2020 Olympics Women’s Volleyball Odds & Preview – USA, China, Italy & Serbia All Contenders

• China’s women’s volleyball team have emerged as strong favorites to repeat as Olympic champions
• USA aims to build on their recent Nations League success while reigning world champions Serbia arrive in Tokyo seeking their first Olympic gold
• We’ve got you covered with all the odds and trends as the Olympic women’s volleyball tournament gets underway this weekend at Ariake Arena

China will be aiming to extend their recent dominance on the women’s volleyball international stage when they open their schedule at the Tokyo Olympics as slim +175 favorites to win the gold. The Chinese squad arrives in Tokyo as defending Olympic champions, and has also reached the top of the podium in each of the past two editions of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Cup. However, China faces no shortage of legitimate challenges this time around. The United States closely trail as a +225 bet, followed by Italy at +400, and the reigning world champions Serbia at +450.

Here’s a look at all the odds and trends as the battle for gold in Olympic women’s volleyball gets underway on Sunday, July 25 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.

Tokyo Olympics – Women’s Volleyball Odds

Odds as of July 23 at DraftKings

China Poised to Defend as Olympic Champs

China has emerged as the team to beat in Tokyo after dominating on their way to their third all-time gold medal in this event at the 2016 Olympics. That victory in Rio marked the start of steady run of success for the Chinese, which includes back-to-back wins at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Cup, a bronze medal performance at the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship, and an undefeated march through Olympic qualifying.

China 🇨🇳 captured women's volleyball gold at Rio 2016! Can they do it again at #Tokyo2020 ?#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/j2ikorlvY2

— Olympics (@Olympics) July 3, 2021

Further bolstering China’s position as favorites is their track record of success when playing in Japan. The squad has claimed the top of the podium in international events held in Japan on seven previous occasions, capped by their victory at the World Cup two years ago. However, considering the level of parity that exists in this sport, sports bettors are wise to seek betting value further down the odds.

USA Ride Nations League Success

The United States is coming off a dominating 16-1 run on their way to a gold medal in this year’s FIVB Nations League, and have held their own in recent dates with China, going 9-3 in 12 clashes with the Chinese on the international stage over the past decade. That track record adds considerable value to their +140 odds to outpace China in the race for the top of the Group B table.

TRIFECTA 🏆🏆🏆 The U.S. Women win their third-straight FIVB Volleyball Nations League trophy, beating Brazil in the 2021 final, 3-1 (26-28, 25-23, 25-23, 25-21)!

Thanks to everyone for taking this ride with us! Next stop? #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/wfXvFjQlIY

— USA Volleyball (@usavolleyball) June 25, 2021

Italy have earned their place among the favorites on the strength of their march to the final at the 2018 World Cup, and their subsequent bronze medal win at the 2019 World Championship. However, the Italians have work to do to overcome their recent dismal results at the Olympics, where they have failed to get past the quarter-finals in five previous appearances, and now find themselves facing the USA and China in the group stage. Winners of Olympic gold in Beijing and London, Brazil have struggled to duplicate that success since and will need a strong group stage performance to stay in the hunt this time around.

Recent Olympic Gold Medal Winners – Women’s Volleyball

Don’t Sleep on World Champion Serbs

That leaves Serbia as the highest value wager available in the Olympic women’s volleyball odds. The Serbs have a lot to prove after falling just short in Rio of their first-ever Olympic gold medal in this event.

MORE GOLD!!!!! Serbia has just won the Volleyball Women's World Championship in Japan
Serbia is so underrated sport wise. Every 3 months we have won a major tournament. #FIVBWomensWCH2018 @ossrb pic.twitter.com/HGQclr71HX

— Serbian Football News (@SerbianFBnews) October 20, 2018

However, the squad has quietly emerged as a volleyball powerhouse in the years since, going undefeated in back-to-back marches to the European championship. Serbia will also hit the court in Tokyo as reigning world champions and are well-positioned to add Olympic gold to their resume if they can avoid early knockout stage clashes with China and the United States.

The Pick: Serbia (+450)