Switzerland (0 wins, 3 losses, 0 draws) welcomes Portland (2-0-1) to Stade de Genève in Geneva, Switzerland Sunday. Kickoff for the 4th of 6 group stage games is set for 2:45 p.m. ET. Below, we preview the Switzerland vs. Portugal odds and lines, and make our best UEFA Nations League bets, picks and predictions.
The 2 global soccer powerhouses will highlight just a handful of premier games in this round of the group stage.
While Switzerland was among those teams in Pot 2 for the 2022 World Cup draw, they’ve struggled immensely in a group that also has Spain and the Czech Republic. Switzerland sits 14th in the world per FIFA men’s rankings.
Portugal comes in ranked 8th, led by Manchester United star F Cristiano Ronaldo, who netted 2 goals as Portugal beat Switzerland 4-0 at home on June 5.
The Ronaldo-led side is sitting atop League A Group 2 with 7 goals for and 1 goal against in 3 games. They drew Spain 1-1 and blanked the Czech Republic 2-0.
Check out Pro Soccer Wire: For the American soccer fan, USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s website provides a fresh look at the beautiful game.
Switzerland vs. Portugal odds, lines, picks and predictions
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:03 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Switzerland +240 (bet $100 to win $240) | Portugal +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Draw +245
- Over/Under: 2.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
[tipico]
Prediction
Portugal 2, Switzerland 1
Money line (ML)
LEAN PORTUGAL (+115).
It might be a relatively easy prediction, but Portugal has looked too good to bet against here. While Ronaldo is important, their team is far from just a one-man show.
They have an experienced backline led by D Pepe, who has 127 caps. Both Ronaldo on the attack and M João Moutinho have 3 digits worth of caps as well.
They also have an up-and-coming star F in 25-year-old Liverpool F Diogo Jota. Combine it all, and it’s a roster one wouldn’t want to bet against.
Also, Switzerland has looked awful so far in the nations league, allowing 7 goals and scoring just 1. They have an aging midfield with 30-year-old M Xherdan Shaqiri and 29-year-old Granit Xhaka.
The home-field advantage helps bring the value for Portugal, and I’ll take that.
Over/Under (O/U)
BET OVER 2.5 (-110).
Both sides have played in 3 games so far in the nations league and those games have totaled 8 goals each, so they’re hovering around a 3-goal per-game average.
Portugal has won 4-0 against Switzerland already and has 17 shots on goal through their 3 games.
As for Switzerland, while they haven’t scored, they did have 7 shots on goal against the Czech Republic yet just 1 goal. They’ve gone over 2.5 goals in 2 of 3 games.
Given Portugal’s dominant attackers, I’ll take the over in this battle.
Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow @nathanbeighle_ on Twitter. Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=43996]