Week four is upon us, which means more goals, more saves, and more chances to capitalize on the best lines on the board. Let’s check out what’s worth wagering on from this weekend’s slate from DraftKings.
Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders
One of the league’s best rivalries kick’s off again as Seattle travels to Portland this Saturday. The Sounders come into this game off a resounding 3-0 victory over another rival, LA Galaxy, last weekend. Head Coach Brian Schmetzer has his men playing in a 3-4-1-2 that has been ravaging defenses. So far, Seattle has managed eight goals in three games, all while getting 20 shots on target, a mark good enough for the second-best in the league.
Notably, Seattle’s wingbacks, Alex Roldan and Brad Smith have flourished in their new roles. With more creative liberty, the duo are committing dynamic runs in the final third and are constantly picking out forward teammates from wide positions.
If this attack wasn’t terrifying enough for opposing defenders, captain and midfield orchestrator Nicolás Lodeiro returned from injury last weekend, giving the squad another dangerous option to unleash.
All these factors spell disaster for a Portland team that is undoubtedly exhausted and hurting. Come Saturday; Portland will have played five matches in 15 days, all while key attacking figures Jeremey Ebobisse, Sebastián Blanco, and Jaroslaw Niezgoda have dealt with varying injuries. Portland’s most recent match, 3-1 defeat to Club America in the CONCACAF Champion’s League on Wednesday, means there will be at least some rotation from the strong squad named.
Against a tired Timbers squad struggling to score and defend, take the Sounders to claim the three points.
Seattle Sounders +133
Nashville SC vs. New England Revolution
Nashville SC welcomes Carles Gil and the New England Revolution to Nissan Stadium this Saturday, with sights set on their first win of the season.
Nashville has played like one of the best teams in the league thus far this season; you wouldn’t know it by looking at the standings. Despite three consecutive draws to open up the campaign, Nashville has a 3.7 xGD, the league’s second-best behind NYCFC.
Head Coach Gary Smith has an array of attacking options like Jhonder Cádiz, Randall Leal, Hany Mukhtar, CJ Sapong, Rodrigo Piñeiro, and Alex Muyl. That loaded offense has created the most shots and shots on target in MLS. Despite those numbers, Nashville has only scored four times.
With an exceptional defense led by reigning MLS Defender of the Year, Walker Zimmerman, Nashville has overcome their offensive woes to avoid defeat this season.
If Nashville can become more clinical and goalkeepers don’t turn into Jan Oblak each time they play Nashville, Tennessee could be home to the league’s best team.
New England has taken seven points from their opening three matches but will face a difficult time stretching it to ten this weekend.
With Gustavo Bou expected to return to the team this weekend, Head Coach Bruce Arena will have an interesting dilemma on his hands. That being whether to line up with two or one strikers. In the first two matches of the season, Bou and Adam Buksa were paired up top in a 4-4-2 and 4-2-2-2. In those matches, the Revs combined for 2.3 xG. Without Bou last weekend, Arena sent out a 4-2-3-1, and the team responded with their best offensive performance, which netted a 2.5 xG.
Arena will likely send out a two-striker partnership in search of defensive solidity throughout the formation, which may benefit Nashville SC.
Expect a grudge match of a game; similar to their meetings a year ago. I’m leaning on Nashville as their played merits more success than they have had so far. Take a Draw-No bet and sprinkle the draw line if you’re feeling up to it.
Nashville SC Draw-No Bet -139 and/or Draw +245
Colorado Rapids vs Minnesota United
Through three games, Colorado has already experienced all the feels, going 1W-1D-1L. Their most recent match had them pull out their first victory, 1-0, over Vancouver Whitecaps last Saturday.
Despite finishing with only 43% possession, Colorado dominated the game, constantly harassing Vancouver with intense pressure while attacking and defending. Rapids finished with 16 shots, getting six of them on target. Even though Colorado continued to push the pace, they were not rewarded with a goal in open play, an issue for Head Coach Robin Fraser early in the season. Their lone strike coming from a Diego Rubio set-piece, the only other goal scored on the season for Colorado came off a corner.
Expect the talented forwards of Colorado to right the ship against the league’s worst defense, which has conceded seven times so far.
Minnesota United has suffered three defeats to open the campaign, and signs of a turnaround are nowhere to be seen.
Minnesota lost an incredible amount of depth in attack this past off-season, seeing six of their fourteen goalscorers depart the club. A significant reason why the club has only scored once this season. To make matters worse Centreback, Ike Opra, the team’s best defender who also chipped in two goals last season, has been ruled out for most of the season due to injury.
Colorado will come into this game with the better talent, confidence, and cohesiveness needed to pull off the win.
Colorado Rapids -117