MLS Game Day 8 Better Picks

By Matt Pitt

Columbus Crew (-115) vs. NYCFC (+305)

Reigning MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew have started the 2017 season in decent form and currently find themselves second in the Eastern Conference courtesy of a 4-3-1 record. At home they are unbeaten (3-0-1) but on the road they have lost three of their four matches. Thankfully for Crew fans, their team is on home soil this weekend.

NYCFC travel to Ohio for their match against Crew with a 1-2-0 away record. If past results are anything to go by, NYCFC won’t be racking up another away win this week as they are 0-1-2 in their clashes with Crew away from home.

Both of these sides are capable of scoring goals. Crew have both Justin Meram and Ola Kamara on four goals each, while NYCFC’s David Villa has already notched five. There have been a total of 23 goals scored in the past five meetings between Crew and NYCFC, with each of the previous three games in Ohio triggering the over 3.5 goals market; a 3-3 draw, a 2-2 draw and a 3-2 Columbus win.

Bovada price both teams to score at -180 and both teams to score and the game to end in a tie at +300 and I like that particular market and you should too.

Pick: Both teams to score and the game to be tied at +300

New York Red Bulls (-185) vs. Chicago Fire (+500)

After winning their opening two games, New York Red Bulls lost three and drew one of their next four games, but go into their home game against Chicago Fire on the back of two straight victories. 

The Red Bulls beat both DC United and Columbus Crew 2-0 at the Red Bull Arena and will be looking for another three points when Chicago Fire pay them a visit.

Fire have started the 2017 season much better than last year but are still winless on the road (0-2-1). You may recall Fire went 1-14-2 on the road last season so an away victory in this match looks unlikely at best despite German superstar Bastian Schweinsteiger being in the Fire’s roster this time around.

Red Bulls have won three of the past four games with Fire and you have to go back to August 2015 for the last time Fire beat the Red Bulls, a 3-2 win at Chicago. The Red Bulls may have conceded nine goals in eight games so far, but four of those came in the 4-1 loss at Houston Dynamo. Otherwise, they have already kept four shutouts.

With this in mind, I’m opting for the Red Bulls to win while keeping a clean sheet. It's +185 with Bovada, which represents great value. 

Pick: Red Bulls to win to nil at +185

Category : Betting Picks

Tag : 2017 MLS Season , Chicago Fire , Columbus Crew , MLS betting predictions , New York Red Bulls , NYCFC , soccer betting

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