The Leagues Cup rolls on with 3 games on Saturday, 7 on Sunday, 4 on Monday and 1 on Tuesday. Below let’s get into the best picks and parlays and Leagues Cup predictions for the games on Saturday.
Tigres vs Inter Miami Prediction
It’s the first-ever meeting between these two giants.
Shield leaders Miami stayed hot in Leagues Cup winning 2-0 over Puebla on MD1 with goals from Matias Rojas in the 8’ and Luis Suarez in the 72’ minutes.
They have just 2 losses in 18 and have scored multiple goals in 8/9. Saturday’s shutout was a rare one as BTTS and Over 2.5 had been on a 10-0 run.
Miami did add CB David Martinez from River Plate on loan in the transfer window to improve a shaky defense and he got his first start last game.
Tigres kicked off their tournament vs Puebla on Wednesday and also got 3 points but it was not as straightforward. Tigres scored 2 minuntes into the game, Puebla drew level in the 12’ and it stayed that way until Puebla took a red card in the 71’ and Tigres got the winner late in the 85’.
Tigres is off to a strong start at 3-1-0 undefeated and 3rd in the Apertura. This after a 1-0 win, 1-1 draw, 1-0 win and 3-0 win.
In all comps they have just 4 losses in 16 games and those have come to Club America, Monterrey, Columbus and Pachuca.
It’s hard to ever see Miami not scoring especially at home, but the defense often concedes to teams way worse than Tigres.
- Leagues Cup Predictions: Both Teams to Score
Monterrey vs UNAM Pumas Prediction
It’s been a strong start in the Apertura for Pumas at 3-1-0, sitting 2nd, but tied overall in 1st with Cruz Azul and Tigres on 10 points.
They’ve scored 9 and conceded just 3 in their 4 games.
The hot streak ended vs Austin on MD1 where they lost 3-2, despite Austin taking a red card just 34 minutes into the game. Austin scored twice down a man and held on having just 26% possession. Pumas had a glorious chance to tie in stoppage time but was stopped on a PK from backup keeper Stefan Cleveland.
Go back further and Pumas has just 2 losses in 13 games though. They’ve scored in 10/12, scored multiple in 5/6, but conceded in 6/7 and BTTS is 5-1.
Monterrey became the second LigaMX team to suffer a surprise defeat to Austin, losing 2-0 despite owning 75% possession and an edge in shots 21-5, shots on target 6-5 and corners 11-1. They had tons of chances, but it just was one of those games.
This season in the LigaMX Apertura, they’re 3-0-1, with wins of 1-0, 1-0 and 2-1 and one blowout loss (4-0) to Cruz Azul.
Look further back and Monterrey’s record is only so-so at 8-2-7. But losses have come to Chivas, Leon, Columbus (2) and Cruz Azul (3).
Head-to-head Monterrey won 3-0 in March, and 1-0 and 4-1 last year. Pumas has only won twice in the past 17 meetings.
After both losing to Austin I struggle to trust either fully right now. I think Monterrey should at least score.
- Leagues Cup Predictions: Monterrey to score
Vancouver Whitecaps vs Club Tijuana Prediction
Current form this season and to end last season for Tijuana looks good at 4-1-2. They’re 2-1-1 to start the Apertura.
But before that time they were winless in 15 games. And these 4 wins of late have been vs Juarez, Puebla, Querataro and Chivas. Only Chivas could be considered a top half team.
They played a top team in LAFC on MD1 and got run off the pitch in a 3-0 loss where LAFC had 20 shots and 10 on target.
Xolos will be without head coach Juan Carlos Osorio who was shown red vs LAFC. They’re likely without captain Christian Rivera who left last game and went to the hospital with a head injury.
Now where does Vancouver rank? Not at LAFC’s level. But no worse than Tijuana. And, they did just beat LAFC themselves. Versus an opponent they usually struggle against and without Ryan Gauld, Vancouver scored twice within the opening 17 minutes and held onto that lead all the way until the dying moments when LAFC scored in the 87’ and 95’ minutes.
It was a heartbreaking draw for the Caps, but they still came out with the “win”, winning in PKs. That gets them just 2 points, though, and means LAFC know they’re through with 4. Xolos sit bottom of the table with 0.
This game will actually feature neither head coach on the sidelines as Vanni Sartini took a red after the game so also misses out.
Take out a friendly loss to Wrexham and the Caps are 6-1-1 in 8, outscoring opponents 20-13. Their games have been open with BTTS & Over 2.5 hitting in 6/8.
The only meeting between them was a 1-1 friendly in 2019.
Both teams need to push for a win here, or at least a draw for Vancouver. Even a PK win does nothing for Tijuana. Caps win or BTTTS. Or just Over 1.5 to round out the parlay.
- Leagues Cup Predictions: Over 1.5
- Parlay Picks; TIG vs MIA btts / MON to score / VAN vs TIJ over 1.5 (+110)
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.
