World Cup 2022 Portugal vs. Morocco start time, odds, lines: Expert picks, FIFA predictions, best bets
Morocco will try to continue their storybook run on Saturday when they face Portugal in the quarterfinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Al Thumama, Qatar. Morocco were surprising winners of Group F, which included 2018 runner-up Croatia and Belgium, the second-ranked team in the world. They knocked off 2010 World Cup champions Spain on penalty kicks after a scoreless draw in Tuesday's Round of 16 match. This is the Atlas Lions' sixth World Cup and their first time advancing to the quarterfinals. Portugal annihilated Switzerland 6-1 on Monday. The Portuguese still have the world's top all-time international goal-scorer in Cristiano Ronaldo, but it was the youngsters who led the attack in Tuesday's rout.
Kickoff is set for 10 a.m. ET at Al Thumama Stadium. Caesars Sportsbook lists Portugal as -145 favorites (risk $145 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line in its latest Morocco vs. Portugal odds, with Morocco the +440 underdogs. A draw is listed at +255, while the over/under for total goals scored is 2.5. Before you make any Portugal vs. Morocco picks, you need to see the 2022 World Cup predictions and best bets from proven SportsLine soccer insider Martin Green.
After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Since then, his European soccer picks have been spot-on. Green has generated almost $35,000 for $100 bettors since the 2017-18 season. He has his finger on the pulse of the game all over the globe.
Now, Green has broken down the Morocco vs. Portugal matchup from every angle and just locked in his 2022 World Cup picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Green's picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Portugal vs. Morocco:
• MOR: Morocco have allowed one goal or fewer in 14 of their past 17 matches
• POR: Portugal have scored two or more goals in nine of their past 13 matches
Why you should back Portugal
The talk of Tuesday was the absence of Ronaldo from the starting 11, but the move more than paid off as 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos recorded a hat trick. The young Benfica star leads the Portuguese Primeira Liga with nine goals in 11 matches for the league leaders. He has played just four matches with the national squad. Portugal appears to have been motivated by the 2-1 loss to South Korea on a stoppage-time goal in the group-stage finale. Their only other losses in 2022 (9-1-3) have been 1-0 to Spain and 1-0 to the Swiss team they demolished Tuesday.
Portugal put nine of their 15 shots on target in the Round of 16 match, while Morocco have put just 10 on net in the entire tournament. The Atlas Lions also are averaging just 33% possession, while Portugal have been at 60 or more in three of four. The exception was Tuesday's rout. Before the explosion of Ramos, Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United was the expected star, and he scored both goals against Uruguay in the group stage.
Why you should back Morocco
The Atlas Lions were impenetrable on Tuesday. That was a continuation of their recent form, as captain Romain Saiss popped up everywhere he was needed. Nayef Aguerd pairs with Saiss in the middle of a back four that clogs shooting and passing lanes immediately. La Roja had a 13-6 advantage in shots but put just one on target, while Morocco had two on net. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou didn't allow a goal on three penalties against Spain and should come in on a major high. He has 28 clean sheets in his 47 starts for Morocco, including six of the past seven.
Right back Achraf Hakimi is one of the fastest players in the World Cup and will try to wreak havoc down the wing. Noussair Mazraoui should do the same on the other side, and attackers Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri are more than capable of scoring. They have combined for 35 international goals, both in the nation's top 10 all-time.
How to make Morocco vs. Portugal picks
Green has scrutinized the Portugal vs. Morocco match from every angle. He is leaning Over on the goal total and provides two confident best bets, including a strong pick on the winner, and has a full breakdown of the match. He's only sharing his World Cup picks and analysis at SportsLine.
So, who wins Morocco vs. Portugal on Saturday? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Portugal vs. Morocco, all from the European soccer expert who has generated almost $35,000 for $100 bettors over the past four seasons, and find out.
