CONCACAF Gold Cup Odds and Prediction: Canada vs. Jamaica

The CONCACAF Gold Cup has entered the knockout stage this week as Team Canada takes on Jamaica in one quarter-final match Thursday night. The Canadians finished second in their Group A behind Costa Rica and the Jamaicans were second in Group C behind tournament favorite Mexico.

Canada vs. Jamaica

When: Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
Sports Interaction Odds: Canada +163, Jamaica +184, Draw +187
Total: 2.5

Team Canada

The Canadians are hoping to reach the semi-finals for the first time in 10 years. Canada had a chance to win Group A but drew 0-0 in the finale of that stage vs. Honduras. The Hondurans advanced as one of the two best third-place finishers. The winner of the Canada-Jamaica match would face either Mexico or Honduras on Sunday in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Canada has still yet to lose in 2017 with three wins and three draws.

“We have grown as a group and as a team we have been able to bring into the game certain aspects that we like,” said coach Octavio Zambrano to the media. “All in all, it has been a steady progression. Mentally, we believe that we can do this.”

Canada has to be pleased with its quarter-final draw in avoiding the big three of the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica in this round. Meanwhile, 16-year-old sensation Alphonso Davies is currently tied for the Golden Boot with three goals.

Zambrano has made a roster change ahead of the Jamaica match, replacing Toronto FC player Raheem Edwards with Orlando City’ Cyle Larin, a 22-year-old striker from Brampton. Teams in this competition can make up to six changes after the group phase but can’t go over a roster of 23. Larin was the 2015 MLS Rookie of the Year and has scored five goals in 20 appearances with the national team. He was runner-up for Canadian Player of the Year in 2015 & ’16. Larin, who leads Orlando City with eight goals this season, was left off the initial Gold Cup roster after being arrested for drunk driving June 15.

Team Jamaica

The Reggae Boyz are ranked 76th in the world, 24 spots ahead of Canada. Two years ago, the Reggae Boyz fell 3-1 to Mexico in the Gold Cup final.

This year, Jamaica has a win and two draws. It opened with a 2-0 win over Curacao. Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake, the 2016 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year with Philadelphia, was the star of that one. Romaro Williams and Darren Mattocks had the goals.

Then Jamaica drew 0-0 with Mexico. The Jamaicans avoided a loss to the Mexicans for the first time in seven all-time Gold Cup matches, while Mexico had its four-game Gold Cup winning streak snapped. Blake again was stellar with seven saves. Finally, in the group finale Jamaica drew with El Salvador 1-1. The Reggae Boyz tied in the 64th minute as Mattocks converted from a penalty shot. It was Mattocks’ fourth goal in his last five Gold Cup games, extending his team record. Jamaica has only lost one of its past eight in this competition.

“Based on how we played, it doesn’t matter who we play if we are going to play like this,” said Mattocks of the draw. “We won’t get past the quarterfinals. It wasn’t good enough. Aside from [goalkeeper] Andre [Blake], who made some fantastic saves in the game to keep it 1-0, we need a reality check: We were not good enough.”

Canada vs. Jamaica Predictions

Interestingly, Canada’s next friendly is against Jamaica on Sept. 2 in Toronto. The sides played in the 2015 Gold Cup in Houston and Jamaica won 1-0. Rodolph Austin scored on a header in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.

I believe this one will end in a scoreless regulation draw – under 2.5 goals is -238 — but Canada will win in extra time to advance and face Mexico.