Playing The Odds: Our Picks For Saturday August 9

First up is Toronto FC visiting The Dick to take on the Colorado Rapids, Fox Soccer Channel’s MLS game of the week. Bet US lists the Rapids as pretty heavy home favorites — Colorado -150 vs. Toronto +360 — with the over/under at 2.5 goals. As tempting as it is to try to win some big bucks by betting on TFC, the numbers don’t justify it, as the Reds are a brutal 1-7 with only 10 goals scored away from Fortress BMO this season.

We’re taking the Rapids and the over.

Next on the docket for MLS today is a the Chicago Fire visiting New England. Sensing a post-Superliga letdown by the Revs, we’re going with the underdogs in this one, taking the Fire +260. The over/under is 2.5 and we’re taking the over, expecting a 2-1 Fire win.

The final game for today finds a rematch of last season’s Western Conference first round playoffs, with Kansas City hosting Chivas USA. Oddsmakers are favoring a draw in this one, as both the Wizards (+120) and the Goats (+185) are underdogs. We can’t really imagine that Chivas can get it done at the CAB without Sacha Kljestan, and Ante Razov and Mykel Galindo still trying to get their timing back. Although, Kansas City’s offense is anemic so a single goal would be enough for the Goats to get a result.

I don’t see that happening, which is why I’m going with the Wizards and the under.