Mexico couldn't have asked for a much better start to its Copa America campaign. The hardest of the three matches is now past it with three points secured against Uruguay, and there's a clear path to the Group C win with the maximum nine points. Thursday's fixture against Jamaica shouldn't be all that difficult, though the Reggae Boyz know they need to pull off a shocker here to have any chance of staying in this tournament.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Mexico -351
Jamaica +1406
Draw +411
Over/Under 2.5 (under -126)
ODDS ANALYSIS
It's not a shock that Mexico is a heavy favorite in this match. The team excelled against Uruguay, and bettors tend to react to what they just saw. El Tri is -351 on the moneyline and is laying a goal and a half on the Asian Handicap, making it the biggest favorite to date on the Copa America odds this side of Brazil against Haiti.
The total has to be higher than normal at 2.5 and -126 vig on the under, but the insinuation here is that Jamaica isn't scoring for the second straight match to kick off Copa America Centenario.
TOURNAMENT UPDATE
Things got a little touch and go for Mexico against Uruguay after conceding the equalizer following Andres Guardado's dismissal for a straight red card. More on that in a moment.
However, playing 10 v 10, Mexico still excelled with goals from Rafael Marquez in the 85th and Hector Herrera in stoppage time to pick up the three points and just the second multi-goal victory of the Copa America campaign out of the first three days of competition.
Jamaica also won't be at full strength in this match after losing Rodolph Austin to a straight red card in the 23rd minute against Venezuela. The Jamaicans were on the back foot the entire time, and they only managed 37 percent of the possession. The end result was only a 1-0 loss, but it felt like that match always could have and should have been significantly worse.
LIVE BETTING
The real question we have about this match is how Mexico will react to not having Guardado on the pitch as he serves his mandatory suspension for his dismissal against Uruguay. It was a silly challenge which got him sent off, and it darn near cost his team two points as well.
Guardado has been the heart and soul of this Mexico team from the Gold Cup on. He's been the rock for manager Juan Carlos Osorio, who has now led El Tri to wins in each of his first eight matches in charge of the national team.
Now, this squad almost feels like it's without direction. Who will wear the captain's armband? Will Oribe Peralta or Paul Aguilar step into the Starting XI? Either way, the whole tactics of Mexico will change at a time when everything was working so well. It’s not guaranteed to be a failure, but live bettors need to feel this one out and see whether El Tri will ultimately still look like one of the favorites to win Copa America or not against Jamaica.
QUICK PICK
The response Mexico had to losing Guardado was fantastic. The team could've easily shriveled and walked out of that opening match in Glendale with just a point, knowing that six more should still be coming against Jamaica and Venezuela, but it fought back and very likely won Group C as a result to avoid a prospective matchup with Argentina in the quarterfinals.
Jamaica had a nice run in the Gold Cup, but it didn't look the part of a side which had any business sharing the pitch with the Mexicans when these teams met in the Gold Cup Final. We have a feeling we're going to see the same type of result here in Pasadena in front of a very pro-Mexico crowd on Thursday night.
Copa America Odds: Mexico 3, Jamaica 0
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