Ming Chuan University vs. NTUS Prediction and Pick – Taiwan Premier League, April 19

The two college teams come together in round two of the new Taiwan Premier League season, and both will be hoping to get some much-needed points on the board, as they were in short supply last year.

Unsurprisingly, both clubs lost on the opening day of the season, but there were some promising signs from each side that this year might not be as bad. The winner of this one will take a lot from this game as well as the points. I provide my pick further down in this Ming Chuan University vs. NTUS betting preview.

MyBookie makes NTUS the slight favorites here, but there is very little to choose between these odds. Ming Chuan did manage to score a couple of goals last weekend so might fancy its chances at home, but NTUS was the better side in the league last year. Once again, the draw looks the best value here.

With the new format this season forcing the bottom-placed team in the top flight to be relegated to the new Challenge League, these two sides are expected to be heavily involved in the battle to escape that fate. MCU will feel that even though it lost to Taiwan Steel last week, the fact that it scored two goals is a very positive sign.

With only 20 goals scored in the whole of last season on its way to just three wins, Ming Chuan University needs to pick up confidence boosters wherever it can. So two goals against a revamped Taiwan Steel side is to be applauded. Now it just needs to take that into this game with NTUS.

The other college team also performed admirably in its game against Taichung. But its only goal was only a consolation, and there doesn’t seem to be much chance that its usual position near the bottom of the table will change this year.

Neither of these two will be contenders for the title, so games like this are vitally important. NTUS won the upper hand last year with two wins out of the three games, but it is MCU who has impressed more in the little we have seen this season.

There is obviously very little to take from either side’s opening games as to whether these teams will be any different than last year. But Ming Chuan University seems to have slightly more promise and has the lively U19 international Tu Shao-Chie to call upon. He may only be young, but he could be one to look out for here. There might not be much in it, but I’m going for the home win here.