Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake odds, picks and predictions
The Houston Dynamo welcome Real Salt Lake to Shell Energy Stadium Saturday. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET (Apply TV). Below, we preview BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake odds, and make our best expert MLS picks and predictions.
Houston won the opening match of the best-of-3 match 2-1 at home Oct. 29, ending with 16 more shots than RSL and 72% of the possession. The series then shifted to America First Field and was evened as host RSL ended with 7 more shots and won in penalty kicks (5-4) after a 1-1 draw through 90.
The Dynamo ended the regular season 11-4-2 at home. They had a +13 goal differential through 34 matches, scoring 51 and allowing 38. F Amine Bassi led the team with 10 goals in 28 matches.
Real Salt Lake finished 8-4-5 on the road and had a -2 goal differential, scoring 48 and allowing 50. Defense has been a concern all season for RSL. They are led in scoring by F Jefferson Savarino with 7 goals in 24 matches.
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Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 4:04 p.m. ET.
Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake picks and predictions
Prediction
Houston Dynamo 2, Real Salt Lake 0
LEAN HOUSTON DYNAMO (-160).
Simply put, Houston has been terrific at home down the final stretch of the season. It has won 5 of its last 7 home matches and has lost just 1 game at home since May 13. The Dynamo have had more than 1.0 expected goals than their opponent in 3 straight home matches.
Real Salt Lake lost 5 of its last 10 regular season matches. Houston dominated the first match at Shell Energy and should have a similar showing. Despite the juice, back HOUSTON DYNAMO (-160).
BET UNDER 2.5 (+115).
The value in this match is on the Under. There were just 7 shots on goal in the 1st match, which ended 2-1, and 8 shots on goal in the 2nd, which ended 1-1. Neither team made the most of their chances. For Houston, it has gone Under this total in 6 of its last 11 games.
RSL has gone Under this total in 3 of their last 6 games and has scored multiple goals in just 2 of their last 6. They have had fewer than 1.0 expected goals in 7 of their last 8, so their success offensively may start to disappear.
Given the value and trends, take UNDER 2.5 (+115).
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