World Cup Predictions Today: Best Bets & Prop Picks for Tuesday, June 23

It's the final games of Matchday 2, and my World Cup predictions for Tuesday will look to build off a great performance on Monday to close out the second round of games with a bang. This daily article went 6-1-1 yesterday (and my two gamers went 5-1 as well). Let's roll again today.

Can Portugal get back on track after a disappointing opening draw? Can England keep up its hot start and get the fans back home more convinced that it's coming home to them? My World Cup predictions will answer those questions and will dig into the two later games (Panama vs. Croatia, Colombia vs. Congo DR) to highlight the best bets of the day.

⚽ World Cup predictions today: June 23

See all of our experts' World Cup picks based on the latest World Cup odds and favorites 

Total wagered: 4.25 units | Max profit: 4.13 units

💰 Best World Cup prediction today

Panama Over 1.5 cards (-110) / Croatia to win by 2+ goals (+125)

Facing a Croatia team will be an entirely different beast for Panama than its opener against a short-handed Ghana squad, and they're going to have their work cut out to stay out of the referee's book tonight.

Croatia should dominate possession with their midfield up against an inferior opponent, and Panama getting two fouls via recovery challenges isn't beyond the pale. I was half-tempted to have them pick up a third. Croatia will look to settle into passing triangles, and Panama will have little option but to rely on the physical side of things to slow that down.

But the bottom line is, eventually, the Croatian midfield will overwhelm Panama. It showed against a much stouter England defense that it can get the job done when given the chance, and it won't have such a struggle against Panama. A 2-0 or 3-1 scoreline isn't beyond the scope of imagination.

Kickoff time: 7 p.m. ET
Panama vs. Croatia odds: Panama (+600) | Draw (+340) | Croatia (-205)
How to watch: FOX / Telemundo / FOX One

🔥 More World Cup predictions for Tuesday

Bruno Fernandes Over 2.5 shots (-125)

This is a play based on a standout price. FanDuel offers the same market for -230, which would be a full pass for me. Portugal struggled to work the ball into the box and struggled to find Cristiano Ronaldo in their opener versus Congo DR. While I don't think Uzbekistan will be able to replicate that defensive showing, even employing the blueprint a bit will require Portugal to switch things up.

Shots from outside the box need to become a larger facet of the game on Matchday 2, and no player is more apt to fire one from 18 yards out than Bruno, whether he hits the net or not.

Portugal - Uzbekistan Over 2.5 cards (-116)

I was tempted to take the Uzbekistan Over 2.5 cards here, but I felt maybe there was no need to get greedy. The underdog will be defending for long stretches of this game and will be forced into physical, tactical fouling to get Portugal's elite midfielders off the ball, particularly in transitional phases.

This game also features a double-frustration angle. First, if Uzbekistan struggles to contain Portugal and falls behind early, there could certainly be an uptick in challenges to keep things from getting out of hand. Second, if Portugal fails to get on the board early, they are bound to get agitated following a disastrous draw on their opening matchday.  

Kickoff time: 1 p.m. ET
Portugal vs. Uzbekistan odds: Portugal (-700) | Draw (+750) | Uzbekistan (+1800)
How to watch: FOX / Telemundo / FOX One

England Over 6 corners (+100) / Harry Kane 3+ shots on target (+200)

England plays to the wing and focuses on working the ball into the box from deliveries on both sides, but that setup can also lead to corners. Ghana sets itself up defensively by giving up the flanks and denying space in the box, but this leads to deflected passes that go out for corners. The two combined should see England reach seven corners well before the final whistle. It might be worth considering the ladder to eight or nine corners if you're feeling frisky.

While Kane getting three shots on target is certainly a lot, as the recipient of those crosses (and corners), there will be more than ample opportunity for him to get shots off. He also serves as England's penalty taker, and if Ghana loads up the box, he may be able to draw enough contact to find his way to the spot. 

Kickoff time: 4 p.m. ET
England vs. Ghana odds: England (-525) | Draw (+600) | Ghana (+1500)
How to watch: FOX / Telemundo / FOX One

Colombia Over 1.5 goals (-122) / Luis Diaz to score or assist (-105)

After grabbing three goals in Matchday 1 against Uzbekistan, Colombia should come in with plenty of confidence on the offensive side of things. Congo DR did a fantastic job shutting down Portugal in its opener, but it will again face unrelenting pressure from Lorenzo's side. Colombia is designed to create high-probability chances, and Diaz is the focal point of that attack. 

He netted in the opener, and his ability to isolate fullbacks often puts him in positions where he can get clean shots off, and if he's not getting the shots off, he's got the vision to pick out central runners who can convert. These two plays likely go hand in hand: if Colombia scores two, Diaz is likely to be involved in (at least) one.

Kickoff time: 4 p.m. ET
England vs. Ghana odds: England (-525) | Draw (+600) | Ghana (+1500)
How to watch: FOX / Telemundo / FOX One

📅 World Cup best bets today

See all of our experts' soccer picks and the latest World Cup odds and favorites.

The tournament continues today with four matches, and we're breaking it all down with our World Cup predictions today:

• World Cup predictions today
• Portugal vs. Uzbekistan prediction
• Cristiano Ronaldo player props
• England vs. Ghana prediction
• Harry Kane player props
• Panama vs. Croatia prediction
• Colombia vs. Congo win probability