Houston vs. Salt Lake Preview | MLS Free Pick (May. 13)

MLS Soccer Predictions – THURSDAY MAY 13, 2010 – Houston Dynamo (4-3-1) vs Real Salt Lake (3-3-1)

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The MLS began its 15th season this year and we’ve finally decided it’s time to give this league some handicapping love and provide some free SOCCER gambling analysis every week.

Onto the week’s MLS preview and prediction for the week.

ESPN, ESPND – MLS Betting Odds – Dynamo vs. Real SL:

Salt Lake EVEN
Houston +250
Draw: +225

The Houston Dynamo face off against the defending 2009 MLS Cup champs Real Salt Lake in a Western Conference battle on Thursday at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.

A pair of two penalty kicks from Brad Davis decided the last meeting between these two sides as Houston edged out RSL 2-1 back on April 1 2010.

Salt Lake comes into Thursday’s contest in fourth place in the Western Conference, three points behind Houston and 12 behind the conference leading LA Galaxy. The side has won two straight in the month of May with victories over Toronto and Philadelphia and are currently riding a 13-game unbeaten streak at Rio Tinto, dating back to last season.

The defense continues to be rock solid for RSL, only conceding four non-PK goals the entire season. The midfield is getting healthy once again, and up top, Pablo Campos is at peak form.

With Fabian Espindola and Robbie Findley both injured, Salt Lake will pair Campos with Alvaro Saborio.

Against Philadelphia, the duo combined remarkably well, but Philadelphia’s awful defense may have had something to do with that.

Meanwhile, the second place Dynamo has been on somewhat of a roller coaster season and will look to pick up some ground on LA with a win at Rio Tinto. They are coming off a 2-0 win over Chivas USA as Brad Davis and Adrian Serioux gave Houston an early lead that they would not relinquish.

It was Houston’s first road win of the season and it finished the season sweep of Chivas USA.

The side needs to play consistently and a trip to Real will challenge them. The Dynamo are at their best and they clearly have the ability to play with anyone in MLS, but the ability to perform at a similar level match in and match out has thus far eluded the team.

The current stretch of four games in thirteen days with a fair amount of travel thrown in has pushed this injury-depleted roster to the limit, but six points from a possible nine is good considering.

Houston Dynamo vs Real Salt Lake Free Pick:

This should be a pretty good match after last weeks ESPN game of the week sleeper. Like most of the other RSL/Houston matchups, expect this one to be spirited, entertaining, and more than a bit chippy.

If RSL can keep their emotions in check, I expect them to edge out a slim 1-0 victory in this one, extending their home-unbeaten steak to 14.

We will continue to provide free weekly MLS gambling predictions due to the responses we’ve gotten on our Soccer handicapping forums, and survey responses we’ve conducted on our soccer betting blog.

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Matt Martz is a sportswriter for the Bakersfield Californian located in Central California. “ Football (soccer) is a game in which a handful of fit men run around for one and a half hours watched by millions of people who could really use the exercise.”