Weekly Soccer Betting Guide: Average Start To The Season
Average.
That is the word I would use to describe week one for this series. First off, I would like to apologize to all Philadelphia Union fans, your team may be better than I thought they would be this season after battling to a draw with Columbus.
Looking at my Locks of the Week, well, they weren’t really locks this week. West Ham goes down to 10 players and quickly go down 2-0. They did battle back, but I have to give Newcastle credit for coming out on top in that match.
So, after week 1 my picks record sits at 6-7 and my Locks of the Week are 0-2.
I can only go up this week hopefully, let’s get started looking ahead to some matches this week.
MLS:
Friday April 23, 2021
Orlando City SC @ Sporting Kansas City (7:30 pm on FS1)
Orlando City’s performance against Atlanta last week was a little lackluster to say the least. Their defense was fine, but quality scoring chances were few and far between. Sporting is the definition of an average team who can take advantage of opportunities if you can’t keep the pressure on them and let them gain belief as the game goes on. This is a game that I don’t have a feeling on this week and am calling it an avoid game. If you are looking at betting it, Sporting is -110, Orlando City is +230 and a Draw is +260.
Saturday April 24, 2021
FC Cincinnati @ New York City (1 pm on ESPN+)
Cincinnati surprised me when they played to a draw in Nashville last week, but I’m still not sold on this team being ready to take the next step up in MLS yet. New York City is coming off a loss on the road in D.C and are returning home this weekend. Despite what I said about NYCFC being inconsistent last week, I do like them to come out on top in this match. My pick for the match is New York City -260.
Montreal Impact @ Nashville SC (2 pm on ESPN+)
Montreal coming away with the victory against Toronto surprised me a lot after the off-season they had. Nashville surprised me as well when they only got one point at home against Cincinnati. Both teams have been known to give up plenty of goals per match and that usually means go ahead and take the under, but that’s not what I’m going to do with this pick. My pick for this match is Over 2.5 Total Goals.
Vancouver Whitecaps @Toronto FC (3 pm on ESPN+)
Is this the year that Toronto’s age starts to show and they start to take a downturn? I know, it’s only one match, but I did not like the way they played. Vancouver got the 1-0 victory over Portland last week, but before I feel safe betting anything with them I need to watch a few more matches most likely. If you want to bet on this game, Toronto is -220, Vancouver is +480 and a Draw is +340.
FC Dallas @ San Jose Earthquakes (3:30 pm on Univision)
Honestly, I was really surprised that I correctly picked a draw for FC Dallas- Colorado last week. I kind of want to go that route again, but picking a draw is really risky. Especially in this match with two teams that like to score fluky type goals. I’m taking the avoid this match route in this one, but if you want to bet it, San Jose is +140, FC Dallas is +175 and a Draw is +220.
LAFC @ Seattle Sounders (6 pm on ESPN)
This is definitely the match of the weekend for soccer fans. Seattle was really impressive last week against Minnesota and LAFC took advantage of their opening match against Austin. Either one of these teams can win this one and with this being as big of a game early in the season as it can get, I think it is going to be a very defensive game and goals will be hard to come by. My pick in this match is Under 3.5 Total Goals.
Chicago Fire @ Atlanta United (8 pm on ESPN+)
I may have been too quick to write off Brad Guzen as starting goalie for Atlanta last week as he made some key saves to keep even with Orlando last weekend. Atlanta was able to keep the pressure on in Orlando, but just weren’t able to put one into the back of the net. If they are able to keep that type of pressure on Chicago at home this weekend they are going to score a lot of goals and come away with the victory. My pick for this match is Atlanta United +100.
Real Salt Lake @ Minnesota United (8 pm on ESPN+)
After losing 4-0 to Seattle to open the season, Minnesota is returning home probably a little ticked off because that score does not reflect how good a team they are. That right there is enough for me in this one, I don’t care who they are playing this week. They are an angry team and I wouldn’t want to be their opponent. My pick for this match is Minnesota United -125.
DC United @ New England (8 pm on ESPN+)
New England tied and DC got the win to open up their seasons, but other than that I don’t have any more to say right now. This is definitely an avoid game for me this week. If you want to bet this game, New England is -210, DC United is +490 and a Draw is +310.
Inter Miami CF @ Philadelphia (8 pm on ESPN+)
I was a little disappointed in Miami’s performance last week and a little surprised that Philadelphia played to a scoreless draw. I’m sitting out on both these teams this week as I need to reevaluate what I think about both teams. If you want to bet this game, Philadelphia is +100, Inter Miami CF is +220 and a Draw is +250.
Austin FC @ Colorado (9 pm on ESPN+)
Could Austin FC get their first MLS win this weekend? With how inconsistent Colorado can be at times, I can see it. Will Colorado play to a draw again? I can make a nice case for it. With both teams still looking for their first goals of the season, you can call this my “Take A Chance” Pick for the week: Austin +350.
