USA vs. Uruguay: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

The USA’s Copa America hopes are hanging in the balance after a shock defeat to Panama and they face a stern test when they take on Uruguay in the final round of group games. 

The host nation went down 2-1 to Los Canaleros on Thursday as an early red card for Timothy Weah proved costly. 

The USA must at least match Panama’s result against Bolivia if they are to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay have six points from their two games and they thrashed Bolivia 5-0 in their last outing. The South American outfit look set for the next round as it would take an improbable set of results to see them eliminated at the first hurdle. 

USA vs. Uruguay betting picks and predictions

Folarin Balogun - Anytime Goalscorer (+250)

In terms of goalscoring, Folarin Balogun perhaps underwhelmed at Monaco last season with just seven goals in 29 Ligue 1 games - having managed 21 for Reims in the previous campaign - but he is making up for that at the Copa America.

The 22-year-old has scored in each of the USA’s two games so far and was on target against Panama within minutes of Weah’s dismissal.

The USA have no option other than to push forward against Uruguay as their hopes of reaching the next round hang in the balance and in-form Balogun looks their most likely scorer. 

The Monaco man has managed five attempts in total across his two appearances so far and he has been incredibly accurate, with just one of those off target and two blocked by defenders alongside his two goals.

Uruguay will probably resist making too many changes despite the fact qualification appears all-but secure so the USA will need to be at their best to get the result they need.

However, Balogun can at least give his side a chance of avoiding a group stage exit by getting on the scoresheet against a defence that has conceded in three of their last six games. 

Maximiliano Araujo - Anytime Goalscorer (+500)

Like Balogun, Uruguay forward Maximiliano Araujo had a fairly pedestrian season in terms of scoring with Mexican outfit Toluca, managing just three goals and three assists in 33 games, but he has been in fine form during the Copa America.

Araujo opened the scoring for La Celeste in their 3-1 win over Panama in their curtain raiser in the USA and was on target in the 5-0 demolition of Bolivia with their third goal, while he also provided an assist before getting among the goals himself.

The 24-year-old, typically a full-back at club level, is benefitting from playing in an advanced role for his country, with the ex-Montevideo Wanderers youth player repaying manager Marcelo Bielsa’s faith by becoming one of Uruguay’s key attacking threats.

Araujo has managed seven attempts in total in the Copa America and looks a strong outside contender for an anytime effort at a big price here. 

Federico Valverde to score from outside the box (+1600)

Anyone looking for a big price option in this game could be tempted by the +1600 on offer for Uruguay midfielder Federico Valverde to score from outside the penalty area.

The Real Madrid man has one goal to his name in the USA and is averaging 3.5 shots per game, and two attempts per game from outside the box.

Valverde also averaged one attempt per game from range for Real last season in La Liga, and in the Champions League he averaged 1.4 attempts per game from outside the penalty area.

The stats prove the 25-year-old is clearly comfortable shooting from distance and is the standout option among the potential contenders to score a long-range effort against the USA. 

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USA vs. Uruguay odds

USA	+137
Tie	+220
Uruguay	+210

USA vs. Uruguay player props

Anytime Goalscorer

Darwin Nunez (Uruguay)	+187
Christian Pulisic (USA)	+250
Folarin Balogun (USA)	+250
Ricardo Pepi (USA)	+250
Haji Wright (USA)	+275
Luis Suarez (Uruguay)	+275

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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.