Sporting Kansas City vs. Minnesota United – MLS, November 1, 2020

Sporting KC and Minnesota have already faced each other three times this year, with the Loons winning the first encounter and the Wizards winning the previous two.

The two teams clash again on Sunday, November 1, with SKC currently sitting six points ahead of Minnesota in the Western Conference standings. Both sides have already secured a playoff place, but with the Supporters’ Shield still up for grabs, Sunday’s clash will still be hugely competitive.

Read on to see my Sporting Kansas City vs. Minnesota United prediction and betting pick.

With five wins in their last seven games and just one defeat along the way, Sporting KC (1.80) is the online sportsbooks’ favorite to win on Sunday.

Still, Minnesota (3.75) heads into this clash on a six-game unbeaten streak. Two straight victories have put the Loons in a strong position, so the high price for the away win is definitely worth considering.

After flexing their muscles with a 4-0 thrashing of Colorado Rapids last weekend, Sporting KC was forced to grind out a much tougher victory on Wednesday. Peter Vermes’ men only saw 37% possession against Cincinnati, but they still managed to come away from Nippert Stadium with all three points.

Veteran midfielder Roger Espinoza popped up with just his second goal of the season to hand his side the win last time out. The Honduran has generally been praised for his defensive work this year, making his contribution on Wednesday all the more welcome.

It’s safe to say that nobody will want to face SKC in the playoffs. The Wizards have undoubtedly been one of the strongest teams in MLS over the course of the year, and I believe their recent record of claiming silverware gives them an all-important edge.

Step 1: Clinch playoff berth ✅
Step 2: Move to ? of the West ✅
Step 3: Clinch a ???? playoff match …

See you Sunday, KC ? pic.twitter.com/WQAlpppKNg

— Sporting KC (@SportingKC) October 29, 2020

Similarly, Minnesota will also be a feared playoff opponent. Three wins and three draws in their previous six outings have seen the team gather plenty of momentum, and as we approach the business end of the season, momentum is key.

Having said that, the Loons have been pretty fortunate in their last two games. They needed a stoppage-time goal from Aaron Schoenfeld to beat Cincinnati 1-0 last weekend, and they were handed a late own goal by Lalas Abubakar on Wednesday, eventually edging Colorado Rapids 2-1.

It feels like everything is going Minnesota’s way at the moment, but Adrian Heath won’t allow his players to get complacent. The experienced head coach will know that his side will need to be at their best to stand any chance of keeping SKC quiet.

Don’t get me wrong, Minnesota has put in some top-quality performances in recent weeks. But with Sporting KC on a roll of their own, I’m backing the Wizards to claim the victory on Sunday.

The odds for both the draw and the away win are very attractive for this matchup. However, considering SKC’s strength, I think the price for the home win worth taking advantage of.