2021 MLS Betting Guide: Week 2
Your best bets for this weekend!
Disclaimer: Due to my relationship with Austin FC, I will not be discussing that team on this site.
Last week was a solid start to the year for me, with Vancouver coming through with a big win to put me up almost three units on the week. Let’s see how Week 2 shakes out. The odds below come from BetMGM but you should be going out and trying to line shop to find the best odds for your picks.
The best bets below are all one unit bets. Action Network has a good list of betting terms if you’re new to the space.
Best Bets
Minnesota United FC (-115) to win vs. Real Salt Lake
If you were to look at the scoreline from last week’s Minnesota match, you might be wondering why I’m picking them in this one. But the Loons were basically even with the Sounders through the first half, and the game only got away from them once they had to push for an equalizer. Bebelo Reynoso looked Best XI caliber and Ramon Abila will have another week of fitness once RSL comes in Saturday. All of that plus the fact that I think RSL will be one of the worst teams in MLS this year leads me to this pick.
(EDIT: Abila is out with a hip/thigh injury so we’ll see the same starting XI vs. RSL)
NYCFC-Cincinnati both to score + NYCFC win (+175)
NYCFC lost at D.C. United last week, but they probably deserved more. D.C. scored off a golazo from their center back and a perfectly-executed set piece off the training ground. Those kinds of goals don’t happen every game.
(Expected Goals chart from last week’s DC-NYC match via MLSsoccer.com)
That doesn’t mean I think they’re going to keep a clean sheet vs. Cincinnati. Cincy showed more attacking bite vs. Nashville than they did in basically any game last season, and they did so against one of the better defenses in MLS. Unfortunately for them, their defense looked like a sieve.
NYCFC are the biggest favorites of the weekend at -250 so you’re getting much better odds this way while also relying on Brenner, Lucho Acosta and co. to come through for you. I think they’ll do just that but NYCFC will get their first three points of the season in a high-scoring affair.
Seattle Sounders win or draw at LAFC (-110)
Both Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi are question marks heading into this one after Vela came off injured (kinda) vs. Austin and Rossi didn’t make it in the starting XI.
We know the Sounders looked good in Week 1 and that they have had LAFC’s number over the years. It’s a little too risky for me to just go with the straight win but the double chance still gives almost even odds. You might want to wait for the lineups to drop to see if Vela and/or Rossi are playing, but either way I’ll still be placing this bet.
Record: 2-1 | Units: +2.93
Prop Bet of the Week
This is a new one this week after a reader (will) suggested it last week. We did do a goalscorer prop on the podcast so I’m going to go with something a bit different. Chicago’s defense looked bad against New England, a trend that carried over from 2020. Atlanta’s attack has yet to break out this year but I think that will change against the Fire. I’m going with Atlanta to score in both halves (+160).
MLS Week 2
There’s a reason I told you not to bet every game and stick to the best bets! It was a rough one out there, but again, this is just for fun. Also decided against keeping a record to make it clear this is JUST FOR FUN.
SKC (-120) | ORL (+270) | Draw (+280) | The Pick: SKC -120
NYC (-250) | CIN (+625) | Draw (+340) | The Pick: NYC -250
NSH (-155) | MTL (+400) | Draw (+270) | The Pick: DRAW +270
TOR (-165) | VAN (+375) | Draw (+310) | The Pick: TOR -165
SJ (+130) | DAL (+200) | Draw (+220) | The Pick: SJ +130
LAFC (-120) | SEA (+270) | Draw (+280) | The Pick: DRAW +280
ATL (+105) | CHI (+210) | Draw (+210) | The Pick: ATL +105
MIN (-115) | RSL (+250) | Draw (+300) | The Pick: MIN -115
NE (-190) | DC (+500) | Draw (+290) | The Pick: DC +500
PHI (-105) | MIA (+240) | Draw (+270) | The Pick: MIA +240
POR (+105) | HOU (+240) | Draw (+230) | The Pick: POR +105
LA (+120) | RBNY (+200) | Draw (+240) | The Pick: DRAW +240
Line Moves
Since Monday. These could keep changing!
SKC (-105 to -120) | ORL (+240 to +270) | DRAW (+260 to +280)
NSH (-145 to -155) | MTL (+375 to +400) | DRAW (+250 to +270)
TOR (-225 to -165) | VAN (+475 to +375) | DRAW (+360 to +310)
SJ (-150 to -130) | DAL (+180 to +200) | DRAW (+210 to +220)
LAFC (-110 to -120) | SEA (+225 to +270) | DRAW (+240 to +280)
MIN (-110 to -115) | RSL (+280 to +300) | DRAW (+240 to +250)
NE (-200 to -190) | DC (+525 to +500)
POR (+110 to +105) | HOU (+230 to +240)
LA (+140 to +120) | RBNY (+170 to +200)
Like what you see? Leave a like! Don’t like what you see? Feel free to let me know in the comments.
Minnesota is up to -140 this morning
Hey Ben! Big fan of your work! I was curious are you planning on touching totals at any point?