Nick Borrman

THE PLAY: Total UNDER 2.5 (+100)

MLS

(209917) Orlando City SC at (209918) Chicago Fire

Chicago really struggling to score netting just three goals over their last eight matches while being held scoreless five times.  To their credit, they have held their opponents to one goal or fewer in five of those matches.  They averaged just 1.01 xG per match over that span compared to 1.39 in their first seven to open the season.

Orlando has been struggling similarly with only one match in their last six in which they scored more than one goal, but they have kept two clean sheets in their last three matches.

They are also unbeaten in their last four on the road, and although it wasn't because of their defense, I think Chicago will do a good job of lulling them into their style of play which should limit quality chances both ways.

TAKE UNDER 2.5 GOALS

Line Parameter: Play good to -125

THE PLAY: Akshay Bhatia Top-20 RBC Canadian Open (+190)

RBC Canadian Open

Top-20 Finish BetMGM (or any book offering ‘Pay in Full on Tie’)

Bhatia presents as a feast or famine type player but tends to do his most damage in these weaker fields.  Since the World Wide Tech Championship last November, Bhatia has nine finishes inside the Top-20 including a win at the Valero Texas Open.  His other nine starts include six missed cuts so it’s possible we know the outcome of our bet before the weekend.  Still, that’s a 50% Top-20 rate and at better than 2-1 odds, we would have a nice profit in our bank account backing him in every event.

Still, Bhatia ranks 12th in Total SG this season thanks to a strong iron game where he comes in at 14th in SG Approach.  His short game, too, leaves something to be desired, but his putting is respectable at 35th this season.

Bhatia is known for low rounds where he rode his opening round 63 to victory at the Valero Texas Open in a field that included Rory McIlroy.  All he needs is one low round this week and that will likely be enough to see him to a Top-20 finish.

TAKE AKSHAY BHATIA +190

THE PLAY: Sahith Theegala Win RBC Canadian Open (+2000)

RBC Canadian Open

Outright Winner BetMGM

Unless you are putting all your eggs in the Rory basket, Theegala presents another solid opportunity as one of the favorites this week.  Theegala ranks 5th in Total SG this season thanks in large part to his putter where he comes in at 4thin SG Putting.  His only weakness is around the greens as he also comes in ranking inside the Top-25 in both SG Off-the-Tee and Approach.  

So far this season, Theegala has six Top-12 finishes including runner-up’s at The Sentry and the RBC Heritage as well as a solo 5th at the WM Phoenix Open, T6 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and T9 at THE PLAYERS.  He is also coming off a T12 in his last start at the PGA Championship.

Those are all strong finishes in strong fields and with this week’s field presenting much weaker, he should once again be in the mix come Sunday.

TAKE SAHITH THEEGALA +2000