The USA will host the game in Columbus and to no one's surprise, is the overwhelming favorite to pull out the victory at the most-popular online sportsbooks. Here are the current three-way moneyline betting odds:
CONCACAF 2022 World Cup Qualifying Recap
When evaluating soccer betting lines, it's always a smart idea to understand the "stakes" — not only on your end (e.g. how much money you're risking) but what's on the line for teams and players involved. Therefore, let's quickly recap the CONCACAF 2022 World Cup Qualifying to see where each side is and what needs to happen to punch a ticket to Qatar.
The US and El Salvador are on opposite ends of the table. With 15 points, the Americans are second-best in the eight-team group (behind Canada by one point). On the opposite end, the Salvadorians are second-to-last with a meager six points. So it's safe to say El Salvador is desperate for at least a tie in this qualifier, whereas the US is more in "cruise control."
We would say this has all the makings for a "trap" game for the United States, but after the 2018 qualifying fiasco (when they missed the World Cup entirely), we get the sense the US isn't going to take anyone lightly — not even the No. 70-ranked El Salvador. Especially not on their home soil where the Americans haven't lost a game in ages. Heck, in 2021, they outright won all its games at home aside from one (a 1-1 draw with Canada).
This game marks the second time the countries have faced off in this qualifying round. Back in September, they played a 0-0 game when El Salvador had hosting duties. The game was evenly-matched as El Salvador won the time of possession battle (51% to 49%), but the USA outshot them on goal 13-7.
USA vs. El Salvador Betting Picks
There's more than one way to make betting picks on USA vs. El Salvador and we're giving you not one, not two, but three bets to make! Here they are one-by-one:
Moneyline
Alright, we'll cut right to the chase: El Salvador is NOT going to win this. In the 25 all-time meetings between the two sides, El Salvador has ONE win. Trust us, that's not going to become two, especially when playing in Columbus.
At best, El Salvador can walk away with a tie and a point in the standings. But even then, we don't believe that's happening. There's too much momentum on the USA side after a historically-good 2021. Last year, the Americans went 17-2-3 and the winning mark set a single-year record for the nation. We expect that success to carry over into 2022 versus an overmatched El Salvador side.
Spread
Alright, if the USA is going to win, the question becomes: will they roll over El Salvador or barely squeak by? Our money is on the former happening.
That's because El Salvador hasn't been all that competitive in this qualifying round. Never mind its record is 1-3-4, but it's the scoring differential that stands out to us. El Salvador has netted a mere four goals in eight games and allowed ten for a -6 differential — only Honduras' at -10 is worse in CONCACAF. There's little doubt in our mind that the USA is winning by two goals minimum.
Over/Under Goals Scored
We're on record saying that the US is winning by two goals in the pick above, but with that said, it won't be enough to get this game into over territory. We're predicting a 2-0 USA victory because as mentioned before, El Salvador's offense is rather anemic (averaging 0.5 goals per game this stage).
We envision El Salvador's game plan will be to "play for the tie." It won't work, but at the same time, it won't be exploited for three or more goals by the US either. Pick the under with confidence here!
How To Bet US vs. El Salvador?
We just gave three "money" picks above so all that's left is for you to lock in these wagers before the January 27 match. If you want to bet US vs. El Salvador, then your "best bet" is one of the sportsbooks below. They have all the odds at bettor-friendly prices and killer sign-up bonuses available. Some of the best bonuses are listed below. Click around the table to place your USA-El Salvador bets right now!
