MLS Betting: A thriller in Vancouver and Toronto to win

Vancouver Whitecaps v Columbus Crew
Sunday, 00:00
Live on Sky Sports Football

The Vancouver Whitecaps have been on an extraordinary charge that has taken them from outside the play-off places to the top of the Western Conference and they'll be looking to continue that run as they host the Columbus Crew on Saturday night.

They've won three in a row, have won seven of their last 11, and have games in hand on those in second and third. The Crew have just five matches remaining, and with other teams in the Eastern Conference with games in hand, Gregg Berhalter knows that his team needs at least two wins from those remaining fixtures to make sure of a place in the post season.

This game should be well worth watching, with both teams liking to play and both capable of hurting the other. Vancouver have scored eight in their last three games, with the Peruvian Yordy Reyna a real catalyst. He's scored in each of the last two and has the ability to get in between the lines and hurt a shaky Columbus backline.

The Crew have a similar player in the shape of Federico Higuain, and with Ola Kamara in blistering form, there seem certain to be goals here. Both will create chances, and while I find it hard to pick a winner at the prices, over 3.5 goals at 2.70 offers us some value.

Recommended Bet: Back Over 3.5 Goals in Vancouver Whitecaps v Columbus Crew @ 2.70

LA Galaxy v Toronto FC
Sunday, 03:30

Toronto FC are the best team in MLS by quite some distance, and despite the long journey, I'm confident that they'll go to LA and beat the Galaxy.

Toronto have won their last five MLS games and done so by at least two clear goals on each occasion. They are pushing for a series of records and are in no mood to let up as they go for the Supporters Shield/MLS Cup double.

Sebastian Giovinco came off with a tight hamstring last weekend, and yet Toronto still punished San Jose, and the presence of Victor Vazquez in their midfield means that they're a long way from being a one-man team.

LA Galaxy might have improved in the last two weeks, winning at home against Colorado and then getting an impressive draw in Seattle, but they'd lost nine of their previous 10 games and I'm prepared to risk that those green shoots of recovery will be trampled into the turf by Toronto, who are too big at 2.40.

Recommended Bet: Back TFC to beat LA Galaxy @ 2.50

RSL v Portland Timbers
Sunday, 02:30
Live on Sky Sports Football

Portland Timbers did wonderfully well to go to NYCFC and win last week, and they've now won three of their last four to continue a typical late charge. Three of their last four games are at home, and they'll be confident now of a high finish in the Western Conference.

Real Salt Lake have a bit more work to do to reach the post season, and their run of two consecutive wins was brought to an end last time in Vancouver, and Portland look like they're on a roll.

The brilliance of Diego Valeri underpins most of what they do, and if he plays well, so the whole team performs. That might not make them the most solid betting proposition week by week, but Valeri has played well pretty much every week of this season, scoring 17 times and allowing Portland fans to dream of a second MLS Cup in two years.

RSL did beat the Timbers 4-1 in Portland in July, but that was before Portland found this magical run of form and I think that they're simply too big to win at a pretty average Real Salt Lake team. I can't resist backing them for another big road win.

Recommended Bet: Back Portland to beat RSL @ 3.90