Expert Picks
Portland Thorns lost their last five away games. ...
I would add BTTS to get the juice down on this line.! ...
I don't like unders, but Washington does. ...
This is a clash between the two worst scoring NWSL clubs. ...
I don't trust Denver Summit's form. ...
Orlando sits 10th in the NWSL with a minus-1 goal differential and Racing Louisville second-to-last with only four wins -- zero away -- and a minus-13 goal differential that is also second-worst. The Pride eye payback for a 3-2 loss in Kentucky in April. They have won four of five at home and are among six teams in the NWSL with more than 15 points on home turf. Anna Moorhouse has set the Orlando single-season record for saves. But I'm burying the lede: The Pride's Barbra Banda leads the league with 12 goals but is away from the club for the Women’s African Cup of Nations. Since the beginning of July, the Pride have scored four goals -- tied for fewest in the NWSL.
As of today, we have MLS and NWSL picks, which is fantastic. Tonight's North Carolina at Denver NWSL game is on CBS Sports Network and it's the first-ever meeting between the franchises. Denver is unbeaten in three straight at home (two draws) and keeper Abby Smith has the fourth-most goals prevented (6.1) in the league (min. 5 games). North Carolina is 1-3 in its past four and we need star and leading scorer Ashley Sanchez (10 goals) to NOT find the net. NC is unbeaten in eight games when she does score but has a single win in eight when not. Thank goodness for the folks in CBS Sports research or it would have taken me hours to find even this little info.
I’m backing the home team here. When you look at the advanced analytics, these teams are pretty even across the board, but Denver gets the edge playing at home. Their opponent has scored just seven goals on the road all season, which is hard to ignore. Denver has also won the xG battle in four straight matches. The results haven’t followed yet, but if they keep creating better chances than their opponents, a breakthrough feels like it’s coming. This sets up as a good spot for that to happen.