The Reggae Boyz of Jamaica have reached the final of the Gold Cup in back-to-back tournaments. But just as before, Jamaica heads into the CONCACAF Gold Cup Finals as underdogs agains the USA in the soccer odds.
In 2014, they eliminated the United States in the semifinals to take on Mexico in the finals. They came up short in that matchup, but now they have turned the tables on El Tri, knocking them out in the semifinals and are set to face the United States in Wednesday’s championship game. Jamaica converted a free kick late in the second half to take a 1-0 decision, while the United States scored a pair of late goals to eliminate Costa Rica in the other semifinal, 2-0.
USA vs. Jamaica CONCACAF Gold Cup Final Odds & Prediction
When: Wednesday, July 26, 2017, 9:30pm ET Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA TV: FS1 Radio: None Live Stream: FOX Sports GO CONCACAF Gold Cup Odds: USA -1 -113, ML -210, U 2 +104 / Jamaica +1 -107, +775, O 2 -124 / Draw +300The #GoldCup2017 Final is heading to @LevisStadium in Santa Clara this Wednesday. Buy your tickets now! https://t.co/9Gz5uBPKOy pic.twitter.com/ybocFB6cvc
— Gold Cup 2017 (@GoldCup) July 24, 2017
Why should you bet on the United States?
Well, there is the experience factor — the United States play for their sixth Gold Cup title on Wednesday night, while the Jamaicans still don’t have a single Gold Cup in their trophy case. Jamaica last appeared in a tournament final in the Caribbean Cup prior to the Gold Cup — and they lost to Curacao, which is how Curacao qualified for the Gold Cup in the first place. If the United States were fielding the roster they brought to group play, this would definitely be a tenuous match — and they might not even be in the final. Bringing back Tim Howard to play in goal, Michael Bradley to patrol the midfield and Jozy Altidore to attack has made a huge difference. Returning Clint Dempsey to the lineup was a major shift as well. Dempsey tied Landon Donovan for the most goals in the history of the United States’ men’s national team with his 57th tally against Costa Rica in the semifinal. If you like the United States to win this match, you think that their back line will be able to hold off a Jamaican side that is opportunistic and quick yet still cautious enough not to yield bad chances on their own back end. You also think that the United States has the offensive talent to find holes in a physical and quick Jamaican back line.
Why should you bet on Jamaica?
All the pressure is on the United States, as the host nation and one of the seeded teams in this tournament. They have that 2015 setback to remember, back when wild-haired Wilfrid Schaefer guided Jamaica all the way to that Gold Cup final. This time they are managed by Theodore Whitmore, who had this to say after the Reggae Boyz knocked off Mexico: “The best way I could put it is the Biblical story. David slew Goliath” (from USA Today). Kemar Lawrence snaked his free kick inside the left post (and, to be fair, not all that far from the Mexican goalkeeper, who appeared either stunned or asleep on the play), giving Jamaica a ton of confidence as they return to the final. Also, this is not the Jamaica of prior years, treating defense as a sort of option. They have posted two straight clean sheets in the knockout rounds and look to make it three in the final. If you like Jamaica, you see them controlling matters against the best of the United States’ team, with the possible exception of the missing Christian Pulisic. Mexico did not bring all of their top players to the Gold Cup, but the United States has reloaded after group play.Predicted Lineups
USA- T. Howard
- B. Guzan
- M. Besler
- J. Brooks
- O. Gonzalez
- T. Chandler
- C. Pulisic
- J. Jones
- M. Bradley
- F. Johnson
- J. Altidore
- C. Dempsey
- A. Blake
- D. Lowe
- J. Taylor
- L. Richie
- K. Lawrence
- S. Francis
- J. Watson
- A. Powell
- O. Gordon
- R. Williams
- D. Mattocks
