Top 2022 MLS Odds: LAFC vs Austin FC, NYCFC vs Orlando City FC Betting Analysis

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We enter the final MatchWeek of August in MLS play, and the standings are starting to separate as the playoff picture comes into focus. In the East, Philadelphia, Montreal, and the two New York teams have a solid grip on the top four but spots five through nine are separated by just two points.

LAFC is running away with the West, leading Austin FC by nine points, and the Black and Gold have clinched a playoff spot. Austin is six points up on Dallas, while Minnesota is in fourth place. In the West, fifth through 11th place are separated by just six points, and four of those teams will be left out of the playoffs.

This week there are three games in the West involving teams in the top eight and three from the East with teams in the top nine going head-to-head. Let’s take a look at one big game this weekend from each conference so you can bet against their MLS Odds.

Top 2022 Major League Soccer Betting Games for Friday, August 26th and Sunday, August 28th

Top Offenses Meet in Austin

If there’s any chance of Austin FC catching LAFC for the top spot in the West, they must win this weekend. Austin beat LAFC 2-1 in May on the road and now needs to close the gap from nine points to six as they welcome the Black and Gold to Q2 Stadium on Friday. LAFC has already clinched a playoff spot and will secure home field in the first round with a win on national TV in Austin.

Both Austin and LAFC have scored 55 goals in 26 games this season. No other team in the West has more than 43 goals, and only Philadelphia, with 51 is close to these squads. LAFC has allowed 26 goals while Austin has given up 36 on the season.

Austin had scored multiple goals in four straight games before losing 2-1 at Minnesota United last weekend. They have dropped points in four of the last six games, losing ground to LAFC. Austin has scored in 16 straight games, but they have allowed at least two goals in three straight games and 12 goals over the last five.

Meanwhile, LAFC ended a seven-game win streak with a 2-1 loss at San Jose last weekend. They brought usual starters Carlos Vela, Jose Cifuentes, and Ilie Sanchez off the bench, and the latter was red-carded. They have scored at least two goals in six of the last eight games and have allowed more than one goal just twice since May 28.

Austin’s Sebastian Druissi leads MLS with 18 goals, and he’s scored in five straight games. Cristian Arango leads LAFC with 12 goals while Vela has eight.

At MyBookie, LAFC is the favorite at +133, despite being on the road. Austin FC is +174 to take all three points, while a draw is +290. Over 3.5 goals is +116, while the under 3.5 goals is -147.

Orlando City Chasing Top Four

Orlando City moved to the top of the secondary pack in the East with a 2-1 win over Charlotte FC last weekend. The Lions have 36 points and sit in fifth place, five points behind the New York Red Bulls. They play host to third-place New York City this weekend, and NYCFC are one point behind Montreal.

Orlando City has won two straight games, but they’ve only scored more than one goal once in the last eight games. Ercan Kara and Tesho Akindele scored in the win over Charlotte while Facundo Torres netted the winner against the Red Bulls. Kara leads the Lions with eight goals on the season, while Torres has five.

NYCFC lost three straight games after Taty Castellanos left for La Liga. They bounced back to beat the Chicago Fire 2-0 last weekend on goals from Gabriel Pereira and Santiago Rodriguez. They had allowed three goals in three straight games before shutting out Chicago and Pereira joined Talles Magno and Heber with six goals on the season.

These teams haven’t met this season and will play in New York in October. Last year They tied 1-1 in Florida before NYCFC won 5-0 at home. The last four games played at Exploria Stadium have been draws with the last NYCFC win coming in 2018.

Orlando City is a slight home favorite on MyBookie at +143. NYCFC is +188 to take all three points back north while a draw is +260. The over 2.5 goals is -134, and under 2.5 goals is +106.

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