MLS is Back Odds & Previews: Philadelphia Union vs Inter Miami & Vancouver Whitecaps vs San Jose Earthquakes
- The MLS is Back Tournament proceeds on Tuesday, with Inter Miami taking on Philadelphia
- On Wednesday, the Vancouver Whitecaps and San Jose Earthquakes will meet
- Get the odds, preview, and best bet for these two fixtures below
The MLS is Back Tournament is well underway and over the next two days, a couple of exciting fixtures lie ahead. On Tuesday, July 14th, the Philadelphia Union will take on Inter Miami, kick-off 10:30 pm EST. Then on Wednesday, July 15th, the Vancouver Whitecaps and San Jose Earthquakes will clash, kick-off 9:00 pm EST.
Philly will be looking to build off a huge victory over Group A favorites NYCFC, who they beat 1-0 last Thursday. On the other hand, San Jose grabbed a crucial point against last year’s MLS Cup champions, the Seattle Sounders. They will be looking for their first win against a Whitecaps squad who are missing several key players due to concerns over the coronavirus.
MLS is Back July 14/15 Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Union | pk,-0.5 (+105) | +131 | Ov 2.5,3 (-114) |
| Inter Miami | pk, +0.5 (-125) | +188 | Un 2.5,3 (-106) |
| Draw | N/A | +235 | N/A |
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | +0.5 (-105) | +255 | Ov 3 (+102) |
| San Jose Earthquakes | -0.5 (-115) | -115 | Un 3 (-122) |
| Draw | N/A | +260 | N/A |
Odds taken July 13
Philadelphia Union vs Inter Miami
Tuesday night at 10:30 pm EST brings an intriguing Group A meeting between Philly and Inter Miami. Both sides have already played one match, with the Union beating New York City, while Inter lost a nailbiter against Florida rivals Orlando City FC.
Philadelphia put forward a gutsy performance against last year’s top Eastern Conference regular season team last Thursday in NYCFC. Although Ronny Deila’s side controlled 56 percent of the possession and had double the amount of shots on target than the Union, they weren’t able to capitalize. Philadelphia’s backline, anchored by Mark McKenzie and Jack Elliott, was extremely solid against a very electric NYCFC attack. Keeper Andre Blake was also brilliant, making numerous crucial saves to keep his side in the match. Jim Curtin’s men will be looking to build off a good start to the tournament against Inter Miami on Tuesday.
One of two brand-new franchises in the MLS, Miami is still yet to win a game this season. They took on Orlando City SC in the opening match of the tournament, losing a heartbreaker after Nani bagged a winner in the 97th minute. The Herons looked relatively even compared to Orlando, but they lacked flair in the final third, registering just one shot on target.
Philadelphia will be riding a high after beating the Group A favorites, so I’m giving them the advantage over Inter Miami on Tuesday. The Union will win by one goal, with their defense continuing to stay solid by keeping their opponents off the scoresheet.
Pick: Philadelphia (+131)
Vancouver Whitecaps vs San Jose Earthquakes
Two of the weakest teams from the Western Conference prepare to face one another on Wednesday at 9:00 pm EST. Vancouver finished dead last in the West in 2019, while San Jose finished in eighth.
For Marc Dos Santos’ squad, they will be missing numerous players who are vital to their starting eleven. Strikers Fredy Montero, Lucas Cavallini, and Tosaint Ricketts did not make the trip to Orlando, while defender Andy Rose and midfielder Georges Mukumbilwa also decided to stay at home because of concerns over COVID-19. The three attacking players will be sorely missed, but Vancouver will be looking to youngster Theo Blair to create some brilliance in the final third. The Whitecaps went 1-1 in their first two matches back in March, beating the LA Galaxy on the road before action was postponed.
San Jose played to a 0-0 draw with the current title holders Seattle on Friday. In the first match back for teams, it was an expected result, with all sides looking slightly rusty after a prolonged amount of time off the pitch. The humidity is also playing a crucial part as a lot of these players aren’t used to playing in such hot weather. The Earthquakes played a hard-fought game though, giving them minimal space to move with the ball and taking numerous chances with high-flying tackles. They even controlled 52 percent of the possession, opposed to Seattle’s 48. San Jose struggled to finish with eight shots on net, but all in all, it was an impressive performance for Matias Almeyda’s men.
Given Vancouver’s numerous absences and San Jose already playing a solid match against a top-notch Seattle side, I give the Earthquakes a two-goal victory on Wednesday.
Pick: San Jose (-115)
Quinn Allen is a sports journalist, with a background and education in broadcast journalism (BCIT '17). He is a full-time associate editor at ClutchPoints by day, where he writes about soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and more. At night, Quinn is a frequent contributor at SBD.
