Brazil vs Serbia Picks & Odds: No. 1-Ranked Brazil Looks To Start Strong In Qatar

Brazil and Serbia meet Thursday at Lusail Iconic Stadium in their first match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Will No. 1-ranked Brazil live up to the hype or can Serbia play spoiler early on? Find out in our Brazil vs Serbia prediction.

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Brazil vs Serbia Sportsbook Odds

Brazil opened as the clear favorite at -220 on the moneyline with Serbia getting +596 as the underdog. The total was set at 2.5 goals with the UNDER going 6-2 in Brazil’s last eight matches and the OVER going 6-2 in Serbia’s last eight games. Brazil comes into the match on an eight-game win streak so it’s hard to justify betting against the favorites in our Brazil vs Serbia prediction.

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Neymar Headlines Top-Ranked Brazil Squad

While Brazil comes into this tournament as the top-ranked nation, the squad has seen a major overhaul with plenty of players who have never suited up in a World Cup game before. Still, Brazil is expected by many to win the tournament for the first time since 2002, and for good reason.

One familiar name on the Brazilian side is Neymar, who remains a key piece for the team in this World Cup. The PSG forward ranks second in both goals (11) and assists (9) in Ligue 1 this season and comes into the tournament with 75 goals in 121 career games for Brazil – just two shy of the legendary Pele for the most in the country’s history.

Milinkovic-Savic Leads Serbia Into Battle

Surrounded by teams like Brazil, Switzerland and Cameroon, Group G is certainly no cakewalk but the Serbs will have their eyes set on a Round of 16 berth this time around. Serbia scored just two goals in three matches during the 2018 World Cup in Russia but will be hoping for a more fruitful tournament with some more experience in 2022.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic will serve as the heartbeat of the midfield and comes into the World Cup in excellent form. The Lazio midfielder has 12 assists in 2022, the most in Serie A. Meanwhile, Dusan Vlahovic, who also plays in the Italian league, could be a potential breakout performer for Serbia. The striker has six goals for Juventus in 10 appearances this season, just three back of the league lead.

Brazil vs Serbia Game Prop: Total Goals For Brazil OVER 2.5 (+173)

Brazil arguably owned the most impressive attack in qualifying, scoring a whopping 40 goals in 17 matches – 13 more than Argentina and Ecuador, who tied for second in CONMEBOL. This Brazilian team loves to hold possession and control the flow of the game. If they can do so successfully against Serbia, they could score in bunches.

Brazil: Keys to Win

Neymar remains the gem of Brazil’s attack but he’s far from the only talented player in the lineup as he’ll be surrounded by young stars like Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo and Raphinha, who are all capable of breaking down a defense. With so much firepower, Brazil should be able to dismantle Serbia and put at least two or three in the net.

Serbia: Keys to Win

Serbia has some strong threats up front in their own right with Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic leading the lines, but the key in this match might be to simply contain Brazil. Milinkovic-Savic and the rest of the midfield will need to keep things tight defensively while also taking care of the ball when they win back possession. If they can limit Brazil’s chances, they’ll have a shot at an upset win.

World Cup Computer Pick: Serbia +1.25

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