World Cup Betting: Odds Favor Brazil; USA Longshot to Advance in Group G

Germany is the third betting choice as World Cup odds opened following Friday's World Cup draw—and the prime reason why the Americans are a 100/1 longshot to win soccer's global showcase next year in Brazil.

The Germans (11/2 to win the tournament) are one of three tough opponents that the United States Men’s National Team will need to get through to advance out of the group stage in Group G.

The group also features Ghana and Portugal, a dangerous 33/1 bet to win it all, according to the opening World Cup 2014 odds posted at OddsShark.com.

Both Portugal and the USA have seen their odds to win the World Cup drop today due to their terrible group draw. Portugal is now going off at 33/1 to win the World Cup.

Ghana is the group’s underdog at 200/1 but has a history of giving the United States trouble, knocking it out of each of the last two World Cup tournaments.

Group G may be coined the “Group of Death," but Group D will also be a difficult one. England, Uruguay and Italy are all considered dark-horse contenders to win the World Cup and are each going off at 25/1 to do so.

Only two will advance from the group stage. Costa Rica (1000/1) is expected to be the punching bag of the group but could play spoiler with a surprise draw.

Finalists from the 2010 World Cup will meet again in Group B, with defending World Cup Champion Spain (15/2 to win the World Cup) favored to win the group over 2010 World Cup runner-up the Netherlands (25/1).

Chile (50/1) and Australia (300/1) round out the group. With wins in both the World Cup in 2010 and the Euro 2012, Spain has been the team to beat in international competition.

The two favorites to win the World Cup are Brazil (13/4) and Argentina (9/2), and each is a heavy favorite to win its respective group. Brazil leads Group A, which includes Mexico (100/1), Croatia (175/1) and Cameroon (500/1).

Argentina heads up one of the softest groups in the tournament in Group F, which has Bosnia-Herzegovina (200/1), Nigeria (250/1) and Iran (1500/1).

The remaining groups in the 2014 World Cup are:

• Group C: Columbia, Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan
• Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France and Honduras
• Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia and South Korea

Below are the World Cup odds as posted after Friday's draw. Game odds will be available here shortly.

Brazil    13/4
Argentina    9/2
Germany    11/2
Spain    15/2
Belgium    14/1
Colombia    20/1
France    20/1
England    25/1
Holland    25/1
Italy    25/1
Uruguay    25/1
Portugal    33/1
Chile    40/1
Russia    50/1
Switzerland    80/1
Ecuador    100/1
Mexico    100/1
USA    100/1
Japan    125/1
Ivory Coast    150/1
Croatia    175/1
Bosnia-Herzegovina    200/1
Ghana    200/1
Greece    200/1
Nigeria    250/1
Australia    300/1
South Korea    300/1
Cameroon    500/1
Algeria    1000/1
Costa Rica    1000/1
Honduras    1500/1
Iran    1500/1