2017 record: 3-6

Profit/loss: -173.39

Ouch. After a rough opening weekend, I’m back with a few more losers winners this week. Hey, if every degenerate quit after one bad weekend, the sports books wouldn’t get much action. #SocTakesLogic

Here are my plays for Week 2:

Chicago Fire/Real Salt Lake Draw +265

Risk 37.74 to win 100

I like both of these clubs to be among the most improved in MLS this season. How about a strong and gutsy showing from both Saturday in a hard-earned point for each? At +265 the draw has some real value in this match.

Philadelphia Union Pick ‘Em +105

Risk 50 to win 52.50

The Union simply have a solid roster from top to bottom, with talents like Roland Alberg not even able to crack the starting XI every week. Andre Blake is also one of the best young goalkeepers in the league. Toronto is an excellent club, obviously, but they tend to be a bit of a public darling with the bookmakers due to their star power. You can often find some value fading them on the road. Take the home side on the pick ’em line, but not on the three-way moneyline.

Montreal Impact Pick ‘Em -135

Risk 67.50 to win 50

It’s somewhat nerve-wracking to predict Seattle to start the season 0-2, but Montreal is a tough place to play already, then you toss in the the whole travel distance and timezone factor and it seems like the Impact should be favored to win a little more than they are. Much better days lie ahead for Seattle, but there’s a distinct possibility they begin their 2017 campaign with zero points across two matches.

Houston Dynamo/Columbus Crew Draw +240

Risk 41.67 to win 100

Houston turned some heads last weekend by taking it to the defending-champion Sounders at home, but I’m not ready to outright buy stock in this team just yet. Crew SC’s attack is potent enough to produce one or two road goals, so I think the draw is the play here at a solid price of +240 with hopes of a 1-1 or 2-2 scoreline.

San Jose Earthquakes ML (3-way) -115

Risk 57.50 to win 50

There isn’t much to this play other than the fact that I don’t foresee Vancouver Whitecaps FC winning too many road games this year. Their final roster and starting XI were a giant question mark up until the latter parts of the preseason when they signed Freddy Montero, but that stellar signing didn’t mask all their deficiencies. San Jose tends to to grind out low-scoring results at home, so look for a 1-0 or 2-0 Quakes win in this one.

Notes:

Sometimes I play my draws to win 100, sometimes to win 50 — it’ll always be clearly indicated.

All lines cited are based on the current odds at Bovada.lv at the time of posting.