14 games on Saturday, September 28. The LA Galaxy are the lone team sitting out for MLS Week 35 so won’t make an appearance in our MLS predictions for Week 35.
Earlier this week, SKC and LAFC played in the USOC Final and it needed extra-time after a 1-1 draw which saw LAFC finally exert their dominance scoring twice to win 3-1.
Vancouver and Toronto played in the Canadian Championship Final which saw Vancouver winning in PKs after a 0-0 draw.
And Columbus too played in a final, the Campeones Cup losing in PKs to Club America after a 1-1 draw.
6 teams have clinched the playoffs – LA, RSL and Colorado in the West and Miami, Cincinnati and Columbus in the East.
Let’s get into this weekend’s 3 best soccer picks and parlays.
MLS Picks and Parlays #1
Inter Miami vs Charlotte FC Prediction
It’s 1st vs 6th and Miami won in Charlotte 2-1 back in July.
It’s back-to-back draws for Miami, but still only 3 losses in 16 in all comps. It was another BTTS Yes bet cashing in a Miami game last weekend in a 1-1 draw with NYCFC, the 17th time in 19 games in all comps. We couldn’t get that 3rd goal that usually comes in Miami games though as the BTTS & O2.5 is also 16-3 in that time.
Charlotte was slumping losing 3 straight, with only a PK win in LEC in 8 games but then rolled New England 4-0 at home last week.
It is hard to trust that Miami defense, but at home, their offense has scored multiple goals in 7 straight, but then they’ve conceded in 7/8 recent home games.
BTTS is 24-6 in MLS for Miami this season overall.
- MLS Predictions: Miami over 1.5
CF Montreal vs San Jose Earthquakes Prediction
Montreal, 10th in the East hosts bottom of the entire league San Jose. These teams haven’t met since way back in 2019.
It may be too little too late but Montreal is undefeated in 3 after a 2-1 win, 2-2 drsw and 2-0 win last week. That’s 2 goals in 3 straight games and they’ll look to continue in their playoff push hosting a San Jose team with 4 wins in all comps in 23 and no wins in 4 games where they’ve given up 2 goals in all 4.
Montreal should win, but definitely should score 1 or 2 vs a Quakes team that is 2-2-11 away in MLS outscored 40-22.
- MLS Predictions: Montreal to score
DC United vs Columbus Crew Prediction
Columbus comes in off Wednesday’s Campeones Cup loss, likely hugely let down, but also knowing they have an outside shot still at the Supporters’ Shield.
Otherwise they won 4-3 and 2-0 in their MLS games prior and in all matches were 9-1-1 outscoring opponents 25-14 in that time.
Since LEC DC lost 4-3, won 3-1, won 2-1, drew 1-1 and then got blown up 4-0 in Philly on Sunday. Their recent games have seen tons of goals and that’s been the case all season. At 3.5 GPM only 3 teams (COL, MIA, POR) have seen more average goals in their games.
Earlier in April these teams drew 1-1 in Columbus. The Crew are 4-2-0 vs DC in the past 6 meetings.
- MLS Predictions: Columbus to Score
- Parlay Picks: MIA over 1.5 / MTL to score / CLB to score (-109)
MLS Picks and Parlays #2
Philadelphia Union vs Atalanta United Prediction
9th hosts 11th here, with Philly ahead of Atlanta by just 3 points.
But only 1 team is in good form and it’s Philly. They’re off 4-0 and 5-1 wins and in all comps have won 9/14. Since July, the Union’s only league losses are to Columbus and Miami, two of the best teams in MLS. In 15 games in all comps they’ve scored in 14, only failing vs Columbus.
Atlanta has only 1 loss in 4, but only 2 wins in 13. They’ve drawn 2-2 in their last 2 games and have allowed multiple goals in 5/7.
It was 2-2 in Atlanta in April and no road team has won in 8 meetings
- MLS Predictions: Over 1.5
FC Dallas vs Orlando City SC Prediction
Orlando lost to a rotated Crew team in Columbus last week 4-3. They won 2-0, 3-0 and 3-0 before that, but those were all at home. Their other recent road game was a 3-0 loss in KC. They’ll be on the road here so it may not be the spot to back a win for the Lions, despite them being 6-3-6 away on the season.
But then Dallas games are all over the place. They won 3-1 last week, but have only 2 wins in 8. Goals have been flying from all over with scores of 3-1, 3-2, 0-0, 3-2, 4-3 in their last 5.
