The top-ranked Seattle Sounders (5 wins, 0 losses, 3 draws) are visiting the LA Galaxy (5-2-0) Saturday for a 9 p.m. ET kickoff at Dignity Health Sports Park. Below, we preview the Seattle Sounders vs. LA Galaxy odds and lines, and make our best MLS bets, picks and predictions.
Coming off a three-week break will not be easy, but the Sounders have been the best team in MLS so there really shouldn’t be any issues getting back into form. Having yet to lose, they’ll take to the road where they have 2 wins and a draw this season.
As for the Galaxy, they were absolutely destroyed when the two teams met earlier this season. Sounders F Raúl Ruidíaz scored twice as Seattle won 3-0.
The Galaxy will be looking to avenge one of their two losses. An early-game red card contributed to their other loss to the Portland Timbers, so this could very well be a matchup of the two best teams in MLS.
Seattle Sounders at LA Galaxy: Odds, picks and predictions
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:35 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Seattle Sounders +190 (bet $100 to win $190) | LA Galaxy +140 (bet $100 to win $140) | Draw +250 (bet $100 to win $250)
- Over/Under: 2.5 (O: -155 | U: +115)
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Prediction
Seattle 2, LA Galaxy 1
Money line (ML)
BET on SOUNDERS (+190) because they’re the best defensive team in MLS and LA has been sloppy against more technically sound opponents.
They lost to Portland, had a close game with New York, and were annihilated in a club-friendly against the Revolution before the season began. LA took care of business in games it should’ve won.
That said, both teams have playmakers as 30-year-old Ruidiaz is expected to take the pitch. He is second in MLS with 6 goals. Galaxy F Chicharito leads the league with 7 markers.
Seattle is second in goals inside the 18-yard box, No. 1 in save rate and No. 1 in duel rate. They’ve just been hands-down better than every other team in almost every facet of the game.
I expect the Sounders to take care of business like they did last time they took the field with LA.
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Over/Under (O/U)
PASS on the Over 2.5 (-155) because that price just doesn’t equate to the value.
LA has averaged a goal per game over its last five matches. Despite the scoring prowess on both sides of the ball, Seattle’s defense is too consistent and too strong to take the Over at that value.
Given that Seattle put 3 on LA in their last meeting, I wouldn’t take the Under either, although it’d be a plus-money bet. If there is any value, it’d be there as Seattle hasn’t played to a total of 3 goals in any of its last four games.
The Sounders defense is too good to bet against. Every team in the West has given up at least 8 goals except for Seattle who has allowed 3 through eight games.
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