Europe has won six of the last eight Ryder Cups and comes to Chicago with a talent-laden squad led by world No.1 Rory McIlroy. Even with the home course at Medinah and five of the top 10 players in the Official World Golf Rankings -- including recent Tour Championship and FedExCup winner Brandt Snedeker -- it would appear as if Davis Love's U.S. squad is in for one heck of a battle.

At least that's how it looks on paper. Las Vegas oddsmakers, on the other hand, believe it's quite the opposite, after the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino listed the U.S. squad as favorites (-130) for the biennial matches. Europe is currently +140 underdogs on American soil; and a tie between the two sides is currently listed at +1100.

Based on Vegas' current odds, it would appear as if the U.S. is going to squeak out a tightly contested Ryder Cup. That may end up being the case, but based on Ryder Cup records alone, Europe looks like a solid play at +140.

Eight of the 12 members on the European squad have winning Ryder Cup records. And the U.S.? Hard as is it to believe, the squad doesn't have a single member with a winning Ryder Cup record. Will the raucous Chicagoland crowds and the best putter in the game (Brandt Snedeker) shift the balance of power in the Stars and Stripes' direction? We're four days from finding out.