This week brings the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Betting Round of 16. Of the eight matchups, three ties are tied and three more are just separated by a single goal, leaving room for plenty of drama as teams look to advance to the quarterfinals.
Last year’s winners, Pachuca, are already out of the competition, so we know we will have a new team hoisting the trophy. Let’s break down each matchup and go over some solid sports betting picks.
CONCACAF Champions Cup Betting Round of 16, Leg 2 Schedule with Predictions
Cruz Azul (-143) vs Seattle Sounders (+420) (Draw +255)
When: Tuesday, March 11, 8:30 pm ET
Champions Cup Pick: Take the draw
Tied on aggregate, 0-0
It’s a shame that Seattle couldn’t break through in the home fixture of this tie. They dominated possession and set up a number of golden scoring chances, but they could not put the ball into the back of the net. Seattle’s offense did break out this past weekend when they routed MLS powerhouse LAFC, 5-2. The fact that Seattle were able to score over and over again on an LAFC defense that had posted four straight clean sheets. In six matches across all competitions in 2025, 11 players have scored at least one goal or assist.
Cruz Azul took on Monterrey, another Liga MX blue-blood, and they dueled to a 1-1 draw. The fact. Seattle heads down to Estadio Olimpico Universitario for the first time since 2022, when they played Pumas UNAM in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Final. Seattle fell behind 2-0 but then came back for the 2-2 draw. A draw with goals would let Seattle advance because of the edge in away goals. Can they get that kind of result here? That outburst against LAFC suggests that it’s possible.
^Columbus Crew (-120) vs LAFC (+300) (Draw +280)
When: Tuesday, March 11, 8:30 pm ET
LAFC lead on aggregate, 3-0
The Columbus Crew enter the second leg having to climb out a huge hole. It’s true that LAFC gave up five goals on the weekend in that loss to Seattle, but LAFC could lose this match by the same score and still advance on the strength of what would be a pair of away goals. So LAFC’s path to the quarterfinals is all but engraved in stone. Columbus will look to Diego Rossi to key the offense; the Uruguayan national has two goals in three MLS appearances and is a solid finisher in front of the goal.
French national Olivier Giroud has joined LAFC and has become the focal point on offense. He also does a solid job creating space for his teammates, drawing defensive attention away. He still is looking for his first goal in 2024-25, but it is only a matter of time. LAFC beat Columbus, 3-0, the last time they met, and Columbus’ offense continued to founder into the weekend as they played to a scoreless draw against the Houston Dynamo. This game outcome is difficult to see as Columbus will be looking to score against an LAFC team looking to re-establish its defense. Olivier Giroud to score first (+800) is an interesting pick as I see LAFC taking advantage of some Columbus risks and feeding their top attacker to break his 2025 goal drought.
^Tigres UANL (-162) vs FC Cincinnati (+430) (Draw +295)
When: Tuesday, March 11, 10:30 pm ET
Champions Cup Pick: Tigres to win
Tied on aggregate, 1-1
Tigres were able to leave Cincinnati with a crucial away goal and with a draw, giving themselves the perfect setting for a win at home. In the match, Pavel Bucha got the hosts on the board early, but then Nicolas Ibanez brought Tigres level in the 17th minute, and the teams could not add any more goals to the tally. Tigres sit in third in the Liga MX Clausura table, and they look ready to roll over Cincinnati in front of their home fans.
Cincinnati followed up this 1-1 draw with a 2-0 win over Toronto FC in MLS play over the weekend. They sit in third place in the MLS Eastern Conference. Watch out for Miles Robinson, the center-back who has become the anchor of Cincinnati’s defense. He started with FC Boston before moving to Atlanta United, and he has shown he can control the air in front of the goal. I expect him to anchor the back line down in Mexico. I don’t think Cincinnati can go down to Mexico and get this win, or even a draw, but a 1-0 or 2-0 result makes sense to me. That’s why I like the under 2.5 goals at -106 – not a lot of value but more money than you will make off simply picking.
^CF Monterrey (-178) vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC (+450) (Draw +320)
When: Wednesday, March 12, 8:30 pm ET
Tied on aggregate, 1-1
Vancouver, have to be kicking themselves after letting one of the great Liga MX teams leave Canada with a draw in hand. Vancouver had other chances to score, but simply could not put the ball in the net. They were able to score twice on the weekend, taking down the Montreal Impact, 2-0, while Monterrey settled for a 1-1 draw at Cruz Azul.
