It will take a total of 64 matches in the 2022 FIFA World Cup to decide a winner, as this weekend marks only eight remaining, including the third-place match slated for next Saturday. Getting things started in the quarterfinals, tournament-darling Morocco takes on Portugal, as superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo might just be limited due to his off-the-pitch issues with his manager.
Elsewhere, two international football titans, England and France, will square off in the World Cup for the first time in 40 years as both look to punch their ticket to the semis. Is more chaos in-store?
Let’s take a closer examination of the action for Saturday’s slate in Qatar.
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
2022 World Cup Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Morocco vs. Portugal
Morocco vs. Portugal (Al-Thumama Stadium, Al-Thumama; 10 a.m.)
Due to their exceptional play on defense, Morocco has earned their spot in this match; I think their time is up, however. Getting here with amongst the fewest (4) goals in World Cup history, Morocco has just 10 shots on goal this entire tournament, as they’ve relied heavily on their goalkeeper (and opponent’s misfortune). Yassine Bounou, the club’s goaltender, has been amongst the MVPs of this tournament so far, highlighted by penalty kick save(s) this week vs. Spain.
For Portugal, the benching of Ronaldo last week proved to work wonders, as the team scored six goals, three of which from Ronaldo’s replacement Gongacol Ramos. While the Atlas Lion’s advancement to this stage has been nothing short of legendary, I think the magic ride ends in regulation Saturday afternoon as Portugal advances to the semis.
Pick: Portugal -150 (+170)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts
Whether you're new to sports betting or a betting pro, our How To Bet and Sports Betting Strategy and Advice pages are for you. You can get started with our How To Section - including How to Avoid the 7 Biggest Sports Betting Mistakes - or head to a more advanced strategy - like Thinking Like an Expert Sports Bettor - to learn more.
Johnny is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Johnny, check out his free UFC picks newsletter and follow him @JohnnyCovers.