In both teams’ first game after the international break, Real Salt Lake (2 wins, 1 loss, 3 draws) will host the Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2-4-1) Friday. Kickoff is set for 10 p.m. ET at Rio Tinto Stadium. Below, we preview the Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Real Salt Lake odds and lines, and make our best MLS bets, picks and predictions.
While the international break was long for some teams it was especially long for the Whitecaps, who will be playing their first game since May 22. Vancouver has lost all confidence offensively, scoring just once during a three-game losing streak.
The opposite can be said of Real Salt Lake who is averaging a goal per game in their last three.
Against weaker competition they’ve managed three straight draws, picking up ties against the bottom two teams in the Western Conference their last two times out. This is a game they need to come out and get three points in.
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Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Real Salt Lake: Odds, picks and predictions
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated 7:23 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Whitecaps FC +440 (bet $100 to win $440) | Real Salt Lake -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Draw +340 (bet $100 to win $340)
- Over/Under: 2.5 (O: -110 | U: -120)
Prediction
Real Salt Lake 1, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1
Money line (ML)
PASS on the money because neither of these teams has shown enough to be confident in.
Real Salt Lake is at home, and they’re the favorite. But, they’ve tied two straight games against the worst teams in the West and are averaging more points per game on the road than at home.
They will have the more dangerous attacker on the field with F Rubio Rubín, whose four goals are currently tied for the fifth-most in the league. However, Whitecaps F Cristian Dájome is just one behind him, so the one-man offense may be in full effect for each squad as the duo accounts for 7 of 15 of the team’s combined goals this season.
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Over/Under (O/U)
BET the UNDER 2.5 (-120) because neither of the teams is the most lethal offensively, and this could be a slow, grind-it-out type game. With both teams potentially being rusty after over two weeks of the international break this could easily end 0-0 or 1-0.
Vancouver has been shut out in 3 of their last 5 games. Knowing that, the Under 2.5 has a solid value. Vancouver ranks 11th while RSL ranks 12th in save percentage as well, so the goalies have been above average so far this season.
RSL does have 3 multi-goal games on the year, so their offensive could come alive. However, coming off a break and taking on a team that ranks in the top-five in duel percentage, I’d stack the odds against them putting two in the net.
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