Houston Dynamo @ Portland Timbers (10:30 pm on ESPN+)
Houston coming off a one goal victory and Portland coming off a one goal loss. This game just screams avoid it to me and watch as a soccer fan. If you do want to bet it though, Portland is +100, Houston is +230 and Draw is +230.
Sunday April 25, 2021
New York Red Bulls @ LA Galaxy (5:30 pm on FS1)
LA Galaxy surprised me a little bit with their victory against Miami last weekend and New York struggled at home against Kansas City. With the Galaxy opening up their home schedule this weekend and New York traveling cross country after a loss, my pick for this match is LA Galaxy +130.
Premier League
Moving onto the Premier League now as the top of the table hasn’t really changed and the teams in the middle are now even more jumbled.
Friday April 23, 2021
Everton @ Arsenal (3 pm on NBCSN)
Everton disappointed me last week with their home draw against Tottenham because they had plenty of chances to win it and even just hold onto their 2-1 lead. Arsenal sits one spot behind Everton in the table which makes this an intriguing matchup for either team making it interesting in the race for the Top 6 in the table. But, until Everton shows that they can hold a lead, I can’t put any faith in them getting the victory and Arsenal is just a team I still have no faith in predicting what they could do in any given match. If you want to bet this game though, Arsenal is -115, Everton is +310 and a Draw is +260.
Saturday April 24, 2021
Newcastle @ Liverpool (7:30 am on peacockTV)
Liverpool has the failed European Super League breakaway hanging over their heads and Newcastle is coming off a huge, and surprising, victory over West Ham. Also, the failure of the European Super League was a great thing for global soccer fans, but more on that on a different day. The way Liverpool has played lately and Newcastle showing they can play top teams tough has me weary of picking either team to win this match, but I do believe that goals will be scored in this one. My pick for this match is Over 2.5 Goals at -172.
Chelsea @ West Ham (12:30 pm on NBC)
West Ham showed some resilience last week as they battled back to tie the match at 2 with 10 players, but ultimately still lost the match. Chelsea was the team that started the dismantling of the European Super League. The game has everything to be the match of the weekend and for that I am definitely taking the out with this one and will just watch as a soccer fan. If you do want to bet, West Ham is +360, Chelsea is -130 and a Draw is +270.
Brighton @ Sheffield United (3 pm on peacockTV)
Sheffield is on its way to be relegated and Brighton is trying to stay out of the relegation zone is a big reason why this match will be interesting, but also a big reason why I would stay away from it as bettors. If you do want to bet, Sheffield is +450, Brighton is -140 and a Draw is +250.
Sunday April 25, 2021
Burnley @ Wolves (7 am on NBCSN)
Just like Brighton, Burnley is trying to stay out of the relegation zone and the Wolves are a team that is just hanging out in the middle. This is a good match to wake up to and watch on Sunday, but beyond that I don’t think it is worth it to bet. If you do want to bet, Wolves is -105, Burnley is +310 and a Draw is +230.
Manchester United @ Leeds (9 am on NBCSN)
Manchester United seems to be safely solidified in the 2nd place spot of the Premier League table and Leeds isn’t in danger of being relegated, but also isn’t going to finish in the Top 5 of the table. I could see this match ending in a draw, but not enough to bet it. If you do want to bet, Manchester United is -125, Leeds is +300 and a Draw is +300.
West Brom @ Aston Villa (2 pm on peacockTV)
West Brom is on a two match winning streak and Aston Villa is the definition of an average team this season, but West Brom looks to be on their way to being relegated and a loss to Aston Villa would help that. I am going to make this one of my locks of the week as I am taking Aston Villa @ -125.
As I am still trying to find a location to get odds for the United Soccer League, I am going to take a look at some matches coming up in the Bundesliga this weekend.
Saturday April 24, 2021
Werder Bremen @ Union Berlin (9:30 am on ESPN+)
Union Berlin is trying to work it’s way back into the Top 6 and Werder Bremen is trying to avoid dropping into the relegation zone. Werder hasn’t scored a lot this season, but has given up plenty of goals and Union is kind of 50/50 in goals scored in given up. My pick in this match is Union Berlin -120.
Dortmund @ Wolfsburg (9:30 am on ESPN+)
Dortmund has had a very unusual season as they are normally battling for the top spot with Bayern Munich and this year they are just battling to remain in the Top 6. This is a huge match for Dortmund this weekend if they want to remain in the Champions League next year as Wolfsburg is occupying the 4th spot in the Bundesliga table as things sit right now. I don’t know who is going to win this one, but my second Lock of the Week this week is taking the Over 2.5 Goals at -158 in this match.
Which matches are you looking forward to this weekend?
Tweet them to me on Twitter @MattyIcePGH and @pghsoccernow.
Also, if there is a league you are curious about and want me to take a look at in this series you can tweet that to me as well.
Good Luck to all the bettors this weekend!