MLS round 2

[rolltide]

2-1 +2.00 (staked 11.32, +17.7%)

Friday night...

Seattle vs Houston
- Mentally this is a must-win match for Seattle who can't start the season with 0 or 1 point after 3 matches, including two at home. Fredy Montero was invisible in their two losses and he rarely goes 3 matches straight without applying himself and Houston's backline is a perfect time to wake up. Also a factor is Seattle's hurt players (Jaqua, Evans, Zakuani) are all likely to play and Zakuani, in particular, should have a big day against Freeman who is making just his 2nd start for Houston at right back. Of course the biggest reason for their 0-0-2 start is they played LA and RBNY, two of the league's top teams while Houston is just mediocre. Seattle fans haven't seen their team win at home since mid-Oct as they've lost 3 straight, twice to LA and once to Saprissa, so heavy pressure on home team tonight as they've never lost 3 straight home games in MLS play. Ching likely to return for the Dynamo but I feel he's long passed his usefulness and would only really be concerned about Cameron in central midfield or Brad Davis' set pieces. Center back Taylor got called to Jamaica so he's out tonight but it looks like Canadian international Hainault won't travel out until after the match. Both teams basically playing full and I rate Seattle the much stronger side and will be playing a lot against Eastern teams when visiting decent Western sides. Playing 3 games in 11 days shouldn't be an issue this early in the season especially with Evans and Jaqua ready for their first action. Houston lost at home to a team they should be no worse than equal to, Philadelphia, in a match where the Union posted their first ever road shutout. I mentioned in my preview how poor I thought Houston's attack would be but I didn't figure on them only getting 3 SOG and no goals against a porous Union road defense! Nasty weather in Seattle, as normal, with 90% chance of rain and 50 degree temps. That plays well into the Sounders' hands as Houston will have to shift around the back 4 and possibly even start a rookie on the slippery field turf. Ching is likely to return but he's only dangerous with his head at this age and I don't expect a lot of Houston possession. Seattle win this one with both Zakuani and Montero scoring.

Seattle 4.5u -115

 

[guil0000]

BOL tonight!

 

[wannabewhale]

BOL
Look forward to your plays tomorrow

 

[rolltide]

Philadelphia vs Vancouver
- impressive debut for Vancouver with 4 goals against TFC, who just might be the worst team in the league. They now head on the road for first away MLS match which should end up similar to Portland's first away game, an easy loss. After just one match Vancouver with significant missing players with Salinas, Thorrington, and Chiumiento hurt and Boxall and Demerit on international duty. A poor starting X field players will now use several reserves in a really tough place to play, Philly, who are a vastly improved club in defense and keeper. Without Chiumiento there is no playmaker and without Demerit and Boxall in central defense this squad, which allowed 2 home goals to an awful TFC attack, could easily allow 3-4 against Mwanga/Le Toux/Ruiz. Typically I don't like to bet on teams after big surprise wins (Philly at Houston) but only allowing 3 SOG at Houston and now having their home opener against an expansion club tells me Philly should be far more heavily favored, but we're getting better-than-expected odds because of Vancouver's week 1 result. Vancouver are one of the 3 worst teams in MLS when fully healthy and without several of their most important players we've basically got the worst team in the league playing in a road match against one of the East's better squads. What's nice about the Whitecaps 4-2 win over TFC is that Philly won't get caught looking ahead which is why I usually shy away from teams off upset victories. I just can't see beyond a home win and likely by 2 or more goals though this is really the first game in Philly's history where they're widely expected to win, so we'll see how they respond. In their inaugural season Philly lost just once in 8 home games against non-playoff teams and they're expected to improve on that in 2011...Vancouver will absolutely not be a playoff team. In those 8 games the Union led, at some point, in 7 of them and scored in every match so with an improved defense they'll certainly improve on that home record vs non-playoff teams. Only one guy on Vancouver, Hassli, would start for Philly and if he doesn't net twice Vancouver will lose this match. Completely wrong odds IMHO and one of the larger bets of 2011, despite being just 2nd round.

