San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake Prediction, Preview and Odds - 9/15/21

San Jose Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake

The San Jose Earthquakes fought to a 1-1 on the road against FC Dallas in their most recent fixture in the MLS on Saturday. San Jose opened the scoring with a goal from the penalty spot in the 6th minute by Oswaldo Alanis but gave up an equalizer to FC Dallas in the 50th minute to share spoils. San Jose is healthy at the moment as the Earthquakes have only Jeremy Ebobisse out with an injury.

Real Salt Lake was defeated by LAFC 3-2 on Sunday. Scoring in the loss for Real Salt Lake were Damir Kreilach in the 28th minute and Anderson Julio in the 48th minute. However, an own-goal by Real’s Toni Datkovic in the 59th minute was the difference and sent RSL to defeat. Real Salt Lake will play without Zack Farnsworth, Andrew Brody, Zac MacMath and Bobby Wood, while Jeizon Ramirez is questionable.

San Jose Struggling to score

The San Jose Earthquakes are 10th in the MLS Western Conference standings with a record of 6-9-8, 27 points and a -6 goal difference. San Jose has scored just 25 goals this season in 23 matches for an average of 1.09 goals per match, while the opposition is averaging 1.35 goals against the Earthquakes backline and keepers. San Jose is three spots out of the final playoff qualifying spot of 7th and is 11 points behind seventh-place Real Salt Lake.

Javier Lopez is the leading goal scorer for San Jose with 5 and Cade Cowell has scored four, while five players for the Earthquakes have each scored two. Cristian Espinoza is the leader in assists with 6 and Cowell has four. San Jose goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski has appeared in each of the Earthquake’s 23 matches. This season Marcinkowski has allowed 28 goals for an average of 1.22 goals against.

Real hanging on to playoff spot

Real Salt Lake is 7th in the MLS Western Conference standings with a record of 8-6-9, 30 points and a +4 goal difference. Real Salt Lake holds the seventh and final spot at the current time, tied on points with 8th place LAFC but ahead on wins. Real Salt Lake has scored 36 goals this season for an average of 1.57 goals per match while allowing the opposition to score an average of 1.39 goals per match.

Damir Kreilach is the leading goal scorer for Real Salt Lake with 9. Albert Rusnak and Anderson Julio have each scored six goals for RSL, while Rubio Rubin has scored five. Aaron Herrera has seven assists to lead Real Salt Lake and three other players Rubin, Rusnak and Kreilach have four each. David Ochoa has appeared 14 times in goal for Real Salt Lake and has allowed 18 goals for an average of 1.29 goals against.

Pick: San Jose Earthquakes +106

Although San Jose lost its most recent home match to the Colorado Rapids, the Earthquakes were unbeaten in each of their previous 5 matches at home. San Jose defeated Real Salt Lake in Utah on May 7 by the score of 2-1 and the Earthquakes have dominated this head-to-head series-winning each of the last three and four of the last five. Real Salt Lake has struggled on the road losing each of the last five away from their home pitch and are winless in each of the last seven on the road.

Total: Over

Real Salt Lake scores plenty of goals and gives up its share as well. The total has finished over the 2.5 goals per match threshold in each of Real Salt Lake's last five matches and in six of the last seven. The total has finished over 2.5 goals in two of the last three meetings between these two MLS Western Conference rivals.