Week 7 MLS Picks
We discussed our third straight week of let downs on Wednesday’s episode. We also interviewed Brad Stuver, so if you haven’t been able to catch it yet you can check it out here. Unshaken, we move on to Week 7 of the MLS regular season. The official league injury report came out this afternoon so let’s jump in.
LA Galaxy
+0.5 (-105)
It would have been cool if the league would have chosen to schedule the first El Tráfico of the season at a time when someone who’s an Austin FC fan (or any of the other 21 teams playing during this match) could tune in. It would be even cooler for this gripe to not be so far down the list of “things the league office could do better.”
LAFC have had a rocky start to the season and are coming off a 3-2 road loss against Colorado Rapids. The Galaxy on the other hand are atop the Western Conference after six games played. They also, unsurprisingly, lead the league in goals for among teams with six matches played. We’re going to take the Galaxy to get a result behind enemy lines at BMO Stadium for nearly even odds.
Vancouver Whitecaps
-1.5 (+135)
The Whitecaps were able to hold on to a 3-2 victory over the rival Timbers last weekend. While they were without the services of star striker Brian White for that one, White is off the injury report and ready to go this Saturday.
They’ll take on Toronto FC, a team that has been unexpectedly frisky to start the season although they’ve taken on some key injuries of late. That includes the likes of Lorenzo Insigne and Richie Laryea. They’re also the lowest scoring MLS team with 10 or more points in the standings and six matches played. Vancouver are the biggest favorites on the slate and for good reason. We’ll take them to win by two or more at plus money.
Austin FC
ML +120
Austin appears to have been given not just another advantageous injury report for their opponent, but they’ve also been blessed by the gods of discipline. The Earthquakes will be without stud goalkeeper Daniel, along with starters Preston Judd and Jackson Yueill. We’ve read that the questionable Amahl Pellegrino, San Jose’s marquee offseason addition, is more towards the doubtful side of things with his lower body injury.
This is setting up for a similar blueprint to Austin’s win over FC Dallas last week. Control the ball and tempo against a shorthanded opponent and end up converting enough chances to earn the three points. In the most predictable turn of events possible, we’ll ride with the good guys this week.
Goal Scorers
Every week we’ll pick a few of our favorite goal scoring options in the betting market. Here are the Week 7 shouts.
Sebastián Driussi (+220)
Thiago Almada (+290)
Saba Lobzhanidze (+360)
Hany Mukhtar (+180)
Jonathan Rodriguez (+250)
Christian Benteke (+210)
Aaron Boupendza (+210)
Joseph Paintsil (+290)
Owen Wolff (+1200) 0.5 U
To score two or more goals
Sebastián Driussi (+1600) 0.5 U
Results
Last week: -1.06 U
Season: -4.99 U
