Over in the MLS’ Western Conference, only one team has a 100% record from the opening two games of the new season. LA Galaxy have won both of their first two matches with a 3-2 scoreline and that leaves them two points clear in the standings.
In second place are Seattle Sounders who lead a clutch of teams on four points thanks to their superior goal difference. It is very early days but both sides will want to maintain that momentum when they meet on Sunday in Seattle (9pm ET; TV: Live on FS1)
Sounders vs Galaxy Moneyline Odds
LA Galaxy may have set the early pace but it is Seattle Sounders who lead the way in the moneyline market. They are among the favorites to win the MLS outright this season and most major stateside online, offshore sportsbooks have them at -167 to take the three points here.
The result betting is completed by the draw at a general +300 while a win for LA Galaxy is only just behind at +400. Seattle opened their account with a 4-0 demolition of Minnesota United and they followed that up with a 1-1 draw away to Los Angeles FC. Galaxy’s 3-2 victories have come against Inter Miami and the New York Red Bulls.
Galaxy have played weaker opposition and they have shown that they can be vulnerable at the back but those wins should give them confidence and there could well be some value in this moneyline market.
MLS Game Seattle vs LA Prop Bets To Consider
Before we commit to the match result, we’ll assess the prop bets and, in particular, the men who can alter the course of Sunday’s game. Seattle Sounders’ Peruvian international striker Raul Ruidaz is the favorite to open the scoring and he is as short as +300 in places. Ruidaz averages at better than a goal a game in MLS and he has already scored twice in the opening two matches of 2021.
Columbian Fredy Montero is in his second spell with Seattle and he also found the net in his opening game of the new season. Montero is available at a general +500 in the first goalscorer market.
For LA Galaxy, Javier Hernandez may attract most interest for the first goalscorer bet. The former Real Madrid and Manchester United striker has opened the new MLS campaign in stunning style with five goals in two games. The Mexican international delivered a profit for us in the anytime market against Inter Miami two weeks ago and he is quoted at +550 to open the scoring against Seattle.
Both Teams to Score (BTTS) is very short this week with most sportsbooks going in with odds of -200. In four combined matches involving these two sides, there have been 16 goals so that’s not a huge surprise.
Those early trends, with an average of four goals scored in each match, suggests that we should also look closely at the Total Goals betting. In this prop market, staking Over the 2.5 line brings us those same short odds of -200. By going higher and pushing to Over 3.5, we can take that price to +100 (evens).
If those options are still too short, readers can take a look at the more volatile Correct Score market. Anyone who feels that LA Galaxy will record a remarkable third 3-2 win in succession can currently claim best industry odds of +4000.
A more likely outcome may see a 2-1 victory for Seattle Sounders. This is quoted at a general +700 while the same scoreline in favor of LA Galaxy is on offer at an industry best of +1600.
Our Betting Preview’s Sounders vs LA Galaxy Predictions & Picks Verdict
Clearly, the bookmakers are expecting a lot of goals in Sunday’s encounter and that’s not exactly a shock. The first four MLS games of the season involving LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders have produced that total of 16 goals at an average of four per match.
Trends are there to be broken but that does mean that the odds are a little lower than we might have hoped in terms of goals betting.
LA Galaxy have started strongly but they aren’t expected to keep up that momentum across the entire season. However, there is no reason why that positive opening shouldn’t continue for now. Sounders dropped points on the opening day and for these reasons we’ll start by backing the draw.
Galaxy’s Javier Hernandez is also backed to maintain his run of scoring. Having watched the striker in England, he’s very much a confidence player and tends to continue scoring form once he’s found it. Hernandez for an anytime goal is the next pick.
We’ll finish with Over 3.5 goals: It’s less exciting from a pricing standpoint but it looks a likely option for the two form teams in the West. So these are the Sunders vs Galaxy predictions for this MLS game preview:
- First of three picks is to bet the draw on the moneyline @ best odds of +335 with BetOnline. Next best is +330 with Bovada.
- Then take over 3.5 goals @ +130 with Bovada. It is +120 with BetOnline.
- Finally, we like Javier Hernandez to score at any time @ +140 with Intertops. It is +135 with Bovada.
Matt Harris is a golf and soccer expert for USA Betting. His other area of specialist knowledge is cricket. He is well known in sports journalism and contributes articles to a plethora of big-name websites and media outlets. Titles that he writes or has written for include: Betfair, BetVictor, Unibet & Just Bookies.