More MLS action is headed our way with Week 33 taking place midweek on Wednesday, September 18.
Let’s get into it with picks and parlays and MLS predictions for Wednesday’s MLS Week 33 games.
MLS Picks and Parlays #1
Toronto FC vs Columbus Crew Prediction
Toronto won at home to Austin Saturday 2-1 and are in their best patch of form this season. In all comps they’re 7-0-3 and have scored in 10/11.
Columbus played out an uncharacteriscally low-scoring Hell Is Real rivalry game vs Cincinnati this weekend in a 0-0 draw. They lost 4-0 the game prior but missing a ton of players and taking an early red card but had won 7 games straight prior, including the Leagues Cup Final.
Being shut out in back-to-back games is rare, as they’d scored in 17 straight prior.
The Crew routed TFC 4-0 at home in July and others scores in other seasons are 2-0, 1-1, 2-1, 2-1 and 2-1, all the wins going the way of Columbus.
- MLS Predictions: Columbus to score
Atlanta United vs Inter Miami Prediction
Miami was home to Philly this weekend and the trend of high-scoring Miami games continued which saw them win 3-1 art home to Philly, with Messi returning and the GOAT scoring twice.
They also saw CB David Martinez go off injured which won’t help them defensively.
Miami have only 3 losses in 24 and have scored multiple goals in 13/15. But then the BTTS & Over 2.5 is 15-2 in their past 17, so that is always in play as their defense struggles.
Atlanta’s defense struggled this weekend giving up 2 to a Nashville side that had been struggling. Atlanta lost 2-0. And their form has been poor for some time being 2-1-8. Now 2 of those losses came in PKs, but it’s still not good. And they have scored just 1 goal in their last 4 games.
Atlanta did win in Miami this season 3-1 in May. And last September they won 5-2. So maybe they can get up for this and get on the scoresheet. But they should also get Miami’s full attention this time and that can’t be good, with the Herons eyeing the all-time regular season point record.
But will they have to face a full Miami team? Messi returned and played 90 on the weekend. It’s unlikely he plays a full game again a few days later. He usually has skipped midweek games this season too. He and Suarez are travelling to Atlanta though and their availability has yet to be determined. Messi didn’t play the last time Miami went to Atlanta, so perhaps he makes an appearance in front of a packed Benz. The Herons are also out Busquets and Aviles to suspension and Rojas missed the weekend game with injury.
The BTTS & Over 2.5 is always in play for Miami games. And it had hit in 7 straight Atlanta home games until the last two where they failed to score vs both Santos Laguna and Nashville, neither of which are “good” teams per se.
- MLS Predictions: BTTS & Over 2.5
- Parlay Picks: CLB score / ATL vs MIA btts & O2.5 (-120)
MLS Picks and Parlays #2
Minnesota United vs FC Cincinnati Prediction
9th in the West Minnesota hosts 2nd from the East Cincinnati.
Cincy’s form has been hit and miss lately at 3-2-5 in regulation. They had a big 4-1 win over Montreal and then a rare 0-0 draw with rivals Columbus on the weekend.
Minnesota has not been in great form but are coming off an impressive 3-1 road win in St. Louis on the weekend.
They have only 4 wins in 15, 2 over San Jose and 1 over Necaxa. There’s been 3+ goals in 8/13, and all but 1 (27/28) in MLS this season have seen 2+.
As bad as the Loons have been they have scored in 10/11.
Their last 3 games have now been a 3-1 win, 2-1 win and 3-2 loss.
So while I don’t trust the Loons’ defense to contain Luciano Acosta and Cincy’s offense, they’ve proven capable of scoring.
- MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score
Sporting KC vs Colorado Rapids Prediction
SKC is running out of time to make the playoffs, suffering another loss, 2-0 to Seattle this weekend, now sitting 12th and 11 points back.
SKC have scored in 25/29 and conceded in 26/29 MLS games. BTTS bets for SKC this season have gone 23-6 as well and it’s hit in 6 of their past 8.
The Rapids are coming off their 3rd straight win and are 3rd, only 1 point back of 2nd. It was also the 3rd straight game they’ve scored multiple goals but then the defense hasn’t been tight with scores of 2-1, 3-2 and 2-2 (pk win).
Outside of a Leagues Cup loss to LAFC, Colorado has won 7/8, but 3 were in PKs. Still, they have just 4 losses in 18 in all comps.
Colorado is 21-7 to Over 25 totals and 26/28 games have seen 2+ goals.
SKC have seen the highest rate of BTTS games this season at 79% with Colorado right behind at 75%. That was the outcome in a 2-1 Rapids home win in July, and goals from both should cash again here.
- MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score
- Parlay Picks: MIN vs CIN btts / SKC vs COL btts (+121)
MLS Picks and Parlays #3
NYCFC vs Philadelphia Union Prediction
In May New York won 2-1 in Philly. Other scores have been 2-1, 3-1, 3-1, 2-1, 2-0 and 2-1. That NY win was their first after 5 Philly wins. So the trends have been goals and usually Philly wins.
