Battle of the two largest markets

Some of the biggest games of the season take place this weekend in MLS, and it’s been an interesting few days of football betting.

Both conferences could have a new leader, and as the first-team Western table and second-team Eastern Conference, anything could happen this weekend.

We’ll go over our MLS picks for this week and the best team and player of the week from last week’s action.

Game of the week

LAFC -110 at New York Red Bulls +270, Sunday, 3 p.m. ET

An Eastern Conference giant travels west where Western Conference leaders Los Angeles FC await.

The New York Red Bulls will complete the 2,786-mile journey three days after posting their best result of the season, beating city rivals New York City FC in the US Open Cup.

The Red Bulls put on a stunning display in the Hudson River Derby with goals from Lewis Morgan, Luquinhas and Omir Fernandez. Additionally, the Red Bulls beat Toronto FC in MLS last time out, which now puts them just one point behind NYCFC.

LAFC remains atop the West after a 1-1 draw with the Seattle Sounders, and it has lost just three times in 15 MLS games, scoring more goals (30) than any other team in both divisions.

LAFC will beat Toronto and both teams will score +240 with BetMGM.

Best bet of the week

Real Salt Lake -130 at Columbus Crew +320, Saturday, 9 p.m. ET

Real Salt Lake have been on fire this season and are just two points behind LAFC in the Western Conference title race.

It hosts the Columbus Crew at the Rio Tinto Stadium, with RSL the heavy favorite to get three more points in the bag.

Pablo Mastroeni’s side haven’t lost a home game in MLS this season, with their only home loss coming in the US Open Cup to Hailstorm.

Moreover, RSL’s last five home games have seen them score 10 goals and concede just three, recording wins against Austin, Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy and a draw against Toronto.

The Crew, however, have won just one win in their last five games, as they beat Atlanta United at the end of May. The Crew has also lost to NYCFC and LAFC in the last five games, and every time they’ve played against a top four team, they’ve lost pretty easily.

RSL is +230 to win 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 here.

Last week’s team of the week

SportingKansas City

Despite all the progress Sporting Kansas City has made as a franchise over the past five years, it is having one of the worst seasons on record this time around.

Peter Vermes sees his side in 12th place, four points off the playoff spots, while having played one game more than the two clubs below them, meaning they could be bottom of the overall table if other results go against them.

However, despite the misery, they recorded two fantastic results in five days. Kansas City beat Nashville 2-1 on the road, then crushed Union Omaha 6-0 in the US Open Cup quarterfinals.

It’s been a terrible year for the franchise, but with a US Open Cup semi-final to look forward to and a recent win over playoff hopefuls, Nashville, Kansas City have found some form.

Sporting KC is +350 to beat Seattle

Player of the week last week

Luquinhas, New York Red Bulls

The Red Bulls grabbed the headlines last week with two potential season-defining wins, and their star man Luquinhas led that.

The attacking midfielder has adapted perfectly to life in MLS, as he scored his fifth goal of the 2022 season in the 2-0 win over Toronto last weekend. Then he added another to his impressive tally in the 3-0 win over NYCFC.

Luquinhas is playing LAFC this weekend, and he’ll have to show it all against the Western Conference leaders.

Luquinhas is +400 to score first or last against LAFC.

Hardest game to call

Vancouver Whitecaps +150 to New England Revolution +155

The Vancouver Whitecaps continued their rise in the MLS standings, beating FC Dallas 2-0 in Texas in what was arguably their best result of the 2022 season.

Additionally, the Whitecaps also beat York United to set up a Canadian Championship showdown midweek.

Despite their positive form in recent games, they lost 4-0 to Seattle two weeks ago.

At the same time, the New England Revolution have risen through the ranks, as they are now on an eight-game unbeaten streak in MLS.

The Revs beat Minnesota United last time out, and that sets up a tough game to call here against Vancouver.

A tie in this game is +250 with BetMGM.

Jets

Here are some other bets worth checking out on this week’s schedule:

• Taxiarchis Fountas to score and DC United to beat Nashville SC, +300 to BetMGM
• Portland Timbers will score first against Colorado Rapids, -120 at PointsBet
• Montreal Impact at Charlotte FC Under 0.5 goals, +1240 at FanDuel
• Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez to score first or last against Toronto FC, +240 in DraftKings
• Cincinnati FC Under 0.5 goals at halftime against Orlando City, -120 at Caesars.

Power ratings

1. LAFC
2. Real salt lake
3. Austin F.C.
4. New York FC
5. New York Red Bulls

This week’s schedule with Moneylines (All Times Eastern)

Friday

FC Cincinnati (+130) at Orlando City SC (+180), 7:30 p.m.

Saturday

Seattle Sounders (-145) at Sporting KC (+350), 3 p.m.

DC United (+125) at Nashville SC (+200), 5 p.m.

CF Montreal (-115) at Charlotte FC (+285), 7:30 p.m.

Toronto FC (+190) at Atlanta United (+120), 7:30 p.m.

Houston Dynamo (+125) at Chicago Fire (+215), 8 p.m.

Inter Miami CF (+145) at Minnesota United (+175), 8 p.m.

Austin FC (+115) at FC Dallas (+210), 9 p.m.

Real Salt Lake (-130) at Columbus Crew (+320), 10 p.m.

Earthquakes from San Jose (+145) to LA Galaxy (+160), 10 p.m.

Portland Timbers (+115) at Colorado Rapids (+220), 10:30 p.m.

Sunday

LAFC (-110) at New York Red Bulls (+270), 3 p.m.

Philadelphia Union (+150) at New York City FC (+170), 6 p.m.

Vancouver Whitecaps (+150) at New England Revolution (+155), 8 p.m.