2022 World Cup Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Friday (12/2)
Unsurprisingly, Brazil and Portugal have already punched their tickets to the Round of 16. Now the third and final group play match day will see the other teams in Groups G and H battle it out for the remaining spots! Let’s dive into each match and get a few bets locked in.
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Group H: South Korea vs. Portugal (Education City Stadium; 6 p.m.)
South Korea fought back from a 2-0 deficit in their second game against Ghana, but they allowed a late goal and now sit at 0-1-1 heading into the final match day. As for Portugal, they’re firing on all cylinders and entering at 2-0-0 with a +3 goal differential. The betting odds for Friday’s match are currently Portugal -150, South Korea +390, and the draw comes in at +330.
It’s always tough to bet on these matches where one team is already going through to the next round, and the other is still fighting for a spot to advance. For example, on Wednesday, we saw a French lineup against Tunisia that featured nine new starters. They ultimately dropped the final group stage showdown 1-0 in a game that they were favored (-164 to win). So, considering we don’t know who will be on the pitch, I’m going to stay away from a side and look at the total. I’ll go ahead and lock in the under on 2.5 goals. If Portugal opts to sit Cristiano Ronaldo (free agent), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), and João Félix (Atlético Madrid), then we will likely see this Portugal offense flounder. Additionally, with South Korea playing for their tournament life, look for them to be extremely stingy on defense. Let’s take a shot with the under for this Group H clash.
Bet: Under 2.5 Goals (-105 via DraftKings)
Group H: Ghana vs. Uruguay (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakra; 6 p.m.)
Uruguay looks to rebound from a poor start to the tournament when they take on Ghana (1-0-1) in their final group-stage match. Despite an 0-1-1 start and being scoreless through 180+ minutes of gameplay, the oddsmakers are still siding with the South American side and have them listed at -140 to come away victorious on Friday. Ghana comes back at +400, and the draw sits at +285.
I’m going to ride with Ghana to advance here at +110 odds (which can be found under the Group Futures tab). This play gives us a little wiggle room as there are several scenarios that can push the African side through to the Knockout Stage.
Ultimately, I don’t see Uruguay flipping a switch and coming away with a win. I mean, what have they shown that gives you any confidence in backing them? They’ve yet to score a goal and have been outshot in their first two matches. I think Ghana’s in a great spot here, and they’ve proven to have plenty of firepower to keep up if this one turns into a barnburner. Let’s take them to advance over an underwhelming Uruguay team.
Bet: Ghana To Qualify from Group H (+110 via DraftKings)
Group G: Cameroon vs. Brazil (Lusail Stadium; 10 p.m.)
Brazil escaped with a 1-0 victory over Switzerland when they took the pitch on Monday. They’ll attempt to improve to a perfect 3-0-0 when they square off against Cameroon. The African side is 0-1-1 with a -1 goal differential and resides in third place currently. They’re +750 to pull off the upset on Friday, while Brazil sits at -265, and the draw is +425.
Similar to Portugal, we’re unsure what type of lineup we’ll see from Brazil for Friday’s final match. However, if they go with the backups, there’s still plenty of talent on this team to find the back of the net a few times. Cameroon has shown weaknesses in its defense at times, and Brazil will take advantage of that if given the opportunity. On the flip side, the Africans put on an offensive clinic last time, seeing three players score in their draw against Serbia. Look for them to push the pace in a game they must win to advance. They may score, but they’ll also leave themselves exposed to counterattacks from a dominant Brazil side. I like the over in this one.
Bet: Over 2.5 (-140 via DraftKings)
Group G: Serbia vs. Switzerland (Stadium 974, Doha; 10 p.m.)
Unless Cameroon throws a wrench into the group’s standings, this is the match that will see the winner push through to the next round. Switzerland comes in at 1-0-1 with no goal differential, and Serbia is 0-1-1 with a -2 goal differential. As for the betting odds, Serbia is +160 to win, Switzerland is +185, and the draw is +230.
Switzerland has the edge in the table, and they’ve been strong defensively throughout the tournament. If they opt to park the bus on Friday, they will likely find success in doing so. Through their first two matches, the Swiss side managed 51% of possession against Cameroon and barely lost out on possession to Brazil 56%-44%. I’ll be rooting for a draw here. Switzerland has no reason to push the pace and go for goals, and I think they’re strong enough defensively to hold off Serbia. We might be in for 90 scoreless minutes in this one.
Bet: Draw (+230 via DraftKings)
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