The World Cup’s Round of 16 concludes on Tuesday with a pair of matches ahead of a two-day break in play. Two more quarterfinal spots are up for grabs, with the sides meeting next Saturday at 10 am. So far, the chalk has won out in the quarters, with Japan being the only side to force extra time and penalties on their Goliath opposition. With that being said, let’s get right into the best World Cup bets with our predictions for Morocco-Spain and Portugal-Switzerland.
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Best World Cup Best: Morocco-Spain Prediction, Odds
| Morocco Moneyline | +600 |
| Spain Moneyline | -185 |
| Draw Moneyline | +310 |
| Japan-Croatia Prediction: Over/Under 2.5 Total Goals | Over: +115, Under: -145 |
| Location | Education City Stadium, Ar Rayyan, Qatar |
| Time | 10 AM ET |
| TV | FOX |
Spain to End Morocco’s Cinderella Run
Morocco have been one of the great surprises of Qatar 2022, going unbeaten and winning Group F. Their one goal conceded in three group stage games was scored by their own player, in the last match versus Canada. On top of that, they are on a great run of overall form, going 7-2-1 over their last ten in all competitions. All in all, Morocco deserve their flowers, in what has been an exhilarating ride for people from Casablanca to Marrakesh.
With that being said, they are not beating Spain tomorrow, at least in regular time. Remember, unless you are betting on a team to advance, most bets just cover regular time in these knockout style fixtures. Nonetheless, Spain is just far too clinical. Japan caught them out, but Morocco’s team pressing and off the ball work is not nearly that of the Samurai Blue. While Germany also stole points from Spain, it took an 83rd minute goal from Niclas Fullkrug to make the difference.
Spain is 2-1-0 in their last three matches against Morocco, and were on really good form before the World Cup, going on a 9-2-1 run. When you look at the difficulty of Morocco’s group stage, it just is not there for me. They beat a dead Canada side and a Belgium side that was tragically bad. Still, they do have some offensive difference makers in Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri. Therefore I am going with the Spain or tie double chance and over 2.5 total goals. There is a chance this goes to extra time and the over on 2.5 has hit in five of the six Round of 16 games so far.
Also, give me Alvaro Morata to score anytime with odds of +150. This is one of the best values in the Round of 16, considering Morata has three goals already in just 127 minutes of play.
Final Morocco-Spain Prediction: Tie or Spain & Over 2.5 goals (+100, DraftKings), Morata to score (+150, DraftKings)
BTTS (-105, DraftKings)
Best World Cup Bets: Portugal-Switzerland, Prediction Odds
| Portugal Moneyline | -115 |
| Switzerland Moneyline | +340 |
| Draw Moneyline | +250 |
| Brazil-South Korea Prediction: Over/Under 2.5 Total Goals | Over: +115, Under: -145 |
| Location | Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar |
| Time | 2 PM ET |
| TV | FOX |
Portugal-Switzerland to Feature Loads of Goals
Our second set of World Cup bets comes in Portugal-Switzerland, in what should be an even matchup. These nations have played in six competitive matches since 2008, with three wins going in each direction. In fact, Portugal and Switzerland split respective 4-0 and 1-0 victories against each other this summer in the UEFA Nations League. On paper, those results show the stark differences in how this match could be played out.
Both sides went 2-0-1 in the group and boast 4-0-2 records in their last six in all competitions. Switzerland narrowly snuck past Cameroon and Serbia in two, one-goal margin victories. Meanwhile, Portugal coasted past Ghana and Uruguay before rotating heavily and losing to South Korea.
With that being said, it is extremely difficult to read this game in terms of a winner. I have a Switzerland quarterfinal ticket and I do not feel like hedging now by picking the Portugal moneyline. Instead, I will take Switzerland +0.5 (-105) in regular time, in hopes they can push to extra time, or win outright.
On top of that, I like the over on 2.5 total goals (+115) as well. Switzerland struggled to cope with Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksander Mitrovic, two of Serbia’s physical strikers, in the last game; Cristiano Ronaldo will not be an easier challenge. Likewise, when they need a goal Switzerland can turn to the likes of Breel Embolo and Xherdan Shaqiri and open the floodgates.
Final Portugal-Switzerland Prediction: Switzerland +0.5 (-105, DraftKings), Over 2.5 goals (+115, DraftKings)
