2019 World Women’s Handball Championship Odds & Picks

• Sportsbooks rate Norway as the +175 favorites to win the 2019 World Women’s Handball Championship
• France (+250) and Russia (+275) are the only other countries given better than +1200 odds of winning the title
• The Norwegians won the 2012 and 2016 Olympic gold medal and the 2015 World Championship

When it comes to the world of women’s handball, there’s Norway, Russia and France, and then there’s everybody else.

Those three countries have accounted for nine of the past 10 World Championship titles. Since 1997, the 2013 world tournament marked the only one where none of Norway, Russia and France figured among the medal winners.

That same trio of nations won the gold medal at the past three Olympic Games.

Oddsmakers don’t consider the upcoming World Championship, slated to begin November 30 in Japan, as a time for bettors to be thinking outside the box. They list Norway as the +175 chalk to win the title. France (+250) and Russia (+275) are next in line in this betting market.

2019 Women’s Handball World Championship Odds

Odds taken on Nov. 6

Russia, France and Norway finished 1-2-3 at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. France and Norway were 1-2 at the 2017 World Championship in Germany.

Norway Women’s Handball Power

The Norwegians are generally considered the #1 world power in women’s handball. Norway won the biannual women’s World Championship in 2011 and 2015.

They were runners-up in the most recent World Championship in 2017. In Olympic competition, Norway has won  two of the last three gold medals – at Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012. They were bronze medalists at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games.

Congratulations to Norway for winning the IHF Women's Handball World Championship ! pic.twitter.com/qxBuoR5C3q

— France Handball 2017 (@Hand2017) December 21, 2015

Norway have won five medals at the past six world tourneys – gold in 2011 and 2015, silver in 2007 and 2017 and bronze in 2009.

Overall, Norway have played in 21 world title matches. In both 2011 and 2015, the Norwegians simultaneously held the Olympic, World and European championships.

Defending champions Norway beat Netherlands 30-29 to win the 2016 European Women's Handball Championship #ehfeuro2016 pic.twitter.com/0Aswt0SeSK

— Football & All (@FootballAndAll) December 18, 2016

Pivot Heidi Loke, 36, of Vipers Kristiansand, owns an Olympic gold medal, two world titles and three European championships. In 205 appearances for her country, Loke has netted 759 goals. Left wing Camilla Herrem, 33, of  Sola HK has won an Olympic gold medal, two World Championships gold medals, and four gold medals at the European Championships. In 237 matches for Norway, Herrem has scored 630 goals.

Captain Stine Bredal Oftedal, 28, who plays in Hungary for Győri Audi ETO KC, was MVP of the 2017 World Championship. She’s scored 441 goals in 177 games with the national team.

France Are Defending Champions

At the most recent World Championship in Germany two years ago, Norway was upset 23-21 by France in the gold-medal match. It was the first world title won by the French since 2003. They’ve finished no worse than second place in three of the last five world tournaments.

Center back Grace Zaadi, 26, of Metz Handball, was named to the 2017 World Championship all-star team. Goalkeeper Amandine Leynaud, 33, Oftedal’s teammate with Győri Audi ETO KC, was the all-star goalie at the 2018 European Championship, as well as the MVP of the EHF Champions League final four. She’s played goal for France at the past three Olympic Games.

Russians Struggle at Worlds

The Russians are the reigning Olympic women’s handball gold medalists. In Rio, Russia went 8-0, joining 2008 Norway as the only countries to go through the Olympic tournament with an unblemished record.

Russia were World Champions a record four times between 2001-09. But since then, it’s been a dry spell for the Russians on the world stage.

They’ve been shut out of the World Championship medals at the past four world tourneys. In 2017, Russia was hammered 34-17 by Norway in the quarterfinals.

Right back/winger Anna Vyakhireva, 24, was named MVP of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games and the 2018 European Championship, where Russia won the silver medal.

Sleepers to Consider

When looking for a price, it’s difficult to consider venturing outside the big three. The Netherlands were bronze medalists at the 2017 Worlds and 2018 Euros. Romania has qualified for every World Championship but hasn’t won the title since 1962.

Spain won bronze at the 2011 Worlds and 2012 Olympics.

The 2013 Worlds was a shocker. Brazil won gold, Serbia took silver and Denmark bronze.

South Korea (1995) is the only Asian country to win a world title.

And the Winner is . . .

Norway has tradition on its side but France holds the hot hand. France won silver at the 2016 Olympics, beat Norway for gold at the 2017 Worlds, and won the 2018 European title.

The Norwegians finished fifth at the 2018 European Championship and are without a gold-medal triumph since the 2016 Euros.

Pick: France (+250)