World Cup Qualifier: Canada v Cuba

Match	Date	Selection	Bet	Odds	Bet now
World Cup Qualifier: Canada v Cuba World Cup Qualifiers, International	12/10/2012 21:00	total goals	Under 2.5 goals	2	Bet at VCbet
Betting prediction was written by Dan Adair

CANADA - CUBA PREDICTION STATS

2012 Form:
Canada P8 W3 D2 L2 GF5 GA5 GD0 - Average goals per game: 1.25
Cuba P4 W0 D0 L4 GF0 GA6 GD-6 - Average goals per game: 1.50

TEAM NEWS AND RUN OF PLAY

Canada are steadily improving as a soccer nation and go into the final round of Group 3 with every chance of topping the group and making it into the final hexagonal. The squad is made up of seasoned professionals across many of Europes top leagues and several players from US MLS. Canada have two solid banks of four and a few excellent strikers. Olivier Occean will be the most highest profile of them and he's had an excellent start in the Bundesliga this season. Canada sit on 7 points in the group, a win against whipping boys Cuba will give them an excellent chance of progression. With a difficult away game in Honduras to finish of the group.

Cuba are in dire straights and are on a run of seven consecutive losses, indeed they have only won 1 game since December 2010 and they are not exactly playing the cream of world football either. Like most sports in Cuba soccer is an amatuer game and they struggle as their league is very insular and is therefore is of a very low level. Another two defeats are likely as they look to end the qualifiaction period with 6 staright losses.

1X2 BETTING PREDICTION

1.19 Canada (Betfair) to get the vital win they need to set them up with a chance at qualification. Canada are many levels above their Caribbean rivals and this win should be routine enough. I don't think this will be a rout though as Cuba just tend to pack the backline and Canada are not particularly ruthless either. 1.19 looks a good price for an almost certain home win.

CLICK HERE To bet 1.19 Canada (Betfair)

ASIAN HANDICAP PREDICTION

Cuba +2 is the pick here (1.80 Marathon) It might seem a bit odd suggesting a massive outsider with the handicap but there is value to be had here. Punters are usually loathe to backing against the short prices so bookmakers factor this in to handicap and wieght the lines to the favourites. In the last 8 games Cuba have only been beaten by 1 goal on two occasions and that was to Jamaica and Honduras. On the 6 occasions they lost by 1 goal or less they were away from home so this shows how difficult they are to break down. Canada also in the last 8 have only managed two wins by more than 1 goal, they do not tend to batter teams.
CLICK HERE To bet 1.80 Cuba +2 (1Marathon)

TOTAL GOALS PREDICTION

Under 2.50 2.00 (BetVictor) is the bet here. Again it looks a bit of a gamble given the match odds but both sides keep things really tight. Canada tend to do just enough in their games and Cuba go all out to avoid embarrassment. With little attacking threat Cuba should not trouble the scorer. Canada should not be able to cover the spread themselves.Of the last 16 games for both sides Unders has won the day an amazing 12 times from 16. With a combined 2012 goal average of 1.37 goals per game unders is areally good bet here.

CLICK HERE To bet Under 2.5 goals at 2.00 (betfair)