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MLS Week 18 Picks: New York City FC Favored to Extend 14 Match Undefeated Streak Sunday

Ryan Metivier

by Ryan Metivier in Soccer News

Updated Apr 9, 2020 · 4:10 PM PDT

NYCFC
New York City FC will look to keep their 14 match undefeated streak alive when they host Portland on Sunday night. Photo By @NYCFC (Twitter)
  • Week 18 of the MLS season continues this weekend with nine more matches
  • Will NYCFC continue their undefeated run? Can Brian Fernandez keep scoring for the Portland Timbers?
  • Can expansion side FC Cincinnati snap their losing streak?

Week 18 in the Major League Soccer schedule has already been a busy one with ten mid-week matches. The action continues this weekend with another nine matches across Saturday and Sunday.

We take a look at a few of the top games from the MLS Week 18 slate and provide some expert betting advice.

New York City FC vs Portland Timbers Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Odds Total
NYCFC -0.5 (-125) -130 O 3.0 (-140)
Portland +0.5 (+105) +295 U 3.0 (+110)
Draw N/A +300 N/A

*All odds taken July 5, 2019

Streaks on the Line at Yankee Stadium

When New York City FC host the Portland Timbers on Sunday, July 7 at 6:30 pm EST, they’ll be doing so as the hottest team in the league. NYCFC are just fifth in the East, however, they’ve only lost once all season. That’s comparable to league-leaders LAFC who have lost just twice.

New York have drawn eight times, compared to seven wins, which have kept them below the East’s top teams. But a run of 14 matches across all competitions without defeat, gives little reason to look to bet against the Citizens.

New York is coming off a midweek 3-0 win over a depleated and rotated Seattle Sounders side. Last weekend they defeated Philadelphia 4-2. In two US Open Cup matches prior, they were 2-1 and 4-0 winners. They also played out a 5-2 win over Cincinnati and 2-2 draw with Columbus in early June. When it comes to scoring goals, New York have scored at least twice in eight of nine.

When it comes to scoring goals New York have scored at least twice in eight of nine.

The Timbers find themselves on the wrong side of the West playoff line, but have been coming on strong of late. They’ve won two of three in MLS and four of five overall.

Due to stadium renovations, Portland has already played a heavy slate of road matches. Though, in 13 games on the road they’ve scored in ten of them. Overall they’ve scored 18 and allowed 25 on their travels. The last time Portland failed to score a goal in any game came back on May 10 in Vancouver.

With six goals in five games, new signing Brian Fernandez is already breaking records in Portland and has scored in each of his first five games in MLS. With Fernandez, Jeremy Ebobisse and Diego Valeri, Portland should have enough to find the scoresheet at least once Sunday night.

Best Bet: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals (-130)

MLS Week 18 Parlay Bet

Let’s take a look at a couple bets I see value in parlaying together on Saturday.

FC Cincinnati vs Houston Dynamo

Any chance I have to bet against the league’s newest side, FC Cincinnati, I have to take. Cincinnati are a league-worst 3-2-13. Their 11 points are by far the fewest in the league, with the Columbus Crew next in line at 17.

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They’ve scored just 15 times and allowed a league-worst 42 goals. The expansion team last won a league game back on May 11 at home to Montreal. But seven straight losses in MLS have followed, only broken up by a win in the US Open Cup against Louisville.

Cincinnati have scored just 15 times and allowed a league-worst 42 goals. The expansion team last won a league game back on May 11 at home to Montreal

When Cincinnati host the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, July 6 at 7:30 pm EST, they face a side certainly capable of scoring goals.

Houston have struggled of late but still find themselves sixth in the Western Conference. Their struggles have coincided with international absenses and a lengthly road trip. Prior to Wednesday’s match they had lost four overall, and three in MLS, with all three coming on the road. However, Wednesday saw the Dynamo return home with a 4-0 win over the New York Red Bulls.

Albert Elis played his first match for the team since June 1 and had a major impact with two goals and one assist.

Cincinnati’s last match saw them concede seven times in a 7-1 defeat to Minnesota and even though teams often bounce back after humiliating losses such as that, Cincy haven’t given me any reason to expect them to snap the losing streak this weekend.

The scary thing with backing Houston though is that 24 of their 27 total points have come at home. They are 7-3-0 at BBVA Compass Stadium and a porous 1-0-6 on their travels.

With Houston’s dismal road form, it would be a very MLS thing for the expansion side to pull out a result. I’ll play it safe with a double chance bet.

Montreal Impact vs Minnesota United

Despite the long-term absense of Ignacio Piatti, the Montreal Impact have been well within the Eastern Conference playoff conversation all season. They currently sit third in the East with 30 points, just one behind DC and five behind Philadelphia.

The Impact will host Minnesota United on Saturday, July 6 also at 7:30 pm EST.

Impact home games haven’t seen many goals this season. In eight matches, they have both scored and conceded eight times. But I think that could change come Saturday.

Montreal games have seen both teams score in five of their past six. At home, they’ve failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their past four. The last time they kept the opposition out of their net at Stade Saputo was in a 0-0 draw on May 18. They have though, scored themselves in five of eight home matches.

Finding the back of the net against Minnesota should be expected, against a side that’s only kept one clean sheet on the road all season. The Loons have allowed 18 goals in nine road matches and are riding a four-game losing streak away from home. In fact, in their last three away matches they’ve been shutout.

However, overall, Minnesota is scoring for fun lately. Their last two MLS matches saw them win 3-1 and 7-1. If you include two US Open Cup matches before those, they won 3-2 and 4-1. One of those did come on the road to MLS competition versus Houston. So in their past four games they are 4-0-0 and have outscored opponents 17-5.

Parlay Bet: Houston Dynamo double chance & Montreal vs Minnesota both teams to score (+126) 

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