World Cup 2014 Betting Odds And Expert Predictions Have Brazil, Argentina, Spain And Germany As Favorites

A day before the start of the 2014 World Cup, the host nation is the favorite to win the tournament.

Brazil last won the World Cup in 2002, and they could be in line to win a record-setting sixth championship. Bovad.lv lists their betting odds at 3/1.

Right behind Brazil is Argentina with 4/1 odds. Germany ranks third with 11/2 odds, and Spain is the other top candidate to win the World Cup at 6/1.

While it wouldn’t be a surprise if any of the four teams won it all, Brazil may be an even bigger favorite than their odds indicate. Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight has created a formula that projects each team’s chances of becoming the champion. The system puts the odds overwhelmingly in favor of Brazil, who’s given a 45 percent chance of winning the World Cup.

Argentina comes in at 13 percent, according to the calculation. Germany and Spain’s chances have been placed at 11 and 8 percent, respectively.

Most experts think the host country will take home the title. Below are predictions from 20 people who cover the sport. More than half of them chose Brazil as the ultimate winner.

BBC

Gary Lineker: Argentina

Alan Shearer: Brazil

Chris Waddle: Brazil

Phil Neville: Argentina

Pat Nevin: Brazil

Robbbie Savage: Argentina

Brad Friedel: Brazil

Sky Sports

Chris Kamara: Brazil

Charlie Nicholas: Brazil

Paul Merson: Argentina