Week 2 - MLS (No WUSA please)

OK, if any one peson of McBride, Buddle, Garcia, Cunningham, or others could hit half an open net, CLB would have skated with all 3 points. LA was lucky to get as much as a sniff of any points as Ruis' header was off the best LA cross of the afternoon - a miskick by Crew mid Maisoneuve. Bad for me as I dropped $10. As it is, the result is good for the league as the early favorites both drop 2 points.

On to week 2:
Los Angeles at Dallas - 3:00 p.m. CT E2. Dallas was abused 0-3 in their last pre-season game vs KC. Both teams had players out so check mlsnet.com for injuries, etc. before betting. LA looked vulnerable and cold. They continue with game 2 of 8 on the extended roadie. It will feel more like LA in Dallas and the competition will likely be a bit more forgiving if not agreeable. They split 1-1-2 last season, each with a win and tie at home. Only KC v COL has as many ties historicaly (5). DAL is 5-2 in home openers.

Columbus at MetroStars - 7:30 p.m. ET. Metros have been in shambles pre-season and did not beat an MLS team, but did beat Rocester last time out. CLB looked the better side v LA and certainly have the tools to beat MET. The road team won all 4 meetings last year. MET has won 4 home openers in a row.

dc United at Kansas City - 7:00 p.m. CT FSW. dc is another team winless v MLS teams in the pre-season. They were blown out in their last MLS test 5-0 by none other than KC. dc has also been tied by the likes of American U. and Richmond Kickers. KC as had a better run of prelude form only losing once, lodging 7 SO's, and putting up the best offense and defense statisticly. In 2002 dc lost twice in KC 4-1 in aggregate. Do you really need any other info? This shouldn't be a great game to punt as the odds should be skewed heavily KC's way for good reason.

San Jose at Colorado - 7:00 p.m. CT HDNet For the second year in a row SJ opens mile High. An early battle for Western supremacy with both teams dealing with roster problems. SJ has lost DeRosario for the season and Colorado has apparently lost Grimandi permanently. Of 28 games SJ is up 14-13-1. The home team won all 4 in 2002. SJ failed to score at altitude last year. This game should be a great canidate for the Over 2.5 if available as both teams have GK questions and can score. Look for good odds close to 3:1 for SJ to spoil an opener. Might be worth it, but COL hasn't lost a home opener since '98.

New England at Chicago (Sunday)- 6:00 p.m. CT. Overacheivers special as this years canidate CHI hosts last year's "back-from-the-dead" finalist NE. I honestly have little clue about this game as nobody has seen NE since October, and CHI turned over half the team. This should be a sellout and nobody has a better atmosphere than Chicago. NE was winless in the pre-season. Chicago was 4-7-1. NE did take home 4 points from two trips to Naperville last season.

 

No worries, "Kansas" isn't worth spelling correctly anyway.

Intertops.com has no odds as yet.

 

Right now, I'll take MET, CHI, KC, COL at the highest odds available. I'm still undecided LA @ DAL.

CLB has a tought trip back from Mexico to New York. I like Metros at home even outmanned.

KC over dc is a given

COL is an early-season guess. Tie might be good here.

CHI in Naperville is money.

 

intertops.com

Dallas 2.35 3.1 2.6 LA
Metros 2.35 3.15 2.55 Columbus
Kansas City 1.75 3.3 3.8 dc
Colorado 2.1 3.15 2.95 San Jose
Chicago 2.3 3.15 2.63 NE

For the year: $-10, 0-1

Week 2 - $10/game: "Prime 3"
KC @ 1.8
COL @ 2.1 (SJ has trouble at altitude)
MET @ 2.4 (CLB in shock - long travel for short turnaround)
Since I have to, also taking:
CHI @ 2.45 (even without Razov)
LA/DAL DRAW @ 3.2 - These teams have combined for more ties than any other pair, two last year. LA has a good record on smaller fields/turf AND DAL has a good record in openers.

 

I hope you hit it. That said, one of COL or CHI has a pretty good chance being a tie. And, seriously, you're really putting money on an Asian game?

Also, put 36.51 into a calculator and hit the "1/x" button. Theorheticly, this is the percentage chance of winning this bet...except for the part where the house has to take an edge (5-6%) for profit and to pay expenses. Hint, buy beer. Leave the accumulators for when you want to prevent your kids from spending all your money after you die.

 

In '02 the /game avg. was 3.007. On the surface you should think that taking the over is a good bet. It isn't that simple
1) Anything you know, casinos should. IT good you look at the odds. Less than 2.0 is almost insulting for this bet.
2)Weather in the area. It's easier to destroy than create - until guys tire. Cold and rain drop the totals, warm and heat raise them - all things being equal
3)GK: Cannon-gone, Conway-out, Meola-aging, young guys-getting better
4) 2 weak D's = over
5)Look at numbers at thinner fields (SJ, CHI), are they much different from the 8 others. It's important because now DAL plays on a thin field. MET on turf also. I'd look, but I'm not going to touch those bets.

BTW, if I had to... KC/dc is an automatic over, CHI/NE is an OK under.

"Asain" apparently means "sucker". Bad bet as you can have either team as a straight winner at better odds

KC already at 1.8, so 1 goal is worth only .35...BS!