MLS Pick ‘Em 2016 Week 8 – Sporting Kansas City v. LA Galaxy
Last week, pretty much everyone was caught off guard by the New York Red Bulls. Everyone that is except for Matt Pollard. Orlando’s misfortune was his gain as he maintains pace with me for second place. Eric, even with missing this one, remains in first by a huge margin. Here’s how the standings look.
| Player | Points | Correct Outcome | Incorrect | Correct Score |
| Eric Walcott | 12 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Joseph Goldstein | 5 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Matt Pollard | 5 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Joe Hojnacki | 4 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| Alec Rivera | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Russ McKenzie | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Ned Joyce | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Daniel Sperry | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Laura McFayden | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
This week, LA Galaxy take a trip to Kansas to face Sporting. LA is coming off of 2 straight wins and are unbeaten in 6. Sporting is on a bit of a different streak, having not won in their last 4. Can SKC turn it around back at home, or will the Galaxy continue to make their move up the western conference table? Let’s see what the experts say:
| Expert | Pick | Comments |
|
Joseph Goldstein |
LA |
Galaxy will continue their current hot streak with their fifth game in a row without a defeat. LA’s defense is getting it done, and SKC just don’t look up to the task. |
Eric Walcott |
LA |
The Galaxy will match their win total away from home from all of 2015 in the second month of the season. On the end of their 2nd double-game week in three weeks, SKC will be tired. The tired SKC forwards won’t be able to penetrate the Galaxy defense, and while LA isn’t great on the road, they’ll squeak this one out. |
Alec Rivera |
SKC |
This game will be an end-to-end affair with Dos Santos and Feilhaber running freely from end-to-end. This game could go either way, but in the Blue Hell its SKC who will run away the victors. |
Russ McKenzie |
LA |
It’s early in the season and the Galaxy, after sowing the seeds of doubt, seem to, like Stella, have gotten their groove back. |
Ned Joyce |
DRAW |
It’ll be a fun game with some solid goals. Both teams have it in them to produce some beautiful playmaking and the veteran transplants, Magee and Brad Davis may end up having the most influence on the game |
Matt Pollard |
LA |
Sporting KC is coming off a frustrating midweek draw in Vancouver. Dom Dwyer will be rested for this game, but the rest of Sporting’s core played the majority of the game. Matt Besler, Graham Zusi, and Benny Feilhaber will have tired legs on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Galaxy attack has exploded. The Galaxy will get a moment of individual brilliance from Giovani dos Santos or Steven Gerrard. KC will put in a respectable performance considering the circumstances, but in throwing numbers forward, they’ll get burned on a counter. As a result, the Galaxy will tie their road win total from all of last year. |
Daniel Sperry |
LA |
SKC are scuffling having only won four points from their last 5 games. LA on the other hand is on an upward trend, with Stevie G looking like 1/2 of his old self (sadly the best he’s been in MLS so far), LA should get past a ragged SKC squad. |
Joe Hojnacki |
SKC |
SKC will be mad after the way the played against Vancouver midweek. They will look to have a little better showing on Sunday night against an LA side that struggles on the road. LA will make it tough, but a late winner give SKC the full three points.” |
Laura McFayden |
LA |
SKC are coming off a string of away games with one point to show for it. That point will boost confidence, but Besler is still struggling since his concussion and Coelho, as brilliant as he is, cannot be in two places at once. SKC’s finishing has definitely not been on par with the Galaxy’s. LA are scoring like no one’s business, and haven’t just played back to back double game weeks. |
