Mexico and Uruguay have to be laughing at the draw they've gotten for Copa America Centenario.
These two teams do have to start by playing against each other, but Group C provides no other challenges whatsoever, and it would be embarrassing for either one to not get into the quarterfinals of this great tournament.
Copa America Group C Odds at BookMaker.eu
Uruguay -105 Mexico +135 Venezuela +1325 Jamaica +1615
ODDS ANALYSIS
The only thing that's the tiniest bit surprising is that you could theoretically scalp Mexico and Uruguay together to win this group and turn up with a profit. There really is no chance whatsoever for Jamaica and Venezuela to win Group C without an act of the big man upstairs, and even that might not strike down both of the giants of the group.
Uruguay is being given the slight nod at -105 to win the group, but Mexico at +135 is obviously not far behind.
GROUP C SCHEDULE
Jamaica vs. Venezuela ( June 5 )
Mexico vs. Uruguay ( June 5 )
Uruguay vs. Venezuela ( June 9 )
Mexico vs. Jamaica ( June 9 )
Venezuela vs. Mexico ( June 13 )
Jamaica vs. Uruguay ( June 13 )
THE KEY MATCH
Mexico vs. Uruguay ( June 5 ) – The only question we have in Group C is whether Uruguay or Mexico will finish atop the group and which will finish second. There's a big difference for the two teams, and it'll all be decided in this 90 minutes in Glendale. The winner will head to the knockout rounds with a date waiting with likely Chile. The winner will have to face Argentina in all likelihood.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Asking Venezuela and Jamaica to score goals in this group is going to be tough, but both have men who have done so on the international stage before.
The Venezuelans do have a Premier League caliber player in Salomon Rondon of West Brom, while Jamaica has Darren Mattocks, a man who scored a goal against the United States in the Gold Cup semifinals to help the Reggae Boyz shock the world.
Mexico and Uruguay though, are where the real class of this group lie.
As is always the case with Uruguay, it will only go as far as Luis Suarez takes it. He'll be the center attacker once again for his homeland, and he'll be flanked by a lot of really good players. He's got to be a finisher though, and he's a good candidate for the Golden Boot, especially knowing that he's facing two doormats in the group stage.
Mexico's strength is in its midfield, and that means getting good play from Andres Guardado. Guardado played his heart out in Copa America and in the Confederations Cup playoff against the United States, and he was rewarded time and time again with big goals in big spots. He'll be wearing the captain's armband for a hot El Tri team coming into this tournament and should be the focal point for the attack.
COPA AMERICA CENTENARIO GROUP C QUICK PICK
Group C Projections
Mexico: 3-0-0 ( 9 Points ) Uruguay: 2-0-1 ( 6 Points )
Jamaica: 0-1-2 ( 1 Point ) Venezuela: 0-1-2 ( 1 Point )
Given our choice between Mexico and Uruguay, we're going to go with the slight underdog. We're really splitting hairs between these two clubs, and there isn't such a thing as a result which would shock is in that opening match. Either team could win by three goals, and either could lose by three as well.
The decisive factor as we see it is going to be home field advantage. Sure, this tournament is being played on American soil, but just as we saw at the Rose Bowl when Mexico felt like it had a home field advantage in the Confederations Cup playoff, we're going to see something similar in Glendale in that match against Uruguay. Parlay that with the price of +135, and we're got something in the making potentially with Mexico in Copa America Centenario.
Copa America Centenario Odds: Mexico ( +135 )
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