Brazil heads to Copa America with a ton of talent, but much of that talent is unrealized at this point. That said, bettors don't seem to be bothered that the club which has come to Copa America is nothing more than a B+ team at best for the Brazilians. If Ecuador is ever going to take down the big boys in CONMEBOL, this is the time for that to happen on Saturday night.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Brazil -110
Ecuador +345
Draw +245
Over/Under 2.5 (under -145)
ODDS ANALYSIS
Brazil is still the odds-on favorite to win this match, but the fact that the proposition is only 50/50 as to whether it takes all three points or less than that is a potentially alarming fact. Dunga and his squad are still very strong, but this match against Ecuador could end up being difficult.
The total is somewhat high by the standards of the first match day in this group. Seeing totals of 2.5 is a little odd for major tournaments like this, but the vig of -145 on the under levels that out quite a bit.
RECENT FORM
It's tough to gauge what Brazil has done on the pitch of late, because the team which has been playing in these World Cup qualifiers isn't nearly the same one which came to Copa America in the United States.
That said, the Brazilians only have two draws and a win to their credit thus far in 2016.
Ecuador is taking advantage of the fact that it's playing in LA to take on the Galaxy in an unofficial friendly match on Tuesday night. That fixture won't tell us a lot about this team, but the way that it's started its 2016 campaign might. After winning six straight matches to end last year, Ecuador is just 0-1-2 in its last three, including losing in Frisco to the United States 1-0 last week.
LIVE BETTING
Brazil has left David Luiz, Thiago Silva, Oscar and Neymar off of its roster, and the question of how it's going to end up responding is crucial for live bettors. The answer is likely going to be a more tactical brand of soccer without so much of the gusto of going forward with regularity. Dunga is a defensive-minded man and coaches that way, and that's why he wasn't afraid to basically turn this team over to Dani Alves at the back and ask him to lead this team as a pillar at the back.
Ecuador isn't exactly a forward-thinking team either, so goals could be at a premium in this tournament. Walter Ayovi is going to be captaining the club at the back, and the fact that one of Ecuador's best striker, Felipe Caicedo is sidelined by a thigh injury is only going to help out the cause for the under. There will surely be large gaps of time in this match in which there won't be a good look at the target, and that's where under bettors could really end up shining.
QUICK PICK
The argument could be made that this is the best version of the Ecuador side we've ever seen. Another argument could suggest that these Brazilians are quite weak. Color us worried for Brazil. We think that it underachieved in its own World Cup by finishing fourth in spite of the fact that the draw broke its way every step of the way until it ran into Germany, and this could end up being a rather disappointing tournament for the second straight year. Remember that Brazil was beaten in the quarterfinals of Copa America in 2015.
This would mean the world to Ecuador if it could pull this off. We don't think it's going to be able to do so in the end, but don't be shocked if the underdogs end up taking a lead in this match only to watch Hulk, Kaka or Willian ultimately get the team back on terms with a late show.
Copa America Odds: Brazil 1, Ecuador 1
Need to fund your account before the big game but don’t have your computer? No problem! BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet. Click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The fixture between Brazil and Ecuador is scheduled for Saturday, June 4, 2016 at 10:00 p.m. ET at Rose Bowl Stadium. The match will be televised live on FOX Sports 1.
