Both of the New York teams face road tests this weekend in MLS action, as NYC FC heads to Toronto to face the Reds while the Red Bulls take it to the Windy City to face Chicago on Saturday. With a few betting options in mind from both matches, there is value to be had and Ej is certainly the guy to find it so let’s take it to the pitch!
NYC & NYRB Face Road Tests On Saturday
Toronto vs NYCFC Match Odds and Details
7:30 ET Kickoff @ BMO Field ; Saturday, April 29
3-Way 1×2 Lines: Toronto +140 ; Draw +240 ; NYC +200
Handicap Lines: Toronto 0/Pk -135 ; NYC 0/Pk +125 (Draw No Bet)
Match Total 2.5: Over -105 ; Under -105
Running through the 6ix 🍁
Watch episode 10 of #NYCFCWeekly ahead of our match against Toronto FC 🎥 pic.twitter.com/YPHVAaq0ym
— New York City Football Club (@NYCFC) April 27, 2023
Through the first nine games of the 2023 MLS season, NYC FC and the New York Red Bulls face different situations. NYC is up to fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings and the Red Bulls have only found a single win this year which has left them back in 13th place.
The Blues from the Bronx have taken a result from their last four games which have earned them 8 of their 15 points through the first 9 games of the year, Since the opening day loss to Nashville, 2 – 0, NYC has only lost a single match since and they are starting to remind us of the team that won the MLS title just two seasons ago.
Santiago Rodriguez signed a 4-year deal this Winter that will keep him dawning the #10 jersey until 2027, all of which stemmed from his stint on a loan that propelled the New Yorkers to their first MLS title since joining MLS in 2015. The 23-year-old Uruguayan and 20-year-old Brazilian Talles Magno have each scored a trio of goals to lead NYC in scoring through the first nine games of the year. They both accounted for all three goals in the win over Dallas this past weekend, as Santiago tallied a brace while Magno scored the third goal to seal the deal in the 3 – 1 win.
Great finish from Santiago Rodríguez!#NYCFC strikes right before the half. pic.twitter.com/NtLYZGxd5z
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 23, 2023
Gabriel Pereira has pitched in a pair of goals on the young campaign, which gives NYC three International players who are all under the age of 23. Pereira will turn 22 on August 1, as he is in the second of his 4-year deal that he signed back in March of 2022.
Toronto also suffered a 3 – 2 opening-day defeat, but the draws they have accumulated since aren’t doing much to help them climb the Eastern Conference standings. The Reds earned 6 draws along with their only win this season since then but the last time they took the pitch Philadelphia pounded out 4 goals in a convincing home win, 4 – 2, leaving Toronto with only 9 points in 12th place in the Eastern Conference.
Neither of the two Canadian sides has fared well to start the campaign, as Montreal is at the bottom of the Eastern Conference table tied with Inter Miami at 6 points, and I don’t like their chances to take points from NYC this weekend.
The bet to make from this match comes in the form of a Draw No Bet, as NYC features a +125 line attached to that action. This match may end up being a 1 – 1 affair, but that will hurt us none and we will get out money back to bet another day should that happen.
I will admit that I see a 2 – 1 road win for NYC and that is why I also suggest you tap the Over 2.5 for this game. Just about every major book is offering -105 odds on the Over 2.5 Goals, which is fairly priced and worth the action.
Toronto vs NYC Bets to Make for Saturday:
NYC FC 0/Pk Draw No Bet @ +125
Over 2.5 Goals @ -105
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Chicago vs NY Red Bulls Odds and Details
8:30 ET Kickoff @ Soldier Field ; Saturday, April 29
3-Way 1×2 Lines: Chicago +150 ; Draw +225 ; NYRB +215
Handicap Lines: Chicago -130 ; NYRB +120
Match Total Over 2.5: Over +125 ; Under -135
This match features two teams that are currently outside of the playoff picture, but there is plenty of soccer to be played with only 9 games in the books.
I have been handicapping this league since the first match was played quite a long time ago, and I use my gut instincts to talk to me and I don’t rely on stats and projections nor is there a system to go by. There is no system to figure out anything in MLS because the talent level in this league is sparse and that makes it tough to see things.
These two teams have not exactly come out of the gate fighting, and it is an ugly situation for both organizations entering this weekend. The Red Bulls have scored a total of 6 goals through 9 games, and I don’t think I need to tell anyone that it doesn’t bode well for the future.
All 6 of those goals have been scored by different players and there is not a leader to be found on the Red Bulls this year. I believe that the NYRB will be near or at the bottom of the standings this entire year and I don’t see any relief in sight unless they go out and find some quality to put on the pitch.
The Red Bulls have done one thing this year that has my attention, as they have played 5 of the 9 matches in which both teams scored goals. The odds of that happening this weekend aren’t bad, and the line setters seem to think we have a good chance of it happening. I see a -110 attached to the action and when they do get to 1 – 1 we can make ourselves the scratch!
The well-traveled Kei Kamara is leading the Fire with 3 goals in the early portion of the season, and his presence is always one to watch for. This is a guy who accounted for 26 goals in his first MLS campaign, but that was quite a while ago and his numbers have never come close to repeating that since the 2015 campaign with the Crew.
The Fire has seen both teams score in six of their nine games to this point, and that is why I am expecting that we’ll see it happen again on Saturday at Soldier Field when the Bulls come into town.
Chicago vs NY Red Bulls Bet to Make for Saturday:
Both Teams to Score a Goal in the Match @ -110