Philadelphia 8u +100

 

[rolltide]

Columbus vs NY Red Bulls
- Cbus were very poor last week and even against a depleted Red Bulls squad won't have an easy time of it. Red Bulls missing 7 starters from last week and 8 players in all since backup goalie got a concussion in training. They signed a 3rd keeper from U of Wisconsin today and he'll have to start against Columbus. While backup keeper Sutton is concussed and starting keeper Condoul is with Senegal, both starting centerbacks (Ream & Marquez) are with national teams, Agudelo is with US team, Richards is with Jamaica, and Thierry Henry is out due to leg injury. The Red Bulls are down to just two healthy forwards, 3rd stringers Rodgers and Hertzog, and will have trouble scoring against the excellent defensive group at Columbus. The Crew's only real attacking threat, Emilio Renteria, is out and the Crew will play with an attack and central midfield consisting of Burns, Rusmir, Ekpo, and Heinemann which is beyond pathetic. With the Red Bulls missing their central defense and keeper I expect a withdrawn group trying to counter while the Crew have no attacking ability at all but a solid back 4. I expect the news of RBNY missing 7 of last week's starters will have the general public lumping on Columbus but Cbus is not a good team and will look to rebound from allowing 3 goals last week by playing a "defense first" style. The Red Bulls have the massive advantage in midfield, Columbus in defense, and both horrible forwards so I'm guessing things cancel each other out in a boring 0-0 draw. Small bet as Horwarth has never even practiced with the Red Bulls which could lead to some real confusion in NY's penalty area.

Cbus/RBNY under 2.25 2u -112

 

[guil0000]

May I ask what book u use you seem to always get better lines then me

 

[rolltide]

pinnacle, sbobet, 12bet, 188bet, betcris

i posted phi at +100 but pinn was even +104 at the time and 12bet was +107

i posted the under at -112 though pinn was -111, sbo -112 at the time and still pinn is -115. also very playable at u2 +120

you can track odds changes and times of odds at posting via:
http://txodds.com/
or
http://www.oddsportal.com/soccer/usa/major-league-soccer/
or
http://www.betbrain.com/#/football/united-states/mls/

if you wish

 

[guil0000]

just to be clear I wasn't accusing you of anything I was just curious. GL Today!

 

[acehigh]

Dallas vs San Jose

Dallas are a very solid team that dont allow many goals, and will be one of the contenders for the MLS cup this season. San Jose, though a pretty average side, posted the second best away record after L.A last year, and my numbers show them as a good bet with the three quarter ball start.

San Jose (+0.75) @ 2.00

Chivas USA vs Colorado
Chivas had a terrible home record last year, winning only 6 of their 15 games, and there’s nothing to suggest that record will get any better this year. Colorado are no powerhouse, despite being reigning MLS champions, but they should be strong enough to get something from this game, and im seeing value with the draw no bet option.

Colorado (0) @ 2.12

New England vs D.C. United
An unfancied New England team recorded a deserved draw away at Los Angeles last week, and could have possibly taken all three points from the game. DC United lost 9 of their 15 road games last season, so New England getting such a generous line at home makes this a bet for me.

New England (-0.25) @ 1.95

 

[READYTOROLL]

Goodluck guys... I am leaning the Rapids tonight as well ace. :toast:

 

[guil0000]

great day rolltide keep em coming

 

[rolltide]

Seattle 1-1
Philly 1-0
Columbus 0-0

4-2 +6.83 (staked 26.73, +25.5%)

gl 2 acehigh tonight

 

[acehigh]

Seattle 1-1
Philly 1-0
Columbus 0-0

4-2 +6.83 (staked 26.73, +25.5%)

gl 2 acehigh tonight

3/3 last night. Need to stick with the moneyline rather than messing around with handicaps!

Nice night for yourself too. See everyone next week :howdy: