Upcoming Match-ups

MLS Betting – Salt Lake Set for an Earthquake

Zack Garrison

by Zack Garrison in News

Updated Jan 17, 2018 · 9:39 AM PST

San Jose Earthquakes (+305) at Real Salt Lake (-110), Draw (+235)

Two Western Conference teams that have struggled over the last few fixtures will meet this Friday night, when Real Salt Lake (8-6-6, 30 pts) take on the San Jose Earthquakes (6-7-6, 25 pts) at Rio Tinto Stadium to open another weekend of MLS action (11:00 PM Eastern).

Of the two, only Real Salt Lake are currently holding down a playoff spot in the West. However, they haven’t recorded a win in their last five fixtures, losing two and drawing three, including a scoreless tie on Saturday against New England.

With 30 points in 20 games, Salt Lake are in fourth-place in the West, but they are one of the four teams remaining in the MLS that hasn’t lost a game playing at home, going 5-4-0 in nine games at Rio Tinto Stadium, outscoring opponents 12-7.

San Jose are coming off a 2-1 win over Toronto FC, their first victory in eight fixtures. They had gone 0-4-3 in the previous seven. The win was very impressive, though, considering the Earthquakes lost two men in the second half to red cards and still pulled it out shorthanded.

The Quakes now have 25 points in 19 games, but they are one of the three teams in the West that are winless on the road. In nine games away from home, they’re 0-4-5 and have been outscored at a 2-to-1 ratio (eight goals for, 16 goals against). Only Houston (18 goals against) has given up more goals on the road.

Looking at the trends, Real Salt Lake are 2-2-1 in their last five head-to-head against San Jose. You can’t bet against a team that hasn’t lost at home, especially when playing against a team that hasn’t won on the road. The draw could ruin things, but RSL should pull this one out.

Pick: Real Salt Lake (-110).

(Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Bobby Cummings [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)

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