This could be a game with a ton of goals…
- MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score
- Parlay Picks: PHI vs ATL over 1.5 / DAL vs ORL btts (-121)
MLS Picks and Parlays #3
Minnesota United vs Colorado Rapids Prediction
Minnesota is holding onto the final West playoff spot in 9th while Colorado is 3rd, fighting for a home playoff spot, just 2 points above 5th place Houston.
The Loons won in KC last week 2-0 and have wins in 5/8, have scored in 13 straight, scored multiple goals in 4/5, but then have conceded in 22/24 in all comps.
Kelvin Yeboah scored last game and has 5 goals in 5 games since coming to MLS. He’s scored in 4/5 games and has 19 shots and 11 on target, making him a great net for player props.
Colorado is also off a win, beating TFC 2-0. They’ve won 4/5, 8/10, (but 3 PK wins), have scored multiple goals in 4/5 but then have conceded on 5/6 too.
If we look back at this matchup it’s been goal-heavy. It was 3-3 this season and other scores have been 3-0, 2-1, 4-3, 2-1, 3-1, 3-1, 2-0, 3-2, 3-0, 2-1, and 2-2. A road team has won just 1 of the past 6 meetings.
You’d have to expect goals here. Minnesota’s games average 3.3 GPM and Colorado’s 3.6. Minnesota is 19-11 to O2.5 totals and 29-1 to O1.5. Colorado is 22-8 to O2.5 and 28-2 to O1.5.
- MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score
St. Louis City SC vs Sporting Kansas City Prediction
This rivalry loses some lustre with SKC out of the playoff picture.
SKC got knocked out last week losing 2-0 to Minnesota.
Then on Wednesday they played in the USOC Final and ….
In MLS SKC have scored in 26/31 and conceded in 28/31 MLS games. BTTS bets for SKC this season have gone 24-7 as well and it’s hit in 7 of their past 10 MLS games.
SKC on the road is abysmal. In all comps they have 1 road win 12 games and vs the worst team in MLS, San Jose. In those 12
St. Louis’ playoff hopes are also all but done. They have the same points total as SKC (31), but have played 1 game less. With 4 games left they can get at most 12 points and reach 43 points. The current last playoff team is Minnesota in 9th and they have 42 points.
Last week they beat San Jose 2-1. While they’ve been improved at 2-2-1 in 5, it’s still just 5 wins in 23 in all comps. Win or lose there game have seen goals with scores of 2-1, 3-1, 2-2, 2-1, 4-4, 4-2, 3-1.
This matchup has always seen goals since STL came into the league. It was 3-3 and 1-1 this season and other scores have been 2-1, 4-1, 4-1, 2-1 and 4-0. A road team has only won 1 time so far. A home team has scored 2+ goals in 5/7.
SKC should be letdown from being out of the playoffs, letdown from losing the USOC and tired from that game that went to extra-time as well. Everything points to a St. Louis win, St. Louis to score twice or maybe STL to win and BTTS.
Or because we’re creating a parlay and Caesars is not offering St. Louis goals at this moment, simply Over 1.5 game goals.
- MLS Predictions: Over 1.5
Vancouver Whitecaps vs Portland Timbers Prediction
This will be the 3rd meeting this season with Vancouver winning 3-2 at home in March and Portland 2-0 at home in June. Last season the scores were 1-0, and then 3-1 and 3-2. There’s been 2+ goals at least in 7/8.
The Caps are coming off the Canadian Championship Wednesday…..
They’re currently 7th. Still with a chance at top 4, still with a chance of dropping into the play-in game.
They’ve not been great at home, just 6-3-4, the 4th-worst home record in the West.
They lost away to the Galaxy 4-2 last week but it’s just ??? losses in 17 games across all comps.
The Timbers haven’t lost much recently either. They drew 3-3 last week and have only lost 5 times in 21 games across all comps. Only once in that time have they not scored and none in the past 15. But then only 6 times have they not conceded. In 12/13 there’s been 3+ goals in their recent games.
Their offense takes a blow with Evander suspended, who’s contributed 15G/18A. That still leaves Rodriguez and Mora with 15 and 14 goals respectively.
- MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score
- Parlay Picks: MIN vs COL over 1.5 / STL vs SKC over 1.5 / VAN vs POR btts (+124)
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.
