It’s time to break down another weekend card of MLS action where we have 13 Saturday games and 1 Sunday game which is Atlanta vs Chicago. Read on for our of our top MLS predictions and best soccer picks for the weekend here.
You have to consider that the CONCACAF Champions Cup (CCC) Quarterfinals are next week that sees Columbus playing Tigres and New England playing Club America on Tuesday, and Miami playing Monterrey on Wednesday. The other game is Herediano vs Pachuca but obviously that doesn’t involve MLS teams.
This week, the teams coming off bye are Dallas, Montreal and Minnesota, while the only team on a bye is New England.
MLS Predictions – Parlay #1
In our first of two MLS parlay picks, we have a three-gamer coming in at +140 odds.
Philadelphia Union vs Minnesota United Prediction
Philadelphia is 9th in the East at 1-3-0, but still undefeated and despite a roster missing a ton of players last week, they routed Portland 3-1 and it was 3-0 until a late Portland goal. But they still have just 1 win in 4 and outside of one home 0-0 draw with Pachuca in CCC, they’ve conceded a goal in 7 of their other 8 games, where BTTS has gone 6-2.
But Philadelphia at home is usually hard to bet against as they have just 1 home loss in all competitions in their last 27 games.
Minnesota is 1st in the West at 3-1-0, so are also undefeated but aren’t having trouble winning. Nor are they having trouble winning on the road having already put 3 and 2 past Orlando and Austin this season on their travels, both wins. They’ve also scored in 10 straight MLS games and in 20/21.
Last year Minnesota won in pks in thd USOC after a 3-3 draw. While they don’t play often in different conferences, BTTS is a perfect 6-0 going back to 2017 in their short head-to-head history.
I see a goal from both here too too in the early game on Saturday for our soccer betting tips.
- MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score
Inter Miami vs NYCFC Prediction
Miami is 3-1-2 and 2nd in East. But last week Miami was embarrassed 4-0 versus the other New York team, the Red Bulls. Though they were without Lionel Messi and Nicolás Freire due to hamstring injuries and Drake Callender, Federico Redondo and Diego Gómez were away on international duty.
Still, it led to head coach Tata Martino saying the team didn’t even have a desire to compete.
That was the first time Miami failed to score this season in 7 competitive games. They do have CCC versus Monterrey on Wednesday, but surely will want to go into that one with a little more confidence. At home, they’ve only failed to score twice in their past 17 games, to Cincinnati and Nashville, two better defensive teams.
That’s not NYCFC right now, who are 1-0-4 and 14th in the East.
They lost 1-0 in Cincannit last week, and have given up 7 goals in 5 games, conceding in all 5. Going back to last season, they now have just 1 win in 21 road MLS games and have conceded a goal in 19/21.
Last year it was 1-1 in Miami and 1-0 New York in New York. Home teams are 4-1-0 in last five meetings and if I had to pick a winner I’d still lean to Miami, but in this parlay, I’ll just ask Miami to score as part of our parlay picks.
- MLS Predictions: Miami to score
Austin FC vs FC Dallas Prediction
Two struggling teams will hope this rivalry sparks them to life. Dallas is 11th in the West 1-0-3 with 3 points, and Austin is 13th at 0-3-2, also 3 points.
Austin lost 2-0 last week and had just 3 shots and 1 shot on target. They still have just 1 win since … last summer on July 15.
Austin has allowed 2 goals in 4/5 games this season. There’s been 2+ goals in 4 of those 5 obviously, and 23 of their past 26 MLS games as well. They’re usually good for a home goal though, scoring in 14 straight at Q2 Stadium.
Dallas games average 3.3 GPM. They’re 4-0 to O1.5 and O2.5 totals and 4-0 to BTTS and BTTS & O2.5.
As bad as Austin has been they did get Sebastian Driussi back recently, and Dallas hasn’t kept a clean sheet in 10 MLS games and has only 1 in 17 overall games and only 1 in 14 road games.
In the 3 meetings last year, Dallas won 1-0 on road, Austin won 3-0 at home and then Dallas won 1-0 at home. In 9 all-time meetings, a road team has only won twice.
The best soccer bets could be to back BTTS or simply Over 1.5 in this parlay.
- MLS Predictions: Over 1.5
- Parlay Picks: PHI vs MIN both score / MIA to score / AUS vs DAL over 15 (+140)
MLS Predictions – Parlay #2
This second parlay will come in at shorter odds but you want to bump up the the MLS odds, betting both teams to score instead of Over 1.5 in one or both of these first two games would be an option.
Real Salt Lake vs St Louis City Prediction
RSL is 5th in West 2-1-2, with 7 points, while St. Louis is 8th at 1-4-0, also with 7 points.
Only LA Galaxy, Chicago and Miami games average more goals than the 3.6 that have been seen in St. Louis games this season: (2-2, 3-3, 2-2, 2-0, 1-1). They’ve seen at least 2 goals in each of their games. That’s a trend that goes well back into last season with 2+ goals in 11 straight MLS games and in 19/20.
RSL fell behind 1-0 in Vancouver last week but came back and won 2-1, behind 2 assists from Fidel Barajas — the 6th player in MLS history to record a multi-assist game as a 17-year-old.
RSL have also seen 2+ goals in all of their games (2-1, 2-1, 3-0, 1-1, 2-0). But that’s also happened in 19/21 going back to last season.
