Toll Booth- MLS Weekly Sportsbook Picks
This week brings another MLS slate that is being interfered with by international matches. Many MLS players will be unavailable due to travel, World Cup Qualifier play, or covid restrictions. Let's do the best we can and still find some value for this week in Major League Soccer.
Match- FC Dallas host San Jose Earthquakes
Pick- Over 2.5 Goals at -120
This week with so many players on international duty it is difficult to predict exact match winners, so here I am going with an uncharacteristic “over” bet. While goals can be slightly unpredictable I think over 2.5 goals being scored is a homerun pick for two mediocre-at-best teams fighting to move up in the standings while missing major pieces.
Goals come in bunches- and that works well for FC Dallas who scored 9 goals in their past 3 games- a tally which includes 5 against Copa Tejas rivals Austin FC. As potent as their offense has been, they have also allowed 8 during that same span, and finished with only a 1-1-1 record.
Key to the Match
The San Jose offense has been stagnant at points throughout this season. If Cade Cowell and Chofis Lopez can combine for a single goal this over should hit easily.
Dallas, on the other hand, should look to Jesus Ferreira to work his magic a third straight week- I expect Ricardo Pepi to miss the match after a solid performance for the USMNT this week.
Match- Seattle Sounders host Minnesota United
Pick- Minnesota United at +320
I get it. Sounders are good at home.
This line seems a bit disrespectful for two teams that will be battling it out without their superstars (including Ruidiaz, Roldan for Seattle and Reynoso, Lod for Minnesota). Seattle lost their last game during this international break while Minnesota stepped up in Houston and left with a rare 2-1 away win. This can truly be anyone’s game and the odds do NOT reflect that.
Key to the Match
I still believe Seattle have more depth and could take a win, I just feel that at +320 I will gladly pay for that information.
To get the win, Minnesota will need solid possession play in midfield from the likes of Alonso, Trapp, and Dotson. I would love to see Romain Metanire get back on the scoresheet with some overlapping wing play (a position where the Minnesota depth will be challenged).
Match- Inter Miami host Columbus Crew
Pick- Inter Miami at -110
I was guaranteed by Alex from Inter Miami Pod that Miami was going to make the playoffs this season, and that would necessitate them getting a second straight win at home this week as a hapless Columbus Crew comes to town.
Is this the MLS Cup Hangover Sir Alex from our very own i80 Sports has been talking about? Nothing seems right to a squad that looked unbeatable during last season’s playoff stretch. After losing 6 straight in August they beat Cincinnati (big deal) in what looked like a turn-around. They followed up that performance with a 3-2 loss in Orlando last week, and have to play another hungry Florida local this weekend.
Key to the Match
Columbus managed to score 11 times in their last 8 games, but conceded 20 times in that same 11. To put it mildly- their defense has been bad, their offense has been below average, and they have been hemorrhaging points.
Look for Gonzalo Higuain with the opportunity to score multiple ways- on long shots, set pieces, or just walking one in.
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