The New York Red Bulls are the most confounding team in Major League Soccer.
The Red Bulls sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, but they are tied for dead last in home wins among the 28 teams in the league.
The Red Bulls have lost three straight games inside Red Bull Arena, but their 27 road points have them in contention to host a playoff game.
New York is an unusual case in a league in which home form is valued and road results are treated like gold. So imagine trying to bet on the Red Bulls at home when you have to apply a completely different mindset.
Instead of just flat out fading the Red Bulls on Saturday night, there are two other angles to attack for their match with FC Cincinnati that could hit in case the home form breaks, or the visitors force a draw.
Other runs of form are more distinct and easier to bet across MLS, including a pair of teams that play each other on Saturday night that can't stop conceding goals.
MLS Bets
Overall Record: 41-42
FC Cincinnati at New York Red Bulls (Saturday, 6 p.m. ET)
Over 2.5 Goals (-140)
Both Teams to Score (-165)
The Red Bulls have not kept a clean sheet in their last four home matches. Four of their last five expected goals against (xGA) totals inside Red Bull Arena have been over one.
Gerhard Struber's side has not recorded a shutout in six of its last seven matches in league play, so that puts the over and both teams to score prop in play.
FC Cincinnati's defense still needs work. The Ohio side conceded in nine straight games, including one against the Red Bulls on July 9.
Cincinnati's xGA has been over one in each of its last nine games, but it has made up for the lack of clean sheets with a red-hot attacking trio led by Brandon Vazquez.
Vazquez and Co. produced multiple goals five times since July 1 and FCC's xG has been over one in 11 of its last 12 matches.
The chances will be there for both sides, and the recent form of the two clubs suggests we will see plenty of goals in northern New Jersey to open up the weekend slate.
Toronto FC at Inter Miami (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET)
Over 2.5 Goals (-190)
Over 3.5 Goals (+130)
The one thing you can say for certain about Toronto FC and Inter Miami lately is that their matches have been fun to watch.
At least four goals have been scored in four of the last five Toronto FC games. The Reds experienced an offensive uptick from Lorenzo Insigne and Fernando Bernardeschi, but their defense has not gotten better.
Toronto conceded seven times in the last three games and it only has two clean sheets this season.
Miami only owns five clean sheets in 2022 and it has played in its share of high-scoring games of late. The south Florida side conceded on multiple occasions in six of its last seven games.
All of the recent stats suggest Toronto-Miami could be the highest-scoring game of the weekend.
Los Angeles FC (-130) at San Jose Earthquakes (Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET)
If you're giving me LAFC at a price lower than -150, I'm taking it.
LAFC proved that even a bad night can result in a win when it beat D.C. United on Tuesday night by a goal.
The Black-and-Gold scored 17 goals in their last seven games, and if that was not impressive enough, they have given up two goals in the last five matches.
Everything is working well for LAFC at the moment, and you would think there is some extra motivation to get back to form after scoring just once at home on Tuesday.
San Jose comes into Saturday night with two wins since the start of June and on a six-game winless streak in which it conceded multiple goals on five occasions.
Atlanta United at Columbus Crew (-120) (Sunday, 5:30 p.m. ET)
Atlanta United is dead.
The Five Stripes are just limping to the finish line at this point. Their 2-1 home loss to the Red Bulls on Wednesday night confirmed all hope is lost.
Columbus needs to take advantage of the slumping Atlanta side that has a single win away from Georgia this season.
The Crew should have loads more motivation than Atlanta because they can still attain a home playoff game, especially if the New York sides struggle.
Simply based on motivation, or lack thereof, Columbus has to be the pick.