FC Dallas and New York City FC have combined to score 67 goals during the 2022 Major League Soccer season.
FC Dallas boasts the United States men's national team duo of Jesus Ferreira and Paul Arriola, while NYCFC's attacking unit features a few big-money players in Valentin Castellanos and Talles Magno.
The two sides collide on Wednesday night in the headlining match of a 10-game slate, and there are some concerning defensive numbers on both teams that could turn the contest into a shootout in the Texas heat.
FC Dallas' expected goals against has been over two in each of the last three games and NYCFC has not held an opponent under one xG in the last four matches.
We are either getting an offensive outburst that takes advantage of the two tired defenses, or a 90-minute slog through the heat. I'm willing to bet on the former to kick off my Wednesday MLS bets.
Wednesday MLS Bets
Overall Record: 30-23
FC Dallas vs. New York City FC (9 p.m. ET)
Over 2.5 Goals (-135)
The expected goals against totals from FC Dallas and NYCFC listed above lead me to believe that there will be goals inside Toyota Stadium.
FC Dallas and NYCFC are both 4-0 to the over 2.5 goals in each of their last four games. Only one of the contests in both stretches featured a single-goal concession.
NYCFC let up 10 goals in the last four and FC Dallas conceded seven goals in the last four. Add in the amount of attacking talent both defenses have to face on Wednesday and you have an ideal recipe for goals.
FC Cincinnati (-135 & -1.5, +200) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (8 p.m. ET)
FC Cincinnati comes into Wednesday with four draws in its last five games.
The good news for Cincinnati during that streak is that it is consistently finding the back of the net through Brenner, Luciano Acosta and Brandon Vazquez.
Wednesday's clash with the Vancouver Whitecaps could be a perfect chance for the Cincinnati attackers to gain even more confidence in front of the net.
Vancouver has a handful of key players on the injured list, including midfielder Andres Cubas, who has been a difference-maker in that area of the field since joining the club.
Vancouver conceded 20 goals on the road this season and its expected goals against total has been over one in all but one of its road contests.
The Whitecaps lost by multiple goals in four of their nine road games and Cincinnati has scored two or more tallies in four of nine home matches.
Cincinnati's recent attacking surge plus Vancouver's list of absences gives me confidence in taking the Ohio side on the spread as well at a juicier number.
Chicago Fire vs. Toronto FC (+350) (8 p.m. ET)
The Chicago Fire and Toronto FC have two very different sets of morale within their squads at the moment.
Toronto received an injection of life with the additions of Lorenzo Insigne and Mark-Anthony Kaye. The Reds were on track to earn a victory on Saturday before a late San Jose goal ended the party.
The Reds do not have a road win this season. In fact, they are the lone Eastern Conference team without three points from a single game on the road, but recent performances suggest that could end as soon as Wednesday.
Toronto's expected goals totals have been 1.8, 1.6 and 1.4 in its last three games. Only two goals have come from those contests, but there are signs that they could come soon.
Chicago suffered a morale-crushing 3-2 defeat against the Columbus Crew at home on Saturday. The Crew's comeback was energized by Lucas Zelarayan and new signing Cucho Hernandez.
The Fire have only conceded eight times at home this season, but there is a lot of buzz around the club that goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina may be off to Europe and the defense has not been great all season.
Chicago conceded three times against Toronto at BMO Field back on May 28. I don't trust the Fire to close out a game after Saturday and I like the wave of confidence Toronto is playing with so I'm willing to take the risk at +350.
Minnesota United (-120) vs. Sporting Kansas City (8 p.m. ET)
Sporting Kansas City's two-game road winning streak is one of the most bizarre statistics of the 2022 MLS season.
SKC sits dead last in the Western Conference and it beat two good teams in CF Montreal and Nashville SC to earn those results.
Minnesota United should learn from the complacency in the Montreal and Nashville sides when facing Sporting KC and the Loons will likely win Wednesday night's game by multiple goals.
Adrian Heath's side scored three goals in each of its last three games. Luis Amarilla and Emmanuel Reynoso have accounted for 12 goals and they should be in the mix to score once again on Wednesday.
I'm making the simple money line bet here with the Loons, and if Amarilla and Reynoso are in the lineup, I may play both of them to score. Amarilla is currently +160 to score and Reynoso is +185.