Montreal Impact (0 wins, 1 loss, 0 draws) and Toronto FC (0-0-1) will play their second games in Group C action of the MLS is Back Tournament Thursday at 8 p.m. ET at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla. Below, we preview the Montreal Impact-Toronto FC betting odds and lines, and make our best MLS bets and picks at BetMGM.
TFC played to a 2-2 draw with DC United Monday. The Impact fell 1-0 to the New England Revolution in their tournament opener last Thursday. Montreal enters with a considerable rest advantage after TFC’s first two games were pushed back as a result of delays in COVID-19 testing results.
Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC: Key injuries
Montreal
- M Steeven Saba (foot) out
Toronto
- M Ifunanyachi Achara (knee) out
- M Jonathan Osorio (quad) out
- F Jozy Altidore (quarantine) doubtful
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Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC: MLS odds, betting lines and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 5:20 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Toronto FC 3, Montreal Impact 1
Moneyline (ML)
TORONTO FC should be backed at +100 to get its first win of the MLS is Back Tournament. Montreal (+250) came out flat in its opener with the absence of Saba altering its lineup and attacking style.
Toronto’s three absences are highly notable, but F Ayo Akinola stepped up in a big way with both first-half goals against DC United Monday. M Michael Bradley (foot) also returned to action from his early-season absence. M Pablo Piatti made his MLS debut and played 72 minutes.
TFC just has more talent throughout the lineup than the Impact. Catching plus-money while it tries to secure a top-two seed in Group C makes TFC an easy pick.
Over/Under (O/U)
Toronto Fs Akinola and Alejandro Pozuelo will again be able to do the heavy lifting and will send this one OVER 2.5 (-150).
Akinola led the way for TFC against DC United with six shot attempts and five of those landed on goal. Pozeulo assisted on both of Akinola’s tallies. Montreal registered just one shot on goal in its loss to New England, but it was able to fire a total of six attempts at the target.
These two sides played to a 2-1 TFC victory last August. Toronto also scored a 2-0 win in its July 13 meeting with Montreal last season. The Impact scored four goals in their two regular-season games this year and should be able to get their first of the tournament against a TFC side that just gave up two to DC United.
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