U.S. Team Betting Specials at the 2022 World Cup

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U.S. Team Betting Specials at the 2022 World Cup
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The U.S. men are getting closer to their first World Cup game since 2014. Following are betting specials for the Americans, in which people can bet on the number of goals they'll score, the points tally from Group B, and their stage of elimination.

Stage of Elimination

We should get the clearest insight into the U.S. men's capabilities in their first game against Wales. If the Americans win, they should get enough points from games against Iran and Wales to qualify for the next round. A defeat to Wales likely would require the team to at least tie with England and beat Iran, hoping the Welsh lose both games at the same time. The sportsbooks have the U.S down at -210 to leave the competition at the group stages.

If the U.S gets out of the group in first place, it likely will meet Senegal or Ecuador. The Netherlands should finish at the top of its group, forcing a meeting with one of the other two instead. The Americans likely would beat Senegal, but this is all based on whether they can finish atop Group B.

If they finished second in Group B, they likely would meet Argentina in the quarterfinals anyway, and it’s doubtful the U.S would win that match. The U.S leaving the competition in the round of 16 is +270, and elimination at the quarterfinals is +750.

Exact Number of Goals the U.S. Could Score

Starting the odds at -270 is over 2.5 goals to be scored for the U.S. in its three group games. It will face Wales, Iran and England, and anything under 3.5 goals would be disastrous. 

A goal against England could be tough, but scoring should be easier against Iran and Wales. The Americans are the favorites to beat both those teams, and an estimation of four goals across those games seems fair.

The main concern for the U.S is the lack of goals scored at the club level for its players this season. Brandon Vazquez and Jesus Ferreira have been scoring plenty of goals in the MLS this year, with the Dallas striker netting 18 and Vazquez scoring 19. Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic and Brendan Aaronson, however, have all struggled in Europe.

If the U.S. can defeat Iran and Wales, it should enter the knockout stages. Then, over 6.5 goals (+430) and over 5.5 goals (+270) look a lot more appealing. It's doubtful the team will get to the semifinals, so over 9.5 goals (+2300) and over 11.5 (+5000) are tough to justify. 

The Exact Number of Points

In a previous piece, we predicted the U.S would edge Iran and Wales but struggle to beat England. If this is the case, six points should come in for it. The U.S. first battles Wales in the World Cup on Nov. 21 in what likely will be its most important game, given England should finish atop the group.

If the U.S. can beat Wales, it will have three points on the board and set itself up nicely for the match with England four days later. The U.S. will finish its group play against Iran on Nov. 29. By then, if it has failed to beat England and Wales, it will have little hope of getting all three points in the final game.

For the U.S. to win all three games and get nine points, it's +2900. Seven points would mean the Americans going unbeaten with two wins and one tie, and this is +1000, while our prediction of six points (two wins, one loss) is +550. 

For them to win one game only and lose the other two, it's +380, and just one point is +600. Four points is another notable one, as this would mean one loss, one tie and one win, which could easily happen; this is +270.

To Get Out of the Group

Oddly enough, the U.S. is -105 to qualify from the group, with Wales +105. On the other hand, both Wales and the U.S see +550 odds to win the group. 

England is the clear favorite to win Group B at -250 and -1100 just to qualify.