MLS is Back July 17 Odds & Previews

• MLS is Back Group D action resumes on Friday as Real Salt Lake battles Minnesota United and Sporting KC takes on the Colorado Rapids
• Friday night also features a Group C clash, with the New England Revolution pegged as heavy favorites in their date with DC United
• Read on to get all the odds and trends ahead of Friday’s MLS is Back group stage contests

Top spot on the Group D table will be up for grabs on Friday when Minnesota United battle Real Salt Lake as +135 favorites. Friday’s MLS is Back schedule also features a pair of matchups featuring clubs searching for their first win of the tournament. Sporting Kansas City look to rebound from a tournament-opening loss to Minnesota as they take on the Colorado Rapids as strong -105 favorites, while over in Group C, the New England Revolution battle DC United as +110 chalk.

Here’s a look at all the odds and best bets for each of Friday’s MLS is Back contests.

MLS is Back July 17 Odds

Odds taken July 16

Loons Vie for Fourth Straight Win

Minnesota United will be looking to remain perfect in 2020 when they hit the pitch against Real Salt Lake on Friday night as attractive +135 favorites. The Loons had lady luck on their side during a stunning 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City to open their MLS is Back Group D schedule. The club evened the match in the 90th minute on the strength of a Sporting own goal and claimed the win moments later with a goal from the club’s leading scorer Kevin Molino.

The Loons have now outscored opponents by a wide 10-4 margin in three straight wins, including a pair of victories in regular-season action prior to the league shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the club has earned at least a point in seven of their past nine league matches and has remained unbeaten despite the absence of star defender Ike Opara, who remains sidelined by injury at least until the end of group stage action.

https://twitter.com/Futebol_USA/status/1282534596190576641?s=20

Minnesota has also enjoyed steady success against Real Salt Lake, avoiding defeat in each of their past four meetings, capped by a 3-1 win last September. Real return to action as +170 underdogs in Friday’s contest after opening their tournament schedule with a 2-0 win over Colorado.

With the win, the Claret and Cobalt put the brakes on a six-match winless slide in which they were outgunned by a wide 10-3 margin. However, real have surrendered just one total goal while compiling a 1-0-2 win-loss-draw record in 2020 league action. But can they maintain that level of stingy play against the high-flying Loons?

Picks: Minnesota United to win +135; UNDER 3.0 (-125)

Sporting Reeling Following Stunning Loss

Earlier on Friday evening, Sporting Kansas City will try to rebound from their stunning loss to Minnesota as they battle the founding Rapids as heavy -105 chalk. Sunday’s defeat brought a screeching halt to Sporting’s stellar start to 2020. The club dominated in a pair of wins over Vancouver and Houston to open the season, piling up seven total goals, and burying the memory of their dismal finish to the 2019 campaign.

Wow. Tim Melia gets a red here for DOGSO. Confirmed by VAR.

This is big for #MNUFC… if the Loons can’t capitalize here, not sure when they’ll be able to. pic.twitter.com/2BYZ3Ylpr7

— Eli Hoff (@byEliHoff) July 13, 2020

However, the club will be without goalkeeper Tim Melia for Friday’s contest. The former MLS Goalkeeper of the Year took a red card in the tournament opener, and his absence leaves Sporting with a massive hole to climb out of in Group D.

Of course, Melia’s suspension is welcome news for the Rapids, who look to Friday pegged as attractive +255 underdogs. Colorado took a step back in their group stage opener, with their 2-0 loss to Real snapping a respectable 2-0-0 start to the season. However, the Rapids have enjoyed steady success in recent dates with Sporting, going 7-2-2 in 11 league meetings, and are poised to provide the biggest upset in tournament play this weekend.

Picks: Colorado Rapids to win +255; OVER 2.5, 3.0 (-115)

Can Revs Rewrite Losing Narrative vs DC United?

Group C action continues on Friday night as the New England Revolution meet DC United as solid +105 favorites. The Revolution eked out a 1-0 win over the Montreal Impact to open the group stage schedule and marked just their third victory in 14 league matches since last July. Goalscoring has been a massive concern in New England. The club has potted just four total goals over their past five outings, and have produced mixed results in league dates with DC. The Revs have posted just one win in 12 meetings since 2014, and have been held off the scoresheet in five of those contests.

Gustavo Bou. Carles Gil. Adam Buksa.

Thursday was the first time in club history that the #NERevs had three Designated Players on the field at the same time.

— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) July 12, 2020

New England may have timing on their side as they prepare to face DC United. The Black and Red saw their tournament opener against Toronto put on hold after one of their players tested positive for COVID-19. The match was eventually played on Monday, with United mounting a late comeback to salvage a 2-2 draw.

DC United will be without midfielder Junior Moreno, who will be suspended after accumulating yellow cards. And while the club has managed to otherwise stay injury-free, it remains unclear what impact that COVID-19 worries have taken on the players. However, given their track record of success against New England, there is value to be found in wager on this contest ending in a draw.

Pick: Draw +280