Betting Picks

Saturday, August 28, 2010

As August comes to an end, sports betting hits a season high. NFL betting is available as football nears opening weekend amid great anticipation. As well, MLB betting takes place daily with the baseball season nearing the playings.  As well, Major League Soccer nears the end of its season with many exciting matches.

One of the top teams in the Western Conference in Real Salt Lake travels across the continent and north of the border to take on a Toronto FC team that has been up and down all year. Stuck in third for most of the season, well behind Columbus and New York, but well ahead of Chicago and Kansas City, Toronto has had a tough time stringing together well played games.

Coming off their first home defeat in 17 games, the Red Shirts look to bounce back from two consecutive losses to the New York Red Bulls, including a 4-1 crushing at BMO Field in Toronto. TFC stay at home to host Real Salt Lake at a field where, prior to the New York game, they have been dominant. In 11 home games, TFC have won six and drawn four, allowing only five goals before the New York loss and scoring 14.

TFC will need to overcome rare home defensive lapses in order to win.  They do not score a ton of goals; Dwayne De Rosario scored the lone goal in the loss to give him nine on the year, while Chad Barrett has six goals on the season. As well, Toronto has earned six blank sheets over the season.

Real Salt Lake, meanwhile, are playing their first MLS match in two weeks as they have been participating in the CONCACAF Champions League. An intense match against Cruz Azul saw Real Salt Lake concede the game winning goal in the 90^th minute to lose 5-4 in an offensive slugfest. That game followed a 2-1 win over Arabe Unido.

Despite the road loss in Champions League play, Real Salt Lake have gone unbeaten in five straight MLS games, earning two blank sheets and conceding one goal in the three other matches.

While the defense has been strong, so too has the offense. Alvaro Saborio leads the team with MLS goals with eight, while three other players each have five. That is part of the reason that Real Salt Lake has been in second place in the West for much of the year. With 39 points, they are four behind first place Los Angeles, and three ahead of FC Dallas, which has made a strong charge of late for second position.

Betting lines: Normally TFC would be favoured greatly playing at home, but a terrible loss to New York puts their BMO Field dominance into question.  Real Salt Lake is more talented and has played well on the road.  However, look for TFC to bounce back and play a much more controlled and disciplined game.  With a more cautious style, TFC will earn a home draw against Real, 1-1.