Gold Cup Odds: Weak Mexico Squad Still Favored vs. Honduras

Mexico (-166) vs. Honduras (+590), Draw (+310)

Mexico coach Luis Pompilio Páez opted to send a young, inexperienced squad to the Gold Cup, and it doesn’t seem like he’ll be calling upon his star players for the knockout rounds. Mexico will face third-place group qualifiers Honduras in the quarter-final on Thursday (July 20th). 

Alongside the USMNT, Mexico are the co-favorites to win the Gold Cup. But their group stage games had quite a few nervous moments. After a disappointing 0-0 draw against Jamaica, they pinched a 2-0 win against Curaçao despite a bunch of defensive mishaps.

This isn’t the Mexico we saw at the Confederations Cup. There’s no Javier Hernández or Carlos Vela up front, and no Héctor Moreno or Miguel Layún on defense. They’ve been forced to rely on quite a few rookies to get by. If that makes you think Honduras has a chance, there could be some favorable odds on the underdog. 

Replacement striker Erick Torres has been far too inconsistent and Ángel Sepúlveda hasn’t been much better. Instead, their goals have come mostly from their midfielders. Still, they managed to qualify at the top of their group and remain slight favorites over the US to win the cup outright.

Honduras were lucky to make it out of the group stage. They were awarded a 3-0 victory when French Guiana fielded an ineligible player, but had the final score stuck, they would have walked away with a 0-0 draw. If that had been the case, they wouldn’t have qualified for the knockout rounds.

Somehow, the Hondurans managed to advance to the quarter-finals without scoring a single goal. The only goals they have on record is the three gifted to them following the forfeit.

With FC Dallas’ Maynor Figueroa and Houston Dynamo’s attacking duo of Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto, Honduras have a decent squad. But even compared to Mexico’s sub-par squad, they still don’t measure up well.

Mexico have won three of the last four Gold Cups, so it’ll be a huge upset to see them exit in the quarter-final. Honduras have never won, but they’ve reached the semis quite a few times over the years.

Mexico have a weak squad by their standards, but it’s enough to put away the Hondurans.

Pick: Mexico (-166)