Chicago Fire vs LA Galaxy - two teams in good form here with just 4 matches remaining in the regular season. Fire are hot, 9-1-2 in all matches over the last 12 and sit comfortably in 2nd place in the East, 9 points ahead of the Red Bulls so playoff spot is all but wrapped up. LA, the defending champs, are in a much different spot on Saturday. They sit in last place in the West but only 6 pts behind Chivas USA and Colorado who play each other on Saturday. So, a win here and they will trail by max 4 points with 3 games left. Ironically, these teams will play again on Wednesday in Chicago for the US Open Cup final. I have to think that the Fire, who are nearly assured a playoff spot, will prioritize the Wed Cup game and be looking far past this Saturday meeting while LA's season really depends on this match. Their next 3 games are against Chivas USA, at Dallas, home vs Dallas so a win vs Chicago and I think they'll make the playoffs since Dallas are in bad form with little to play for. Injury situation is not great for LA with Cornell Glen going down last match and Kyle Martino still out but Ihemelu, Marshall, and Sturgis should all be in the lineup and Glen replaced by either Gordon or Gomez. I'll skip the HC and go right to the away win over the in-form Fire. Very early bet since I don't know the Fire's lineup but I expect a mixture of regulars and reserves and a conservative match from them in preparation for Wednesday. LA Galaxy 4/10 @3.85 (eurobet/DSI/betcris, 3.70 olympic)
DC United vs NYRB - both teams in awful form. DC with a clear talent advantage but very little to play for aside from avoiding injuries down the stretch. Red Bulls desperately need this match but were very poor in midweek game home vs New England and DC the better rested club which means a lot in this league. If NY were not so poor in midweek I'd give the away win a shot but after watching that match I'll skip
Columbus Crew vs Houston Dynamo - must win match for Crew while Houston more than happy to get a point here. Cbus 7 points from a playoff spot in the East while Dynamo lead RSL by 4 points in the West. Houston have won just once in last 6 matches but Columbus with just 6 league wins all year and have 2 starters suspended for this match.
New England Revs vs KC Wizards - Revs are my pick for the team that will most likely make a big run in the playoffs...either them or Chivas USA. But, they are incredibly inconsistent still and would not be shocked to see them lose to the Wizards. KC have a much more talented team than their record suggests but with just 4 goals all season by US National team strikers Josh Wolff and Ed Johnson it's not difficult to see where their problem lies. KC with a nice history against NE away, 7-3-4, and the NE locker room is not good even with a 3 game unbeaten streak. Their best player, Clint Dempsey, thought he was on his way to Charlton before the league blocked the deal. At the same time Shalrie Joseph was set to join Celtic until they dropped that deal too. Then last week Joseph got into a bar fight and his season is over after damaging nerves in his hand. This should be a tenuous match and KC the far more rested team (13 days off) while NE played in midweek. KC Wizards +1/2 3/10 @1.83 (ibc, 1.81 mansion/pinn)
FC Dallas vs RSL - 2nd part of a "home and home" with RSL winning 3-2 last week, overturning a 2-1 HT deficit with 10 men! Dallas' recent poor form has allowed the rest of the West to catch up though they are pretty well assured of a playoff spot. RSL in back of Chivas USA and Colorado by 3 points with 4 games left, 3 of which are on the road. RSL are actually 2-1-1 in last 4 road games and 5-1-3 overall, playing their best soccer ever. Dallas on a miserable run, 2-1-6 since the all star break and 5 of those losses "to nil". RSL +3/4 3/10 @1.89 (ibc, 1.86 pinn)
Chivas USA vs Colorado - I rate Chivas USA now a bit higher than Colorado but Palencia is out of the year. even though he has just 4g/4a he is the brains of the attack and Razov has not scored in any match that Palencia missed. Chivas USA would be leading the west if thye just finished chances but too many should-be wins have ended in draws. Rapids without Cooke, Nkong, Crawford, and Noel but only Cooke is a vital player as he leads the league in assists. Coloardo will be playing for a point for sure but Chivas USA must get the win here. Both teams even on points for the playoffs, narrowly ahead of RSL and LA. Chivas USA -1/4 4/10 @1.84 (pinn)
43-32-1 +37.56
318.25 out -> 355.81 in (+11.8%)
DC United vs NYRB - both teams in awful form. DC with a clear talent advantage but very little to play for aside from avoiding injuries down the stretch. Red Bulls desperately need this match but were very poor in midweek game home vs New England and DC the better rested club which means a lot in this league. If NY were not so poor in midweek I'd give the away win a shot but after watching that match I'll skip
Columbus Crew vs Houston Dynamo - must win match for Crew while Houston more than happy to get a point here. Cbus 7 points from a playoff spot in the East while Dynamo lead RSL by 4 points in the West. Houston have won just once in last 6 matches but Columbus with just 6 league wins all year and have 2 starters suspended for this match.
New England Revs vs KC Wizards - Revs are my pick for the team that will most likely make a big run in the playoffs...either them or Chivas USA. But, they are incredibly inconsistent still and would not be shocked to see them lose to the Wizards. KC have a much more talented team than their record suggests but with just 4 goals all season by US National team strikers Josh Wolff and Ed Johnson it's not difficult to see where their problem lies. KC with a nice history against NE away, 7-3-4, and the NE locker room is not good even with a 3 game unbeaten streak. Their best player, Clint Dempsey, thought he was on his way to Charlton before the league blocked the deal. At the same time Shalrie Joseph was set to join Celtic until they dropped that deal too. Then last week Joseph got into a bar fight and his season is over after damaging nerves in his hand. This should be a tenuous match and KC the far more rested team (13 days off) while NE played in midweek. KC Wizards +1/2 3/10 @1.83 (ibc, 1.81 mansion/pinn)
FC Dallas vs RSL - 2nd part of a "home and home" with RSL winning 3-2 last week, overturning a 2-1 HT deficit with 10 men! Dallas' recent poor form has allowed the rest of the West to catch up though they are pretty well assured of a playoff spot. RSL in back of Chivas USA and Colorado by 3 points with 4 games left, 3 of which are on the road. RSL are actually 2-1-1 in last 4 road games and 5-1-3 overall, playing their best soccer ever. Dallas on a miserable run, 2-1-6 since the all star break and 5 of those losses "to nil". RSL +3/4 3/10 @1.89 (ibc, 1.86 pinn)
Chivas USA vs Colorado - I rate Chivas USA now a bit higher than Colorado but Palencia is out of the year. even though he has just 4g/4a he is the brains of the attack and Razov has not scored in any match that Palencia missed. Chivas USA would be leading the west if thye just finished chances but too many should-be wins have ended in draws. Rapids without Cooke, Nkong, Crawford, and Noel but only Cooke is a vital player as he leads the league in assists. Coloardo will be playing for a point for sure but Chivas USA must get the win here. Both teams even on points for the playoffs, narrowly ahead of RSL and LA. Chivas USA -1/4 4/10 @1.84 (pinn)
43-32-1 +37.56
318.25 out -> 355.81 in (+11.8%)
