2023 Women’s World Cup: Italy vs. Argentina odds, picks, predictions

Italy and Argentina battle in the 1st action for both nations in the 2023 Women’s World Cup on Monday. Kickoff in the Group G matchup from Eden Park is set for 1 a.m. ET (FS1). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Italy vs. Argetina odds, and make our best Women’s World Cup bets, picks and predictions.

Italy is bringing a squad with little experience as it has just 3 players with 25-plus caps on the roster. Over the last 12 months, Italy has won 5 of 11 matches, losing 5 with 1 draw. Italy has won 3 of its last 4 matches, beating New Zealand 1-0 in a friendly on July 14.  It qualified by being the UEFA Group G winner.

Argentina qualified by being the 3rd-place winner in the 2022 Copa America Femenina. It has won 5 of 6 games in 2023, beating New Zealand 1-0 and 2-0 in February. It did lose 7-0 to Spain and 2-0 to Canada in late 2022. Argentina ranks 28th in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings with Italy sitting 16th.

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Italy vs. Argentina odds

BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 1:58 p.m. ET.

Italy vs. Argentina picks and predictions

Prediction

Italy 1, Argentina 0

PASS.

Argentina hasn’t played well against good competition over the last few years, but it did beat New Zealand twice. Italy has more talent and is a higher-ranked side, but isn’t worth a play at (-145).

I would take BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE – NO (-140).

A team has been held scoreless in 2 straight games for Italy and in 5 of 6 for Argentina in 2023. Both have good defenses and haven’t consistently scored in the attack.

BET UNDER 2.5 (-175).

Piggybacking off that prediction, the Under is a good play here, though a bit costly. Italy has gone Under this total in 5 of its last 9 matches, and Argentina has gone Under in 4 of its last 6.

The 1st 4 games of this tournament went Under this total, and the only games to go north of it in the 1st 2 days were between a top-10 side and a nation outside of the top 30 in FIFA’s rankings (Spain beat Costa Rica 3-0 and USA beat Vietnam 3-0).

Both of these teams are in the top 30 and should be able to limit opportunities. Take the UNDER 2.5 (-175).

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