Another week of midweek MLS action is here with 14 games and 28 teams playing on Wednesday, July 16. Let’s break down 7 games for today’s MLS predictions, parlays and best bets.
MLS Picks and Parlays #1
Philadelphia vs CF Montreal Prediction
Supporters Shield leading Philly will host Spoon leaders Montreal.
The Union have only lost once at home this season and I don’t see #2 coming here. Montreal did go to Orlando and hold the Lions to a 1-1 draw. Orlando’s form has been so-so of late and Montreal also lost to Miami 4-1 the game prior. Montreal is limited offensively. And their one goal on the weekend came late in the game and from a PK.
The Union came into the weekend losers of back-to-back games by 1-0 scores after a run of 13 undefeated. They had been missing some players and most had returned Saturday vs the Red Bulls. Vassilev and Damiani scored in the first half, they held New York to just 1 shot on target and won 2-0.
Philly won in Montreal in May 2-1 and this matchup often produces goals with their being 3+ in 5 straight, 7/8 and 12/14. The BTTS is 10-1 as well.
The Union just held NYRB to 2 shots on target and haven’t lost at home in 9 MLS games. They’ve not lost to Montreal in any of the past 7 home meetings.
- MLS Picks Today: Philadelphia to win
FC Cincinnati vs Inter Miami Prediction
Cincy stormed out to a 2-goal lead in their Hell is Real rivalry with Columbus this weekend, only to implode and go on to lose 4-2. They had previously won 4 straight, but usually concede as those scores were 1-0, 3-1, 2-1 and 2-1. That one shutout is their only clean sheet in 9 games and just their second in 14.
That’s not the type of defense I have confidence in against Messi and Miami. Messi scored twice, for the 5th game in a row in MLS on the weekend in a 2-1 defeat of another top team, Nashville. Miami as now won 4-1, 2-1 and 2-1 since the CWC. Losing to PSG is their only loss in 10 games, but they’ve only shut out Al Ahly across 15 games. I’m always expecting Miami and likely Messi to score. If he plays. Head coach Javier Mascerano has stated he’ll be getting a rest soon.
Last year both won at home, Cincy 6-1 and then Miami 2-0.
Cincy have scored 2, 2, 2, and 3 goals in their last 4 games and have scored 1+ in 11 straight and 17/18 so I trust them to score against a Miami defense that usually concedes and has defensive injuries. Noah Allen was recently hurt and last game Marcelo Weigandt left injured too.
Cincy have 2 in-form scorers too with Evander with 13 and Denkey with 12 goals. Evander has goals in 4 straight (6 total) and has shots on target totals of 2, 2, 3, 3, 1 and 2 in his last 6.
- MLS Picks Today: Both Teams to Score
- Parlay Picks: PHI to win / CIN vs MIA btts (+108)
MLS Picks and Parlays #2
Charlotte FC vs DC United Prediction
It’s a rematch of the USOC Round of 16 which ended 3-3 with DC going on to win in PKs.
Since that game on May 21, DC has 1 win n 9 and none in 6 (0-1-5). Their last 2 games, both on the road, were losses of 5-2 and 2-1. Christian Benteke clearly isn’t right too. He went off early vs Nashville in the USOC and didn’t start last game vs LA.
Charlotte has had their struggles with only 4 wins in 15 and 1 in 5. But many of those games were on the road.
But at home they’re 7-1-2 and have outscored opponents 21-11. DC on the road is 2-2-6 and outscored 23-9. Their last 2 games have come at home and they got a 2-2 draw and 2-0 win. Shutting out NYC this weekend stopped a run of 4 games where they had given up multiple goals. The game also saw Idan Toklomati score and he’s been a player to watch lately with 3 goals in his last 4 starts. It’s a good addition to the offense with Patrick Agyemang likely to miss out amidst transfer speculations.
- MLS Picks Today: Charlotte double chance
Atlanta United vs Chicago Fire Prediction
Atlanta now has back-to-back draws. 0-0 with DC and 1-1 with TFC. Though they scored on a PK in second half stoppage time to draw Toronto. Two draws and 1 goal scored via PK vs two of the league’s worst teams is not good.
But Atlanta really isn’t that good. They’re 4-7-10, outscored 38-23, have 2 wins in 15, 0 wins in 5 and have scored just 2 goals in those 5 games.
Chicago also finds themselves in a slide, albeit not as bad. They have 1 win in 6 and have lost 3 straight, 2-1, 3-1 and 2-1. One thing has been consistent though in Fire road games and that’s gaols. The highest of any team’s road games in MLS at 4.8 GPG. In fact in every single road game this season the BTTS & Over 2.5 bet has hit.
The Fire got a 2-1 win in Chicago in May and given their trend of high-scoring road games, a similar result for someone could be in the cards.
