The 2024 Copa America plays host to some of the best and most exciting attacking players in world football which makes the handicap betting market an interesting proposition. Ahead of the quarter-finals, here are a selection of matches that are worth taking a handicap on.
Why the Copa America handicap betting market is worth exploring
The handicap betting market is always worth a look when the match result market isn't offering any value. This is typically the case when one team is deemed overwhelmingly stronger than the other.
In the Copa America, this scenario is likely to crop up frequently, particularly in matches featuring the likes of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.
While most people tend to look at handicap betting if they are backing a team to win by a big margin, it's also a good market if you believe an underdog is going to make life difficult for their superior opponents. Brazil, who are likely to have short odds on reputation alone, are certainly a consideration here given their poor form of late.
The handicap market is also frequently used in-play and for good reason. If it becomes clear early on in a match that a team can't handle a certain player or opponent, then it's worth jumping on the handicap market before the goals start flying in.
Which Copa America games could be of interest here?
Argentina vs Ecuador
Argentina breezed through the group stages of the Copa America, winning all three of their matches without conceding a goal. They won two of the three matches by a margin of two goals, something that they have made a habit of since their World Cup triumph in 2022.
Lionel Scaloni's men have now won 16 of the 17 matches they've played since becoming world champions and 12 of those victories have come by a margin of at least two goals.
In the quarter-finals, they will face an Ecuador team that has already tasted defeat at the tournament – a 2-1 loss to Venezuela. It's hard to see them having enough quality to prevent Messi and co from filling their boots on Friday morning.
Argentina -1 is priced at 6/4 with Betfred.
Colombia vs Panama
The biggest mismatch at the Copa America quarter-final stage is the match between Colombia vs Panama on Saturday night. Colombia came through as Group D winners in a pool that featured the mighty Brazil, which tells you all you need to know about their form at the tournament so far.
Colombia have already won one match at the tournament a margin of 2+ goals and that came against Costa Rica. Prior to the tournament starting, they were also in the habit of putting teams to the sword, beating the USA 5-1 and Bolivia 3-0 in their final two warm-up matches.
Panama's passage through to this stage is a shock but they are here on merit. Despite that, they have already been beaten by two goals at the tournament – a 3-1 loss to Uruguay. In fact, two of their last four losses have come by a margin of two goals.
Colombia -1 is priced at 9/10 with Betfred.
Uruguay vs Brazil
Normally, you'd fancy Brazil to put several goals past any side but things are different now and the Seleceao are really struggling to get going. Although they beat Paraguay 4-1 on matchday two, that was sandwiched in between two dull draws which makes a big win here feel unlikely.
Uruguay, meanwhile, have played the best football at the tournament so far to the point where any defeat to Brazil here would come as a shock, never mind a heavy one.
They've been excellent ever since Marcelo Bielsa was appointed manager in 2023 and recorded their first victory over Brazil in 22 years at the end of last year.
With that monkey off their back, and the fact they are in better form than their opponents, backing Uruguay to simply not lose by two goals is a great bet.
Uruguay +1 is priced at 1/2 with Betfred.
Andy is tipster who has been calling Golf tournaments for several years across many different platforms. He has covered all tournaments from the Asian Tour to the Masters.
