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Brazil vs Venezuela & Colombia vs Ecuador Odds and Picks – Copa America Matchday 1

Gary Gowers

by Gary Gowers in Soccer News

Updated Jun 13, 2021 · 3:06 PM PDT

Neymar reacting to a call during a soccer match.
Brazil's Neymar reacts during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 against Paraguay at Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asuncion, Paraguay, Tuesday, June 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)
  • 2021 Copa America finally kicks off in Brasilia, Brazil on Sunday, June 13, KO 6:00 pm EST
  • The tournament opens with Brazil vs Venezuela and later on Sunday it is Colombia vs Ecuador in Cuiaba
  • We preview both Group B games, look at the odds, and offer some best bets below

The 2021 Copa America finally kicks off in Brasilia, Brazil on Sunday – June 13, KO 6:00 pm EST – when the hosts take on their neighbors Venezuela at the Estadio Nacional de Brasilia in Group B. Originally the tournament was scheduled for 12 June to 12 July 2020 as the 2020 Copa América but for obvious reasons was delayed by a year.

The other teams in Group B are Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, and the second group game takes place on Sunday, June 13, KO 9:00 pm EST with Colombia vs Ecuador in Cuiaba.

We preview both games, look at the odds, and offer some best bets below.

Brazil vs Venezuela Copa America Odds

Matchup Spread Moneyline Total
Brazil vs Venezuela BRA -2 (+152) | VEN +2 (+125) BRA -670| DRAW +650 | VEN +1700 Ov 3.5 (+180) | Un 3.5 (-230)

All Odds as of June 12 from DraftKings

Brazil vs Venezuela Preview

An often chaotic lead-up to this tournament – its host country changed twice – has ended up being advantageous to Brazil, who offered to host it at very short notice. Aside from all of the other factors involved, which at times risked this tournament taking place at all, Brazil’s home advantage has ensured they now start as big favorites to win it.

Brazil comes into this competition in very good form and has been very impressive in the early rounds of their qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.  If they beat Venezuela it will be eight wins on the spin for Tite’s men – an outstanding achievement for any team.

Their most recent success came on Wednesday night when – inspired by a healthy and confident Neymar – they recorded a straightforward 2-0 win over a good Paraguay team, who, at 35 in the FIFA world rankings, are only five places lower than Sunday’s opponents.

By contrast, Venezuela comes into this game off the back of a lukewarm run of form in which they have won just one of their last six games, and to add to their woes, the country’s all-time leading goalscorer Salomon Rondon misses this tournament. In the last few weeks, La Vinotinto managed to take only a point from World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Uruguay, the game against Bolivia ending in a particularly disappointing 3-1  defeat.

Brazil vs Venezuela Best Bets

The very obvious bet here is for a win for Tite’s men, although perhaps it is worth noting that in the last competitive game between these two, Brazil won 1-0 in a very tight game – Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino scoring the only goal. As things stand, I suspect Venezuela would take a 1-0 defeat, but it promises to be a far more uncomfortable evening for them this time around. The value bet for me looks the 3-0 ‘home’ win.

Pick: Brazil to win 3-0 (+440)

Colombia vs Ecuador Copa America Odds

Matchup Spread Moneyline Total
Colombia vs Ecuador COL -1 (+185) | ECU -1 (-225) COL -113| DRAW +225 | ECU +360 Ov 2.5 (+125) | Un 2.5 (-155)
2021 CONMEBOL Copa América Odds Tracker
Read More

Colombia vs Ecuador Preview

Ecuador and Colombia meet in Cuiabá’s Arena Pantanal on Sunday night in the second Group B game. Colombia comes into this competition with a big reputation and an expectation of comfortably qualifying from this group (the top four qualify for the next phase) but will be without two of their biggest stars – James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao. This gives Ecuador a chance they may not otherwise have expected.

The Ecuadorians come into this off the back of a two-game losing streak – against Brazil and Peru in World Cup qualifiers – but prior to that had enjoyed a run of four straight wins, which included an emphatic 6-1 thrashing of Colombia (also in World Cup qualifying).

As a result, they should not be underestimated but key to their chances will be the Premier League center-back pairing of Davinson Sanchez (Tottenham)and Yerry Mina (Everton), who will need to play well if they are to avoid defeat.

Colombia vs Ecuador Best Bets

Even without Rodriguez, Colombia has a squad full of quality but the 6-1 win by Ecuador in November 2020 will give them the Ecuadorians belief that they can cause an upset.

I expect this one to be close and cagey – as opening rounds of tournaments so often are – and there is enough evidence to suggest that Ecuador eke out a draw. At +225 that is where the value lies.

Pick: Colombia and Ecuador to draw (+225)

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