Every soccer confederation in the world sends one team to the Confederations Cup the year before the World Cup is played, and the tournament has started to grow in stature as the years have progressed.
The way CONCACAF determines its representative is in the Gold Cup. If the same team wins the Gold Cup in the odd numbered years leading into the Confederations Cup, that team advances. However, thanks to the fact that the United States won it in 2013, while Mexico was victorious this year, the two teams must play a one-match playoff. That playoff takes place this Sunday, and you can bet that the atmosphere at the Rose Bowl is going to be epic.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The general consensus is that the Americans have the slightly better side and the slight home field advantage in this one. Yes, technically, we all know that the Rose Bowl is on American soil, but the match was strategically placed not far from Mexico in a location with a relatively large Mexican contingent to more or less level the playing field.
That said, the Stars and Stripes are still set as +135 favorites on the moneyline on Saturday. Mexico can be had at either +210 on the moneyline or -165 at +0.5.
The total is understandably relatively low in what should be a tightly-knit contest at 2.5 with -160 vig on the under.
KEY INJURIES
Jurgen Klinsmann enters this match with basically injury-free. Aron Johannson isn't available for selection due to injury, while Jermaine Jones was taken out of consideration as well by Klinsmann, but aside from that, he's going to have a full side.
Ricardo Ferretti, who now knows that he is ceding this job to Juan Carlos Osorio after this match is said and done with, has much tougher choices to make.
Giovani Dos Santos was going to start up front for El Tri before he suffered a muscular injury while playing for the LA Galaxy in the MLS. A calf and thigh injury has also taken Jose Juan Vazquez, a projected starting central midfielder, out of consideration as well.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"If a player plays poorly and a player has a bad string of results, they get dropped from the team. Well, the same holds true for the coach.. The reality is that now, anywhere else in the world, if this coach had those results and they lose this game against Mexico, they'd be fired." – Former American soccer star Landon Donovan on the idea of the U.S. firing Jurgen Klinsmann if this match against Mexico is lost
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Americans have taken a ton of steps backwards of late. They were embarrassed by Brazil, and that came on the heels of a very disappointing finish at the Gold Cup. There just isn't a degree of confidence right now on their side, and we think that could prove to be problematic in this one.
There isn't enough forward-thinking from the United States perspective. Unless there is a bit of a surprise and a younger, inspired DeAndre Yedlin or someone of the sorts ends up on the pitch with Clint Dempsey, we don't see enough inspired play here from the midfield with Michael Bradley leading the way to score much, if at all on this Mexican team.
Since Ferretti has taken over, he has made Mexico a much more forward-thinking squad, and it'll be tough for the Americans and their iffy back line to slow that down.
In the end, we want that half ball on our side, and we really think that Mexico is going to ultimately pull off this upset in extra time.
Mexico 3, United States 2 (AET)
BookMaker has live soccer odds for every clash of the season. You can find a moneyline price on the United States of +135 and a total of 2.5 right now! BookMaker is also going to have multiple betting options available for this nationally-televised match. Live wagering during commercials offers an adjusted moneyline, total and spread. Log in and start gambling during the soccer game now!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here, so start betting with BookMaker today! The fixture between the United States and Mexico will take place at 9:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at the Rose Bowl. The game will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1.
