QATAR VS. ECUADOR
GAME INFORMATION: 10 A.M., SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20 AT AL BAYT STADIUM, AL KHOR, QATAR
TV: FS1
BETTING ODDS: QATAR +230/ECUADOR +135/DRAW +210
TOTALS: OVER 2 (-105)/UNDER 2 (-110)
The 2022 World Cup, controversy and all, kicks off Sunday with host Qatar welcoming the world to the Middle East. Few people give Qatar much hope to advance, but they’ve got a chance in this matchup. Ecuador qualified out of South America, but La Tricolor’s record might not meet what it suggests. Ecuador plays with a huge advantage at home because it plays at elevation in Quito, but that’s gone here. The last time Ecuador beat a World Cup side without the elevation edge? 2015, when they knocked off Mexico in the United States.
Throw in that the host country has never lost the opening match, and Qatar’s chances don’t look so grim. The Crimsons gave a good showing in the Gold Cup and play good defense, and a surprise can definitely happen.
MATCH BET: QATAR DRAW NO BET, +130
I’m not willing to go all-in and say Qatar definitely takes three points. But I do think the Crimsons do no worse than a draw, and I think they can steal the win here. Ecuador’s attack has looked rather weak leading up to the attack, as La Tri has scored just twice in six matches. To be fair, Ecuador hasn’t conceded in any of those six matches, but none of them were in a true road atmosphere. Either way, I don’t think Qatar tastes defeat here.
SCORE BET: QATAR 1, ECUADOR 0, +625
The Crimsons have won five straight matches, and three of them were won to nil. No, they didn’t play good opposition either, but they also didn’t play at home. They have handled the conditions and the elevation, plus they’ll have the fans firmly behind them. There’s a good chance that if this match has a goal, it comes from Qatar.
SIDE BET 1: QATAR TO WIN FIRST HALF, +350
I cannot ignore the value here. Qatar’s a first half team and will be playing with the crowd behind them. In the 32-team World Cup era, only two out of eight hosts (Japan in 2002 and Brazil in 2014) went into halftime without the lead, and both were tied at the break. You have to go all the way back to Spain in 1982 (ironically against Honduras) to find a host country who trailed at halftime.
SIDE BET 2: UNDER 1.5 GOALS, +150
These teams shouldn’t score more than one. Neither boasts a strong attack and both play defensive-oriented soccer. This looks like the kind of match where one team gets an early goal and then bosses the rest of the match to keep the score where it is. Otherwise, this match will likely finish scoreless. Either way, this bet should cash.
