Dean Etheridge
Sporting Kansas will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the Western Conference when they visit Colorado Rapids on Saturday night.
Here is our match preview and betting picks on the top of the table clash.
- MLS – Colorado v Sporting KC
- Venue – DSG Park, 6000 Victory Way, Commerce City, CO 80022, United States
- Date – Saturday, August 7, 2021
- Time – 9pm ET
New Western Conference Leaders
There was a change at the top of the MLS soccer betting in the Western Conference this week when long-time leaders Seattle Sounders relinquished top spot to Kansas City.
For a long time, we’ve been used to seeing the Sounders sit top. But that finally changed this week when Seattle failed to defeat FC Dallas at Lumen Field on Wednesday night.
That draw left the door open for SKC, and boy did they take their chance.
Going to LA to take on Bob Bradley’s Los Angeles FC is no easy feat. But the Wizards made it look like taking candy from a baby, beating them 4-1 in their backyard.
In doing so, the Wizards went level on points with Seattle, with both teams now on 33 points. But crucially, SKC goes top as they have more wins this season.
What’s Up Next?
Up next for SKC is an away trip to Colorado Rapids.
The Rapids sit in fourth place in the Conference, just 6 points behind Sporting, but crucially with two games in hand.
Making this fixture huge!!
In the latest soccer betting odds, the Rapids are favorites at +130. The draw is +240, and a win for Sporting is +300.
Ready for a Western Conference clash this weekend. 💪#COLvSKC pic.twitter.com/rN8l0nCv6t
— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) August 4, 2021
Recent Form
Colorado’s last five matches are WLWDW.
In their last outing, the Rapids won 1-0 away at Austin FC. Colorado had just 42% of the possession but had the upper hand in the goal attempts with 16 shots, to Austin’s 11.
Before that, Colorado played out a disappointing 3-0 defeat away to Real Salt Lake.
Sporting KC’s last five matches are WLWDW.
Look familiar? Yes, both sides have an identical last five matches. The only difference is Sporting’s run of fixtures has been more difficult.
Their last match was an impressive 4-1 win over LAFC. Sporting conceded 21 attempts on goal in this match, with just one on target – obviously the goal.
The Wizards managed just 45% possession with nine attempts on goal, five of which were on target. Three of those five attempts came in the 1st half. And with a 3-0 lead at half-time, the match was already over.
Colorado v Sporting KC Betting Picks
Both teams to score have only failed to materialize in one of Sporting KC’s last 11 matches.
That was in the 2-0 win away at LA Galaxy. In all ten other matches, both teams have found the back of the net.
At -162.5, Both Teams To Score is my Pick for this match.
The SKC strike trio of Sallio, Shelton, and Russell was broken up in the last match, with Johnny Russell left out for Alan Pulido.
The Mexican striker duly found the back of the net after 20 minutes against LAFC.
Pulido has seven goals from his 12 appearances this season and providing he starts, he looks a good bet to claim his eighth goal of the season.
To score anytime Pulido is +150, while to score first he is +500.
Another value bet in this match is over 2.5 goals. I can see both teams scoring, so if that happens, and there is a winner, over 2.5 goals will come in.
At odds of -125, over 2.5 goals look a good possibility.
MLS Betting Odds
Moving on from the weekend fixtures, and lets take a look at the overall MLS Betting Odds.
The change in leaders and form in the Western Conference has led to a change in the betting odds.
| MLS Cup Betting Odds |  |  |
| Sporting KC | +600 | +600 |
| Seattle Sounders | +650 | +650 |
| New England | +700 | +700 |
| Orlando | +700 | +800 |
| Los Angeles FC | +1000 | +1100 |
| Philadelphia | +1200 | +1200 |
| Nashville | +1600 | +1500 |
| LA Galaxy | +1600 | +1500 |
| New York City FC | +1600 | +1800 |
No longer are the Sounders’ favorites to win the MLS Cup. That accolade now sits with SKC.
Top sportsbooks make Sporting KC +600 to win the end-of-season play-offs, while Seattle is +650.
Seattle is in a horrible run of form lately. They haven’t won any of their last three matches, and that run extends to just two wins in their previous eight fixtures.
All a far cry from their start-of-season record run!
As for Sporting KC, they’ve won five of their last eight matches. Included in that run are some impressive wins. But also some results that might come back to haunt them.
Impressive results in the run are away wins over LAFC (4-1), Seattle (3-1), and LA Galaxy (2-0). Results that any team manager would want on their resume.
To the top of the West we go 📈#SportingKChttps://t.co/tjvpKm2VgO
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) August 5, 2021
Not so good in that stretch of games is the 1-1 home draw to San Jose and the recent 2-1 home defeat to Dallas FC.
The defeat to Dallas was just last weekend. A result that makes Wednesday’s 4-1 win over LAFC look all the more impressive.
Don’t forget to read our guide to Soccer betting for more picks and information about betting on soccer. Here you will find all you need to know about latest odds, teams, and futures picks.
Make these bets and more at top sportsbooks!
