Gold Cup 2019: Latest Odds, Expert Predictions, Schedule Heading Into Second Week
The Gold Cup heads into its second week with the pre-tournament favorites having lived up to their billings so far.
Mexico's 3-1 win over Canada on Wednesday followed a 7-0 mauling of Cuba and all but guaranteed El Tri a spot in the quarter-finals.
Tata Martino has won all six games in charge of Mexico so far, and few would bet against him extending the streak when his team faces Martinique on Sunday.
Even without the likes of Hirving Lozano, Carlos Vela and Javier Hernandez, Mexico looks hard to stop. The latter's absence is yet to be felt in front of goal, with six different players finding the net.
A 27/20 favorite before the tournament, El Tri remains the bookmakers' choice to lift the Gold Cup at Evens, followed by the U.S. at 19/10.
The defending champions were 7/5 second-favorite at the beginning of the tournament and did their chances no harm at all on Tuesday when they convincingly beat Guyana 4-0.
Two goals from Tyler Boyd and one each from Paul Arriola and Gyasi Zardes got the USMNT's campaign off to a flyer, but tougher tests await.
The U.S. could clinch a spot in the quarter-finals if they pick up three points against Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday, while their opponents need a result to remain in the competition after a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Panama.
THERE IT IS! 🇺🇸
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 19, 2019
Paul Arriola scores the first USA goal of #GoldCup2019! pic.twitter.com/1mZWTFirj4
A win against would also go some way towards banishing the demons of 2017, when a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Soca Warriors ended U.S. chances of qualifying for a seventh straight World Cup.
Fellow co-hosts Costa Rica and Jamaica also got their campaigns off to a promising start, in contrasting styles. Inspired by Brian Oviedo, Los Ticos thrashed Nicaragua 4-0 and confirmed its status as the team to beat in Group B.
Jamaica, meanwhile, needed a first-half double from Dever Orgill to beat Honduras in its opening game.
Elsewhere, Canada and Martinique will likely battle for the second qualifying spot in Group A, while Cuba has already been knocked out. Debutants Bermuda more than held its own in a narrow 2-1 defeat against Haiti, as did Curacao in a 1-0 loss to El Salvador in Group C.
What the experts say
Brian Straus—Sports Illustrated
The Americans got the win they had to have, but a true assessment of their performance will be limited by the sample size and the quality of the opposition. [...]The USA had to beat Guyana and had to do enough to spark some confidence following those friendly defeats. And it did. But it didn't do enough–and isn't yet good or deep enough–to believe that it won't be getting considerably harder from here.
"The U.S. should perhaps be beating Guyana by more. But fans complaining that there weren't more goals have to realize that it's a work in progress, it's the first time these guys have all played together, and it's going to be a while before they hit the fifth gear.
"Six games, six wins, 23 goals for and seven against; it's been an impressive start for Gerardo 'Tata' Martino in charge of the Mexico national team. But the 3-1 victory over Canada in Broncos Stadium brought three points in the most important game of the year so far."
Gold Cup's latest odds
According to VegasInsider, Mexico is the bookmakers' favorite at 1/1, followed by the U.S. at 19/10. Costa Rica, Jamaica and Panama follow at 8/1, 14/1 and 16/1 respectively.
Upcoming schedule (All times ET)
Thursday, June 20
- Nicaragua vs Haiti—7 p.m. FS1, UniMas, Univision Deportes Network
- Costa Rica vs Bermuda—9:30 p.m. FS1, UniMas, Univision Deportes Network
Friday, June 21
- El Salvador vs Jamaica—7 p.m. FS1, Univision Deportes Network
- Honduras vs Curacao—9:30 p.m. FS1, UniMas, Univision Deportes Network
Saturday, June 22
- Guyana vs Panama—5:30 p.m. FS1, Univision, Univision Deportes Network
- USMNT vs Trinidad and Tobago—8 p.m. FS1, Univision, Univision Deportes Network
Sunday, June 23
- Canada vs Cuba 6 p.m.—FS2, Univision, Univision Deportes Network
- Martinique vs Mexico 8:30 p.m.—FS1, Univision, Univision Deportes Network
Monday, June 24
- Bermuda vs Nicaragua 6:30 p.m.—FS1, UniMas, Univision Deportes Network
- Haiti vs Costa Rica 9 p.m.—FS1, UniMas, Univision Deportes Network
Tuesday, June 25
- Jamaica vs Curacao 8 p.m.—FS1, UniMas, Univision Deportes Network
- Honduras vs El Salvador 10:30 p.m.—FS1, UniMas, Univision Deportes Network
Wednesday, June 26
- Trinidad and Tobago vs Guyana 6:30 p.m.—FS1, UniMas, Univision Deportes Network
- Panama vs USA 9 p.m.—FS1, UniMas, Univision Deportes Network
