There was midweek USOC action in the quarterfinals on Tues/Wed and two MLS games on Wednesday with New England vs Miami and LAFC vs Colorado. So before we cover our best MLS predictions for this weekend, let’s go over a quick recap.
Those games saw Minnesota beating Chicago 3-1 in extra-time, Austin beating San Jose in PKs after a 2-2 draw and Nashville beating DC 5-2. The Philly vs New York game got delayed, but they’ll actually be playing this weekend in MLS too.
In MLS, Miami beat New England 2-1 and LAFC beat Colorado 3-0.
In the Canadian Championship Quarters, Montreal drew Forge 2-2 and got knocked out, and Vancouver beat Valour 2-1.
Everyone is in action this weekend with 14 games on Saturday and 1 on Sunday between St. Louis and Portland. Let’s cover 8 of them in 5 different bets.
MLS Picks and Parlays #1
Inter Miami vs Nashville Prediction
Miami had a midweek game away in New England and two Lionel Messi goals paced the Herons to a 2-1 win. Messi became the first player in MLS history to score multiple goals in four consecutive games They won 4-1 last week against Montreal, and only a loss to PSG in the CWC stands as their only defeat in 9 games. The trend of scoring but conceding continued though, as they’ve conceded in 13/14m only shutting out Al Ahly in that time during the tournament.
Nashville played later on Wednesday in the USOC vs DC. Despite going down 2-0, they stormed back with 5 goals to win 5-2. That makes them undefeated in 15 games across all comps (11-4-0) and winners of 5 straight.
Miami got the better of Nashville in both games last year winning 3-1 and 2-1.
Both teams are in great form and are loaded with offensive talent. In fact, each of Mukhtar, Messi, and Surridge are in the top 10 for total shots. They’re all in the top 5 for shots on target. Mukhtar tops both categories himself. Surridge leads the Golden Boot race and just scored twice in midweek to go with 6 shots and 3 on target. He’s had multiple shots on target in 6/8 games.
- MLS Picks Today: Both Teams to Score
Orlando vs Montreal Prediction
Montreal is dead-last in the East and 2nd-last overall at 3-5-13. They took a 1-0 lead over Miami last week but then collapsed and lost 4-1.
They played midweek on Wednesday in the Canadian Championship Quarterfinals and drew CPL side Forge 2-2. After losing 1-0 in Leg 1, they’ve been eliminated and to a lower level team. Montreal did sign a player from Serie A’s Bologna, in Thomas Gillier, but he can’t play until July 24.
Orlando is not in the best form, with just 2 wins in 6 and none in their past 2, while conceding 2 goals in 3 straight games. Last week they drew 2-2 with Charlotte.
History would say we could see a draw. It was 0-0 in Montreal back in April. And last they drew both games 0-0 and 2-2.
Only 2 teams have scored fewer than Montreal’s 18 goals and I don’t think they have enough to match Orlando who has scored 39, the 4th-most. Orlando does have their keeper Gallese and a CB Jansson suspended but I still expect an Orlando win or them to score 2+. They also welcome back Freeman who was away with the US.
- MLS Picks Today: Orlando over 1.5
- Parlay Picks: Miami vs Nashville both to score / Orlando over 1.5 (+108)
MLS Picks and Parlays #2
Chicago Fire vs San Diego FC
Two teams that have seen some of the highest scoring games in MLS meet here. Chicago’s games average 3.8 GPG, the 2nd-most, while San Diego’s average 3.5, the 3rd-most.
Chicago is 15-5 to Over 2.5 and San Diego is 14-7 to the Over too.
The Fire’s form has dipped of late, now having lost 4/5 including their last two by scores of 2-1 and 3-1 last week. They’ve conceded in 11 straight, scored in 10/12 and the BTTS & Over 2.5 is on a run of 9-2.
On contrast, San Diego could not be hotter, until … last week. They had won 4 straight with scores of 2-0, 4-2, 5-3, and 3-2. But then lost 4-3 to Houston last week. Still, they’ve lost just twice in 11 games and are 4th in the Supporters Shield race in just their first season.
Chicago’s Cuypers has cooled off in goal scorng of late but he has shot totals of 3, 3, 1 and 2 in his last 4. But then just 2 shots on targrt.
Zinckernagel has scored in 2/3 and 7/9 games. He didn’t score or have a shot in target last game but had 1+ shot on target in 11 straight games prior.
On the San Diego side, Anders Dreyer is top 10 in shot attempts. He doesn’t always get shots on target 20/61, but he’s had a goal or assist or both in 5 straight games (4G/7A).
Milan Illoski has also been on fire. He’s got 7 goals and 1 assist in 4 games and his shot totals are 1/1, 4/2, 9/6 and 3/0 in those games,
The BTTS and Over 2.5 is -138. Or you can add some shot props between Zinckernagel, Cuypers, Illoski, Dreyer or Chucky Lozano.
- MLS Picks Today: Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 (-138) OR ADD + Zinckernagel and Illoski 1+ shot on target (+187)
MLS Picks and Parlays #3
LA Galaxy vs DC United Prediction
These are incredibly disappointing teams.
DC is 12th in the East at 4-7-10 and away from home just 2-2-5 and outscored 21-8. They played in the US Open Cup Quarterfinals on Wednesday and went up 2-0 to Nashville. But, it didn’t last and they went on to lose 5-2. And Benteke didn’t last the full game.
