Ryder Cup 2014: Predictions, Event Schedule, Format, Rules and Updated Odds

On Thursday, the opening ceremony will commence for the 2014 Ryder Cup. The action doesn't begin until Friday, when the American and European sides begin foursomes and fourball play.

This aspect of the event will continue through Saturday, with each match carrying a maximum of one point for the respective sides.

Here's the schedule and viewing information, per Kyle Porter of CBS Sports.

2014 Ryder Cup Schedule

Date	Time (ET)	Format	TV Info
Friday, Sept. 26	2:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.	Foursomes/Fourballs	Golf Channel
Saturday, Sept. 27	3 a.m. - 1 p.m.	Foursomes/Fourballs	NBC
Sunday, Sept. 28	7 a.m. - 1 p.m.	Singles Matches	NBC

On Sunday, head-to-head singles matches begin. This is where there's a possibility for truly amazing head-to-head battles. The golf world would rejoice if we somehow got an opportunity to see Rory McIlroy take on Rickie Fowler. If it were the decisive match, the golf community might spontaneously combust.

Fowler had an amazing second half of the 2014 season. Were it not for McIlroy's two majors and three-event win streak, Fowler might have been the biggest story of the year.

McIlroy is the world No. 1, but he's not the only top-notch star that the Europeans will bring to the event. Martin Kaymer and Henrik Stenson are both ranked in the top five. That partly explains why the Europeans are favored, per Odds Shark, to come out on top.

2014 Ryder Cup Odds

Bet	Europe	USA	Tie
Winner	-185	+175	+1100
To Lift The Trophy	-225	+175	-

When you take a look at the rosters on both sides, it's hard to deny the European's advantage. Aside from McIlroy, Kaymer and Stenson, there's also Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose and Lee Westwood to contend with. On a given day, each of these men could put together one heck of a showing.

The Americans aren't without quality, but a team led by a 44-year-old Phil Mickelson, Fowler, Jim Furyk and the young Jordan Spieth seems to lack balance.

The most well-known players all seem to be too old, like Mickelson, or potentially too young, like Spieth.

The leaders of the European squad are closer to their primes and have played their best golf in the past year. McIlroy won three times, including two majors. Kaymer won the U.S. Open and had four top-10 finishes. Stenson had several near misses, but he managed top-five finishes in both the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open. With the exception of Fowler, none of the Americans have been overly impressive in the last three months.

Obviously, there's guys like Keegan Bradley and Bubba Watson who the Americans will look to for great performances, but in the end, this looks like Europe's year. There's too much firepower for Team USA to match up with.

Expect McIlroy to lead his team to a 2.5-point victory.