In the 3 games last year in St. Louis’ first season, St. Louis won 4-0 on road, RLS won 3-1 on the road and they drew the final match 1-1 in St. Louis.
This could easily could be another BTTS in the MLS picks or simply Over 1.5 in the parlay.
- MLS Predictions: Over 1.5
Vancouver Whitecaps vs Portland Timbers Prediction
Vancouver is 3rd in West at 2-1-1, with 7 points, and Portland also sits on 7 points, 4th in the conference at 2-1-2.
Vancouver lost 2-1 versus RSL but were without DP midfielder Andres Cubas who was away with Paraguay.
That stopped a 2-game win streak, where they had won 3-1 and 2-0, but they’ve still scored in all 4 games this season, but have also allowed a goal in 3/4. The Caps may always be capable of scoring, they’ve done so in 16/19 competitive games going back to last season, but they only have 3 wins in 15.
New DP Brian Rodrigues debuted and scored for Portland but they lost 3-1 last week to a heavily depleted Philly team. Though they too were without goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau and defender Kamal Miller who were away for their national teams.
That gives Portland back-to-back losses, but they have scored in 15/17 MLS games. There’s been 2+ goals in 16 of those 17 and BTTS is 14-3 in that time.
Last year Vancouver won 1-0 at home, Portland won 3-1 at home and Vancouver won final meeting 3-2 in Portland. In the last 6 meetings BTTS is 5-1 in the soccer bets.
Yet again, another game where goals look likely for your MLS picks, and BTTS could be a bet or Over 1.5 in this parlay.
- MLS Predictions: Over 1.5
Atlanta United vs Chicago Fire Prediction
Atlanta is 2-0-2, 6 points and Chicago 1-2-2, 5 points.
Atlanta lost 2-0 in Toronto last week but were missing key players. In their two home games this season they won 2-0 and 4-1. Let’s look at the 20 home MLS games for Atlanta going back to the start of last season. They are undefeated in 6, are 13-4-3 overall, have scored in all 20 of those games and multiple goals in 14/20.
Chicago games average the 2nd most goals per match (GPM) this season at 3.8. That’s resulted in all games cashing BTTS (1-1 last week, 3-3, 2-1, 2-1, 2-2). They have just 3 wins in their last 16 MLS games though, and also just 3 wins in their last 18 road MLS games.
Last year the scores were 2-1 Atlanta in Atlanta and 3-3 in Chicago in the second meeting. There’s been 3+ goals in 5/6 recent meetings as well so goals could be in the card again Sunday when considering your betting tips.
- MLS Predictions: Atlanta to score
- Parlay Picks: RSL vs STL over 1.5 / VAN vs POR over 1.5 / ATL to score (-161)
LA Galaxy vs Seattle Sounders Prediction
And finally in our MLS predictions, the Galaxy. If you like excitement then the Galaxy is your team. If you like goals and betting goals, then the Galaxy is definitely your team.
The Galaxy are 2nd in the conference at 2-3-0, and still undefeated.
They looked to be dead in the water down 2-0 in SKC last week before 3 goals in 8 minutes from the 72-80’ minutes.
Dejan Jovelic got the equalizer and has scored in all 5 games, tying Brian McBride for the record from 1998 and is leading the league in personal xG.
LA Galaxy games average the highest GPM at 4.2 and they are 4-1 to both O2.5 and even O3.5 totals. BTTS bets have hit in all of their games at 5-0 and BTTS & O2.5 is 4-1. In their last 14 games, BTTS is 14-0 and BTTS & O2.5 is 13-1.
I want to bet on that trend continuing.
There are always goals between these teams. Last year Seattle won 2-1 in LA in MLS, LA won 3-1 in LA in the USOC and Seattle won 2-1 in Seattle in MLS.
But go further back and BTTS & O2.5 is 5-0 and 6-1 and just BTTS is 7-0. BTTS is also 11-1 in the past 12. The home team has also not failed to score in any of the past 15 meetings as well.
Btu then Seattle is at the bottom of the West and they only finally scored from open play last week but lost to previously winless San Jose. They’re 0-2-2, with just 2 points, only better than New England in the East with 1 point.
In Seattle’s two home games, they held Austin to 0 and Colorado 1 goal against, two weaker teams. In their two road games, they’ve allowed 2 to LAFC and 3 to San Jose. A good and bad team there. But if the Earthquakes can get 3 versus this struggling Sounders team, surely LA can get 2.
- MLS Predictions: LA Galaxy over 1.5 (-115)
Ryan Métivier is a seasoned editor, writer and communications professional with years of experience in all fields. When it comes to covering sports, he’s written for numerous outlets and organizations including the OHL, CHL, SportsXpress, Sports Betting Dime, Cleveland.com, MassLive, FanSided and others.
While he’ll always cheer for his hometown Toronto teams, when it comes to betting, his only allegiance is his bankroll. Ryan specializes in global soccer, the NFL and the NHL, but if there is a bet to be made, he’ll make it. As the founder of Shred The Spread, Ryan focuses on combining storylines, trends, analytics and good bankroll management to creating simple bets that make sense.
When not making a case for why both teams will score in an MLS soccer match, he can be found focusing his efforts on fitness, attempting to learn Spanish, cooking or planning his travel adventure.
