MLS Play-Offs: Best Bets for 11/02/2024
by Bradley Gibbs | by Tyler Doty
MLS Play-Offs Best Bets for 02/11/2024
On Saturday, three games are due to take place, with New York City returning home to host Cincinnati having lost the first game of the series by a goal to zero on the road.
There’s action in Atlanta, where record breakers Inter Miami will visit Mercedes-Benz Stadium after beating the Five Stripes in front of a home crowd during the week.
Last but certainly not least, the Loons will be playing in front of a home crowd following their tense away-day success against Real Salt Lake in the first match of the series. Can they now get the job done on home soil?
Let's get into the best bets ahead of these three intriguing fixtures, and don't forget to check out our MLS picks page.
NYCFC vs Cincinnati: Over 3.5 Goals @ +138 with FanDuel
When these two faced off in Cincinnati a few nights ago, just a single goal was scored, courtesy of the diminutive and tricky Yamil Asad, who fired home for the Orange and Blue just after half time.
Now, the result from the first game doesn’t exactly suggest that this fixture is about to explode into life in terms of goals at Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon, though if we scratch beneath the surface, and also consider the other recent meetings, then it’s easy to feel like the goals could indeed flow.
The chances for further goals were certainly created the other night, while when the pair met in the Bronx just over three weeks ago, they shared five goals, with NYCFC coming out on top by three goals to two.
We also saw these two teams share six goals when they met in the Leagues Cup back in August, so there’s definitely a recent history of goals being scored in this fixture.
The hosts now have little choice but to go for it in front of their own fans on Saturday night, which could lead to an open, exciting and ultimately goal-filled encounter.
Place MLS play-off bets with FanDuel
Atlanta United vs Inter Miami: Jamal Thiare to Score @ +190 with FanDuel
Led by the virtually unplayable Lionel Messi, the boys in pink will be hoping to take one step closer to MLS Cup glory by getting the job done at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday evening, but strong as they are, this may not be the easiest task for Gerardo Martino’s men.
The first game in this series saw the Inter Miami boys come out on top, but their victory was by the narrowest of margins, while they lost to Atlanta United during the regular season, meaning that this one is far from over.
In the betting, it could pay to side with home forward Jamal Thiare, whose pace and direct approach could easily hurt the visitors on the break. After all, the Senegalese goal-getter, who has recently become a regular up top for the Five Stripes, scored when the pair met earlier in the campaign, while he’s looked hungry in recent games.
Minnesota vs Real Salt Lake: Under 2.5 Goals @ +140 with FanDuel
Rounding things off we have Minnesota vs Real Salt Lake. This is very much a game where betting on a lack of goals appeals at the early prices.
As we saw when the pair met just a few days ago, both teams are strong at the back, while both are capable of preventing teams from building up a head of steam offensively.
Moreover, it’s fair to say that both teams have made a habit of being involved in low-scoring games. This is also a pair that can keep teams out, as illustrated by their respective recent records, shown below.
Minnesota recent results:
Tied 0-0 with Real Salt Lake (won on penalties)
Won 4-1 against St. Louis City,
Won 0-1 against Vancouver Whitecaps
Tied 0-0 with Real Salt Lake
Won 3-0 against Colorado Rapids
Real Salt Lake recent results:
Tied 0-0 with Minnesota (lost on penalties)
Won 2-1 against Vancouver Whitecaps
Won 0-1 against San Jose Earthquakes
Tied 0-0 with Minnesota
Tied 2-2 with Austin FC
We can see that Saturday’s hosts have conceded just one goal in their last five games, while the visitors have kept three clean sheets in their last five. Of those ten games combined, only four have contained more than two goals.
Factor in that the pair have recently tied 0-0, not once, but twice, with the other meeting in 2024 ending 1-1, and betting on ‘Under 2.5 Goals’ at odds of +140 starts to look like a move that represents value for money.
