World Cup Qualifiers

[pokerjoe]

Three picks for three games.
USA -1/2, +160 at Pinnacle
Honduras +1/2, +102 at Pinnacle (manufactured using their away win and draw prices)
Jamaica -1/2, -125 at SportingbetUSA

Jamaica is ready; T&T overrated.

Honduras: the dark horse of the six; outplaying everyone this year. Respect them. And the Ticos, sorry but it's true, just squeaked in. Should be down here against the most up team.

And my best of all, the USA.
The USA is now composed mostly of european-based professionals who are in season, unlike this summers WCQ first round when they were off-season. And they are playing at the best home field advantage, cold Columbus Ohio.

But this is mainly a fade against Mexico, for many reasons. They've shown nothing all year, either young (failed to qualify for the Olympics) national (struggled in the WCQ first round, in the weakest bracket, and nothing in Gold Cup or friendlies) or in club competion (embarrassed in LA). They are primarily Toluca players, and Toluca has shown nothing in the Mexican league. Further, the Mex Soccer Federation made a strange expression of lack of confidence: first ever bonuses offered for winning the group. And the players should be somewhat tired: the Mex League has played 3 games in the past nine days, I think.

More, from InternetSoccer:

"Now, while some signs may be encouraging for Mexican soccer fans, Mexico appears close to a state of chaos. Mexico cannot win matches anymore by simply showing up. They also cannot expect to just turn on the switch and make everything better.

Losing four straight friendlies was bad enough but what made it worse was the way Mexico played. Outside of a 10-minute stretch against Colombia, Mexico didn't score a single goal. The team is lacking creativity, mainly because they have no true playmaker. Ramon Ramirez and Cuauhtemoc Blanco are out of the lineup. Other players have failed in the same role, including Jose Manuel Abundis, Jesus Olalde, Victor Ruiz and Juan Pablo Rodriguez.

Mexico heads to Columbus with a slew of injuries. Besides Blanco and Ramirez, Mexico will be without Abundis and possibly Luis Hernandez. Both players were hurt during league matches. Heranandez made the trip north, Abundis didn't. Also, Francisco Palencia, Claudio Suarez and Rafael Marquez are nursing injuries and might not be 100 percent."


I'm nervous about betting on a side, the US, I root so strongly for anyway. But I feel in my bones this is the right play.

Good luck.

[turkoman1963]

Will go with the U.S.

what about france-germany tonight?

[pokerjoe]

Three and oh?
Shut the do!
Po lil books cain take no mo.

CR 2, Honduras 2
Jamaica 1, T&T 0
USA 2, Mex 0

Turk, that +160 was at Pinnacle, but obviously I moved their line

Puts me at +13.07 units on 28 posted picks here for this calendar year.

That ain't too shabby.

[turkoman1963]

great picks POK.