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Edgar Chaput
Inter Miami vs. Toronto FC Prediction: MLS Odds
No one is fooled by the fact that both Toronto FC (22 points) and Inter Miami (28 points) are the bottom two clubs in the Eastern Conference standings. Let’s be frank about this set-up. Miami is worlds apart from where it stood when the campaign commenced in March. Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets will do that for a club.
Predictably, the MLS odds have Inter has heavy -282 favourites heading. Toronto lags at +563. A draw is pegged at +447.
Inter Miami vs. Toronto FC Betting Odds
Believe it or not, but TFC defeated the Floridian squad earlier this season. There’s a catch, and surely readers can guess what it is. That’s right, the 2-0 victory on a cold day in March in the Ontario capital was long before “La Pulga” made his MLS intentions known.
Even if Messi were to not suit up on Wednesday, this would be a difficult match for the Torontonians. The club is winless in an unfathomable 17 consecutive away matches dating back to the previous campaign (four draws, 13 defeats). This season alone the team is 0-4-9, a risible tally.
Overall, Miami has a 5-0-2 advantage over TFC and has never lost at home to them. Inter is only 5-5-3 at home, but again, major caveats with those statistics.
Inter Miami
Can Miami make a real playoff push? Perhaps, but they have their work cut out for them. They trail D.C. United by seven points with only seven contests left on the calendar. What’s more, they’ll need Lionel Messi more than ever.
The truth of the matter – as if no one had clued in on this – is that Inter are a completely different squad with Messi in the lineup than otherwise. Just before the international break the club headed to California to contend with LA FC, second in the West. Leo’s magical passing and skill set played a huge role in his side’s comfortable 3-1 win. To their credit, that was followed by a narrow 3-2 home success over Sporting Kansas City, in which Leonardo Campana scored a brace (he’s had a strong season). But last weekend’s visit to Atlanta United – for which Messi sat out – was a horror show. The hosts drubbed Inter 5-2, with Miami resembling the lost, discombobulated club they were prior to the World Cup winner’s arrival.
Toronto FC
TFC fans await to see what the managerial change will do for the club. For the time being, they’re being served more of the same by a club that has fallen off a cliff these past couple of seasons.
The return from the international break pitted them against Canadian rivals the Vancouver Whitecaps at BMO Field. As they have done a few times this season, especially at home, Toronto started with promise. Federico Bernardeschi seemed into it, as did Lorenzo Insigne. Both created some chances, which suggested the side had intentions of collecting full points. The 50th minute saw a breakthrough as Deandre Kerr scored on a lovely breakaway to put the hosts up 1-0.
However, Vancouver has recently proven to be a solid away side and scored twice through Tristan Blackmon (56th) and Brian White (66th). The latter’s header in the box was in large part thanks to atrocious marking by Michael Bradley. With a defence like that, Messi and company can easily feast.
