Smart Acca Picks: MLS Offers Good Value

Atlanta United will take on Austin in an east meets west encounter as two teams involved in an awful lot of goals clash in Georgia. Atlanta have had a tremendously underwhelming season so far, and for the past four years of excellence in the MLS, they now sit down in 11th ahead of this one. What's more, they also have let in the same amount of goals (26) as they have conceded.

As for Austin, they remain on course to challenge for the Western title right now, as they trail the incredible Los Angeles FC by just two points in the table while sitting comfortably in second themselves by a five-point gap on Real Salt Lake. They've also scored 35 times to this point, with them letting in just 22 goals.

76.5% of games involving Atlanta have seen over 2.5 goals, with 66.7% of fixtures seeing the same outcome for Austin. The statistical likelihood of this happening now sits at 71.4%, according to the Smart Acca.

San Jose Earthquakes have seen more goals go in across their past 17 games than any side by this point in the past five MLS campaigns out west. The California side have let in the most within the Western Conference with 35 goals going in, while they have also scored an impressive 27 of their own. The Quakes have seen their goalscoring form stumble a bit recently, with only two goals coming in throughout their past three games, but across 17 fixtures, 64.7% of games have witnessed over 2.5 goals.

As for Toronto, it's been their worst season on record in the past six to this point, and they now sit with 34 goals let in and 24 scored of their own. In fact, these two remain the two sides witnessing the most goals so far, and with them on 18 points each, the Smart Acca suggest a 65.7% chance of over 2.5 goals.

While both Toronto and San Jose have been torrid this season in their own rights, no side is underperforming as poorly as Sporting Kansas City compared to their usual standards. Kansas are sitting bottom of the overall table on 16 points and sit 20 points away from top spot and even 10 adrift of the playoffs. Worse yet, they've also played more games than most across both divisions, and it now makes it even tougher for them to get back towards the top half.

Montreal have once again dropped off top spot in the Eastern Conference with them now trailing the New York Red Bulls by three points but with a game in hand. They've also been involved in more goals than any side in the Eastern table, with 32 goals scored and 33 conceded. Now, with Montreal looking to get back to the top, there is a 64.9% chance of over 2.5 goals according to the Smart Acca.

The defending MLS Cup champions, New York City, are sitting quite comfortably in the Eastern Conference despite them being fourth right now. They have two games in hand over first-placed rivals, the Red Bulls, while they also have a game in hand over Montreal and Philadelphia Union above them, and should they win these games, they'll head right back into first. NYCFC are also the third-best defensive side in the league with 19 goals conceded, but with 33 goals scored, they remain the Eastern table's highest scorers.

As for New England, their triumph in the Eastern Conference last season seems like it never happened with them sitting all the way down in seventh where they could drop to as low as ninth in the table if they witness Inter Miami and Columbus Crew win their games in hand.

66.7% of games have seen over 2.5 goals come in for the Revs so far, with New York witnessing 47.1% of their games do so too. The Smart Acca now puts the chances of over 2.5 goals in this one at 57.1%.

In the final game of our over 2.5 Smart Acca picks, we see Vancouver Whitecaps take on Minnesota United where there is a 55.6% chance of over 2.5 goals in the game. The Whitecaps have been on the rise like no other side in the Eastern table at this stage, with them moving from last place to within just two points of the playoffs within the past six weeks. What's more, this has still seen them concede 28 times and be the second-lowest scorers in the division with only 19 scored in 18 games.

Minnesota are directly above them in eighth place, and the only thing that separates the two in the Eastern Conference is the head-to-head record from earlier in the campaign. The Loons have also let in 23 and scored the same amount as they've conceded, which puts them at a record of exactly 50% where they've seen over 2.5 goals.

It could be a cagey one given how they're right by one another in the table, but on the other hand, the Smart Acca suggests another high-scoring affair.