Week 3 MLS Picks
As we discussed on Wednesday’s episode, our first foray into the new picks format certainly could have gone worse. If it weren’t for the Red Bulls getting it done on the road and Joseph Paintsil finding the back of the net, we could be staring at a nasty deficit after just a single matchday of picks. Hoping to find our footing, we’re going to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and get right back to it for another weekend of MLS action. The official league injury report came out this afternoon so it’s time to lock in our picks.
LA Galaxy
ML (+205)
It’s still pretty early to be forming concrete opinions from the two weeks of soccer we’ve seen, but the 180 minutes the Galaxy have put out on the pitch were impressive. They likely would have hung onto an opening day win against Inter Miami if not for a late red card and some Lionel Messi stoppage time magic, then they dismantled San Jose on the road.
Now they’re visiting Nashville SC who are coming off midweek CONCACAF Champions Cup action against Inter Miami. Hany Mukhtar just returned midweek and Sam Surridge remains out. Not surprised to see a heavily rotated XI against a rested LA side. Give us the new look Galaxy on the road.
Atlanta United
-1.5 (+165)
The Five Stripes were on a bye last week after dropping their opening day match on the road against the defending MLS Cup Champions. Like the Galaxy, they’ll also be facing a team coming off of a midweek CCC match in the New England Revolution. The Revs cruised to a 4-0 victory over Alajuelense, but former league MVP Carles Gil didn’t play and he’s listed questionable for Saturday.
Atlanta has a high-octane offense, coming up just one goal shy of the top scoring team in the league (Columbus Crew) in 2023. They’re fully rested with an injury report containing no names. We’ll take them to beat up on the Revs at plus money.
St. Louis City SC
Over 5.5 corner kicks (+110)
Keeping in mind we shouldn’t form concrete opinions quite yet, Austin FC has conceded 25 corner kicks through two games. It doesn’t feel like the high intensity style St. Louis City employs would be a recipe for the Verde & Black to suddenly concede drastically less in the defensive third. Less than the 12.5 per game we’ve seen? Sure, but it’s not just the 2024 results we should consider.
This, unfortunately, isn’t a new trend. Austin FC allowed the most corner kicks to opponents last year at 6.5 conceded per game. No other team allowed more than 5.9 per game. Yikes. We’ll take the over here and be having a better time at Q2 Stadium tonight if the defense tightens things up.
Goal Scorers
Every week we’ll pick a few of our favorite goal scoring options in the betting market. Here are the Week 3 shouts.
Lorenzo Insigne (+200)
Georgios Giakoumakis (+115)
Petar Musa (+400)
Jesus Ferreira (+400)
Luis Muriel (+160)
Hugo Cuypers (+300)
Joseph Paintsil (+320)
Results
Last week: -1.6 U
Season: -1.6 U
