Betting tips for the Olympics opening weekend multi – August 6-7

THE Opening Ceremony will be done and dusted and the Rio Olympic Games will be kicking into gear on Saturday night, with a plethora of events set to whet the whistle of sports followers all over the world.

It’s never easy picking a winner in events that aren’t always in the spotlight.

We’ve run the rule over several of the day’s bouts and come up with a little multi and a mega Hail Mary multi that will hopefully earn you some big dollars.

Selections for multi one:

Shooting: Women’s 10m air rifle – Yi Siling (China) to win gold – $1.90

Field hockey:
Australia to beat New Zealand – $1.14
Germany to beat Canada – $1.11
Netherlands to beat Argentina – $1.57

Women’s Volleyball: China to beat Netherlands – $1.13

Women’s Basketball: Australia to beat Brazil – $1.08

Multi pays $4.44 with Sportsbet.com.au

Selections for multi two:

Field hockey:
Australia to beat New Zealand – $1.14
Germany to beat Canada – $1.11

Women’s Volleyball: China to beat Netherlands – $1.13

Women’s Basketball: Australia to beat Brazil – $1.08

Men’s Swimming: 400m Freestyle – Mack Horton (Australia) – $3.20

Cycling: Men’s road race – Vincenzo Nibali (Italy) to win gold – $7

Multi pays $33.34 with Sportsbet.com.au

Shooting: Women’s 10m air rifle

Our pick: Yi Siling (China) to win gold – $1.90 with Sportsbet.com.au

China’s Yi Siling is the one to beat in the women’s 10m air rifle discipline. She is the reigning Olympic gold medallist after beating all comers in London in 2012. She has won seven gold medals in various international competitions. No one really comes close to her achievements and, if she is on her game, the dead eye will have everyone else chasing silver.

Field hockey

Our picks:
Australia to beat New Zealand – $1.14 with sportsbet.com.au
Germany to beat Canada – $1.11 with Sportsbet.com.au
Netherlands to beat Argentina – $1.57 with Sportsbet.com.au

Hockey’s big three should all have no drama making their way out of their first matches in Rio. The Kookaburra’s are the $3.60 favourites to win gold in Rio and, led by the indomitable Jamie Dwyer, they should make the New Zealanders a mere bump in the road on their way to redemption, after only managing bronze in London four years ago. The Netherlands are arguably the best hockey team in the world, but their clash with Argentina will not be a walk in the park. The South Americans have flair and determination, but the Dutch should be able to overcome them in the close one. The German’s are the reigning gold medallist and present a side that exudes pace and skill, they will be the main challengers to Australia and the Netherlands again and Canada has no hope here.

Women’s Volleyball

Our pick: China to beat Netherlands – $1.13 with Sportsbet.com.au

The Chinese are among the best women’s volleyball players on the planet and would be hopeful of landing a medal in Rio, just as they did in 2004. They are coming off a dominant gold medal performance at the Volleyball World Cup last year and would fancy their chances of repeating the dose. First cab off the rank is the Netherlands, which is certainly not known for its dominance of the sport. The Dutch should stick to hockey, with the Chinese team set to embarrass them.

Women’s Basketball

Our pick: Australia to beat Brazil – $1.08 with Sportsbet.com.au

While the men’s basketball is a one-team event, the Australians have made the women’s contest interesting. Team USA is a red hot favourite to win gold, but the Australians, with star centre Liz Cambage and gun Penny Taylor leading the way, have legitimate claims, at a gaudy $8. Those claims would only be further enhance by a victory over Brazil – which should really come very easily as they look to make their way to the gold medal round.

Men’s Swimming: 400m Freestyle

Our pick: Mack Horton (Australia) – $3.20 with Sportsbet.com.au

The crew at sportsbet.com.au might be calling him Mark on their website, but Aussie Mack Horton is set to put his name up in lights with gold for Australia in the 400m free. There really are only two men in this race, with Horton just shaded by China’s even money favourite in Sun Yang. Yang is a fearsome opponent, but Horton has overcome the odds after a serious car accident and the 20-year-old is just about to hit the peak of his powers.

Cycling: Men’s road race

Our pick: Vincenzo Nibali (Italy) to win gold – $7 with sportsbet.com.au
Bonus pick: Richie Porte (Australia) to win gold – $67 with Sportsbet.com.au

Italian Vincenzo Nibali leads his nation’s hopes in Rio as it’s only team member to ride in London in 2012. He is among the best road racers in the world and, while he will have his work cut out, especially with the likes of Tour de France winner Chris Froome ($15) and favoured Spaniard Alejandor Valverde on the pedals, we think he can overcome them all and take gold in Rio. We’ve also stuck an Aussie in as a bonus bet if you want to have a little flutter on an outsider. Richie Porte had an absolute stinker in the Tour de France, tumbling twice in the race, but we think that he is worth a tiny punt at long odds.