MLR Week 4 Betting Preview: Anthem RC vs Old Glory DC

Two teams riding momentum collide in Charlotte as Anthem RC hosts Old Glory DC in a battle of Week 3 winners. Anthem is chasing something they’ve never done — win back-to-back games. Old Glory is looking to stay perfect on the road this season. Here’s how to bet it.

 

The Storylines

Anthem Finally Has a Pulse

After going 0-32 across their first two MLR seasons, Anthem has two wins in 2026. They beat California 39-26 on the road in Week 1 and then stunned Seattle 34-25 at home last week — their first-ever home victory at American Legion Memorial Stadium.

Luke Carty has been the engine. The USA Eagles fly-half went 6-for-6 on goal kicks against Seattle (14 points) and has 27 points through three games. Rookie hooker Campbell Robb has scored in every game this season.

But the real story is the scrum. Anthem has won all 24 of their scrum feeds this season — a 100% success rate, the best in MLR. California is the only other team to match that, and they’ve had 8 fewer attempts.

The weakness? Lineouts. Anthem wins just 72.7% of their throws, losing an average of 5 per game. Old Glory will look to exploit that.

Old Glory Keeps Beating Champions

Simon Cross’s squad just did it again — beating the three-time defending champion Free Jacks 21-19 in New England. That’s three straight wins against New England, the longest active streak against the champs in the league.

Cory Daniel was named MLR Player of the Week after scoring two tries and making 20 tackles. Jason Robertson kicked all three conversions and added 428 kick meters — a masterclass in territorial control.

But Old Glory’s attack has been… concerning. They have the fewest carry meters per game (313.5), the fewest offloads (2.5), and the lowest gainline success rate (36.1%) in MLR. They’re winning games on defense and discipline, not firepower.

This is their third consecutive road game to start the season. They don’t play at their new home — George Mason Stadium in Fairfax — until next week against California.

Head-to-Head History

Old Glory owns this rivalry: 4-0 all-time against Anthem.

Last time they played in Charlotte? Old Glory won 41-19, scoring 7 tries. But that was a different Anthem team. This version has Luke Carty, Julian Roberts, and Johan Momsen — none of whom were in the squad last season.

 

The Odds

 

Line Shopping Notes: 

- DraftKings has Old Glory as smaller favorites (-1.5 vs -3.5 elsewhere) — interesting split 

- Best Anthem ML value: +146 at FanDuel 

- Best Old Glory ML value: -170 at DraftKings 

- Lowest total: 55.5 at DraftKings (1 point lower than others)

Key Matchups to Watch

1. Anthem’s Scrum vs Old Glory’s Defense

Anthem’s scrum is perfect (24/24). Old Glory’s defense is elite (84.2% tackle success, league-best). Something has to give. If Anthem can win penalties at scrum time, Carty will slot them from anywhere.

2. Jason Robertson’s Boot vs Anthem’s Territory Game

Robertson had 428 kick meters last week — he’ll try to pin Anthem deep and force errors. But Anthem’s Divan Rossouw and Carty can play the territory game too. Watch for 50/22 attempts from both sides.

3. Old Glory’s Attack vs Anthem’s Lineout Struggles

If Old Glory can win lineout ball in Anthem’s 22, they’ll have opportunities to maul over. But their attack has been inefficient. Can Daniel and Robertson unlock the try line, or will they settle for penalties?

 

The Picks

Spread: Anthem +3.5 (-106 FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Old Glory hasn’t beaten Anthem by more than 4 points in their last two meetings (26-22 in March 2025, though they did win 41-19 here last May). This Anthem team is legitimately improved — Luke Carty changes everything.

Old Glory’s attack is anemic. They’re winning low-scoring, grind-it-out games. If this stays close — and it should — Anthem covers.

Best book: FanDuel (+3.5 at -106)

 

Total: Under 56.5 (-104 FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Both teams are built on defense: - Old Glory: 84.2% tackle success (best in MLR) - Anthem: Physical pack that grinds games down

Old Glory’s last three games have combined for 40, 57, and 40 points. Only one hit the over. Anthem’s games have been higher-scoring (65, 52, 59), but against Seattle they forced a defensive battle.

This feels like a 27-24 type game.

Best book: FanDuel (Under 56.5 at -104)

Moneyline: Anthem +146 (FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

The value is on Anthem. They’re at home. They’ve won two straight. They have the better fly-half. Old Glory hasn’t played a home game yet and is on their third road trip in a row.

At +146, you’re getting nearly 2.5-to-1 on a team that just beat a quality Seattle side. This is a live dog.

Best book: FanDuel (+146)

 

Best Bets Summary

Best Bet of the Game: Anthem +3.5 at FanDuel

 

Where to Bet on MLR

The best sportsbooks for Major League Rugby betting:

 

The best sportsbooks for Major League Rugby futures betting in 2026:

• DraftKings Sportsbook  — Unique spread on this game (-1.5 vs -3.5)

• FanDuel Sportsbook  — Best odds on Anthem and the under

• Fanatics Sportsbook — Earn FanCash on every MLR wager

• Caesars Sportsbook — Competitive lines, draw option at +1400

Lines current as of 1:55 PM ET, April 18, 2026. Shop for the best price before placing your bets.

 

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