- MLS Picks Today: Both Teams to Score
Nashville vs Columbus Prediction
On May 28 they drew 2-2 in Columbus. Someone has now scored 2+ goals in each of the last 5 meetings with goals totals of 4, 2, 4, 2, and 4.
The Yotes were rolling and had not suffered a loss in 15 games across all competitions. That was until they got Messi’d in Miami on the weekend. Messi scored twice for the 5th game in a row and Miami won 2-1. Nashville has still scored in 10 straight games and still have 2 of the league’s top scorers in Surridge and Mukhtar. Surridge is tied with Messi in the Golden Boot race. At home Nashville has given up just 9 goals in 11 games.
The Crew are building a streak of their own right now. After falling behind 2-0 away to rivals Cincinnati on the weekend, Rossi, Aftsten, and own goal and Habroune, scored, to pace Columbus to a come-from-behind 4-2 win. They’re now 4-1-0. With scores of 2-1, 3-1, 1-0, 1-1 and 4-2, BTTS bets have been cashing and in fact they’ve been cashing for some time being 12-1 and 15-2.
- MLS Picks Today: Over 1.5
- Parlay Picks: CHA double chance / ATL vs CHI btts / NAS vs CLB over 1.5 (+105)
MLS Picks and Parlays #3
San Jose vs FC Dallas Prediction
8th San Jose (28 pts) hoats 13th Dallas (21 pts).
It’s the second meeting of the season with SJ winning 4-2 in Dallas just recently on June 25. It was only 1-0 Dallas though until the 50’ and then 2-2 after 68’ minutes. In the final 20 minutes Dallas took two red cards and that 4th SJ goal was deep into stoppage time (99’). There were a pile of shots (10-8 shots on target for SJ) and 24-10 in shot attempts for SJ.
That was the 3rd straight BTTS & Over 2.5 (4-2, 3-2, 2-1) between them and then 11th straight BTTS.
How do you judge this SJ team? On one hand, they’ve only lost twice in 15 games. On the other, they’ve won just once in 7, 0/4 and 3 times in 12. That’s a ton of draws (7 draws in 15). They had drawn 4/5 and 3 straight, (1-1, 1-1, 2-2 pk loss) before suffering a heavy defeat in Minnesota this weekend, 4-1.
SJ are always good for goals, but they’ve also conceded in 7 straight and 8/9. They’re likely once again out Cristian Espinoza who leads the team in assists with 10, to go with 4 goals. Chicho Arango had no shots on target last game, but he had 5 the game prior and at least 1 in 12 straight prior to the Minnesota game. He’s taken the 4th-most shots in the league and is top-10 in shots on target.
Dallas is in a much worse place. They too don’t win often. They have 3 wins in 17, 1 in 11 and 0/4, having lost 4 straight 4-2, 3-2, 2-1 and 2-0 this weekend vs LAFC. They’ve now conceded multiple goals in 5 straight (13 total). Prior to this weekend they had at least scored 1, 2, 2, and 4 and their previous 4. Luciano Acosta subbed on last game, took a yellow and now will miss out with suspension. That takes out there 2nd-leading scorer and mostly leaves Musa and Julio as the only scoring threats.
This “should” be a good BTTS game. But Dallas has no Acosta and SJ has scored more than 1 goal only once in 7 MLS games.
- MLS Picks Today: Over 1.5 + Arango 1+ shot on target
San Diego vs Toronto FC Prediction
Expansion side San Diego are just 1 point off first place Philly in the Supporters Shield race. At 4-6-11, TFC have more points than only Montreal, St. Louis and LA Galaxy.
By TFC standards, they’re playing “better”… They;re 1-2-1 in their last 4 and drew 1-1 on the weekend, but were moments away from winning 1-0 before an Atlanta PK goal in stoppage time. They don’t often give up a ton of goals but have only 1 clean sheet in 9 games and 1 win in 7.
Meanwhile San Diego has 9 wins in 12 games and wins in 5/6. They had won 4 straight, 2-0, 4-2, 5-3, and 3-2. Then had a 4-3 loss, before getting back to winning ways this weekend beating Chicago 2-1.
San Diego is averaging 2 GPG at Snapdragon Stadium scoring 22 and allowing 11. And that is probably too much for a limited TFC attack to overcome.
Anders Dreyer had 2 goals this weekend and he’s tied for 5th in MLS all-time for the most goal contributions (26)in the first 22 games of an MLS career. Whether you look to him, Lozano or Illoski, one or all should be involved.
- MLS Picks Today: San Diego to win and score over 1.5
- Parlay Picks: SJ vs DAL O1.5 + Arango 1+ shot on target / SD win and score O1.5 (-125)
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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.
