Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Sports Betting:

Vegas Play of the Day: France vs. Belgium

World Cup France

David Vincent / AP

France’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal during the round of 16 match between France and Argentina, at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Kazan Arena in Kazan, Russia, Saturday, June 30, 2018.

The fifth season of the annual Play of the Day betting competition between the Sun’s sports staff is now underway, effective July 1.

Bankrolls start at $10,000 for each of the four participants, with the objective to increase it as much as possible over the next year. The minimum daily wager is $300, with a $200 penalty assessed for failing to place a bet on an assigned day.

Past winners are Case Keefer in 2017-2018, Ray Brewer in 2016-2017 and 2015-2016, and Taylor Bern in 2014-2015.

France plus-155 in World Cup semifinal 3-way bet: $500 to win $775

The World Cup is down to the final four teams, and the two best are playing each other this morning. The two highest-ranked remaining teams — Belgium (3) and France (7) face off in St. Petersburg, Russia.

France has shown a lot of offensive firepower in the knockout stage of the tournament, scoring four goals on Argentina in the round of 16, and two on Uruguay in the quarterfinals. Prior to that game Uruguay had only surrendered one goal in the entire World Cup.

Speedy striker Antoine Griezmann and youngster Kylian Mbappe lead the way up front for the French, but it’s the dynamic midfield made up of Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kanté and Nabil Fekir that make them dangerous.

I expect a hard-fought game between the two best teams remaining in the tournament, but France is the better team and I’m comfortable betting them in the 90-minute regulation at plus-155.

Keefer (3-0, $11,290), Grimala (1-2, $9,500), Brewer (0-1, $9,500), Granger (0-0, $9,600)