Copa America: Two plays on USA-Colombia rematch
Colombia beat the U.S. 2-0 in the Copa America opener and they meet again in Saturday night's third-place game in Arizona. Vegas insider Todd Fuhrman shares his recommendation for how to bet the match.
USA vs. Colombia, University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz., Sat., 8 p.m. ET
Colombia +145
USA +195
Draw +245
Total 3 (Under -125)
The U.S. gets Colombia in a revenge game after they squared off in the tournament's opening match. If you told Jurgen Klinsmann his team would reach the semifinals after their sluggish opener, I'm sure he'd have been thrilled (even if it meant losing to Argentina 4-0).
The Americans rebounded from the 2-0 loss to Colombia with wins against Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Ecuador. Colombia limped to the finish, failing to register a single goal in their last two matches and going winless over their final three. For a Colombian side hell bent on winning Copa, I'm not sure playing in the consolation game can be seen as a reward.
Who to watch:
Clint Dempsey is truly the ageless wonder. While you didn't notice him on the pitch in the disastrous loss to Argentina (nor any other American for that matter), the U.S. wouldn't be here without his contributions. Defensively it's all about John Brooks; the Hertha BSC defender has shown outstanding upside anchoring the back line. Without knowing Klinsmann's lineup, I'd imagine both these guys are out there seeking redemption for the Argentinian debacle.
James Rodriguez is the face of Colombian soccer. In their 2-0 semifinal loss to Chile, his frustration was clearly evident as his team fell behind early. I won't say Los Cafeteros have looked uninspired, but after going up 2-0 against Paraguay in their second match, they've been outscored 6-2 in the next seven halves of soccer.
What will happen:
Capping consolation games is challenging. The more motivated side makes for a better bet (go figure) and in this matchup you would have to assume that to be the United States. Yet something about the game seems too easy when it comes to backing the Stars and Stripes.
Once we see lineups, we'll know how each team is approaching the opportunity to grab third place. Regardless of motivation, I think goals become the order of the day, making my favorite bets easier to identify.
The Plays: Over 2.5 (-160); Both teams to score (+175)