The United States Men’s National Team battles Jamaica on Thursday in a crucial 2022 Concacaf World Cup Qualifier at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. Team USA drew in its first two WCQ games before getting a much-needed 4-1 victory over Honduras. Meanwhile, Jamaica has yet to post a World Cup Qualifying victory as it has two losses and one draw. These teams last met in the 2021 Gold Cup quarterfinals in which the United States prevailed 1-0.
Kickoff for USA vs. Jamaica is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Americans as the -333 favorites (risk $333 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line in its latest USMNT vs. Jamaica odds, while Jamaica is the +800 underdog. The over-under for total goals scored is set at 2.5. Before locking in any Jamaica vs. United State picks, you have to see what consummate soccer insider Roger Gonzalez has to say.
Gonzalez is an award-winning writer that has covered pro soccer from Europe to South America. Gonzalez started out his pro soccer writing career while in college at Virginia Tech, writing for Goal.com. He’s also covered the Copa America, Champions League, Copa Libertadores, and much more. Since 2015, he’s been the lead soccer writer for CBS Sports.
Now, Gonzalez has taken a close look at the USMNT vs. Jamaica matchup and locked in his best bets. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Jamaica vs. USMNT:
- USMNT vs. Jamaica over-under: 2.5 goals
- USMNT vs. Jamaica money line: USA -333, Jamaica +800, Draw +360
- USMNT vs. Jamaica spread: USA -1.5 (-110)
- USA: Brenden Aaronson, 20, has five goals in 10 international matches
- Jamaica: Has failed to score in three of its last four games
Why you should back the USMNT
The USMNT is undefeated over its last 12 games and gets a big boost with the return of MF Weston McKinnie. The 2020 U.S. Soccer Player of the Year was dropped from the squad last month for breaking COVID-19 team protocols but will be reinserted into the starting lineup vs. Jamaica. McKinnie’s third career international goal came against Jamaica at the 2019 Gold Cup and he should exploit a Jamaican side that is winless in its last five games.
The U.S. also gets a bit of a break as two of Jamaica’s best attackers will be unavailable. Leon Bailey, who has looked sensational in the Premier League, is out with a quad injury. Also, Jamaica will be without one of its three players who started all three September WCQs as winger Cory Burke is also injured. While the U.S. has notable absences of its own, it also has the kind of depth that Jamaica lacks and that should be apparent on Thursday.
Why you should back Jamaica
Jamaica had a strong summer that included an impressive Gold Cup showing. It won its first two group stage matches and advanced to the quarterfinals where it met the USMNT. The game was deadlocked for 82 minutes before the U.S. broke through for the game’s lone goal, but Jamaica was arguably the better side up to that point. It had more shots on goal than the U.S. before that late goal and that game was as competitive as Jamaica played Team USA in years.
Goalkeeper Andre Blake was a big reason for the Jamaicans’ showing at the Gold Cup as he conceded just two goals over four games. He will be the best GK on the field Thursday and is one of four players in MLS history to win multiple Goalkeeper of the Year awards (2016, 2020). Up front, Jamaica has talented forward Shamar Nicholson who has scored in his last two starts for the national team. The 6-foot-4 striker has always been a matchup problem for the United States’ smaller defenders and Nicholson has scored two goals in just 87 minutes against the USMNT.
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How to make USMNT vs. Jamaica picks
Gonzalez has taken an in-depth look at the USA vs. Jamaica match from every angle, and he’s locked in his best bet for Thursday’s clash. You need to see his picks and analysis before making selections of your own. He’s only sharing that over at SportsLine.
So who wins USMNT vs. Jamaica? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for the United States vs. Jamaica match, all from the expert who is CBS Sports’ lead soccer writer, and find out.
