USA vs. Jamaica: Gold Cup Final Odds and Prediction

The 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup concludes with a surprising finalist in Jamaica looking for its first-ever championship in this event. On Wednesday, the Reggae Boyz take on the host United States, which is in the Gold Cup final for a record 10th time and looking for a sixth title.

USA vs. Jamaica

When: Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. ET
Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
Sports Interaction Odds: USA -190, Jamaica +629, Draw +249
Total: 2.5

Team USA

Team USA was the top team in Group B with seven points (2-0-1) and beat out Panama on a tiebreaker. The Americans beat El Salvador 2-0 in the quarterfinal round as defenders Omar Gonzalez and Eric Lichaj scored late in the first half to improve the United States to 9-0-1 all-time in Gold Cup quarterfinals.

In the semifinals, it was a 2-0 win over Costa Rica. American soccer legend Clint Dempsey entered that match in the 66th minute but still managed an assist (on a goal by Toronto FC’s Jozy Altidore) and a goal, which was Dempsey’s 57th of his international career, tying him with Landon Donovan for the U.S. record. The victory improved goalkeeper Tim Howard to 10-0-2 in the Gold Cup and was his eighth career clean sheet. He has only had to make three saves in his past two matches. Howard was one of six big-name roster additions after the group stage.

The Americans are ranked 33rd in the world by FIFA. They last won the Gold Cup in 2013 but were a disappointing fourth in 2015. The Gold Cup would be a nice feather in the cap of new/old coach Bruce Arena, but he’s more focused on qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. He has chosen a roster in part as an audition for many players for upcoming qualifying matches. The USA is 8-0-5 in Arena’s second tenure, outscoring opponents 25-7.

There have been nine different goal-scorers in this year’s tournament for Team USA. The event record of 10 was set by the Americans in 2009.

Team Jamaica

The Reggae Boyz, ranked 76th in the world, qualified for their 10th CONCACAF Gold Cup by advancing to the semifinals of this year’s Caribbean Cup, where they finished second to Curaçao. Jamaica was second to Mexico in Group C of the Gold Cup. Jamaica knocked off Canada 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Shaun Francis scored in the sixth minute and Romario Williams in the 50th before the Canadians took control of the play and nearly rallied.

Canada had 19 shots to Jamaica’s 9. Reggie Boyz goalkeeper Andre Blake – who plays for the Philadelphia Union in the MLS — was stellar in earning man of the match. Jamaica has eight players on its roster who play in the MLS. Francis suits up for the Montreal Impact.

While knocking off Canada wasn’t a surprise, the 1-0 upset of Mexico in the semifinals was – in front of a very pro-Mexico crowd at the Rose Bowl outside Los Angeles. Defender Kemar Lawrence scored off a free kick in the 88th minute, and Blake was terrific again. The Jamaicans played without the suspended Kevon Lambert, but he likely will reinserted into central midfield in the starting XI on Wednesday.

It was Jamaica’s first win against Mexico in eight all-time Gold Cup meetings and sweet payback for a 3-1 loss to El Tri in the 2015 Gold Cup final. Jamaica had upset the USA 2-1 in the semifinals that year, one of the Americans’ most shocking defeats under then-coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Darren Mattocks (this team’s best goal-scorer) and Giles Barnes scored for Jamaica in that match.

Jamaica is the first nation other than the USA and Mexico to earn a spot in back-to-back Gold Cup finals.

CONCACAF USA vs. Jamaica Predictions

The USA has the advantage of an extra day of rest. For the final, there will be 30 minutes added if tied after 90. In that added time, managers are permitted a fourth substitute. If still tied, then it goes to penalty kicks. The USA is 14-2-9 all-time in this series and 11-1-3 on American soil (that 2015 semifinal was the loss).

The countries played in a friendly on February in Chattanooga, Tenn., and the USA won 1-0 on a Jordan Morris goal.

The Americans haven’t allowed a goal in the past three matches, and that continues here with a 1-0 victory. Take a matchbet of USA and under 2.5 goals at +157 to be safe.