You can count on Seattle to get the better of Montreal in MLS this week.
Who do Bettors Favor?
You can check out the best online sportsbook reviews here, but in weighing up this game, all of the bookmakers seem to be in agreement that Seattle are the favorite. The Sounders are available at odds as short as -110, while Montreal are priced at +270 or so. Alternatively, if you think Montreal can come back from the west coast with a point, you can wager the draw at +265.
| Seattle v Montreal |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | -105 | -120 | -111 |
| Draw | +270 | +270 | +265 |
| Montreal | +295 | +330 | +285 |
Seattle Climbing in the West
The Seattle Sounders were battling at the bottom of the Western Conference back April, but after winning five and drawing one of their last seven games, they are suddenly moving up the standings. In fact, they have played like legitimate MLS Cup contenders at Lumen Field, drawing with leaders LAFC and earning wins over Minnesota, Charlotte, Vancouver, and Sporting Kansas.
Seattle’s dramatic improvement has seen them climb to seventh in the West and put them back in the running for the playoffs. In fact, with games in hand on most of their competitors, they are just six points behind Real Salt Lake who currently occupy second place.
The demands of a Champions League campaign and a number of serious injuries can be blamed for those early-season trouble, but the Sounders are starting to resemble the team we are used to seeing, one that has never finished worse than fourth in 13 MLS seasons.
Montreal Bringing the Entertainment
There have been plenty of highlights for Montreal fans already this season as their team has veered from awful to brilliant and back again. After kicking off the season with just one point from their first four games, they then went on an eight-game unbeaten streak during which they amassed 20 points, which helped them quickly move up the Eastern Conference standings.
That good form came to an abrupt end as they dropped three out of four games before getting back on track at the weekend by beating Charlotte 2-1 in Quebec.
There is no doubt that Montreal have been bringing the entertainment this year, and their adventurous style of play has taken them to third in the table with the best goal-scoring and second-worst goal-conceding records in the Eastern Conference. So while Seattle have a strong defense, they will have to be wary against these visitors.
MLS Betting Team News
Joao Paulo of Seattle is still out with a right ACL tear, while Xavier Arreaga will also be missing again thanks to a left hamstring problem. Obed Varga is another absentee, and it is not clear whether Raul Ruidiaz will be available having missed the games against LAFC and Kansas with a muscle problem. If he does make the field here, there should be a fascinating contest between Ruidiaz and Freddie Montero who are currently level at the top of the all-time Seattle scoring charts.
For Montreal, this week’s team news is similar to their status before the game against Charlotte at the weekend. Canadian international Tomas Giraldo is recovering from a hamstring injury, along with Bjorn Johnsen, who has been off the field since November. Djordje Mihailovic has now been out for three consecutive games after he came off with an ankle problem against FC Cincinnati .
MLS Betting Pick
Between them so far this season, these two clubs have produced only four draws in a combined total of 31 games and considering Montreal's style of play, I can’t see this ending in a stalemate. The visitors also have a respectable road record, but playing at Lumen Field when Seattle is going well is a tougher assignment than anything they've been asked of so far.
In recent weeks, Seattle has transformed their home field into a football fortress. They have recorded four victories and a tie at home, and equally impressively, they have only allowed three goals in those contests. Montreal will undoubtedly give Seattle's tenacious defense a thorough workout, but Seattle is in such excellent condition right now that they have to be the betting pick.
MLS Other Markets Pick
Montreal are always good for goals – at both ends of the pitch. They are scoring 1.9 goals per game while giving up 1.8 so far this season and there have been more than 2.5 goals scored in 12 of their 16 games so far. Seattle's record is a little more subdued, but they are still scoring their fair share, so there should be plenty of action and Over 2.5 goals looks like a solid pick if you’re looking for bets in other markets.
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