This week could be a bettors dream as Major League Soccer enters week 7 of the 2021 season. DraftKings has put out some eye raising odds on three of the marque games of MLS this weekend: Portland Timbers - Los Angeles Galaxy, Chicago Fire - Inter Miami, and Seattle Sounders - Atlanta United.
Each of these three games presents some pretty interesting outright betting options as well as some interesting picks and parlays. Seattle Sounders - Atlanta United looks to be the big game this weekend as the Rave Green have started out their 2021 campaign extremely well, while Atlanta United have scrapped a few wins while getting adjusted to life under Gabriel Heinze.
The Timbers - Galaxy is a story of two teams on opposite sides of the road, while for the Fire it is a must win game against Inter Miami. Here is an overview of these three matches in MLS Week 7.
Portland Timbers - Los Angeles Galaxy
Why DraftKings made the Timbers the favorite in this game is head scratching, the Galaxy are paying out +310, and after their red hot start to the MLS season, it would be very unwise to not pick Greg Vanney's side. The Timbers (-118) have won four of their last five meetings against the Galaxy, but that was a different Galaxy team.
The Timbers have been inconsistent this season, while L.A. has been tearing opponents apart with their top scorer, Javier Hernández who is paying out +575 if he is able to score either the first or last goal of the game. It’s hard not to pick the Galaxy to take this one given the current form of both teams.
Chicago Fire - Inter Miami
Again, a head scratcher from DraftKings, the Fire (+118) are winless in their first 5 games of the season while Inter Miami (+195) are playing .500 ball at the moment. Yes, Inter Miami is very inconsistent, but the Fire are just downright dreadful.
The Fire are off to the worst start in club history and will play Inter Miami for the first time ever. Inter Miami on the other hand have seven points from their first three away games, which make them a solid pick for this game. Inter Miami has the firepower to score goals, and the Fire have given up 2 per game on average. Betting on an over 2.5 (-167) could be a smart bet.
Seattle Sounders - Atlanta United
The big game of the weekend without question is Seattle Sounders - Atlanta United, the Rave Green hold a win and two draws over the Five Stripes in their three other meetings. The Sounders are the best team in the league, having made short work of the Los Angeles Galaxy and beating LAFC, their two biggest rivals in the Western Conference. At -162, they are a smart choice given Atlanta United has won only 1 of their last 12 away matches.
Raúl Ruidíaz shines in big games and at +300 he is a perfect option to score at least the first or last goal of the game. This game might be low scoring, if Atlanta can hold firm in defense, the five strips have not been exactly putting the ball in the back of the next with frequency. At +106 under 2.5 goals in this game could be an interesting option.
Parlays
A Galaxy win, Inter Miami victory, and Seattle Sounders win would pay the bettor $1959 on a $100 bet. An interesting payout if all three of these teams don’t disappoint and get the victory.
