"—yeah I would say that is pretty confident.

In a little over a week, I really believe that Jordan Burroughs will be wearing a different kind of gold.