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Sorry to post these so early, but I'm leaving early Friday morning and will be out of town until Monday.
Record: 8-8 (+1.29)
Picks:
2* Play - New England pk -115 (A draw is a push with this bet)
New England has gone 368 minutes without giving up a goal and have a 16-5 advantage in GS to GA and their defense have allowed only 27 shots on goal. They are undefeated in the first 7 games of the 2005 season (6-0-1) and are on a 6-game winning streak after a season opening 2-2 draw with San Jose. The Metrostars, meanwhile, are 2-2-2 overall and winless at Giants Stadium (0-2-2) this year for the worst home record in MLS. They do have an 8-5 scoring advantage on their opponents, but 6 of those goals have come in their 2 away matches as they have scored just 2 goals in 4 games at home. In addition, the Revs are 5-1-3 in the last 8 meetings between these two teams.
2* Play - LA Galaxy (-115) over San Jose Earthquakes (A draw is a loss with this bet)
San Jose will be playing this one without all-star Brian Ching (who was 3rd in the league last year with 12 goals, 4 assists and already has 4 goals through 7 games in 2005) and will be missing starting midfielder Brian Mullan and starting defenders Craig Waibel and Troy Dayak. San Jose is 4th out of 6 teams in the Western Division with a record of 2-1-4 and a 1-1-1 record on the road, Los Angeles is 2nd in the division with a record of 4-2 and a perfect 4-0 in the Home Depot Center. Los Angeles leads this series 20-9-5 and 12-3-2 at home. San Jose will be playing only their 2nd match at a "wide field" with their first being a 2-1 loss to Chicago.
3* Play - Chicago Fire (-115) over Colorado Rapids (A draw is a loss with this bet)
Chicago is second in the Eastern Division with a 3-4-1 record and 1-2 record at home while Colorado come in at 2-5-1 and 0-4 on the road. Colorado will be playing their 3rd game in 7 days, while Chicago tries to bounce back from a 3-0 loss to the Metrostars last week. In the past 2 seasons, teams off a 3-0 or worse shutout loss are 8-0-5. According to my power rankings, Chicago has played the toughest schedule of all MLS teams including 2 matches against New England.
1* Play - Salt Lake pk (+223) over Columbus (A draw is a push with this bet)
Columbus is now 2-5 and on a 4-game losing skid. They have scored a league worst 5 goals in 7 matches will giving up 14. Real Salt Lake is now 3-3-2 after 2 consecutive victories over the two LA teams. Salt Lake also welcomes back the all-time leading scorer in MLS history, Jason Kreis, this week from suspension. I think this is good value for an upstart expansion franchise which plays hard every game against the worst team in the East.
Sunday Play
4* FC Dallas pk (-115) over CD Chivas USA (a draw is a push with this bet)
Record: 8-8 (+1.29)
Picks:
2* Play - New England pk -115 (A draw is a push with this bet)
New England has gone 368 minutes without giving up a goal and have a 16-5 advantage in GS to GA and their defense have allowed only 27 shots on goal. They are undefeated in the first 7 games of the 2005 season (6-0-1) and are on a 6-game winning streak after a season opening 2-2 draw with San Jose. The Metrostars, meanwhile, are 2-2-2 overall and winless at Giants Stadium (0-2-2) this year for the worst home record in MLS. They do have an 8-5 scoring advantage on their opponents, but 6 of those goals have come in their 2 away matches as they have scored just 2 goals in 4 games at home. In addition, the Revs are 5-1-3 in the last 8 meetings between these two teams.
2* Play - LA Galaxy (-115) over San Jose Earthquakes (A draw is a loss with this bet)
San Jose will be playing this one without all-star Brian Ching (who was 3rd in the league last year with 12 goals, 4 assists and already has 4 goals through 7 games in 2005) and will be missing starting midfielder Brian Mullan and starting defenders Craig Waibel and Troy Dayak. San Jose is 4th out of 6 teams in the Western Division with a record of 2-1-4 and a 1-1-1 record on the road, Los Angeles is 2nd in the division with a record of 4-2 and a perfect 4-0 in the Home Depot Center. Los Angeles leads this series 20-9-5 and 12-3-2 at home. San Jose will be playing only their 2nd match at a "wide field" with their first being a 2-1 loss to Chicago.
3* Play - Chicago Fire (-115) over Colorado Rapids (A draw is a loss with this bet)
Chicago is second in the Eastern Division with a 3-4-1 record and 1-2 record at home while Colorado come in at 2-5-1 and 0-4 on the road. Colorado will be playing their 3rd game in 7 days, while Chicago tries to bounce back from a 3-0 loss to the Metrostars last week. In the past 2 seasons, teams off a 3-0 or worse shutout loss are 8-0-5. According to my power rankings, Chicago has played the toughest schedule of all MLS teams including 2 matches against New England.
1* Play - Salt Lake pk (+223) over Columbus (A draw is a push with this bet)
Columbus is now 2-5 and on a 4-game losing skid. They have scored a league worst 5 goals in 7 matches will giving up 14. Real Salt Lake is now 3-3-2 after 2 consecutive victories over the two LA teams. Salt Lake also welcomes back the all-time leading scorer in MLS history, Jason Kreis, this week from suspension. I think this is good value for an upstart expansion franchise which plays hard every game against the worst team in the East.
Sunday Play
4* FC Dallas pk (-115) over CD Chivas USA (a draw is a push with this bet)
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