The 2022 Major League Soccer season is only eight weeks old, but we already have some distinct home and road splits across the 28 squads in the league.
The differences between home and road form are most apparent in two matches on Saturday night.
Austin FC and the Colorado Rapids are undefeated on home soil, while their opponents combined for eight road losses in eight games.
Austin FC proved at the start of the season that it can take care of business in emphatic fashion at home against weaker teams.
Colorado is looking for more goals out of its strike force, which led to the Gyasi Zardes trade on Friday. The move could light a spark under some of the Rapids forwards and lead to a strong attacking performance against the league's lone expansion side.
Sunday's slate has a clear mismatch on it as well, as Los Angeles FC makes the trip to Ohio to face FC Cincinnati. LAFC possesses the most dynamic attack in the league and it could take advantage of a defensive unit that is typically bad.
MLS Week 8 Best Bets
Overall Record: 7-8
Vancouver Whitecaps at Austin FC (-150) (Over 2.5; -140) (Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET)
Austin FC has a knack for playing really well against some of the worst teams in MLS.
The second-year side put five goals each past FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami, and it scored multiple goals versus San Jose and D.C. United.
Vancouver's defense is limping into Q2 Stadium. The Whitecaps conceded 14 goals in seven matches and they conceded 11 of those tallies on the road.
Austin owns a +10 goal differential on home soil. It conceded on two occasions in four home contests.
Look for Austin to pounce on a poor defense once again at home and that is why I like the money line and the over.
Charlotte FC at Colorado Rapids (-1.5; +155) (Saturday, 9 p.m. ET)
Charlotte FC carries the worst expected goals against total in the Eastern Conference at 12.7.
The expansion side has not picked up a point in its first four road matches in franchise history.
Charlotte holds a -7 goal differential from those road trips and it could be in for a rough night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
Colorado ranks third in the Western Conference in expected goals with 11.5, but it only has nine tallies to show for it.
The Rapids are 2-0-1 at home and there should be some extra motivation within the squad on Saturday because Gyasi Zardes was just acquired from the Columbus Crew.
Colorado's current strike force needs to impress on home soil to make life difficult on Zardes surging into the starting lineup and never leaving.
The Colorado money line is too high to bet at -195, but if you take the spread bet at -1.5, it gives you a plus-money outcome that could happen based on the expected goals production.
Los Angeles FC (-105) at FC Cincinnati (Sunday, 5 p.m. ET)
Los Angeles FC possesses one of the most potent attacks in MLS.
FC Cincinnati has become known for its defensive shortcomings and its back line may not have enough talent to keep pace with the first-place side in the Western Conference.
LAFC produced 17 goals in its first seven games and it could fly over the 20-goal mark if it plays to its full potential against a FC Cincinnati defense that allowed 14 goals in its first seven contests.
Carlos Vela sits at +140 to score and +850 to net two or more goals on DraftKings. That could be the individual prop play to attack if LAFC is in full control of the match.