There might be no Lionel Messi this weekend, but the Inter Miami bandwagon continues to roll on, with Messi’s teammates facing Sporting KC in the latest round of MLS matches. Miami is favored for another win, and after their stunning demolition of LAFC last Sunday, it’s easy to see why. In our latest soccer betting picks we look ahead to the match and tell you what chance Sporting has of stopping Miami.
The soccer revolution in Florida is showing no signs of slowing down with Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates continuing their stunning run of success. The latest victims were LAFC, the current MLS Cup holders, no less. In LA’s backyard, Miami took the spoils with a 3-1 victory. Goals from Facundo Farías, Jordi Alba, and Leonardo Campana secured the win.
Yes, such is the turnaround in the form of Miami, they don’t even need the great man to score these days. This was the second match in succession that Messi hasn’t found the back of the net. And all of this has had a stunning effect on the latest betting to win the 2023 MLS Cup.
Despite still sitting second bottom of the Eastern Conference, Inter Miami is now the second favorite to win the 2023 MLS Cup. The best MLS betting sites still favor FC Cincinnati at +400. But Inter Miami is now just behind the runaway conference table toppers on +600.
Behind the two favorites are Los Angeles FC and the Philadelphia Union, who sit on +900. St Louis and New England are +1100, with Seattle, Columbus, and Orlando all sitting on odds of +1400 in what is now looking like a very open competition.
But if Miami keeps performing as they are, expect that all to change.
Miami is now within eight points of the postseason playoff positions, with two games in hand on all but one of the sides immediately above them. With the momentum they have built up, it looks like a foregone conclusion that they will make the postseason if they can win the two extra matches.
But the most immediate problem facing head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino is the loss of Messi to international duty ahead of the Kansas match. The stat we mentioned earlier about Messi not scoring in his last two fixtures might be good for Martino as he plots to beat Sporting without his talisman. Martino will be keen to point out that his Miami side isn’t just a one-man team. And this fixture gives them the ideal opportunity to show just that.
On the money line to win at the DRV PNK Stadium this Saturday, Miami is the favorite at +131. Sporting KC are +195, and the draw is +280.
In the props markets, over 2.5 goals is -170, with under 2.5 at +140. A yes for both teams to score is at -175, with a no at +145. We think it’s fair to say the soccer betting sites are expecting goals, even without Messi.
Full-match betting is available below on our odds table. You can read more information about the sites our odds are taken from on our best online sportsbook reviews page.
| Inter Miami vs. Sporting KC Betting |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter Miami | +131 | +125 | +130 |
| Sporting FC | +195 | +200 | +195 |
| Draw | +280 | +275 | +280 |
| Both Teams To Score | |||
| Yes | -175 | -175 | -175 |
| No | +145 | +145 | +145 |
Fortunately for Tata Martino, he won’t be losing the likes of Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets to international duty, as the Spanish duo have now retired from playing for their nation.
And as much as Messi grabs the headlines, these two guys have also made a difference in the performances of the Florida-based franchise. Alba and Busquets bring experience and game management to this Miami side, making them far harder to beat.
When they line up against Sporting KC on Saturday, they will line up against a team that has struggled at times in the MLS this season. Sporting sits 11th in the Western Conference, but their recent form shows they are capable of beating anybody on a given day, as their 2-1 victory over table-topping St Louis last weekend proves.
Sporting has one of the better defensive records of the struggling franchises in the Western Conference. Only conceding 37 goals in their 27 fixtures. It’s at the other end they seem to have trouble, having only scored 36 times this season.
Despite this record, over 2.5 goals have been scored in nine of Sporting’s last ten matches. This suggests the bookmakers have priced this market up correctly at -170. We feel that could be a touch short, especially given Messi’s absence.
But we feel that Miami is in such a good place at the moment, that either with or without Messi, they can get the win. Yes, there is pressure. Given the late stage of the season, the franchise can’t afford any slip-ups if they want to make the playoffs. And there is the added pressure of winning without Messi, and not being labeled as a one-player team.
We feel Miami will be up to the challenge. They will be hard to beat with Sergio Busquets marshaling the midfield, and we believe that odds of +131 make Inter Miami a good betting pick to win this match.
Check below for our list of the top sportsbooks where you can wager online:
About the Author
Dean is primarily a fan of English football who regularly attends games, and combining his hobby with his job, he is now a full-time sports betting writer. Rather than going down the educational route into sports journalism, Dean learned his trade by writing for his English football betting website since 2009, where he now boasts nearly 15 years of experience. After writing about football daily for years, Dean has taken the skills he learned and now uses them to great effect writing for numerous affiliate sites across the internet. A general all-around sports enthusiast with a passion for English football and cricket, Dean is also well able to turn his hand to writing about golf, tennis, F1, boxing, snooker, darts, and North American sports. Combining his extensive knowledge and experience with British humor and wit, Dean has developed into a trusted voice within the sports betting industry.
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