2022 World Cup Odds: The Best USA Props to Bet, Including a Christian Pulisic Play
Julio Aguilar/Getty Images. Pictured: United States standout Christian Pulisic.
- The United States will kick off their World Cup campaign against Wales on Monday.
- Ian Quillen breaks down the bets you should be making on the Stars and Stripes ahead of then.
- Read on for his four USMNT prop bets to place.
It's only days now until the USA Men's National Team play their first 2022 World Cup match against Gareth Bale's tricky Wales squad.
Rest assured, we'll have game-by-game betting advice for the USMNT's three Group B clashes and — American fans hope — any games beyond.
But before we get to breaking down the group opener, let's take a look at some of our favorite prop bets on the United States' squad, including a play on Christian Pulisic.
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Team Top Scorer: Christian Pulisic (+300 via BetMGM)
Pulisic led the Americans with five goals in World Cup Qualifying, and while this is our chalkiest prop on the board, it's still one with value for a very simple reason: Pulisic will be taking all penalties.
Two of his five qualifying goals came from the spot, which proved to be the margin of his lead over the rest of the squad. While the USA are perhaps less likely to earn a penalty at the World Cup level than in qualifying, it's not unheard of, especially in the first World Cup with video review.
Landon Donovan converted the last American World Cup penalty in a 2-1 extra-time loss to Ghana in the 2010 Round of 16. He also finished as the Americans' top scorer with three goals in the competition.
Team Most Assists: Antonee Robinson (+2000 via BetRivers)
Yes, you read that right, +2000. You get lines like this when oddsmakers aren't quite aware that a player's role for his club side is significantly different than his role for the national team.
At left back, Robinson is arguably the most certain starter on Gregg Berhalter's team, and he played the most matches of any American in qualifying.
Unlike at Fulham, he is relied upon by the USA to get forward in transition and serve crosses. His three assists in qualifying made him the only American player to have multiple.
Is it likely he will roam forward as often against the likes of Wales, England and Iran as he did against El Salvador and Honduras? Probably not.
But there will certainly be times to play on the counter in this tournament, and the price here is just too good to pass up.
Most Yellow Cards: Weston McKennie (+700 via Unibet)
Unlike fellow central midfielders Tyler Adams and Yunus Musah, McKennie is crucial for the U.S. national team as a provider of dangerous second runs from midfield on a team without great striking options.
The Juventus man also tied for second-most yellow cards in qualifying with fullback De'Andre Yedlin and winger Tim Weah, and the leader — center back Miles Robinson — is out rehabbing a torn ACL.
Berhalter will want McKennie on the field if he's healthy enough after a mild injury in the lead-up. If he's on the field, there's a strong chance he'll find himself scrambling to recover on a couple of occasions from making that second run and then trying to defend a counter.
That's prime tactical foul territory. Add in his personality as one of the fiery members of the squad, and this is a common-sense play at the price.
Stage of Elimination: Quarterfinals (+700 via DraftKings)
There's a lot of reason to be hesitant at the Americans' chances at this World Cup.
They will come in as favorites in two of their three group games, a role that hasn't always suited them. It's the youngest squad to play for the U.S. since the team that ended a 40-year drought by qualifying for Italia '90. And one more thing, they underwhelmed — to put it mildly — in their final two tune-up friendlies in September.
But young teams are wildly inconsistent. That can lead to duds, but it can also lead to performances that are better than they have any business being.
Additionally, of all the previous World Cup trips for the USA, their group most probably most resembles 2010. They played England then as well, and also two more teams they were favored against, and ended up backing their way into winning the group.
Should the Americans win or even advance here, the Round of 16 assignment will probably be better than it would've elsewhere in the tournament. Even the Netherlands are a team you could realistically see this American team beating on the right day.
None of this is to forecast that it will happen. A crash out in the group stage remains a very real possibility. But at +700 odds, this is a good chance to take.
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