USA vs Scotland Predictions: Back a big handicap for the visitors

Scotland’s tour of the Americas continues with a clash against the USA Eagles at Audi Field in Washington DC on Friday night (23:30).

Read on for my USA vs Scotland predictions, the latest team news, and the match odds.

Following a dominant victory over Canada, Scotland will look to maintain their form before further tests against Chile and Uruguay.

Head coach Gregor Townsend’s historic decision to hand 10 players their debuts in Ottawa paid off as his side ran in 11 tries and ran out 73-12 winners.

But with memories still fresh from Scotland’s shock defeat to the Eagles in 2018, Townsend will not need to remind his players to guard against complacency.

Meanwhile, the home nation will attempt to bounce back from a narrow 22-20 loss to Romania at Seat Geek Stadium in Chicago last weekend.

Execution proved problematic and errors were in evidence for the Eagles, who gave away one try they should have stopped and couldn't convert three golden try-scoring opportunities of their own.

Captain Greg Peterson admitted his side “weren’t 100% with it” and have “just got to tighten up a few things”.

Team News

USA head Coach Scott Lawrence has made wholesale changes in the wake of last week’s loss with Old Glory starter Jack Iscaro and Toulouse bench-warmer David Ainu’u coming into the front row.

Seattle Seawolves wing Conner Mooneyham is set to make his debut for the Eagles as Christian Dyer will sit this one out through injury while JP Smith continues at scrum-half after making his international bow against Romania.

Bristol Bears’ AJ MacGinty starts at fly-half, while Tommaso Boni, who recently switched allegiance from Italy, features in midfield after an impressive performance last week.

Townsend has also made significant changes to Scotland's lineup, with co-captains Sione Tuipulotu and Rory Darge returning to lead the side.

Duhan van der Merwe, who is one try away from equaling Scotland's all-time try-scoring record, joins Kyle Rowe and Kyle Steyn in the back three.

And there is a first start for Scarlets lock Alex Craig, who is perhaps best remembered for his role as a replacement in Scotland’s famous win over France in Paris in 2021.

USA vs Scotland Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main USA vs Scotland page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

The USA are huge 28/1 underdogs to repeat their famous victory of 2018, while the draw is 33/1 and Scotland are not offered.

It is 10/11 that Scotland cover a -50.5 Handicap with the USA Eagles available at 5/6 to avoid a defeat of more than 50 points.

Scotland -48 Handicap @ 8/1

Lightning is unlikely to strike for a second time in this fixture with Scotland desperate to avoid a repeat of their Houston humiliation of six years ago.

That game was played in stifling temperatures and against an Eagles side who had beaten a decent Argentina XV earlier that year, having competed well against Tonga, Japan and the Scots themselves at the previous World Cup.

This American team are still finding their feet at this level and with no wins over tier one teams since that day, they look unlikely to cause Scotland too many problems.

Their display against Romania was spirited, but they were outplayed around the ruck and lacked tactical acumen and precision when the game descended into a kicking battle for a while.

Scotland have the weapons to make the Eagles pay for another error-strewn performance and should be able to match last week’s 11-try thrashing of the Canucks.

Townsend’s side ran in 12 tries during an 84-0 romp against Romania at last autumn’s World Cup, but given that match was on neutral territory and this is in the Eagles’ backyard, the 48-point handicap looks like the one to back.

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