MLS Week 13 Picks: Will SKC’s Struggles Continue?

• Week 13 of the MLS season continues this weekend
• Top 5 Western Conference mathup between Minnesota and Houston
• Can Orlando take advantage of a Zlatan-less Galaxy

Major League Soccer’s Week 13 schedule continues with 12 matches this weekend from May 24-26.

We take a look at a few of the top matches from the MLS Week 13 slate and provide some expert betting advice.

Minnesota United vs Houston Dynamo Odds

*All odds taken May 24, 2019

Top 5 Western Matchup

When Minnesota United entertain the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at 8:00 pm EST, it will see two of the Western Conference’s top five teams square off. The Dynamo, at 7-2-2 and 23 points, are third in the conference. While the Loons at 5-3-4 and 18 points, sit in fifth.

Each team has scored 20 goals on the season, with Houston allowing 12 compared to Minnesota’s 20.

let's take it back to Saturday night for a minute… Shall we? #MNUFC | @ElementTVs pic.twitter.com/iI6xsfl2yz

— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) May 23, 2019

Not counting an earlier pre-season match (0-0) this year, these teams have met six times in their history. Home teams have held the upper hand winning six, while two have ended in draws.

Each team has scored 20 goals on the season, with Houston allowing 12 compared to Minnesota’s 20.

Each team is coming off a win last week with Minnesota winning 1-0 at home to Columbus. The Loons have been strong of late, with just one loss in five in going 2-1-2. In five home games this year they’ve only failed to score once.

The Dynamo are in similar form, having defeated DC 2-1 last week. They’ve also only lost once in their past five, while winning three.

Houston lost on the road to Seattle 1-0 in their last road match, however, their previous and only two other road games this year featured plenty of goals.

Houston are not known as a very strong road team, but have more than enough talent to cause the Loons some trouble at Allianz Field.

⚽ 1-0: Mauro Manotas (@MauroManotas19)#LaMLS #Futbolitis pic.twitter.com/3tkNws1iOq

— Il Catenaggio (@ilcatenaggio) May 17, 2019

Between Mauro Manotas, Memo Rodríguez, Albert Elis, and Minnesota’s Darwin Quintero and Angelo Rodríguez, I see an evening of goals in Minnesota.

Best Bet: Both teams to score & Over 2.5 goals (-110)

Sporting Kansas City vs Seattle Sounders Odds

Slumping Sporting

Last week I focused on an SKC match and titled this section “Sporting Spiralling”. I feel like I could simply re-use that title this week, but for the sake of change let’s go with ‘slumping’, since not much has changed.

SKC haven’t won a match in almost two months. March 30 to be exact. It’s been all downhill since as they’ve lost three and drawn four in MLS play. You can also add two CONCACAF Champions League losses into the mix as well to make them winless in nine overall.

SKC haven’t won a match in almost two months. March 30 to be exact. It’s been all downhill since as they’ve lost three and drawn four in MLS play.

Last week, granted, I was moments away from losing double chance bet on the Whitecaps, as Vancouver needed a 94th minute game-tieing goal off a corner kick to escape Children’s Mercy Park with a draw. However, we’re not counting style points here, just wins, and I’m all about betting on a streak until it ends.

This week Sporting tries to snap their skid against the Sounders, the second place team in both the Western Conference and the league. Gametime is Sunday, May 26, 2019 at 6:00 pm EST.

One of the best on and off the field: https://t.co/R8HGTfwOXW pic.twitter.com/Ps8pN0XH4l

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 23, 2019

Seattle has lost just once all season and that came seven games back on April 21 to the only team who own a better record, LAFC. Since that loss they’ve gone 2-0-4. It’s a strong record but also includes many draws. Seattle have won just one of their five road matches.

But if Vancouver can leave Kansas City with a draw, so can the Sounders. Money seems to be moving in  that direction as well, as the double chance bet was paying +105 earlier this week and has since moved to -120.

Best Bet: Seattle Sounders double chance (win or draw) at (-120) 

MLS Week 13 Parlay Bet

Orlando City head coach James O’Connor proclaimed his side really needed a win last week to snap a winless run which had reached four games. Despite going down early to expansion side FC Cincinnati, a win was exactly what they got.

The win came in exciting fashion as the Lions responded with five goals, which included a brace by both Nani and Tesho Akindele and Orlando won 5-1. It was only Orlando’s fourth win on the year and the five goals somewhat skew their goal-differential of minus-1, (19 scored/20 allowed).

The season hasn’t been great for Orlando thus far. They’ll be without Dom Dwyer on Friday who’ll be serving a suspenion, however, Dwyer has been struggling of late prior to scoring off the bench last week.

But while we’re talking about struggling, few teams are in worse form than the LA Galaxy right now who hit the road for Friday’s match. LA came out strong to start 2019, but have dropped four-straight games while being shutout in the past two.

LA came out strong to start 2019, however, have dropped four-straight games while being shutout in the past two.

Last week they had to do without the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimović and they lost at home, 1-0, to the previously winless Colorado Rapids. Ibra is serving the second of his two-game suspension this week. Without him, LA seem to have no Plan B on offense. I can’t bet LA without Ibra.

For the second leg of this parlay, I will include a ‘both teams to score’ bet on Saturday between the East’s top team the Philadelphia Union, and the traveling Portland Timbers.

After LAFC’s league-leading 32 goals, no one else has scored more goals overall than the Union with 23.

First match. First goal. Welcome to @MLS, Brian Fernandez. ?#HOUvPOR | #RCTID pic.twitter.com/U2hWKEn5kN

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) May 16, 2019

They haven’t lost a match since April 13 and have won four of six since. And while their defense has been strong in only allowing six goals on the year, only three times this season has Portland been held off the scoresheet.

Considering they’ve still yet to play a home match, it’s a fairly impressive stat. They’ve also just added some extra firepower through the addition of Brian Fernandez.

Fernandez joined the team last week, promised he’d score in his debut and then did so within 12 minutes of being subbed on in the second half.

Parlay Bet: Orlando City double chance (win or draw) & Philadelphia/Portland both teams to score (+102)