Argentina expect to have superstar Lionel Messi in the lineup on Thursday as they continue the defense of their title with a matchup against Ecuador at Houston's NRG Stadium in the 2024 Copa America quarterfinals. Argentina, who defeated Brazil in 2021 to tie Uruguay for first with 15 championships in the tournament, won all three of their group-stage contests to finish atop Group A. They were without Messi for their 2-0 triumph over Peru on Saturday due to hamstring issues, but the forward has practiced this week and should be on the pitch Thursday. Ecuador were second in Group B after posting a 1-1-1 record during group play. The Argentinians defeated the Ecuadorians 3-0 in the quarterfinals en route to the crown three years ago.

Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET. The Argentinians are -230 favorites (risk $230 to win $100) in the latest Argentina vs. Ecuador odds, while the Ecuadorians are +750 underdogs. A 90-minute draw is priced at +300, and the over/under for total goals scored is 2.5.

Before you lock in your Ecuador vs. Argentina picks or 2024 Copa America predictions, you need to see what soccer bettor Jon "Buckets" Eimer has to say.

Eimer is a high-volume bettor who has vast knowledge of leagues and players across the globe. Since joining SportsLine, he has covered the English Premier League, Serie A, the FA Cup and much more. He was red-hot in 2023, going 248-234-12 for a profit of $2,593 for $100 bettors. That included an 86-59-5 record in Premier League picks for a profit of $3,463.

Eimer knows that Argentina scored five goals during the group stage of 2024 Copa America, all in the second half of their matches, while the other three teams in Group A combined for one tally. The reigning champions have yet to concede in the tournament and are riding an eight-game winning streak across all competitions during which they have posted six clean sheets and outscored their opponents 17-2. Striker Lautaro Martinez leads all players with four goals in the event after recording three during Argentina's championship run in 2021.

The expert also has taken into account that Ecuador dropped a 2-1 decision to Venezuela in their tournament opener but bounced back to defeat Jamaica 3-1 and battled Mexico to a 0-0 draw. The club, which has reached the quarterfinals for the third time in its last four Copa America appearances, did not allow a goal in the first half of its group-stage matches. Winger Jeremy Sarmiento netted Ecuador's tally in the loss to Venezuela after also converting in their previous contest, a 2-1 triumph over Honduras in an international friendly.

For Thursday, Eimer has taken an in-depth look at the Argentina vs. Ecuador matchup. He has released a pair of confident best bets, including one that offers a plus-money payout, and also is offering a full breakdown of this 2024 Copa America quarterfinal match. You ABSOLUTELY need to see his picks and analysis before making any selections of your own. 

Who wins Argentina vs. Ecuador on Thursday, and what plus-money bet should you jump on NOW? ... Join SportsLine now to see Jon Eimer's picks for Ecuador vs. Argentina, all from the expert who was red-hot in 2023!