New York City FC (14-6-7) will be looking to further cement their playoff position when they face the fading New England Revolution (7-9-10) at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night (7 p.m., YES or NBCSB). Oddsmakers have pegged the Bronx Blues as heavy -160 favorites (risking $160 to make $100) on the three-way lines, with New England available at +390 and the draw at +310. The total has been set at three goals.
NYCFC is not in the best form at the moment, as they’ve won just one of their last six matches. Head coach Domènec Torrent even went so far as to describe his team’s play as “frightened” after losing 2-1 to the Columbus Crew on Sept. 1. However, they have yet to lose a game or get shut out at Yankee Stadium this season, and the Revolution have been in a tailspin, failing to post a win since June 30 (nine games). Additionally, New England has won just one game on the road in 2018.
The Bronx Blues are led by Ismeal Tajouri-Shradi (11 goals) and David Villa (10 goals), with top-5 assist man in the MLS, Maximiliano Moralez (13), setting up numerous scoring chances for them. The NYCFC strikers should be licking their chops as they square off against a New England team that hasn’t posted a clean sheet in eight straight contests. Furthermore, NYCFC has brilliant midfielder Alex Ring to combat the Revolution’s top player, Teal Bunbury, who is the only member of the visiting team to tally more than 10 goals this season.
Despite NYCFC’s apparent superiority, they will not be the recommended play for Wednesday. Their -160 odds are far too low to take on the three-way lines as they are in the midst of a cold streak. Instead, we will look to the betting total for this week’s suggested soccer wager.
The trends are well in favor of the Over. Per footballtips.com, both teams have posted at least one goal in seven of their last eight heads-up matches, and three or more goals have been scored in each of their last five face-offs, including their most recent meeting (a 2-2 draw on Mar. 24).
Both squads have been a mess defensively of late, as the Revolution have surrendered at least one goal in their last eight matches, while NYCFC have given up at least one goal in each of their last six matches.
Tajouri and Villa will likely overwhelm the Revolution’s stoppers, but just in case NYCFC’s leaky defense causes a draw, take the Over in the lone MLS game of the evening.
Prediction: NYCFC wins, 3-1
The play: NYCFC/New England Over 3 goals (-115)
