Day Three Olympic Sports Betting Preview

What to look out for and who to back on Day 3 of London 2012

We profile the third day of the London Olympic Games, with the best price bets you can find, so you don’t need to search around for the value.

Diving – Men’s Synchronised 10m Platform

All British eyes today are on the diving, where one of the faces of the Games, and all-round media sensation, Tom Daley is in what the nation hopes will be his first final of London 2012, the Synchronised 10m Platform.

Daley and his diving partner Peter Waterfield will be looking at an outside chance of a medal, but will need to perform to their absolute best, mostly likely breaking their own personal best to even have a chance of a podium finish. The pair will certainly have to ensure they don’t fall out mid-competition as Daley and his previous partner Blake Aldridge infamously did in Beijing 2008.

It’s highly unlikely, and would massively defy the form book, but you can get 40/1 at Boyle Sports on Daley and Waterfield to take Gold. The imperious Chinese team are red hot favourites, though, with the reigning champions at 2/5 in most places, although a patriotic decent bet is Team GB to place on the podium a 4/1 shot at William Hill, and certainly not out of the equation.

Swimming – Men’s 200m Freestyle

Meanwhile in the swimming pool next to the diving it’s back to the soap opera that is Ryan Lochte, after the American’s sensational win on Saturday.

Lochte destroyed the talented field in the 400m Individual Medley, leaving the so-called rivalry with Michael Phelps looking hollow, but he won’t find the going easy against the exceptional Chinese, Yang Sun and speedy Frenchman, Yannick Agnel, both of whom are at shorter odds than the man of the moment.

The swimming pool is rarely the platform for big surprises, so it’s to China or France we look to take Gold, with BetFair currently trading at 121/50 for Agnel to upset the favourite and be standing on top of the podium with La Marseillaise ringing out proudly later today.

GB’s Robbie Renwick has little real chance of a first place, with most bookmakers placing him around 66/1 and Bet365 at 150/1, but Ladbrokes‘ 8/1 for the Brit to get a medal with the home crowd buzzing in his ears represents a welcome but unlikely possibility.

Swimming – Women’s 100m Backstroke

Meanwhile, also in the pool will be Lochte’s fellow Team USA powerhouse, Melissa Franklin, who is aiming for just the seven Golds at London 2012.

‘Missy’, as she is affectionately known, is just seventeen, but has fine pedigree going into the Games, and will be disappointed not to walk away with a clutch of medals, the first of which she goes for tonight, the 100m Backstroke.

However, despite the hype around the American, it’s Down Under that most will be looking to, as most pundits believe that Australian golden girl, Emily Seebohm is so far ahead of the field she isn’t up against other competitors, but against history, as she’ll be looking to smash the World Record today, established by GB’s Gemma Spofforth.

Seebohn is so overwhelming a favourite that Gold medal betting is a little redundant, and even the Australian to claim a new World Record is unbackable at 19/50 (BetFair). For value it’s to the Bronze that we recommend, and the talented Chinese, Jing Zhao is very nicely priced at 3/1 with BetFred to pick up a podium place, and Spofforth herself has shown she has what it takes at the highest level, and is a decent pick at 6/1 (Boyle Sports).

All prices correct as of 08:05am on Monday 30th July 2012.