Philly scored a minute in vs Miami on the weekend but then it was all Messi and Miami who went on to win 4-1 with the Union missing keeper Andre Blake to injury.
The Union had been improving, but now have only 1 win in 5 in all comps. They’ve scored in 12/13 but also conceded in 7/9.
New York drew DC 1-1 on the weekend and it continues a trend of draws for New York who have only 1 regulation win in 12 games. Their recent scores have been 1-1, 4-2, 2-2, 1-1, 2-1, 1-1 and 4-2.
I’m not sure what either of these teams are but I do see a likely BTTS or simply Over 1.5.
- MLS Predictions: Over 1.5
Houston Dynamo vs Vancouver Whitecaps Prediction
These two are about neck and neck in the West with Vancouver 6th at 45 points and Houston 7th with 44.
Both are coming off wins and are 2-1-0 in their past 3.
Vancouver blanked San Jose 2-0 at home this weekend and are undefeated in 4 in all comps keeping 4 straight clean sheets, seeing their defense greatly improve in recent weeks. From a wins and losses standpoint, they’ve also been in good form being 12-2-5 in their past 19 in all comps.
Houston beat RSL 4-1 this weekend and have scored 6 and conceded just 1 in their past 3. Only 3 times in 19 games have they not scored but 3/4 have come in their past 7. The big home win vs RSL was good news for a Dynamo side that has generally struggled at home this year at just 5-6-3.
Hector Herrera left last game with a hamstring injury which is a blow but they did have 4 different scorers on the weekend.
This matchup has averaged 5.2 GPM in the past 5 meetings and 6.66 in the past 3. In July Houston won 4-3 in Vancouver and last season both won at home, first Vancouver 6-2 and then Houston 4-1. The year prior both won at home 2-1. This season’s road Houston win is the only win for a road team in the past 11 meetings.
The Caps actually have the best road record in the West and the 4th best overall. They could though be again missing top scorer Brian White.
- MLS Predictions: Houston to Score
Seattle Sounders vs San Jose Earthquakes Prediction
5th Seattle is hosting 14th and Spoon leaders San Jose.
Seattle has been slow and steady and continually rising up the standings and are now just 2 points back of 2nd place LAFC.
They’ve won 2-0 and 4-0 in the last 2 games and are 13-1-5 in their last 19 in all comps and 3 of those 5 losses came to LAFC.
It’s oddly been San Jose that has owned the Sounders in recent seasons being undefeated at 5-1-0 in the past six, including wins in each of the past 3, plus a 3-2 win this season back in March.
A small .. Leagues Cup bump for the Quakes has ended with losses of 2-1 and 2-0 in their last 2. The weekend’s loss in Vancouver officially eliminated San Jose from playoff contention. Look at all comps and they’ve lost 16/21 recent games.
Seattle rarely draws, or loses to teams not named LAFC. BTTS No is often the way to go, with it hitting in 4 straight and 6/7.
This should be a Seattle win, maybe by shutout or by a couple of goals
- MLS Predictions:
- Parlay Picks: NY vs PHI over 1.5 / HOU to score / SEA win (-115)
MLS Picks and Parlays #4
Portland Timbers vs LA Galaxy Prediction
It was 3-2 Galaxy in LA in July. It was 3-3 last September.
- 6/7 have seen BTTS
- 5/7 have seen BTTS & Over 2.5
- 13/15 have 3+ goals
In non-head-to-head meetings high-scoring trends are prominent for both this season too.
Portland games averaeg 3.7 GPM, the 2nd most. LA’s average 3.3.
Portland is 22-6 to Over 2.5 and LA 20-9.
75% (POR) and 69% (LA) have seen the BTTS bet hit.
Portland lost 2-1 in Colorado last weekend but have scored in 13 straight. There’s been 3+ goals in 10/11 of their games.
The Galaxy clinched the playoffs beating 4-2 this weekend, have won 6/8, lost only 5 in 22 and there’s been 3+ goals in 10/12 of their games.
- MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5
LAFC vs Austin FC Prediction
LAFC comes off an El Trafico letdown, going up 2-0 to the Galaxy but then coughing up 4 second half goals to lose 4-2.
Their in the midst of their worst form being winless in 3 and 1-1-3 in 5.
After playing Columbus, Seattle, Houston twice and the Galaxy, Austin is a step down here.
The Verde lost 2-1 in Toronto this weekend and 1-0 the game prior. They started Leagues Cup strong with impressive upsets of top Mexican teams but have now lost 3/4, have only 5 wins in 17 in all comps.
In the short history, LAFC is 7-1-2. They drew 1-1 in MLS in Austin this year and LAw 2-0 in LA in LEC. LA is undefeated in the past 5, scoring multiple times in 4.
LAFC is 9-3-2 at home, while Austin is 3-3-8 away in MLS being outscored 20-9.
- MLS Predictions: LAFC win
- Parlay Picks: POR vs LA btts & Over 2.5 / LAFC win (+100)
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.
