It's early so this includes only 5 bookies but here are the prices so far: market average: D.C.United vs Chicago Fire 2.74 2.89 2.28 Columbus Crew vs San Jose Earthquakes 2.48 2.83 2.58 Los Angeles Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids 1.86 3.05 3.55 Kansas City Wizards vs MetroStars 2.35 2.86 2.68 highest offered: D.C.United vs Chicago Fire 2.85 2.95 2.45 Columbus Crew vs San Jose Earthquakes 2.55 3.00 2.60 Los Angeles Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids 1.95 3.10 3.65 Kansas City Wizards vs MetroStars 2.40 2.90 2.80 Initial thoughts: LA, KC and maybe Columbus look good. Chicago are tempting too, but DC have got to win eventually. I'll have to ponder it further...
From intertops.com: Colorado 3.65 3.1 1.85 @Los Angeles Chicago 2.25 3.05 2.75 @dc San Jose 2.6 2.9 2.45 @Columbus MetroStars 2.7 2.9 2.38 @Kansas City Last week I went 2-3. The saving grace being getting the longshot Fire home at 5:1. KC's continued ability to miss open nets from 10 yards and in being the difference in a winning week non-monitarily. $21 up is OK all the time, but longshots don't come in every week. 15-20 overall and Down $.20 for the year. My "Prime 3" is suffering from tie-itis. Consequently I'm down $38.20 for the year on that...sorry guys. I did hit the lead-pipe lock last week, and I again warn you on KC games. To this week: Hard week to call as rosters will not be known until the last moment with the Nat call-ups. I wouldn't recommend anything but betting against SJ - they are a mash unit right now. Since I have to: COL @ LA - Colorado beat LA last week, but sans Ruiz, and that's all that matters. LA is are opening a new building. Colorado is playing better, but will probably need 3 goals to win in LA. The new digs will not win LA anything, but their returning from suspension forward Ruiz can. Question is will he. Great price on an improving COL team, but not this week. I'd be OK with LA to get win #1 for a light stake. LA@1.95 CHI @ dc - CHI is coming off a brilliant game at injury-wrecked SJ. Ray Hudson was quoted as saying the Bruce told him CHI would have 2 of their 3 Nats back Saturday. That being the case, I'm not sure dc has enough bite to get even 1 point. Hudson has spoken openly about the lack of talent on his roster and bringing in new blood. Not good for locker-room atmosphere or his win-one for us, rah-rah, love-in coaching style. This would be a lock-o-the-week if not for Beasley's possible absence. As is, still a good bet. CHI@2.45 SJ @ CLB - Everyone for SJ is injured. They will have Onstad and probably Donovan for the game. With everyone else out it would be hard to expect anything more than a road tie. CLB should be motivated after being beaten by a much stronger SJ team 4-3 a few weeks ago. CLB did tie streaking Metros last week and deserved better. I'll bet on McBride to get 3 points at home. CLB@2.55 MET @ KC - KC is unbeaten in 6. MET is unbeaten in 7 with more wins. KC is offense and MET is defense. Both drew last week. Which one breaks? This season neither is the answer and tie has been the result. Metros have been feasting on the lower teams in MLS, so KC will be a step up. Eddie Pope is out with a cracked knee cap. Not good when facing the best O in MLS. Klein's presence is a mystery for KC. Life without him will limit the wingplay for KC, but Preki is a God, etc. Metros have a poor history in KC, 2-8-0. Meola isn't in form, but a lesser Tony is better than an absent Howard. Even if Mathis and Howard start somehow, KC should have enough to score (disclaimer-if they get it on net), but should conceed also. Draw would be the smart pick with your money. The odds on "Draw" suck and I like wins, so I'll go with KC to get the odd goal at home. KC@2.4 The "Prime 3" will be the first 3. Be careful, it's an odd week. Good luck.
Going with LA and Columbus. I couldn't quite pull the trigger on KC. Although I did include them below, since I haven't tried to my pay off my student loans for awhile: LA Columbus KC Germany Hungary Romania stake=inconsequential pays 46.35 at gamebookers! And no, I don't need to know about the statistical probability of this happening. I already know. Just having fun.
Good weekend all in all but damn, a 1-1 tie in Scotland was all that kept me from by huge accumulator! Luckily it was the first game so I didn't spend the day with my hopes raised.
3-1 for me up $29 on $40 bet. Only DMB and Chicago played a brutal game at dc to let me down. It had to happen sometime, dc finally played well for :90. It didn't hurt that they got a mystery penalty gift to start things off. Oh well. I've been lucky enough to win $ 4 weeks running and there are 6 games next week.
The bookmakers have given some very "generous" prices of late. Just looking ahead to next weeks schedule, it looks like there will be some tough calls.
Thanks for posting this information. I don't gamble but it helps me in MFLS fantasy. Seeing how heavy a favorite LA was thie week motivated me to add Hartman to my team and he came through.