Mosconi Cup: Prediction, Tips and Odds

The Mosconi Cup starts in Orlando on Saturday and Racing Post’s Adrian Humphries has picked out his best bets for this year’s competition.

Europe have won the last four editions of the competition and they have also won 12 of the last 14 stagings.

That’s true dominance, but a glance at this year’s prices should inform potential backers that Europe may have to dig deeper to improve their fine recent record.

In the wake of Europe’s 11-3 cakewalk last year, Skyler Woodward has been made playing captain 12 months on and it’s playing captains on both sides this year, with Scotland’s Jayson Shaw leading the Europeans.

The likeliest scoreline is an 11-8 victory for Europe, which is a 7/1 chance, but, while things are likely to be closer than last year, the oddsmakers may be paying too much attention to the competition’s lop-sided history going into the 2024 event.

Mosconi Cup betting tips and predictions

USA to win the Mosconi Cup - 11/8

Without question, the biggest negative for Europe is Joshua Filler not being asked to play this year. The German is world-class and his absence at the Caribe Royale venue could act as a great leveller.

USA look to have a well-balanced team with no obvious weak link and it’s not surprising that they are only 11/8 to land a first Mosconi win since 2019.

This year their highest-ranked player, Fedor Gorst, has won his second World Championship as well as the US Open, so the Moscow-born potter will have a good deal more experience on his side.

Shane Van Boening, world champion in 2022 and a five-time US Open winner, can be relied on to play his part and, if anything, the hosts could do with skipper Woodward stepping up to the plate a bit more.

Tyler Styer and Billy Thorpe are decent players who have shown in the past that they can fight on the big occasion, so there looks little weakness in the USA line-up.

Of course, it’s more about what Europe may be lacking if punters are to oppose the favourites.

Filler’s absence is by far the biggest reason to desert the serial winners, but, while Shaw will be up for the battle, Filler’s exclusion may leave the other Europeans feeling vulnerable.

Albania’s Eklent Kaci, Spanish duo Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and David Alcaide and Denmark’s Mickey Krause are no mugs.

But all of them, even the experienced Alcaide, are prone to form losses and Shaw, a battler but by no means the world’s best, may not be able to bail out his team the way that Filler could have.

Fedor Gorst to be USA’s top points scorer - 13/8

It’s difficult to pick between market leaders Gorst and Van Boening in the top USA points scorer market.

But, while Van Boening has got better and more reliable with experience, Gorst has a genuine chance to take apart a Europe team missing its best player.

The Americans have often struggled to produce the goods on the big occasion, but Van Boening has found ways to overcome the nerves on occasions in recent years.

And the South Dakotan will surely have passed on his findings to his team-mates, all of whom have shown character and the will to fight in previous cups.

But, while USA have a job to do and history to alter, Gorst is definitely good enough to go about his work with confidence.

Francisco Sanchez Ruiz to be Europe’s top points scorer - 10/3

Europe captain Shaw will be giving his all for his continent and the Scot is 2/1 favourite to top-score for his side over the four days of the competition.

But, while Shaw should win his share of points, it could pay to have a modest interest on Spain’s Francisco Sanchez Ruiz causing most trouble for the American hosts.

Sanchez Ruiz has risen to third on the world rankings, one place behind team-mate Kaci and one spot ahead of Shaw.

But Sanchez Ruiz may have greater potential than his Mosconi Cup colleagues.

With his compatriot David Alcaide possibly past his best, and Mickey Krause making his cup debut this year, Sanchez Ruiz could be in a good place to shine as top European in the coming days.

And, if the Murcian fails to do that, then it could be down to Shaw to set an example to his team-mates.

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Mosconi Cup outright odds

USA - 11/8
Europe - 8/15

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.