Middle of the Pack MLS Teams Look To Prove Themselves in Week 13

Unlike last week, there really aren’t many marquee games on the MLS slate this weekend. With LAFC playing at a different level that most every other team, tonight’s match-up when they host Montreal is really the only thing that falls into the category of “Record it” just so you can see how many goals Carlos Vela will score.

Saturday and Sunday’s matchups do have some intriguing storylines, however, as we’re at that point in the season where teams at the lower end of the table need to start putting together some wins so they don’t get stuck at the bottom. (Not every team can rattle off a 14-2-1 record in the second half of a season like the Sounders did last year.)

Aside from LAFC on the high end (31 points) and Colorado on the low end (5 points), there isn’t too much distance between the top and bottom of the table, and this weekend will go a long way towards starting to create a distinct set of contenders and pretenders. Who will have consistent run of success? Who will be the doormats?

Let’s take a look at what games should we be watching, and what brings the best options for winning.

San Jose Earthquakes at Toronto FC

Between Philly, Atlanta, and NY Red Bulls, the Eastern Conference has been on a nice streak recently. Not so much for Toronto, who we fear have been paying more attention to their basketball-playing brethren rather than their recent fixtures. With only one point from their last four games, Toronto can at least be grateful that they have a less than stellar opponent coming into town this weekend in the San Jose Earthquakes.

Toronto is the favorite at -149, with a tie coming in at +285 and a SJ win at +400. Despite the return of Jozy Altidore, we’re still not entirely sold on a Toronto win, as they will be without the services of Alejandro Pozeulo (5 goals and 6 assists in 10 games), who got a second yellow in last week’s game against RSL. Plus will Wondo keep rolling after last week’s record-breaking flurry of goals?

Portland Timbers at Philadelphia Union

Poor Portland. With Providence Park undergoing renovations, they’ve been forced to start the season on the world’s longest road trip. But things are looking up! Their 12 game away streak enters its last weekend on Saturday in Philadelphia, where they’ll play a surprising Union team that sits at the top of the Eastern Conference.

Portland hasn’t played in 10 days (do they go home to Portland during the time off?) but this week looks to be a chance to start gelling what promises to be a formidable front line when Brian Fernandez joins Diego Valeri, Sebastian Blanco, and Diego Chara.

Philly has been in great form recently and that’s made them favorites at -165. But a tie (+285) or a Portland win (+410) don’t seem too far-fetched with the new Timbers line, and the Union’s home tie against another Cascadia team last week in Seattle. 

New York City FC at Chicago Fire

To understand just how tight the middle of the pack is in the Eastern Conference, just look at what could happen to the Fire if they win or lose this weekend.

• Win: they could vault to 5^th
• Loss: they could drop to 9^th.

They looked good in recent weeks, winning two in a row without conceding a goal. But then last week and Chris Wondolowski happened, and all that was forgotten. They have a chance to get back to their winning ways at home against a well-rested NYCFC, who sit just two points above the Fire and don’t want to be leapfrogged.

This has been set as a tight one with no clear favorite, with NYCFC at +190, the Fire at +130, and a tie at +235.

If you want to look for another way to bet this game, look to guess the correct score. The lowest odds are a pretty great +500 for a 1-1 tie, while a very possible 2-0 NYCFC win is at +1000.

Good luck this weekend and enjoy some great soccer!