This weekend in Major League Soccer, the Conference Finals are on the line and, while winning your division is a prestigious achievement in its own right, the four sides involved are just one step away from the MLS Cup Final itself.
On Monday, it’s the turn of the Western Conference with Minnesota United and Seattle Sounders facing off at Lumen Field (9.30pm ET; TV: Live on FS1). Minnesota are very much the outsiders away from home but, having upset the odds against Sporting Kansas in midweek, could they produce a repeat? Read on for our full preview and Seattle Sounders vs Minnesota predictions.
Sounders vs MNUFC Moneyline Odds
The moneyline betting for the Western Conference Final shows a clear favorite with Seattle Sounders available at a general -135. The draw on 90 minutes is on offer at industry best odds of +280 while a win for Minnesota United can be claimed at around +330.
Remember, those odds are for the win in 90 minutes and exclude the prospect of overtime. Minnesota’s best chance might be to hold their stronger opponents until the latter stages so we are edging towards that draw. Before we commit, let’s look at the players who might win it for their respective teams.
Prop Bets To Consider
Shane O’Neill scored a rare goal for Seattle as they eased past FC Dallas in the first Western Conference semi-final but the defensive midfielder would be a brave pick in Sounders’ goal scoring markets. Prior to that win, Seattle’s 3-1 victory over Los Angeles FC in the quarter finals produced strikes from more recognized players. Jordan Morris and Raul Ruidiaz are the preferred attacking duo for Brian Schmetzer’s men and either player offers a strong case in the first goalscorer betting.
For Minnesota, Kevin Molino was the hero of Thursday’s semi-final with two goals inside 35 minutes. The Trinidad and Tobago striker has a healthy return in his three years at Allianz Field and he looks sharp again after a campaign hit by injury.
The form guide shows that Seattle Sounders have kept things tight in recent weeks and that mean defense has played a part in their progression through the playoffs. Across their last six matches, Sounders have conceded just four goals and they have completed two shutouts in that period.
Minnesota also did well to close out Western Conference table toppers Sporting KC on Thursday but they could afford to manage the game after taking that 3-0 half time lead.
The stats suggest that we could have a low scoring game on our hands here and that could make Both Teams to Score a value prop at around -145.
In the Total Goals betting, a stake Above the 2.5 line will return around -130 but, in view of recent results, we’ll be considering an under bet which hits +110.
Our Preview’s Sounders vs Minnesota Predictions & Betting Picks Verdict
All the trends and indicators point towards a tight game: As we all know, trends are meant to be broken and anyone backing Minnesota United to beat Kansas in midweek would have been in the minority. This time, the Loons are up against another strong set of opponents but Seattle look to be in better shape than Sporting KC and they should offer a tougher challenge.
USAbetting will start our picks by backing up that theory and betting on the draw in 90 minutes. All the signs point to a cagey game between two sides with strong form at the back and those two tight defenses should cancel each other out.
One man who looks ready to break the stalemate is Kevin Molino who quickly made up for lost time with that double against Kansas. The Trinidad and Tobago striker is putting an injury-hit campaign behind him and he is looking fit and dangerous.
Seattle will need to respond and that is why we are rounding off this preview’s picks with Both Teams to Score. In light of recent results which have included shutouts on both sides, BTTS is a little short but it looks to be a strong bet when we consider the firepower in either camp.
Anyone looking for a longer option could consider a 1-1 outcome in the Correct Score betting which is currently listed at a best price of +850. It may not be entertaining but we are just looking for returns and these three 90-minute picks look the most likely for our 2020 Western Conference Final, Seattle Sounders vs Minnesota Utd predictions:
- Bet the draw on the moneyline @ +290 with Intertops. It is +280 with Bovada.
- Take both teams to score @ -145 with Bovada.
- Expect Kevin Molino to score at any time in 90 minutes @ +275 with Bovada or Intertops.
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.