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LAFC (13 wins, 4 draws, 5 losses) welcomes Real Salt Lake (12-7-4) to BMO Stadium Wednesday in a clash of the top 2 Western Conference sides. Kickoff is set for 10:45 p.m. ET (Apple TV). Below, we preview FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the LAFC vs. Real Salt Lake odds, and make our best expert MLS picks and predictions.
LAFC has been virtually unbeatable at home with a 9-2-1 record in 12 games at BMO Stadium. But it suffered its 1st home loss of the season Saturday, 5-1 to the Columbus Crew, marking LAFC’s 1st loss since May 4. LAFC had won 9 of its last 10 matches prior and has had at least 2.5 expected goals in 3 of its last 4. It is led in scoring by F Denis Bouanga, who has netted 14 goals in 22 matches.
Real Salt Lake, which has claimed the top spot in the West for most of the season until the last few weeks, has lost 2 of its last 4 matches and is 3-0-2 over its last 5. It is coming off a 3-0 road loss to the Portland Timbers. Unfortunately, it will not have Colombian F Cristian Arango. He has tallied a team-high 17 goals in 23 matches, but has to serve a 4-match suspension. RSL has had a dominant attacking, averaging 2.09 goals per game, but struggles in defense, where it is allowing 1.30.
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LAFC vs. Real Salt Lake odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:10 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: LAFC -260 (bet $260 to win $100) | Real Salt Lake +500 (bet $100 to win $500) | Draw +430 (bet $100 to win $430)
- Over/Under: 3.5 (O: -106 | U: -116)
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LAFC vs. Real Salt Lake picks and predictions
Prediction
LAFC 2, Real Salt Lake 1
Moneyline (ML)
PASS.
There’s no good value on the moneyline. RSL has a solid team outside of Arango, but they haven’t played at the top of their game over the last few weeks with him.
Without their top offensive option against a team which has played like the best in the MLS over the last 2 months, RSL (+500) isn’t worth taking as a hefty underdog. Similarly, LAFC (-260) is too expensive to take here. Ultimately, avoid a moneyline play.
Over/Under (O/U)
BET UNDER 3.5 (-116).
Both teams allow between 1.30 and 1.32 goals per game, so the defensive shortcomings are similar. However, LAFC has tallied 2 or fewer goals in 7 of its last 10. It has gone Over this total in 2 of its last 5 games and has even had a clean sheet in 5 of its last 10.
RSL will be without its top offensive weapon and, even before his suspension, had been held scoreless in 3 of its last 6 matches while allowing 3 or more goals in just 2 of its last 8. Considering those trends, expect the Under to be the better play here.
Back UNDER 3.5 (-116).
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