Copa America 2016 Odds: Team USA Favored Over Ecuador In Quarterfinal
Fresh off a pair of clean sheet victories that earned them the top spot on the Group A table, the United States will make their first Copa America knockout stage appearance since 1995 on Thursday as they take on Ecuador as +160 betting favorites at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The host Americans were severely outplayed in a 2-0 loss to Colombia in their tournament opener, but they bounced back with shutout wins over Costa Rica and Paraguay and now have held opponents scoreless in five of their past eight games ahead of Thursday night’s USA vs. Ecuador matchup at CenturyLink Field.
The United States produced mixed results in previous meetings with Ecuador, going 1-1-1 in recent international friendly matches, and dropped a 2-0 decision in their only previous Copa America clash back in 1993.
A narrow +165 underdog against the United States, Ecuador went undefeated in the group stage, battling to a pair of draws with Brazil and Peru before crushing Haiti in a 4-0 win that locked up second place on the Group B table.
La Tricolor is now unbeaten in their past four overall, but their victory over Haiti marked their first win in their past seven outings, which includes a 1-0 loss to the United States in late May.
After dominating in three group stage wins, Argentina maintains their perch atop the Copa America Centenario odds as -115 tournament favorites.
Argentina has scored a tournament-leading 10 goals so far, but must now contend with a stingy defense as they take on Venezuela in a quarterfinal matchup Saturday as strong -360 betting favorites.
Los Criollos shut down Jamaica and Uruguay in a pair of 1-0 wins before playing to a 1-1 draw against Mexico, extending their current unbeaten streak to four games.
But with just one win in 21 matchups with Argentina since 1956, Venezuela faces long +800 odds of advancing to the semifinal and a date with the winner of Thursday’s United States-Ecuador matchup.
In other Copa America Centenario quarterfinal action, Peru will try to extend their Cinderella run at this year’s tournament as they take on Colombia on Friday as +475 underdogs.
Peru shocked perennial favorites Brazil with a 1-0 win in their group stage finale, eliminating the Green and Yellow from contention, and are undefeated in their past three Copa America matches with Friday’s -180 favorites, Colombia.
Meanwhile, Mexico also will try to remain undefeated as they hit the pitch on Saturday as +155 chalk against defending Copa America champions Chile, who have respectable +170 odds to claim the victory.
Thumbnail photo via Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports Images
