K League Matchday 3 betting preview: Defending champs pegged back

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Matchday 2 proved to be another excellent weekend as we finished 4-1 with our picks to move to 7-1-1 on the season, netting the $100 bettor $856 in profits.

It's all gravy in the K League. Let's get into our Matchday 3 picks.

FC Seoul (+240) at Pohang Steelers (+115), Draw (+240)

Pohang are off to a strong start and sit second in the league in shots through two matches (25). They return home here where they're incredibly tough to play against. The Steelers are unbeaten in their last eight at home, winning six. They've also scored at least twice in six of those eight matches.

That doesn't bode particularly well for a Seoul side that has kept just two clean sheets in its last 13 on the road - against low-scoring sides Incheon and Daegu - and was ravaged for three goals by Gangwon on Matchday 1.

Better days are certainly ahead for Choi Yong-soo's charges, but their rather unimpressive start to the season will continue this weekend as they fall to an in-form Pohang side that's picked up where it left off in 2019 - the Steelers have just one loss in their last 14 (at champions Jeonbuk), with nine wins.

Pick: Pohang (+115)

Gwangju FC (+200) at Sangju Sangmu (+137), Draw (+225)

Don't be fooled by Sangju's victory on Matchday 2. They took the lead after benefiting from a clumsy penalty, were bailed out by the woodwork, and finished things off on a late counter stemming from a defensive lapse. In all, they held just 22 minutes of possession across the 90, with the scoreline proving flattering.

With so much turnover in the side - 16 new faces have been recruited to the military club this season - there will be growing pains. A visit from newly promoted Gwangju offers another solid opportunity at three points, but the visitors impressed in a 1-0 defeat at Seoul last time out and were close to grinding out what would have been a deserved result.

This is a step down in competition for Gwangju, who will have grown in confidence after their showing in Matchday 2. They will sense an opportunity here and should build on last week's effort. Look for star striker Felipe to get off the mark here as the visitors play with some much-needed urgency to earn their first point of the season.

Pick: Draw (+225)

Daegu FC (+420) at Jeonbuk Motors (-150), Draw (+280)

Jeonbuk are perfect through two matches but left it late both times, relying on 84th- and 93rd-minute winners. They've leaned heavily on that championship mettle, but this will prove to be their toughest test yet after failing to impress in clashes with Suwon and Busan.

They'll be tested here against a well-coached, disciplined Daegu side that's very hard to break down. Daegu are unbeaten in their last eight away contests - including a win at Jeonbuk late last season - conceding just six goals over that span.

Daegu drew their first two matches and would certainly be content with the same result here. Jeonbuk's slightly revamped attack hasn't quite gotten off the mark yet, and they're in for a frustrating day against a Daegu side that gives up very little. Look for the visitor to slam the door shut and walk away with a point.

Pick: Daegu +0.5, +1 (-110), Draw (+280)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.