New York City FC vs Real Salt Lake Predictions, Picks, MLS Odds 8/3/2019

by Guy Bruhn - 7/31/2019

Saturday, August 3, 2019

Rio Tinto Stadium

Valentin Castellanos and New York City FC (9-8-3, 4th in the Eastern Conference) are headed to Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday where they'll meet Real Salt Lake (9-4-9, 8th in the Western Conference). The probable starting goaltenders are Sean Johnson for New York City FC and Nick Rimando for Real Salt Lake. NYCFC is priced at +200 while RSL is at +116. The over/under opens at 3.

New York City FC comes into this matchup holding a mark of 9 wins, 8 draws, and 3 defeats putting them at 4th in the Eastern Conference. During the season thus far, they have earned a total of 36 goals which ranks them 5th in the conference and 7th in MLS. This means that if they are going to get away with the victory in this matchup, they will want to step up the defense and make sure they are making their opponents work. Their goal differential is +12 putting them at 2nd in MLS. New York City FC will look to share the ball with their teammates to get the opposition out of place because they have a total of 27 assists which ranks them 5th in MLS and 3rd in the conference. When talking about shots on target, they have a total of 113 which ranks them 5th in the conference and 8th in MLS. As a team, New York City has racked up a total of 277 fouls which means they have an average of 13.85 fouls per contest. They have a total of 35 points for the 2019 season and they have an average attendance of 20,651.

Valentin Castellanos is a great player to watch for NYCFC. The midfielder from Argentina has performed in 17 contests so far this season and has played 991 minutes. Up to now, the 20-year-old has scored 5 goals and has assisted on 2 goals. He is currently averaging 58 minutes per appearance. Castellanos has been a starter in 11 contests so far this season and has totaled 19 fouls in the process. Concerning shots on target, Castellanos has produced 15 which ranks him 48th in Major League Soccer and 15th in the East among midfielders. Héber is another guy to watch out for on the team from New York City. The 27-year-old from Brazil has a total of 9 goals so far in 2019 which has him ranked 3rd in the East among forwards and 7th among all players in professional soccer. He has played 973 minutes and averages 75 mins per game which has him ranked 223rd in professional soccer. For the 2019 season, he has totaled 17 shots on target which has him ranked 6th in the East among forwards.

The man protecting the net for NYCFC is Sean Johnson from the United States. He is 29 years old and has played a total of 1,440 minutes in goal this season. Johnson is conceding an average of 1.19 goals per 90 mins which has him ranking 5th among East goaltenders and 9th among goaltenders in MLS. Over the course of this season, he's surrendered 19 goals. He holds a save percentage of .612 which has him ranking 14th among East goaltenders.

Real Salt Lake steps onto the field with a record of 9 victories, 4 draws, and 9 defeats ranking them 8th in the Western Conference. During the season thus far, they have racked up a total of 30 goals which ranks them 9th in the West and 18th in MLS. This means that if they are going to get the win in this game, they will want to make sure they are scoring goals and making the other team work. Their goal differential is 0 ranking them 13th in MLS. Real Salt Lake will want to make it a priority to get the ball to teammates because they have earned a total of 19 assists which ranks them 18th in MLS and 9th in the West. In terms of shots on target, they have earned a total of 102 which ranks them 6th in the West and 12th in MLS. As a group, Salt Lake has a total of 266 fouls which means they are averaging 12.09 fouls per game. They have earned a total of 31 points for the year and they are averaging a crowd of 17,720.

Albert Rusnák is one of the players to keep an eye on for RSL. The midfielder from Slovakia has appeared in 19 contests so far this season and has totaled 1,584 minutes. During that time, the 24-year-old has scored 7 goals and has had an assist on 2 goals. He holds an average of 83 mins per game. Rusnák has been a starter in 18 contests so far this season and has a total of 9 fouls during that period. As to shots on target, Rusnák has totaled 18 which puts him at 27th in pro soccer and 4th in the West among midfielders. Jefferson Savarino is another scorer to watch out for on the squad from Salt Lake. The 22-year-old from Venezuala has connected on 5 goals so far in 2019 which puts him at 17th in the West among forwards and 46th among all players in MLS. He has totaled 1,432 mins and holds an average of 84 mins per appearance which puts him at 124th in MLS. Up to now for the season, he has produced 22 shots on target which puts him at 6th in the West among forwards.

In goal for RSL is Nick Rimando from the United States. He is 39 years old and has played 1,620 mins protecting the net this season. Rimando is allowing 1.39 goals per 90 minutes which ranks him 6th among West goaltenders and 16th among goalies in MLS. For the season, he's given up 25 goals. He's earned a save % of .638 which ranks him 15th among West goaltenders.

Who will win tonight's MLS game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Salt Lake (+116)

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Pick:	KANSAS CITY CHIEFS -5.5
Start:	December 15, 2024 @ 1:00 PM
Expert:	Doc's Sports

Analysis:

Free Play from Doc’s Sports. Take #465 Kansas City Chiefs -5.5 over Cleveland Browns (1p.m., Sunday, December 15 CBS) The Chiefs keep winning games and sooner or later one of those wins will come by a comfortable margin. I look for that to be this Sunday against a Browns team that is just playing out the string. Cleveland currently sits at 3- 10 and will enter this game having lost 4 of their last 5 games. Their only win came against Pittsburgh in a snow game on a short week. All 4 of those losses by the Browns have come over the posted number for this game. Kansas City is better on both sides of the football, and I just do not see the Browns offense keeping pace. Do not miss out on Doc’s Sports Weekend card featuring top plays in basketball, football, and hockey. We will feature our World-Famous Nonconference Game of the Year in College Basketball on Saturday. This game has won 13 of the 15 years it has been in existence and it is a must have for any big game hunter. Read More Read Less

New York City FC vs Real Salt Lake MLS Tips 8/3/2019

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