Mexico vs. Saudi Arabia: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

Saturday, the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup begin, with two games in Glendale, the second being Mexico's match-up with Saudi Arabia.

El Tri is looking to defend the title it won in 2023 and faces debutants Saudi, who received an invitation. The winner heads into the last four to take on either Panama and Honduras, who open the day's bill at State Farm Stadium.

The Arabian Falcons finished second in Group D behind the USMNT, beating Haiti 1-0 first time out, before losing 1-0 to Mauricio Pochettino's co-hosts and then drawing 1-1 with Trinidad & Tobago to squeeze into the last eight.

Mexico, meanwhile, defeated the Dominican Republic 3-2 and Suriname 2-0. They then drew 0-0 with Costa Rica to secure the top seeding in Group A.

Co-hosts of next year's World Cup, Mexico is looking to build momentum and, in front of a vibrant State Farm Stadium crowd can qualify for the semifinals with a grinding win.

Mexico vs. Saudi Arabia betting picks and predictions

Mexico to win to zero (+110)

Both Mexico and Saudi Arabia are missing key players due to the Club World Cup, but coaches Javier Aguirre and Herve Renard will not be worried about what they haven't got.

Knockout tournament football is all about doing what you can with what's available to beat your equally desperate opponents.

El Tri have kept clean sheets in their last two games and that bodes well for these types of fixtures where chances might be at a premium.

Aguirre has been wise to put his faith in experienced Fulham forward Raul Jimenez in attack, using AC Milan's Santiago Gimenez, who scored the winner in the 2023 Gold Cup final, from the bench.

Stopping Jimenez might be Saudi Arabia's main aim and they cannot be ruled out with a coach like Renard in charge.

The Frenchman guided The Green to a historic win over eventual champions Argentina at the last World Cup.

After his initial four-year reign ended in 2023, he returned last year following a brief stint in charge of France's Women's side.

Renard has had a nomadic coaching career but his best results have come in charge of national teams and he will be happy for his team to play the underdog role.

However, Mexico won 2-1 when these two teams met in the pool stages in Qatar at the World Cup 2022 and considering all of Saudi's Gold Cup games have featured under 2.5 goals, El Tri looks the team to back and without conceding.

Luis Chavez - anytime goalscorer (+400)

Mexico's lack of attacking cohesion is perhaps why Aguirre hasn't persevered with a Jimenez-Gimenez attacking axis, and they have had to rely on an unlikely source for goals.

Defender Cesar Montes has scored three in as many matches but misses out in Glendale after picking up his second yellow card of the competition in the draw with Costa Rica.

It's time for Jimenez to step up, but the player to watch could be Luis Chavez.

Like Lokomotiv's Montes, the midfielder plays his club football in Moscow for Dynamo, and worldwide viewers may know him from his incredible long-range strike against Saudi Arabia at the World Cup three years ago.

After sitting deep and offering little in Lusail, Renard's team is again expected to try and absorb pressure, so Chavez's ability to fire home from distance makes him dangerous and expect him to try his luck with every chance he gets.

Half with most goals - 2nd half (+225)

The aforementioned group match between these sides in Qatar saw Mexico dominate the first half but head into the break goalless before netting two quickfire goals to be 2-0 up by 52 minutes.

El Tri's lack of attacking cohesion has been an issue in this tournament, and they may have to be patient. Therefore, backing there to be more goals in the second half in Glendale looks like a good play.

That's landed in two of Mexico's three games, while there is yet to be more than one goal in any of Saudi Arabia's matches at the Gold Cup.

Going for a 0-0 at half-time is a decent idea at +163, but there is more value in backing more goals to be scored after the break.

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Mexico vs. Saudi Arabia odds

Mexico	-209
Draw	+310
Saudi Arabia	+650

Mexico vs. Saudi Arabia player props

Anytime Goalscorer

Raul Jimenez (Mexico)	+130
Santiago Gimenez (Mexico)	+140
Angel Sepulveda (Mexico)	+160
Julian Quinones (Mexico)	+200
Cesar Huerta (Mexico)	+220
Alexis Vega (Mexico)	+260

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.