Orlando City SC vs Minnesota United FC Expert MLS Picks Against the Spread 8/17/2019
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Allianz Field
Allianz Field is the venue where Ethan Finlay and Minnesota United (12-5-8, 2nd in the Western Conference) will play Orlando City (9-6-11, 8th in the Eastern Conference) on Saturday. The goalies expected to start are Brian Rowe for Orlando City and Vito Mannone for Minnesota United. The Loons are priced at -161 while the Lions are at +404. The O/U has been set at 3.
Orlando City SC comes into this game with a mark of 9 wins, 6 draws, and 11 losses ranking them 8th in the Eastern Conference. So far this year, they have scored a total of 34 goals which has them at 10th in the Eastern Conference and 18th in MLS. That said, if they are going to get points on the day, they will look to play mistake free soccer so they can take advantage of their opportunities. Their goal differential is 0 ranking them 13th in MLS. Orlando City SC will look to move the ball around the field and get the ball to their strikers as they have a total of 22 assists which has them at 20th in MLS and 10th in the Eastern Conference. Concerning shots on target, they have a total of 98 which has them at 9th in the Eastern Conference and 21st in MLS. As a group, Orlando has earned a total of 287 fouls which means they have an average of 11.04 fouls per contest. They have a total of 33 points for the 2019 season and they are averaging an attendance of 22,823.
Tesho Akindele is one of the standout players to keep an eye on for the Lions. The forward from Canada has participated in 21 games this year and has played a total of 1,476 minutes. During that period of time, the 26-year-old has tallied 9 goals and has assisted on 1 goal. He holds an average of 70 minutes per appearance. Akindele has been a starter in 18 games this year and has totaled 18 fouls over that period. When looking at shots on target, Akindele has earned 17 which has him ranking 45th in pro soccer and 10th in the Eastern Conference among forwards. Nani is another scorer to watch out for on the squad from Orlando. The 32-year-old from Portugal has netted 8 goals so far in 2019 which ranks him 9th in the Eastern Conference among forwards and 23rd among all players in the league. He has totaled 1,577 mins and holds an average of 72 mins per game which ranks him 252nd in the league. During the 2019 season, he has earned 21 shots on target which ranks him 4th in the Eastern Conference among forwards.
In net for the Lions is Brian Rowe from the United States. He is 30 years old and has totaled 2,160 mins minding the net for the season. Rowe is giving up an average of 1.29 goals per 90 mins which has him ranking 6th among Eastern Conference goalies and 10th in Major League Soccer. During the 2019 campaign, he's given up 31 goals. He has a save % of .710 which has him ranking 5th among Eastern Conference goalies.
Related: Get MLS tips & picks on all of today's games
Minnesota United FC comes into this match holding a mark of 12 wins, 5 draws, and 8 defeats ranking them 2nd in the Western Conference. During the season thus far, they have racked up a total of 41 goals which ranks 2nd in the conference and 4th 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 +8 ranking them 5th in MLS. Minnesota United FC will look to share the ball with their teammates to get the opposition out of place as they currently have a total of 28 assists which ranks 9th in MLS and 4th in the conference. When looking at shots on target, they currently have a total of 103 which ranks 10th in the conference and 18th in MLS. As a unit, Minnesota currently has a total of 314 fouls which means they have an average of 12.56 fouls per game. They currently have a total of 41 points for the year and they are averaging an attendance of 19,739.
Ethan Finlay is one of the standout players to watch for the Loons. The midfielder from the United States has participated in 25 contests for the year and has played a total of 1,505 mins. During that period of time, the 28-year-old has netted 6 goals and has had an assist on 2 goals. He is averaging 60 mins per appearance. Finlay has started 18 contests for the year and has totaled 15 fouls during that period. In the matter of shots on target, Finlay has totaled 8 which places him at 115th in the league and 26th in the West among midfielders. Angelo Rodriguez is another guy to keep an eye on for the squad from Minnesota. The 29-year-old from Colombia has a total of 5 goals so far in 2019 which has him ranking 21st in the West among forwards and 56th among all players in MLS. He has played 1,560 minutes and holds an average of 65 minutes per appearance which has him ranking 290th in MLS. So far this year, he has 16 shots on target which has him ranking 19th in the West among forwards.
The man looking after the net for the Loons is Vito Mannone from Italy. He is 30 years old and has totaled 2,250 mins defending the goal for the year. Mannone is giving up 1.44 goals per 90 minutes which has him placed 7th among West goalies and 19th in Major League Soccer among goalies. For the 2019 season, he's given up 36 goals. He has a save percentage of .705 which has him placed 7th among West goalies.
Who will win tonight's MLS game against the spread?
Guy's Pick: Take Orlando (+404)
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