Normally speaking, the first match of any tournament ends up being more of a showcase for the home team than anything else.
In Copa America though, a tournament hosted by a very good United States team, the Yanks are actually lined in a dead pick 'em against one of the favorites on the Copa America odds, Colombia.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
United States +175
Colombia +175
Draw +215
Over/Under 2 (over -130)
ODDS ANALYSIS
The argument could be made that the Americans should be favored in this match in some respect, but clearly, there's no comparing these two teams from a talent perspective. Yes, the United States played well in the lead-in matches to Copa America, but this is a much different challenge than matches against Ecuador, Bolivia and Puerto Rico.
That's why this match is set at a dead pick 'em on the Asian Handicap. Both sides are +175 on the moneyline, and it wouldn't be shocking if the draw is paid off at +215.
Totals are expected to start relatively low in this tournament, and the featured match of it all at Levi's Stadium is no exception at 2 and -130 vig on the over.
RECENT FORM
As we just stated, Jurgen Klinsmann didn’t exactly challenge the Americans for 270 minutes of brutal soccer leading into Copa America. That said, it's hard to argue with the emphatic results. The USMNT took care of Bolivia 4-0 and Ecuador 1-0. The match against Puerto Rico was probably the most disappointing relative to expected results with a 3-1 win, but victories aren't to be scoffed at, especially with the awful way the 2015 campaign ended.
Colombia actually has comparable matches to the United States at this point. While the U.S. was playing against Bolivia and Ecuador in friendlies in May, Colombia faced off with both in March in World Cup qualifying. The final scores might not have been as impressive, but Los Cafeteros still took 3-2 and 3-1 results against them respectively.
In its one tune up match for this tournament, Colombia took care of Haiti in Miami 3-1.
LIVE BETTING
The real key in live betting is going to be whether the Americans can figure out how to slow down James Rodriguez and Carlos Bacca. These two men are all over the pitch for the Colombians on a game in, game out basis
Bacca has been impressive for Colombia in recent matches, tallying three times in the two World Cup qualifiers. Rodriguez opened the scoring against Bolivia, and though he didn't score in the match against Haiti over the weekend, the Real Madrid man is still going to be the most talented player in the world. He's got 14 goals in 42 matches for his country.
John Brooks, DeAndre Yedlin, Matt Besler and Fabian Johnson are going to have their work cut out for them. This is the combination we suspect Klinsmann will open this tournament with, though we don't think it's would be unusual to see all eight defenders who we took with him to this tournament to get at least one start somewhere along the way.
QUICK PICK
This match feels like it's over the heads of the Americans. Colombia is the world's No. 4 ranked team for a reason, and it's not just due to the fact that FIFA's ranking system is archaic and generally unreliable. Instead, Los Cafeteros legitimately have one of the best sides in the world, and they have a real chance to win Copa America as a result.
The best case result here for the Stars and Stripes is a draw as we see it. The right play Colombia on the Asian Handicap at -110 to guarantee a return of investment if the match does end in a draw. We'd suspect Colombia will get the job done, though.
Copa America Odds: Colombia 2, United States 1
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