MLS Parlay of the Week | Week 14

Week 15 in the MLS is littered with mismatches as a number of bottom-feeding teams are matched up with those at the top of the table. Our USA Legal Betting experts found the best value for three separate plays to take advantage of these incongruencies. Struggling Atlanta United FC welcomes surging LAFC with hopes of turning around its season before it's too late. In the nation’s capital, D.C. United will look to forget last week’s dramatic loss to Inter Miami with a win over the Chicago Fire. Lastly, NYCFC travels to Boston, MA to take on the New England Revolution. The Revs will be without top defenseman Ryan Spalding as he serves a one game suspension for last week’s red card.

LAFC Over 1.5 Goals | BetRivers

This week’s matchup between Atlanta United FC and LAFC is yet another example of two teams trending in opposite directions. In what might be the biggest surprise of the season, Atlanta sits in 12th place in the Eastern Conference. Many soccer pundits expected Gonzalo Pineda Reyes’ side to surpass the team’s win total projections listed on the top soccer betting sites. Unfortunately for Atlanta fans, the defense has failed to sustain any regular success.

Over its last four home games, Atlanta has allowed at least two goals in each of them. To make matters worse, it hasn’t won a match on its own turf since March and the team currently holds the sixth worst expected goals average when at home. Overall, Atlanta’s defense hasn’t recorded a clean sheet in three straight matches, regardless of venue.

As for LAFC, things seem to be turning around just in time to make a legitimate run in the postseason. Head man Steve Gerundolo has his squad in fifth place in the West thanks in large part to its consistently dangerous attack. L.A. has recorded at least two goals in seven of its last eight matches, including back-to-back games with a goal differential of at least two scores.

One could even argue LAFC should have more goals to its name this season. It currently owns the fifth-best goals per game average, despite sitting in second for expected goals per game. Lead striker Denis Boanga continues to shine with eight goals on the season and sits in ninth in expected goals per game.

LAFC Over 1.5 Goals | BetRivers

D.C. United suffered a tough 1-0 loss to Lionel Messi and Inter Miami FC in its last match. Leonardo Campana washed away 94 minutes of quality play from the red and black with a thrilling late goal to give Miami the victory. Still, Troy Lesesne had to be pleased with the way his team’s level of play against the top team in the league, especially at full strength with Messi, Luis Suarez, and even Jordi Alba back on the pitch.

Now, back at home, D.C. will look to use its stellar home offense to defeat a lackluster Chicago Fire side. D.C. owns the eighth-best expected goals average on its own soil, with forward Christian Beneteke carrying the bulk of the load. The massive Belgian striker is tied for the second-most scores in the league, tied with the aforementioned Suarez with 11.

Chicago is a completely different story. The Fire have managed just two total goals over their last seven games, failing to win all of them. They haven’t earned even a single point in four straight games. With the third-worst expected goal differential in MLS play, it’s tough for anyone to place a wager on this team to do anything other than lose to or, at best, draw with a side like D.C. United right now.

NYCFC Moneyline | BetRivers

NYCFC secured a massive win last week, claiming the Hudson River Derby crown against cross-city rivals the New York Red Bulls. The win gave NYC sole possession of third place in the Eastern Conference and marked its third straight victory. Nick Cushing’s squad has been rolling of late, losing just once in its last seven games for a sterling 6-1 record during that time.

As good as NYCFC has looked, this bet is predicated a bit more on the absolutely putrid play of the Revolution this season. New England currently sits dead last in the Eastern Conference and has one win in its last six games. The offense has been uber disappointing, producing a mere .67 expected goals per game at home. If you’re looking for a bright spot among the darkness that has been the Revs’ season so far, at least last week’s 3-0 defeat to the Philadelphia Union may have been the team’s rock bottom.

Here’s a quick look at the list of things that went wrong:

Defender Ryan Spalding was sent off in the 14th minute with a red card
Manager Caleb Porter and Nick Lima got into a heated altercation outside of the team’s locker room in full view of media, teammates, and the opposing team
Porter also yelled at a reporter for asking a question he deemed “irresponsible” after the game

Oh, and let’s not forget the 3-0 defeat that kept them stuck in the Eastern Conference basement. Tally it all up, and we can feel confident in our bet to fade them this week.