The 2019 Major League Soccer season is underway! The first two weekends of MLS play are in the books and we are starting to get a better picture of what each team is going to look like this year.
The MLS is a much more volatile league than most. Big time players come and go from all over the world throughout the year. And it’s not just the players who come and go; there are entire teams that appear and disappear from the league! This year the MLS added FC Cincinnati as an expansion team and has plans to add several more teams in the coming years.
Now I know you all are wondering what kind of impact this has on gambling and how to make a profit betting on the MLS. Well, all this change certainly makes the games much more difficult to predict. That’s why I think it’s smart to wait a couple weeks to feel out where each team is at in the new season before making any bets. So now that week three of the MLS Season is upon us, I give you my first betting tips of the 2019 Season!
Under 2.5 Goals in DC United vs Real Salt Lake
This first pick is the one I am most confident in this week! To be fair I grew up a DC United Fan, know them better than any other MLS team, and I know that this season they have a GREAT defense. DC United has not conceded a single goal in the first two games of the season. Their opponent, Real Salt Lake, has also been defensively sound this year having only conceded one goal. Also, on the offensive side of the ball neither team is a juggernaut. Real Salt Lake have scored a goal in each of their first two games and DC United scored two in their first match but were shutout in their second. I expect for defense to win the day and for this game to go under the total.
FC Cincinnati (+140) vs Portland Timbers
MLS newcomers FC Cincinnati were the surprise story of last weekend. They went into Atlanta on the day Atlanta United was raising the Championship Banner for winning the MLS Cup last season and managed to come out of there with a 1-1 draw in only their second game ever. They came back after going down 1-0 early in the match.
I was very impressed by them last weekend and this weekend they will play their first ever home game in Cincinnati. I expect there to be plenty of excitement and positive energy in the stadium. According to The Cincinnati Enquirer they have already sold over 30k tickets to the home opener. On top of that their opponent, Portland, has been very poor so far having conceded seven goals in just two games and losing their last game to LAFC 4-1. I think all signs are pointing to an FC Cincinnati win on Sunday.
Colorado Rapids (+.5) vs Sporting Kansas City
This is a classic case of fade the team with tired legs. This weekend the team with the tired legs is Sporting Kansas City. Since the beginning of their MLS Season on March 3rd, Kansas City has played four matches. Because they made the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League, this Sunday’s match will be their 5th in 14 days. Keep in mind that in order to play in all these games SKC have had to travel everywhere from Los Angeles to La Chorrera, Panama. They will have to travel again on Sunday to Colorado. The Rapids might have a bit less talent than SKC, but they will have both home field advantage and a full week’s rest on their side. I expect this to help Colorado stay in the game and maybe even get the win on Sunday.
(These lines are subject to change, happy betting!)
