Columbus Crew v Toronto FC
Wednesday, 01:00
Live on Sky Sports Football
Toronto FC remain strong favourites to win MLS Cup: they're trading at around 2.30and there are unquestionably doubts creeping into their previously perfect 2017 world. They were close to crumbling in that second leg against the New York Red Bulls and now they have to play the Columbus Crew, for one leg at least, without two of their best players.
Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore both managed to get themselves suspendedfor this first leg, but that could end up being a blessing in disguise. Both were so tired in MLS Cup last season that they were ineffective against an energetic Seattle, and the rest will do them good, so long as their team mates get the job done.
Before writing TFC off here, let's remember a couple of things. They weren't just the best team in MLS this season, but the statistics tell us that they were the best MLS team EVER, and they have comfortably been the top team in the League this term.
They played four matches without Giovinco and Altidore during the regular season, and won two and lost two of them, although one of the wins was a 5-0 victory against Columbus. That tells us a lot. Toronto have plenty of players in reserve, key men available in the shape of Vazquez, Morrow and Bradley, and should still be too good for the Crew.
And it's not as if Gregg Berhalter's side are fearsome themselves. They scraped into this Conference Final against NYCFC, and were lucky to win the first leg of that game. Their unbeaten run came to an end at Yankee Stadium, and I think that their season is on the brink of coming off the rails. Their big players, with the exception of Ola Kamara, are not playing well, and TFC have it in them to prove that they can operate without Jozy and Seba.
The Crew look too short to lay at 2.16, and while I think that Toronto might win the game, they'll also be happy to score an away goal and take this one back to Canada. So we'll keep the draw on side, and watch this outstanding team do a two-legged job on the overrated Crew.
Recommended Bet
Lay Columbus Crew against Toronto FC @ 2.16

Houston Dynamo v Seattle Sounders
Wednesday, 02:30
Live on Sky Sports Football
Wilmer Cabrera and the Houston Dynamo have done phenomenally well to get this far after bouncing back from a terrible campaign last year. The run will end in the Conference Final though, and I believe that MLS Cup will feature the same two teams, in the same venue as last season.
There's so much going against Houston here: they've had injuries to key defenders like AJ De la Garza, they have crucial Honduran players like Alberth Elis who have just had their World Cup dreams smashed to pieces in Australia, and even though Tuesday's game is by all accounts a sellout, their home ground is passionless and their pitch is terrible.
This will all suit a Seattle team who are calmly coached by Brian Schmetzer and who once again look like they're hitting form at the right time. They were happy to draw in Vancouver and then get the result at home in the semi-finals, but I think that they'll win this first leg, and are certainly too big at 3.55 to do so.
Clint Dempsey was the matchwinner against Vancouver, it seems that Jordan Morris may even be available at some point, and Cristian Roldan remains rock solid, while Nicolas Lodeiro is officially in form and firing. I think that Seattle have too much, and that we'll salute Houston for getting this far, but wave goodbye to them and their hopes of winning MLS Cup.

Recommended Bet
Back Seattle Sounders to beat Houston Dynamo @ 3.55

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