No matter the international competition, it's generally really difficult to find a cut and dry group of four teams. Copa America should theoretically not be an exception to the rule, but Group B looks to be about as obvious to us as possible, as we'd bank good money that the finishing order of these four teams is Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Haiti respectively.
Copa America Group B Odds at BookMaker.eu
Brazil -305
Ecuador +405
Peru +865
Haiti +7250
ODDS ANALYSIS
There's really not a lot of drama here to be decided in Group B. If Brazil doesn't take all nine points, it would be a real shock, and that's why it's favored by a -305 margin to win this group. The only even remotely threatening match is the first against Ecuador, and even that we don't see as a big issue.
The Ecuadorians are well behind at +405 as the second favorites. Peru follows at +865, while Haiti will surely provide bettors with an opportunity at a lottery ticket at +7250 to win Group B.
GROUP B SCHEDULE
Haiti vs. Peru (June 4)
Brazil vs. Ecuador (June 4)
Brazil vs. Haiti (June 8)
Ecuador vs. Peru (June 8)
Haiti vs. Ecuador (June 12)
Peru vs. Brazil (June 12)
THE KEY MATCH
Ecuador vs. Peru (June 8) – This is really the only match with any drama attached to it in Group B. The pressure should theoretically be on La Tri in this one, knowing that they should be three points back of Peru. A draw may or may not be good enough for Ecuador, depending upon how badly things went against Brazil and how well they went for Peru against Haiti. Ecuador will be the favored side for sure in this one, but there's bothersome stat for sure if you're looking to back it. Peru is 8-1-1 all-time in Copa America against Ecuador.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
The man of the hour for Haiti is going to be Johnny Placide. He's the goalie for the team, and you'll be seeing a lot of him. Unfortunately for him, what you're going to notice about him the most is the amount of times he's going to pick the ball out of the back of his own net.
In terms of the serious teams in Group B, there are definitely some players of note.
Peru will be led by Paolo Guerrero, a member of Flamengo at the club level in Brazil. He's got 26 goals in 67 career appearances for his homeland, and he'll have to be spot on several times over the course of the group stage in all likelihood to give the Peruvians any chance to survive.
Ecuador's chances in this tournament will come down to its two members of the English Premier League, Antonio Valencia from Manchester United and Enner Valencia from West Ham. These two men have had good seasons in the EPL and should be prepared for the competition at this level.
You hate to say that Neymar is the most important Brazilian player due to the fact that he isn't even going to be in the United States for this tournament. The key for Brazil is going to be finding a striker to replace Neymar's finishing. Will it be Hulk who stars in Copa America Centenario? Ricardo Oliveira? Roberto Firmino? Jonas? Whomever it is will have a big weight on his shoulders for sure.
COPA AMERICA GROUP B QUICK PICK
Group B Projections
Brazil: 3-0-0 (9 Points)
Ecuador: 2-0-1 (6 Points)
Peru: 1-0-2 (3 Points)
Haiti: 0-0-3 (0 Points)
It isn't often that you see a group going exactly according to plan, but it's tough to see any results here aside from the better team winning all six of the matches. Brazil is head and shoulders above the rest of this pack. Ecuador is head and shoulders above Peru and Haiti. Peru is head and shoulders above Haiti. It really is that simple.
Do we hate laying -405 on Brazil to win a foursome which involves a pair of relatively good South American teams, especially when all three teams in the group have a doormat to play in Haiti? You bet. But we just don't see any other result possible, especially with the stock Brazil will put on this tournament after getting knocked out in the quarterfinals of Copa America last year and its fourth place finish at the World Cup it hosted two years ago.
Copa America Odds: Brazil (-405)
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