Okay MyBookie soccer betting faithful, with Major League Soccer back in action following the start of last week’s MLS is Back Tournament, it’s time to take a look at where the best betting value lies in Friday night’s trio of intriguing matches. DC and New England will go at it in one contest at 8:00 PM ET while Sporting Kansas Kansas City and Colorado go at it in another at the same time. Last, but not least, Real Salt Lake will take on Minnesota United FC at 10:30 PM ET. Let’s take a closer look at the upcoming matches so you can make your bets against their MLS odds.
MLS July 17th Edition – Trio of Intriguing Matchups On Tap Friday Night!
DC United (1-0-1) vs. New England Revolution (1-0-0)
DC is tied for second place in group B. The United come into this clash off of a testy 2-2 draw against Toronto FC in their group stage opener on Monday after the match had been postponed twice. Federico Higuain and Frederic Brillant scored late second half goals after DC fell down 2-0 before the half. The United got the draw despite being down to 10 men after Junior Moreno received his second yellow card in first-half injury time. New England is sitting atop the standings in group B. The Revolution picked up a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Montreal Impact on Thursday night. Gustavo Bou scored in the 56th minute and Matt Turner had two saves to lead New England to victory.
- When: Friday, July 17, 2020 at 8:00 PM ET
- Where: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando, FL
- DC United Vs New England Revolution Live: ESPN, ESPN3, TSN
- Money Lines: New England +115 / DC United +200 / Draw +260
- O/U Total: 2.5
Prediction
While each of the last two meetings between these rivals has ended in identical draws, DC won two of the previous three meetings, although New England has been the only team to record three goals over the last five meetings. With that said, I’m fully expecting another knock-down, drag-out fight to the finish in this affair that ends with these two rivals finishing with their third straight draw. I’m also expecting both clubs to score an identical two goals in this one, so play the Over 2.5 total goals.
Pick: 2-2 Draw
Sporting Kansas City (0-0-1) vs. Colorado Rapids (0-0-1)
Sporting Kansas City is in third place in group C after kicking off their MLS is Back Tournament with a narrow 2-1 loss against the Minnesota on Sunday. Khiry Shelton scored in the 43rd minute to give Sporting the lead, but they squandered it by allowing Minnesota to score a pair of goals in stoppage time to end up on the wrong end up a stunning loss.
Colorado Is in fourth place in group C and the Rapids come into this clash off a convincing 2-0 shutout loss against Real Salt Lake on Sunday. Midfielders Albert Rusnak and Damir Kreilach scored goals in the win while keeper Zac MacMath stopped four shots to seal the deal. Colorado put up a fight in the second half, but it was a case of too little, too late for the Rapids.
- When: Friday, July 17, 2020 at 8:00 PM ET
- Where: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando, FL
- Sporting KC Vs Colorado Rapids Live: ESPN, ESPN Deportes, TSN2
- Money Lines: Colorado +250 / Sporting KC -105 / Draw +270
- O/U Total: 3
Prediction
While both of these teams lost the last time out, for me, Kansas City’s one-goal defeat was far more impressive than Colorado’s two-goal loss, mostly because KC really should have won their tournament opener before getting a bit sloppy late in the match. Yes, Colorado has won two of the last five meetings in this series including a 3-2 win the last time they met on September 21, 2019, but only one goal separates these two teams over their last five meetings, which also resulted in a pair of draws among the clashes.
This time around, I’m going with Kansas City to pick up the hard-fought win while the Over 2.5 total goals cashes in. I’m expecting another tight affair between these two that results in a one-goal win for Sporting Kansas City.
Pick: Kansas City 2 Colorado 1
Real Salt Lake (1-0-0) vs. Minnesota United FC (1-0-0)
Real Salt Lake is in first place in group C after their 2-0 tournament opening win over Colorado on Sunday. Albert Rusnak and Damir Kreilach both found the back of the net for Salt Lake and keeper Zac MacMath turned back all four shots on goal that he faced in the win. Real Salt Lake controlled possession for a modest 46.8 percent of the match but still managed to get six shots on target. Minnesota is in second place in group C after picking up a solid 2-1 win over short-handed Sporting Kansas City on Sunday. Khiry Shelton and Kevin Molino scored stoppage time goals to help the United get the stunning win.
- When: Friday, July 17, 2020 at 10:30 PM ET
- Where: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando, FL
- Real Salt Lake Vs Minnesota United FC Live: ESPN, SKOR North
- Money Lines: Real Salt Lake +182 / Minnesota +138 / Draw +230
- O/U Total: 2.5
Prediction
Minnesota has won two of the last four meetings including a 3-1 win on September 15, 2019 the last time they met. Still, this one should be very competitive with the pair combining to play to a draw in the two meetings just prior to Minnesota’s win last fall. More importantly, I was far more impressed with Real Salt Lake’s shutout win than Minnesota’s late comeback victory, which, for all intents and purposes, should have probably been a loss. I’m expecting another tight, one-goal difference in this one as Real Salt Lake scratches out the win.
Pick: Real Salt Lake 2 Minnesota 1
