Top Soccer Betting Picks of the Week – May 22nd Edition

This week in soccer, we turn our attention to action from Serie A from Brazil as well as Major League Soccer, as the English Premier League, La Liga and the Bundesliga have all closed their doors for the spring and summer. The top two teams in Serie meet, as second-place Flamengo (with 11 points) visit table leader Atletico Mineiro (13 points). In MLS, FC Dallas visit Toronto FC, and Columbus visit Sporting KC. Check out our soccer betting insights on each of these matchups.

Top Soccer Betting Picks of the Week – May 22nd Edition

MLS Power Rankings: New York Red Bulls replace Atlanta United in top spot https://t.co/vxfMP3yS7Y

— scugo.com (@ScugoCom) May 22, 2018

Friday, May 25

MLS: FC Dallas at Toronto FC (8:00pm ET)

No other MLS team has as many draws as do FC Dallas (4-1-5, 17 points), which has helped them cling to the fourth spot in the Western Conference. Last week, they hosted Vancouver and — you guessed it — rolled to a 2-2 tie on Saturday. In that game, they had possession for 53 percent of the game and peppered seven shots on goal. Reggie Cannon scored in the 40th minute, and Maximiliano Urruti added what looked like a sure insurance goal in the 78th minute. However, that shaky FC Dallas defense showed up just in time, as Vancouver benefited from an own goal in the 82nd minute and then converted a penalty in extra time to take the point. They visit a Toronto FC team that is 3-1-6 (10 points) but took down Orlando City at home last week. Jay Chapman scored in the 63rd minute for Toronto, and while Cristian Higuita got the equalizer in the 73rd minute, Ryan Telfer converted in the 87th minute to give Toronto the win. Orlando possessed for slightly more than half the game, but Toronto brought pressure, inducing seven corners. If FC Dallas cannot finish with more intensity than what they brought against Vancouver, they will be lucky even to leave with a draw. Soccer Betting Prediction: FC Dallas 2, Toronto FC 2

Saturday, May 26

Brazil Serie A: Flamengo at Atletico Mineiro (6:00pm ET)

Flamengo had a nice three-game winning streak going before losing two weeks ago and then drawing with Vasco da Gama last week. Atletico Mineiro took advantage of those results with a pair of wins (and have won four of five), blanking Cruzeiro, 1-0, at home. Flamengo got the early goal against Vasco da Gama from Vinicius Junior, in the 14th minute, but Wagner brought the equalizer in the 18th minute. Flamengo possessed for about 60 percent of the game, but only put two shots on goal, while Vasco da Gama put seven shots on the Flamengo net. It was a physical game, with 39 combined fouls. Atletico Mineiro played a scoreless first half against Cruzeiro before Roger Guedes came through in the 61st minute, scoring the only goal of the night. Atletico Mineiro had possession for 60 percent of the game and put six shots on net, while Cruzeiro only sent two balls on net. If Mineiro can play this efficient style once again this Saturday, they should put some distance between themselves and Flamengo. Soccer Betting Prediction: Atletico Mineiro 2, Flamengo 1

Sunday, May 27

MLS: Columbus at Sporting KC (6:00pm ET)

Columbus sit in third place in the Eastern Conference (7-3-3, 24 points), while Sporting KC lead the Western Conference (7-2-3, 24 points), so we see a potential matchup of MLS Cup contenders when the Crew head down to Kansas City. Sporting KC come in off a disappointing result last week, as they went to Minnesota United but only delivered a 1-1 draw against a team that is 11 points below them on the table through just 12 matches. Sporting KC jumped out to an early lead, with Khiry Shelton tallying in the eighth minute, but Darwin Quintero drew the game level in the 20th minute, and after that, despite 62 percent possession for the visitors and ten shots on goal (and 24 overall), Sporting KC could not break through. The game saw four yellow cards in a physical match, but Minnesota United held firm for their point. Columbus went to New England last weekend and came away with a 1-0 victory. The game looked like it might end in a scoreless draw until Lalas Abubakar delivered in the 85th minute for the visitors, who possessed for 59 percent of the game and put 16 shots in the air, four on net. New England put six shots on net but were unable to break through. Can Columbus deliver on the road against the best team in the West? Soccer Betting Prediction: Sporting KC 2, Columbus 1