2010 World Cup: USA vs. Ghana

Big Game today in the round of 16 in the 2010 World Cup... and who do we, as Americans, like to win this game? America, of course!

We know that this is a Ghana squad that essentially knocked the United States out of the tourney four years ago, but this is not the same United States. The momentum behind this club has that special destiny feel about it that you only find once every, well in the case of the USA soccer team, 80 years (their only place in the World Cup was in 1930, finishing third in the first Cup ever held).

And so, the pick is in:

United States +130 over Ghana

We like the moneyline in this case for a straight up USA win.

Fellow Americans, enjoy the clip above and hope for more of the same heroics from the Algeria game. We try not to be partial to any teams (never a good betting strategy), but go USA!

Tooting Our Own Vuvuzelas as the USA Wins Group C

We hate to say we told you so when it comes to the United States winning their group in the World Cup for the first time since 1930, but hey, we told you so! We even told you how! And at +400 odds and with a thrilling ride, we're sorry if you still didn't pick them to win it. We did all we could!

With England beating Slovenia, the United States needed a win over Algeria to advance. It wasn't looking so good as the game went into extra time scoreless, but Landon Donovan changed that in the 91st minute and the rest, as they say, is history.

We're having a pretty successful run at the World Cup so far, so stay tuned as we go to the round of 16 with more 2010 World Cup Picks and analysis.

An Unlucky Push as the USA "Ties" Slovenia

By now you've surely seen the United States get robbed in their game against Slovenia yesterday, and while it's a shame that the Americans' third and probably game winning goal was mysteriously disallowed, nobody is talking about the real victims in all of this--the bettors!

We correctly picked an American victory yesterday, as we correctly predicted a tie against England, however their comeback was stopped short by the man in the middle. Fortunately for us, we bet the Americans at -200 rather than taking the more appealing moneyline, thus rendering a draw as a push rather than a loss. Still, this has to go down as the worst beat of the World Cup thus far, especially considering how late in the game the apparent non-goal occurred. Add to that the fact that it was a roller coaster game for betters regardless.

Still, we hope to rebound and once again correctly predict the outcome of the USAs Group C matchup against Algeria on Wednesday.

2010 World Cup: Group C Betting

Our 2010 World Cup group-by-group analysis continues with a little home flavor with the USA's bracket Group C. Before we get into it, let's take a look at the odds:

England... -275
USA... +400
Slovenia... +1000
Algeria... +2500

Clearly, England is the favorite in this group, as they should be. They have the superior team and America should be the biggest, and only, threat to the cross-pond rivals.

That said, the USA WILL be a threat. England has collapsed in the past dealing with high expectations, and the USA fits the underdog label perfectly this year. Expect an over-confident England squad to at least draw even with the Americans, if not lose outright. Both teams should clobber Slovenia and Algeria, which we think will lead to at worst a group win by tiebreaker for the USA.

Rest assured, Brits, we do think England will go on to advance farther than the Americans, but we like the USA, against all +400 odds, to shock the world and win Group C.

Our final Group C standings:

1. USA

2. England

3. Slovenia

4. Algeria

Although there is one thing that can get in the USA's way:

Stay tuned for more!