KANSAS CITY, KS - JULY 11: United States forward Gyasi Zardes (9) runs in action during the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group B match at Children's Mercy Park on July 11, 2021 in Kansas City, Kansas.(Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire)

Roger Gonzalez has made his best bets on Thursday for the United States against Jamaica

On Thursday, the United States Men’s National Team will face Jamaica in a critical 2022 Concacaf World Cup Qualifier at Q2 Stadium Austin, Texas. Team USA lost its first two WCQ matches before winning the crucial 4-1 win over Honduras. Jamaica is yet to win a World Cup Qualifying victory, with two losses and one draw. The last time these teams met was in the 2021 Gold Cup quarterfinals, where the United States won 1-0.

The kickoff for USA vs. Jamaica will take place at 7:30 p.m. ET. Caesars Sportsbook has the Americans listed as the -333 favorite (risk $333 to Win $100) in the 90-minute money line for its USMNT vs. Jamaica odds. Jamaica is the +800 underdog. The total goals scored over-under is 2.5. Roger Gonzalez, a consummate soccer insider, has some words to share before you lock in your picks for Jamaica vs. the United States.

Gonzalez is an award-winning journalist who has covered soccer from Europe to South America. Gonzalez began his career in pro soccer writing while he was a student at Virginia Tech. He wrote for Goal.com. He has also covered the Copa America and Copa Libertadores as well as the Champions League and Copa America. He has been the CBS Sports’ lead soccer writer since 2015.

Gonzalez took a look at the USMNT matchup against Jamaica and made his best predictions. To see his picks, you can visit SportsLine. These are the betting trends and lines for Jamaica vs. USMNT.

USMNT vs. Jamaica over-under: 2.5 goals

USMNT vs. Jamaica money line: USA -333, Jamaica +800, Draw +360

USMNT vs. Jamaica spread: USA -1.5 (-110)

USA: Brenden Aaronson (20 years old) scores five goals in ten international matches

Jamaica: In three of its four last games, it has failed to score

Why the USMNT should be supported

The USMNT has been undefeated in its 12 previous games. This is thanks to the huge boost from MF Weston McKinnie. The 2020 U.S. Soccer Players of the Year were dropped from the squad for violating COVID-19 team protocols. He will be reintroduced into the starting line-up vs. Jamaica. McKinnie scored his third international goal in his career against Jamaica at the 2019 Gold Cup. He should exploit a Jamaican team that has lost five of its last five matches.

The U.S. will also get a little break because two of Jamaica’s top attackers will not be available. Leon Bailey, who was sensational in the Premier League, will be out due to a quad injury. Jamaica will also be without Cory Burke, the winger who was injured and one of the three players who played in all three September WCQs. The U.S. is not without its faults, but it has the depth Jamaica needs. That should be evident on Thursday.

Why Jamaica is worth supporting

Jamaica enjoyed a successful summer, which included a Gold Cup performance. It won its two group stage matches, and advanced to the quarterfinals against the USMNT. Although the game was tied for 82 minutes, the U.S. finally scored the goal that was the game’s only goal. Jamaica was undoubtedly the better team up until that point. It had more chances on goal than Team USA, and the game was as competitive in years as Jamaica’s.

Andre Blake, the Jamaican goalkeeper, was an important reason for Jamaica’s success at the Gold Cup. He conceded only two goals in four games. He will be the top goalkeeper on Thursday. He is also one of only four goalkeepers in MLS history to have won multiple Goalkeeper of Year awards (2016 and 2020). Jamaica’s forward Shamar Nicholson, a talented player, has scored in both of his previous two starts for the national side. He is 6-foot-4 and has been a problem for smaller US defenders. Nicholson scored two goals against the USMNT in just 87 minutes.