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Canada is thinking big heading into the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup, and it will need to avoid being upset by tiny Martinique in the teams' group-stage opener Sunday in Kansas City. Canada won the Gold Cup title in 1985 and 2000, and it is atop the second tier of favorites, far behind Mexico and the USA, to win it this year. The Canucks dominated weak competition in World Cup qualifying and come in having won six in a row, all by wide margins. Martinique has not played a match since finishing second in its Nations League group in 2019 to qualify for this event.

Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m ET. Canada is the -650 favorite (risk $650 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line in the latest Canada vs. Martinique odds from William Hill Sportsbook, while Martinique is the +1600 underdog. The over-under for total goals scored is 2.5. Before making any Martinique vs. Canada picks or Gold Cup 2021 predictions, you have to see what renowned soccer insider Martin Green has to say. 

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 nearly $19,000 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 taken a close look at the Canada vs Martinique odds and revealed his Gold Cup 2021 picks. You can head to SportsLine now to see those picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Martinique vs. Canada:  

  • Canada vs. Martinique: Canada -1.5 (-170)
  • Canada vs. Martinique over-under: 2.5 goals (over -150, under +120)
  • Canada vs. Martinique money line: Canada -650, Martinique +1600, Draw +500
  • Canada: Lucas Cavallini has 16 goals in just 22 matches with the national team.
  • Martinique: Stephane Abaul is tied for fifth on the nation's all-time list with nine goals.

Why you should back Canada

The Canadians ran roughshod over their World Cup qualifying group before easing past Haiti to advance to the hexagonal. It defeated Haiti by a 4-0 aggregate in the second-round matchup to wrap up the six-game run with a whopping 31-1 goal advantage. The stretch included the squad's all-time biggest victory, 11-0 against the Cayman Islands, and a 7-0 win against Aruba. It held both teams without a shot on target and has allowed four total over its past five matches.

Lucas Cavallini and Cyle Larin are the team's top scorers, and the team is made up primarily of MLS stars. Cavallini has nine goals in his 29 games with the Vancouver Whitecaps, while Larin had 43 goals over three seasons with Orlando City before heading to the Turkish league in 2018. The pair has combined for 31 goals for the national team. Midfielder Jonathan Osorio, who had three goals in just six games with FC Toronto before reporting, also can create a lot of chances.

Why you should back Martinique

The small Caribbean nation doesn't produce a ton of talent, but the team is experienced and unified. It is making its third straight appearance, and it beat Canada in the group stage in 2013. Martinique has faced Canada four times, all at the Gold Cup, and has lost once in normal time (1-1-2). In the last installment of this event in 2019, Martinique battled valiantly against eventual champion Mexico before falling 3-2 and failing to advance from the group stage.

Martinique has been idle since the Nations League in late 2019, but it advanced to the Gold Cup with its runner-up group finish there. Its only loss in the four matches was 1-0, on an own goal, to eventual third-place finisher Honduras. The bulk of the players come from three local club teams, so they understand each other on the pitch. Samaritaine teammates Daniel Herelle and Karl Vitulin anchor the midfield, while Stephane Abaul should be the main scoring threat.

How to make 2021 Gold Cup picks for Martinique vs. Canada

Green has taken an in-depth look at the Martinique vs. Canada matchup from every angle, and he is leaning over on the goal total (2.5). He also has two strong best bets and complete analysis of this Gold Cup opener, and he's only sharing those picks here. He's only sharing his Concacaf Gold Cup picks and predictions at SportsLine.

So who wins Canada vs. Martinique in Sunday's Gold Cup 2021 matchup? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for this match, all from the European soccer expert who has generated nearly $19,000 for $100 bettors over the past four seasons, and find out.