Ryder Cup 2021: Picks, predictions, best bets at Whistling Straits

The 2021 Ryder Cup tees off on Friday from Whistling Straits and we have our picks, predictions and best bets for Team USA vs. Team Europe.

The United States is hosting the 2021 Ryder Cup with a lot on the line against the Europeans. By all statistical metrics, Team USA has the more talented 12-golfer roster and is the overall better fit for Whistling Straits, especially with team captain Steve Stricker in charge of the setup. Yet, as the two continental sides prepare to tee it up on Friday, Sept. 24, the outcome feels in doubt.

Team Europe has simply owned the recent history of the Ryder Cup, having won four of the last five and seven of the last nine. That includes one of the most unforgettable comebacks in the history of the event with a Sunday singles charge in 2012 to win dubbed the “Miracle at Medinah”. They also held serve as the hosts the last time this was contested in 2018, dominating the U.S. in Paris.

For what it’s worth, though, Stricker has taken a new approach with the United States roster for the 2021 Ryder Cup. With six rookies in Sheboygan, WI with young guns like Collin Morikawa, Daniel Berger and Patrick Cantlay, among others, leading the way, the hope is that Team USA injecting new blood into this team can combat the always-present camaraderie and unmatched experience of the veteran-laden Team Europe.

There are other storylines to watch, as well. Will Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy galvanize the Europeans as the leaders of the roster? Does anything transpire from the Bryson DeChambeau-Brooks Koepka drama or either of those big personalities themselves? How will the touted rookies on each side play at Whistling Straits?

It’s hard not to get excited to welcome the Ryder Cup back for the 43rd time after it was postponed due to COVID-19 last season. So we’re ready to make our predictions and offer our best bets for the week with the United States and Europe at odds on the golf course.

Note: All odds are courtesy of WynnBET. For more betting content, visit BetSided.

2021 Ryder Cup best bets for top points scorers and more

Viktor Hovland – Top European Points Scorer (+700)

Guys like Jon Rahm (+350) and Rory McIlroy (+500) are going to dominate the betting markets for the European team and are installed as the favorites in that right. But Ryder Cup rookie Viktor Hovland is incredibly intriguing.

Hovland is one of the few golfers for Europe outside of Rahm and Rory who is a terrific course fit at Whistling Straits. From a length and approach perspective, he checks all the boxes and has improved his short game over the last year quite a bit. He also pairs well with virtually anyone given his numerous strengths.

The young Norwegian is going to be a critical cog in this event and, considering that McIlroy is just 11-9-4 while Rahm is only 1-2-0 in their Ryder Cup histories, Hovland presents great value at this number to lead Europe in points. For a deep sleeper play, just know that Sergio Garcia (+1100) is 22-12-7 in his Ryder Cup career and has played well this season.

Make your picks on WynnBet

Patrick Cantlay – Top Overall Points Scorer (+1000)

If you buy into the United States as the clear favorites for the 2021 Ryder Cup, then you would likely be better served betting on whoever you have projected as the top U.S. points scorer as the top overall points scorer. Yes, that adds more inherent risk with more potential to lose that bet but the odds are also better.

In this case, Patrick Cantlay seems like a tremendous bet to lead the United States. Not only is his game in terrific form and complete for everything Whistling Straits will ask of him, but he’s a nightmare for match play for opponents but also great to partner with, having several potential favorable pairing on the Team USA roster that could work.

Cantlay plays smart, methodical golf that will rarely put his teammates in bad spots but could also frustrate his European counterparts when he’s up against them. That’s a recipe for success and to get on the course quite often. And if you’re looking for extreme value, Daniel Berger at +1600 for top U.S. points scorer is intriguing.

USA to win 16-12 (+1100)

For all of the trepidation about Team USA in this event because of the recent history, they are the favorites for a reason. And really, it does feel as if there are two possible outcomes for this team. Either they live up to the hype and win convincingly at Whistling Straits or they end up losing spectacularly, sending the entire U.S. contingent into a full-blown reevaluation of what they’re doing.

In the end, there’s too much talent for the United States to think that the latter possibility is more likely than the former. So for this best bet, we’re looking at a decisive win over Europe by four points and we’re getting +1100 odds on that. If WynnBet releases odds for a range of outcomes as opposed to exact scores, anything in the 4-6 shot win for Team USA range would be a good play as well.

Bryson DeChambeau doesn’t touch foursomes play (No Odds)

This isn’t an actual bet but it has to be said. Bryson DeChambeau offers unbelievable upside in fourball when every player on the course plays their own ball. But when you take him into foursomes — also known as alternate shot — he could be a nightmare. His length and the erratic nature of his driving would put his partners in spots that they simply aren’t comfortable or accustomed to playing from.

Unless he comes out dialed-in (which seems unlikely given his other ventures forthcoming) and dominates in fourball, it would be absurd to play DeChambeau if foursomes and, thus, I don’t think Stricker will even think about it.

2021 Ryder Cup picks and predictions for Whistling Straits

There are plenty of golf fans who simply root for the underdogs and for the wildest possible outcome. In that light, Europe (+160) would be the obvious pick if those are your rooting interests. But if we’re looking at simply being right about what’s going to happen at Whistling Straits this week, there’s only one place to look.

As you probably gathered from my best bets, USA (-200) is my pick for this event. It might not look like an early runaway victory as the concerns are legitimate about some of the pairings with the players on the United States roster and how they can perform in fourball and foursomes, the latter in particular.

But when it comes to the Sunday singles matches, it’s likely that the U.S. is favored in at least 8-9 of those matches. That doesn’t guarantee they’ll win, but it does represent an advantage that just having the more talented overall group on the course presents. And for that reason, the home team will be the one hoisting the Ryder Cup.