DC drew another poor team, Atlanta, last week 0-0. In all comps, DC is now 1-5-6 in their last 12. They did score twice in the USOC, but in MLS they have just 1 goal scored in 4 games and 0 in three games.
DC’s 19 points are actually far and away better than LA’s 12. The Galaxy are 15th in the West at 2-6-13 and outscored 42-22.
LA are coming off a win though. 3-0 at home over Vancouver. And, they’re (for them at least) “hot” right now. LA is 2-2-1 in 5 and have scored 9 goals in those 5 games.
No one scores much on LA, including star forward Pec. But he’s always involved. His shot totals in his laar 6 games are 4/2, 3/2, 8/3, 5/2, 4/2, and 1/1.
As mentioned DC, just fired Lescense at coach, but it may be too early for the ‘new coach bump’ just a few days later. Assistant Zach Prince is also gone meaning academy director Kevin Flanagan has been named interim head coach.
- Soccer Picks Today: LA Galaxy to win and Pec 1+ shot on target (-134)
MLS Picks and Parlays #4
Toronto vs Atlanta Prediction
These teams are side-by-side in the standings, in a bad way, in 13th and 14th in the East.
Toronto’s games see some of the lowest scores in the league at 2.6 GPG. They’re 11-9 to Under 2.5
Meanwhile, Atlanta’s average a bit more, at 3.0 GPG and they’re 11-9 to Over 2.5 but skew Under at 13-7 to the 3.5 total.
Last year both won at home, TFC 2-0 and ATL 2-1. Only twice in 11 recent meetings have there been over 3 goals between them.
TFC lost 3-1 last week but that’s the first time in 6 games there’s been 3+ in their game. They rarely win, but also rarely get blown out and bought out their best players Bernardeschi and Insigne.
Atlanta is winless in 4 and drew 0-0 with one of the worst defensive teams in the league (DC) last week. They’ve scored 1 goal in their last 4 games. On the road they are 1/2 teams (Galaxy) who have still yet to win this season, at 0-3-7 and outscored 22-5.
- Soccer Picks Today: Under 3.5
Austin vs New England Prediction
I say this each week, and it’s that Austin’s game average the fewest, by far, GPG in the league at just 1.9. The next closest is 2.5. They’re 15-5 to Under 2.5 totals and an almost perfect 19-1 to Under 3.5 totals.
New England’s games average just 2.6, they’re 11-9 to Under 2.5 but 16-4 to Under 3.5.
The Revs are now winless in 5 games with just 1 win in 11 overall. Lately their games have been high-scoring in a 1-0 loss, 3-2 loss, 3-3 draw, 2-1 loss and 2-1 loss in that time. So I have a little concern with betting Unders here.
But they play Austin who has seen 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 2 and 4 (USOC) goals in their games of late. They lost forward Brandon Vazquez who was their leading scorer to a season-ending knee injury in the USOC too which won’t help offensively. Only 1 other player has multiple goals this season (2).
- Soccer Picks Today: Under 3.5
- Parlay Picks: TOR vs ATL under 3.5 / AUS vs NE under 3.5 (-112)
MLS Picks and Parlays #5
Cincinnati vs Columbus Prediction
The Crew this matchup in the Hell Is Real rivalry 4th in the East, 4 points back of their 1st place rivals. The teams drew 1-1 in May and 0-0 in last year in their last 2 matchups.
Cincy haven’t lost in 4 games with wins of 1-0, 3-1, 2-1 and 2-1. They’ve not failed to score in 10 games. Both Evander and Denkey have 12 goals each and either are always good in props.
Evander has 5 goals / 2 assists in his last 3 games and has shot totals of 4/2, 3/2, 4/3, 4/3 and 4/1 in his last 5.
Denkey has goals in 4/6. Last game he scored, and had 5 shots, 3 on target and he has 1+ shot on target in 9/10.
The Crew are in good form too undefeated in 4 with a 2-1 win, 3-1 win, 1-0 win and 1-1 draw. They’ve not failed to score in 12 games, but have conceded in 15/16.
- Soccer Picks Today: Cincinnati to score & Denkey 1+ shot on target
Philadelphia vs New York Prediction
That one team the Crew shut out recently was the Philly Union. Philly may be 3rd in the East and 2 points off the Supoorters Shield, but they’ve now lost back-to-back 1-0 games. They also have just 1 GF in 3 games, though top scorer Tai Baribo has played just under 30 mins across those three which partially explains it. He returned last game.
Philly’s recent games have been 0-0, 2-1, 1-0, 1-0 and 1-0.
New York is off 3 straight draws of 1-1, 2-2 and 1-1. They have only 3 wins in 10 but have scored in 7 straight and 13/14. They’ve also conceded in 8/10. So BTTS bets have been the way to go for them. But they’re also awful away from home at 1-4-6 with just 8 GF in 11 games.
If we look at Under 2.5 totals, Philly is 15-6 and NYRB 16-5.
And if we look at head-to-head history, this matchup is always tight. The Under 2.5 has gone 11-1 in he last 12 and the Under 2.5 has also gone 10-2.
- Soccer Picks Today: Under 3.5
- Parlay Picks: CIN to score & Denkey 1+ sot / PHI vs NYRB under 3.5 (-118)
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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.
