Men’s 200 Meter Final Odds, Picks & Best Bets (Paris 2024)

• The field has been set for the Men’s 200 Meter Final on Thursday
• Reigning world champ Noah Lyles of USA is the favorite over Letsile Tebogo
• Read below for Men’s 200m Final odds, best bets and predictions for August 8

The field is set for the men’s 200m final at the Paris Olympics on Thursday in the iconic Stade de France. Noah Lyles, the reigning world champ and freshly minted 100m gold medalist, is the odds-on favorite to complete the elusive sprint double.

While Lyles is the projected winner, there is no shortage of intriguing contenders, including his own Team USA teammates Kenneth Bednarek and Erriyon Knighton, and the rising phenom from Botswana, Letsile Tebogo.

Here is a look at the Men’s 200 Meter Final Odds for Thursday, along with my best bets and predictions.

Men’s 200 Meter Final Odds

The Men’s 200m final will feature runners from Botswana, USA, Dominican Republic, Liberia, and Zimbabwe. Reigning world champ Noah Lyles is the heavy favorite over rising star Letsile Tebogo in the Olympic odds.

The men’s 200-meter final is scheduled for Thursday, August 8th, with NBC carrying the broadcast. Start time is 8:30 PM local time (CEST), which is 2:30 pm Eastern (EST).

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Men’s 200M odds as of August 7, 2024 at BetMGM Sportsbook. Register with the BetMGM bonus code to place a wager on the men’s 200m. 

Lyles Favored to Win Gold in 200m

The Men’s 200 Meter Final odds for 2024 show American sprinter Noah Lyles as the heavy -450 favorite to win Gold in Thursday’s event. The 27-year-old is on the cusp of Olympic greatness after clinching a dramatic gold medal in the 100m by a mere five-thousandths of a second.

Lyles now has his sights set on becoming the first man since Usain Bolt to achieve the elusive Olympic sprint double. Although Lyles finished second in his 200m semi-final to Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, oddsmakers have full confidence in the Gainsville native pulling out the victory when it counts.

NOAH LYLES FINISHED SECOND IN HIS 200M SEMIFINALS HEAT 👀 pic.twitter.com/S2KT26vSBJ

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 7, 2024

Lyles possesses the consistency and big-race experience to deservedly be heavily favored in the betting markers. The American sprinter has been dominant in the 200m over the past few years, winning three consecutive world titles in the event.

Lyles has a unique running style, with a high knee lift and powerful arm drive, which helps him maintain his speed through the curve and into the straightaway. Based on the odds, his implied chance of taking home gold is 81.8%.

Lyles’ biggest competition on Thursday will be the aforementioned Tebogo, plus fellow American Kenneth Bednarek at +700 odds.

Can Tebogo Do it Again?

The Men’s 200m odds show Botswanian rising star Letsile Tebogo as the underdog to Noah Styles despite beating him in the semi-finals. The 21-year-old has been one of the surprises at the Olympics, clocking an impressive 19.96 seconds in the semis on Wednesday.

Tebogo was the only sprinter who posted a time below 20 seconds, which now has many questioning if he can pull a massive upset in the final. Oddsmakers don’t think he’ll get the better of Lyles again, setting the African with +450 odds, which is just 18.2% implied win probability.

Botswana's Letsile Tebogo 🇧🇼 has qualified for the final of the Men's 200m race at the Paris 2024    Olympics.

He defeated Noah Lyles and Makanaishe Charamba to win the second Semi Final with a time of 19.96 seconds. pic.twitter.com/f8Vmvbmalk

— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) August 7, 2024

Tebogo’s journey to the Olympics has been marked by personal tragedy, adding extra motivation for the sprinter. He lost his mother, Seratiwa, just months before the Games. Tebogo has credited her for his dedication to the sport, revealing that he chose athletics over football to provide for his family.

If Tebogo gets out of the blocks clean and hits that top gear, we could witness the biggest 200m shock since a certain Usain Bolt burst onto the scene in 2008 Beijing. However, he’ll need to take down a man who hasn’t lost over the distance since the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Men’s 200 Meter Best Bets & Predictions

It’s really hard to bet against Lyles in the 200 Meter given his experience and track record in the event. However, while he’s won the last three 200m world titles, he has a history of falling short at the Olympics.

Back in 2020 at the Tokyo Olympics, Lyles was considered the favorite to win gold in the 200m but ended up with the bronze medal in a time of 19.74 seconds. Andre De Grasse of Canada won gold in 19.62 that year, but he’s failed to qualify this time around.

I’m going a bit off the board with a value sprinkle and longshot bet for the 200m. American Kenneth Bednarek is flying under the radar right now and is undervalued at his current BetMGM price (+700). Other sportsbooks have him around +500 to win.

Bednarek has showcased a very high ceiling this year, particularly at the United States Championships, where he ran an impressive 19.5 seconds. He was leading the race until the last meters before tightening up and losing to Lyles.

“Kung Fu Kenny” has already proven his ability to beat Lyles, having done so at Tokyo in 2020, where he claimed the silver medal with a time of 19.68 seconds. The 25-year-old has been steadily improving this year under the training of Dennis Mitchell, and I like him as a sneaky value bet Thursday.

• Best Bet: Bednarek to Win (+700 BetMGM )