Morocco vs. Scotland prediction: World Cup odds, picks, best bets for Friday

Great Scott! The Scots are leading Group C. That’s not something any soccer pundit could have expected — even if it is only after Matchday 1. The Tartan Army scraped away for a 1-0 upset over Haiti despite The Grenadiers controlling play for most of the match and mounting a wave of intense pressure toward the end.  After a 28-year World Cup hiatus, Scotland entered the tournament as one of the lowest-ranked teams.Now owning a notch in the win column, it has accomplished a critical objective. But the competition gets stiffer from here out.

Morocco, which is the main challenger to group favorite Brazil, now brings world-class flank play and disciplined defensive blocks to the Scottish.It settled for a 1-1 draw in its opener, and the Atlas Lions’ resilient backline that kept Brazil from taking the lead down the stretch. Morocco enters Friday’s match available for a price as handsome as +105 at Fanatics and as juiced as -138 at bet365.

On the reverse, those same books are offering Scotland for +275 and +475, respectively, so there’s some big market discrepancy here.Haiti unleashed a barrage of looks against Scotland, which amounted to 15 shots on goal and 1.21 expected goals.In contrast, the Atlas Lions’ attack proved a square match for Brazil and even looked like the more dangerous side for some stretches. Haiti’s best chances came in transition and from direct attacks — an area of speciality for Morocco, so Scotland’s defense is sure in for a busy night. If Scotland sits in a low block, Morocco’s ability to attack from wide areas through Achraf Hakimi overlaps becomes a major weapon.The Tartan Army’s brute physicality on corners and free kicks could pose a challenge, but if Morocco owns possession as expected, the Scots will be starving for chances. If Morocco strikes first, Scotland will be forced to open up, which would only create more space for Morocco’s attackers to sustain offensive pressure. The longer this game stays score...