World Cup predictions, odds, best bets today: Betting tips, expert picks for Thursday, November 24

The remaining two World Cup groups get under way as the last eight teams take the field for the first time in Qatar.

The biggest showdown is the heavyweight battle between many fans and pundits pre-tournament favorites Brazil and European challengers Serbia. The Eagles are not to be taken lightly, as they have been in excellent form and should provide a hefty challenge for Neymar and Brazil.

Elsewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo will hope to avoid a similar start to the tournament that his rival Lionel Messi experienced as Portugal meet Ghana. Uruguay take on South Korea in an intriguing battle, while Switzerland and Cameroon match up.

Check out all of today’s Thanksgiving picks below.

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Switzerland vs. Cameroon prediction, best bet

• Kickoff time: 5 a.m. ET
• Prediction (Win/Draw): Switzerland to win

• Best Bet: Both teams to score
• Odds: +110 (BetMGM)

Whilst we’re backing Switzerland for the win, keeping a clean sheet will prove tough against this attack heavy Cameroon side. Vincent Aboubakar is their most likely threat and with one more goal, he’d move into third spot on Cameroon’s all-time scoring list. Only Samuel Eto’o (56) and Roger Milla (43) currently have more than his 33 strikes. — Nathan Evans

MORE: Full Switzerland vs. Cameroon betting breakdown, with odds, picks, predictions, team news, and more

Uruguay vs South Korea prediction, best bet

• Kickoff time: 8 a.m. ET
• Prediction (Win/Draw): Uruguay to win

• Best Bet: Over 2.5 goals
• Odds: +120 (BetMGM)

• Best Bet: Federico Valverde anytime goalscorer
• Odds: +450 (BetMGM)

Something that’s been somewhat ever present in Uruguay’s matches of late is goals. Across their last ten international outings, they’ve put five past Panama, four past Venezuela and three past Mexico as their firepower continues to deliver.

Granted, there have been misfires in the form of a 0-0 snoozefest pre-World Cup friendly against Iran but if they find their feet early on in this matchup, they could hit three plus goals quite comfortably. Add to that South Korea’s form of netting in nine of their prior ten outings and betting the over on goals should prove solid.

One man who could help with that total is Federico Valverde of Uruguay. When you consider he is currently in the goalscoring form of his life, it’s hard to not back him to find the net anytime vs. South Korea. With eight goals in 20 matches across all competitions for club side Real Madrid this season, Valverde has added top quality finishing to his impressive array of skills. He could also be deployed on the right wing where he’s excelled for the Spanish giants when utilised there in recent times. — Nathan Evans

MORE: Full Uruguay vs. South Korea betting breakdown, with odds, picks, predictions, team news, and more

Portugal vs. Ghana prediction, best bet

• Kickoff time: 11 a.m. ET
• Prediction (Win/Draw): Portugal to win

• Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals
• Odds: -130 (BetMGM)

• Best Bet: Over 4.5 cards
• Odds: +115 (BetMGM)

It’s entirely feasible that Portugal completely blow a young and inexperienced Ghana side out of the water in this opening match. Yet that’s not really what Portugal are about, and it’s also not really how the World Cup often plays out. With respect to England putting six goals past Iran, often in the World Cup teams, especially defensive-minded ones like Portugal, will take their time looking to break down lesser, bunkered in opponents. Given that Portugal are without Diogo Jota and Ghana have a minimal attacking unit led by two aging stars, this shapes up to be a slogfest. Ghana’s inexperience will play a significant role here, and they could resort to kicking Portugal’s best players like Ronaldo, Joao Felix, and Bruno Fernandes. Additionally, Joao Palhinha is a walking yellow card given the physical and aggressive nature of his midfield play. American referee Ismael Elfath didn’t exactly let the cards fly this past MLS season, but he still managed to produce 4.82 yellows a game, seventh-highest in the league, and that came with officiating more LAFC games than any other team. — Kyle Bonn

MORE: Full Portugal vs. Ghana betting breakdown, with odds, picks, predictions, team news, and more

Brazil vs. Serbia prediction, best bet

• Kickoff time: 2 p.m. ET
• Prediction (Win/Draw): Brazil to win

• Best Bet: Both teams to score
• Odds: -110 (BetMGM)

• Best Bet: Neymar to score
• Odds: +115 (BetMGM)

• Best Bet: 1H result — Brazil & over 1.5 total goals
• Odds: +300 (BetMGM)

Both these teams feature prolific attacks. The world knows of the incredible Brazil front line, with Neymar and Vinicius Jr, but Serbia are also not to be trifled with. Aleksandar Mitrovic is in good form, and if healthy, should lead the Serbia line, while Dusan Vlahovic is a threat as well.

Neymar has seven goals in his last nine Brazil matches, plus he has 15 goals in 20 matches across all competitions for PSG this season, and you’re going to give me plus odds against a Serbia team that can be beaten defensively? These are criminal odds and you should take them immediately.

Finally, Some teams like to buy their time and wait for after halftime to open up, but not Brazil. Of their four pre-World Cup friendlies, they only failed to score a first half goal against Japan, bagging nine of their 14 goals in those matches before the break. Prior to that, they managed to win the first half in seven of their final 11 World Cup qualifiers. — Kyle Bonn

MORE: Full Brazil vs. Serbia betting breakdown, with odds, picks, predictions, team news, and more

Yesterday’s picks

It was a second straight brutal day of picks, as things just seemed to be going from bad to worse. The tough part is that many of the losses continue to fall to bad luck, and there’s no good fortune to be found to balance things out. Morocco started the day off right by hanging with Croatia as expected, but it went downhill from there.

Germany boss Hansi Flick inexplicably subbed off their most creative player Jamal Musiala, and almost immediately Japan sparked a shocking comeback. Then, Canada did everything but score against Belgium, even having one penalty saved and another inexplicably not given by the referee. Kevin de Bruyne was also creative, but Belgium felt disjointed in the match and he came up empty as well.

The one result we didn’t see coming was Spain, who obliterated poor Keylor Navas and Croatia to the tune of 7-0. Tip of the cap to Spain, but the rest of the results were infuriating. Hopefully the next few rounds of matches can make up the early deficit, as bad luck will hopefully turn around, while bad picks don’t often do.

Soccer best bets records

Records below compiled since the first edition of this post on Monday, October 3. Sporting News betting contributors include Kyle Bonn, Nathan Evans, and Simon Borg.

2022 World Cup futures picks

With the opening game of the World Cup here, below is a reminder of our World Cup futures selections.

Kyle has gone with tournament favorites Brazil to win the competition, as the Selecao have the most talented and deepest squad in the field. On the back of that pick, Neymar is the selection for Golden Boot winner as the tournament’s top scorer. He’s selected Argentina to win Group C as a favorite, plus Uruguay to win Group H as an underdog to Portugal.

There’s one top team that should fall early, and that’s France who have a soft group, but injuries and poor form could come back to haunt them early in the knockout stage. Finally, the upset picks are Japan to qualify from a difficult Group E, requiring them to pip one of Spain or Germany. Then, he’s gone for Canada to grab an upset in Group F and advance past the likes of Belgium or Croatia.