MLS Matchday 10 Best Bets for April 20, 2024

Match- Charlotte FC hosts Minnesota United

Pick- Charlotte FC -102

Charlotte soccer is like watching an SEC game with the atmosphere down there, averaging 35,544 fans last season, which is the second highest in the league. They haven't been clinical enough finishing this season, but seeing a -102 cost, I think that's already baked into these odds.  

Minnesota right now is a mess. They just lost 2-1 to Houston at home, and we recently found out this week that their star Argentinian #10 Emmanuel Reynoso is missing; he didn't show up for his green card appointment set up by the team and isn’t even in the country.  As a result, Minnesota has been relying on production from auxiliary players such as Hlongwane, which I believe is unsustainable.  They need to have a creative player feeding Pukki if they are going to stay relevant this season. 

Love Charlotte as a home favorite at almost even money this week.

Match- LAFC host RBNY

Pick- RBNY +.5 -115

The real question here is why CAN’T Red Bull take all three points in LA this weekend?  They did it just two weeks ago to Cincinnati, who is a top Eastern Conference team.  LAFC is struggling amid the middle of the pack in the Western Conference, and here we will get a good look at how inter-conference play is going to look in 2024. 

When I look at games like this, I try to reflect on how these teams played against other teams  in similar situations, or with similar playstyles.  For this, I want to take a look at another Red Bull ex-coach, Chris Armas, when his project Colorado Rapids hosted LAFC.  That result, with a worse Colorado team than RBNY, with a worse head coach than RBNY, was a 3-2 win for Colorado.  I ask again- why can’t a similar but BETTER Red Bull team get a win here?

I am making the RBNY +.5 at -115 as my official pick, but you know I am sprinkling form RBNY win bets at +320.  

Match- Seattle Sounders host Vancouver Whitecaps

Pick- Whitecaps +.5 -120, Vancouver +275

Seattle Sounders are not the perennial MLS Cup Final contenders that they had been in years past.  They have many veterans who are a step slower, and offensive production is way down.  Their only splash this offseason was Pedro de la Vega, their sole arbiter of youth and creativity, who has been unavailable most of the season.  While he might get some playing time this week, he is far from 90 minutes fit, so this week I am taking the Vancouver Whitecaps. 

Vancouver has been the opposite of what Seattle has put on the field.  They have been clinical on the ball, with 4 more goals than expected this season.  They have a great attack with Brian White, Ryan Guald, and Fafa Picault all contributing as intended.  

For insurance purposes, I am making Whitecaps +.5 as my official bet.  After all, while Seattle hasn’t been offensive, their defense is back and finally healthy, which could keep this game close.  I will, for my own purposes, sprinkle Vancouver to win at +275 this weekend. 

Match- Columbus Crew hosting Portland Timbers

Pick- Crew lead half time and full time +150

There were a lot of ways to play this bet: Columbus to score first and second half, Crew to score in both halves, or Crew to lead at half and full time. Because I think they get up early and can even make subs at halftime (saving legs for CONCACAF), I think this is the safest at +150, which is great odds.

Columbus Crew are the class of the east, and I don't feel the need to say much more. Portland has conceded early and often. Columbus is going ahead early and will win this match.

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