Monterrey has the talent and the firepower to get this win at home, which is why they are a fairly comfortable favorite here. I don’t see Vancouver heading south and even getting the draw. If you want slightly more value here than the home win, I do see the offense breaking out a bit here. I would favor the over 2.5 goals (-115) or even the over 3.5 goals (+225).
^L.A. Galaxy (-236) vs CS Herediano (+630) (Draw +360)
When: Wednesday, March 12, 10:30 pm ET
Champions Cup Pick: Herediano to win
Herediano lead on aggregate, 1-0
The Galaxy are playing through some adversity right now. Through three MLS matches, they have three losses and a -6 goal differential, having given up seven goals while only finding the back of the net once. In their first leg of the last-16 down at CS Herediano, they gave up a woeful 1-0 result. That match was scoreless until the midpoint of the second half, when Elias Aguilar tallied for the Costa Rican side. The Galaxy won’t have top midfielder Riqui Puig back for some time.
Herediano have not impressed in the Costa Rican first division, but their trip to California gives them a terrific chance to pick up a huge win in the Western Hemisphere. Their offense isn’t the problem – they have 21 goals in domestic league play, but their defense is porous. They were able to keep the Galaxy off the scoresheet in the first round. Looking at the odds, this would be a fairly gaudy payday, but I think Herediano can keep the Galaxy’s suffering going.
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Club America (-152) vs CD Guadalajara (+410) (Draw +280)
When: Wednesday, March 12, 10:30 pm ET
Champions Cup Pick: Club America to win
Guadalajara lead on aggregate, 1-0
This will actually be the third meeting between these Liga MX foes in eight days as they also met over the weekend in domestic league play. Guadalajara won at home in the first leg of this tie, 1-0, and then when the teams returned to the same stadium on Saturday, they played to a scoreless draw. Cade Cowell was shown a red card in the 70th minute for the hosts, but that will not carry over to CONCACAF Champions Cup play.
In Saturday’s draw, Club America possessed for 62% of the game and outshot the hosts, 8-7 (3-3 on target). Both sides forced five corners in a match in which there was a lot more cautious passing than there was active chance creation, and both the shooting statistics and the final outcome show that the teams were basically looking to avoid making that fatal mistake. That’s also how they looked last week. A draw would send Guadalajara through, but I see Club America doing enough to advance.
^Cavalier (+1150) vs Inter Miami (-500) (Draw +580)
When: Thursday, March 13, 8:00 pm ET
Inter lead on aggregate, 2-0
You might be tempted to take a high-value pick here by taking the Jamaican side Cavalier or even the draw when you read that Inter star Lionel Messi is likely going to be on the shelf for this match. He missed Sunday’s 4-1 takedown of Houston in MLS play because of what his team refers to as “load management.” However, he also missed the first leg of this tie, which Inter won, 2-0, at home. It’s true that the Calvin put a shot off the pipes for the visitors, and VAR took another goal off the board for Cavalier because of a disputed offside call.
Cavalier does have a pesky defense and can bring problems with their counterattack. Playing down in Jamaica means a more humid atmosphere – but that would be more of a problem for a northern MLS team than Inter Miami. I see Jamaica making their pressure may off this time around, but I also see Inter taking some advantage here. If you think Jamaica can push to a draw here, then go right ahead, there’s some value. I also like the over 3.5 goals at +110. It’s just about even money, but it’s a lot better value than taking Inter to get the sweep.
^L.D. Alajuelense (+255) vs Pumas UNAM (+108) (Draw +236)
When: Thursday, March 13, 10:00 pm ET
Pumas lead on aggregate, 2-0
Alajuelense have a 15-match unbeaten streak at home (10 wins, 5 draws), with a +20 goal differential over that stretch (31 goals scored, 11 goals permitted). They’ll need all of that offensive energy this time around as they will take the pitch down 2-0 on aggregate.
Pumas have permitted goals in seven of their last 10 games, but they have scored in eight of those matches. Alajuelense have enough defensive holes for a team like Pumas to exploit, particularly since Alajuelense will have to press the action to come back from the deficit tha the first leg created. Taking Pumas to win offers some minimal value, but if you like the offense to get going, then the over 3.5 goals (+180) offers slightly more.
^CONCACAF Champions Cup Betting Picks to Win
The American side with the best shot at this trophy are Inter Miami, but the unavailability of Lionel Messi raises some questions. They should be able to take care of Cavalier down in Jamaica without the Argentinian star, but getting further into the bracket will take their whole roster. Of the Liga MX sides, Club America and Cruz Azul seem the best positioned to make a deep run from this point.
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CONCACAF Champions Cup Betting
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