Soccer Odds: FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifying

The second round of 2018 World Cup qualifiers begins this Thursday for the UEFA conference, with eight teams fighting over the remaining four spots. The soccer world will be watching Friday’s first leg (2:45 PM ET) between Sweden and Italy; at press time, Italy are +130 favorites at Friends Arena in Stockholm, with Sweden at +240 and the draw at +200.


It would be classic Azzurri form to play for the draw and take the second leg at home on Monday. Italy are the superior team at No. 7 on the World Football Elo Ratings, well ahead of Sweden at No. 22. These European teams don’t meet very often, but Italy have four wins and a draw since 2000, including three 1-0 victories. Friday’s match has a total of two goals with Underpriced at even money.
There are more than 40 other ways to bet Friday’s match at Bovada. The popular Correct Score prop has the goalless draw at +600, and the 1-1 draw favored over any other score at +475. The First Goal Scorer is neck-and-neck at +450 between Italy’s Ciro Immobile and Sweden’s Marcus Berg, but “No Goal” is an added bargain in this case at +650.

Soccer Odds: Sweden-Italy in World Cup Qualifying

If Italy are going to make it back to the World Cup in 2018, they’d better put in a strong performance this Friday (2:45 PM ET) in the first leg of their second-round qualifier against Sweden. The Azzurri are +130 road favorites at press time with Sweden at +240 and the draw very much in play at +200.

You can also bet on more than 40 different soccer props for Friday’s match, including Correct Score, where the 1-1 draw leads the way at +475, and First Goal Scorer, where Italy’s Ciro Immobile and Sweden’s Marcus Berg are tied at +450.