The MLS action is coming fast and furious with games this past Wednesday and Thursday and it’s back this weekend with MLS Matchday 25 with more games this Saturday and Sunday.
We were 1 San Jose goal away from a perfect midweek, but still turned a profit in a midweek slate that saw 47 goals.
Let’s get into this weekend’s top MLS predictions here with 8 games on Saturday and 6 on Sunday and hope for some more goals to come.
MLS Picks and Parlays #1
Columbus Crew vs Toronto FC Prediction
Toronto lost 2-1 at home to Orland on Wednesday.
Columbus beat Nashville 2-0 on Wednesday, have won 3 straight by a combined score of 11-1 and their only 3 losses in 19 games have to Miami, Pachuca and Cincinnati and all on the road.
Last year they drew 1-1 in Toronto and Columbus won 2-0 in Ohio.
TFC just find ways to lose. Up 1-0, lose 2-1 with the winner being an own goal. Drawn 1-1 with seconds to go and the keeper forgets to check behind him and and has the ball stolen on a goal kick to lose … They’re 0-2-6 in their past 8, have lost 5 straight and given up multiple goals in 7/8.
There’s no reason to think they can go to Columbus and win right now. The Crew have 1 loss at home this season and I’m betting the 2nd doesn’t come here.
- MLS Predictions: CLB win
FC Cincinnati vs Inter Miami Prediction
A shocking loss to New England is quickly being forgotten for Cincy who have won 1-0 and 3-2 since, both away from home, vs Dallas and DC.
They’re 11-0-2 in 13 and have scored in 18/19. One issue, giving up a goal or more in 7/8. With a slew of defensive absentees that may be tough to reverse vs Miami.
Miami just keeps on winning. No Messi, no problem. It’s 4 straight 2-1 wins, 2 of which came on the road. 3/4 recent wins have come on the road too. And they’ll hit the road again here.
Miami’s 2nd stringers would be most teams’ 1st stringers. So you can always count on them to have a chance at winning. They have just 1 loss in 14 games and haven’t failed to score in 8 games, while only failing to do so once in 18 games.
The only issue is always defensively, where they’ve conceded in 7 straight, making BTTS & Over 2.5 bets 7-0 as well.
At 77%, only SKC have seen more games cash the BTTS bet than Miami this season.
- MLS Predictions: Both to Score
- Parlay Picks: CLB to win / CIN vs MIA btts (+130)
MLS Picks and Parlays #2
Orlando City vs DC United Prediction
Past scores: 3-2 Orlando in April, then 3-1, 1-1, 2-1, 5-3, 2-1. Orlando has scored vs DC in 7 straight as well, plus in 17/19 all-time meetings. But the BTTS is 14-5 too, so it’s usually goals from both.
Orlando is always a team I find hard to trust. They were undefeated in 3 back in May, then winless in 5, and have now won 2/3 after beating TFC 2-1 this week. They’ve scored 2, 2, 4, 2 and 1 goals in their past 5.
But they’ve given up 1, 4, 2, 2 and 3 in those 5.
BTTS & Over 2.5 is naturally 5-0. You could up it to BTTS & Over 3.5 and it still be 4-1.
What I trust less though is DC. Specifically the DC defense. DC lost … again … Wednesday 3-2 at home to Cincy. That makes them winless in 10 where they’ve also conceded in all 10 plus in 16 straight and multiple goals in 5/7.
- MLS Predictions: ORL to score
Montreal vs Vancouver Prediction
An all-Canadian matchup last won 2-1 by the Caps in the Canadian Championship last June 2-1. The Caps are 4-0-1 in the last 5 meetings. Home teams have won 12 of the past 13, there’s 1 road win and 0 draws. Each of the last 9 have seen 2+ goals. 6/9 have seen 3+.
This season, Montreal lost in New York Wednesday 2-0 and have just 2 wins in 8. But also just 2 losses in 8.
Vancouver won away to Minnesota and are hot again, winners of back-to-back games and 4/6. They’ve scored multiple goals in 5 of those 6 but have also given up a goal or more in 12 straight.
Montreal is 16-5 to Over 1.5 totals.
Vancouver is 18-2.
I’m all for BTTS or simply Over 1.5.
- MLS Predictions: Over 1.5
RSL vs Atlanta United Prediction
I can’t trust Atlanta. Given their start, they are improved of late with just 2 losses in their last 7 MLS games, but it’s still 3 wins in 16. And … a win and draw over struggling DC and St. Louis sides, and a fluky win in the last seconds vs a struggling TFC side from a brain fart by keeper Luka Gavran, don’t mean things are much better for the Five Stripes.
Wednesday they were back in the L column losing to 11th place New England 2-1 who were without Carles Gil. Atlanta were without Thiago Almada who’s reportedly being sold to Botafoga in Brazil. He’s in Brazil now, so we’ve likely seen the last of him. And the last of Atlanta looking competitive for a little bit.
Now they head to Utah where RSL is 7-1-2.
Overall RSL is 11-7-3.
After 15 games unbeaten, RSL lost 1-0 to the LA Galaxy last week. But their time in L column, was short-lived, beating Houston 3-2 Wednesday. And all three of those goals came from players not named Chicho Arango. They could’ve had more. The xG 4.11 to 0.78 for RSL vs Houston.
- MLS Predictions: RSL to win
- Parlay Picks: ORL to score / MTL vs VAN over 1.5 / RSL to win (+110)
MLS Picks and Parlays #3
On to Sunday.
SKC vs FC Dallas Prediction
Dallas fell behind early versus Portland on Thursday but stormed back to win 3-2. They have 3 wins in 5. BTTS has gone 11-5 in their recent games. Dallas has seen 71% of their games end that way this season.
On the road, they’re an abysmal 0-3-7, but they’ve at least scored in 8/10 so BTTS is 8-2 in their road games.
SKC were tied 1-1 in Colorado before giving up a PK in the 94’ and losing 2-1. It’s now 2 wins in 17 for Peter Vermes’ side.
SKC have scored in 19/22 and conceded in 20/22. BTTS bets for SKC this season have gone 18-4 in MLS.
But not just that, the BTTS & Over 2.5 has gone 9-2 and 16-3 in recent SKC games. SKC has given up multiple goals in 9/11 and in 13/16 recent MLS games.
SKC have seen 82% of their games end BTTS, the most.
That’s a lot of BTTS bets cashing for both.
And that’s usually how this matchup ends up. Last year each won 2-1.
And prior to that? 2-1, 2-2 (4-2 in ET), 2-2 and 3-1. So 6 straight BTTS & Over 2.5s.
- MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score
San Jose Earthquakes vs Chicago Fire Prediction
The Fire got a win! But they are still last in the East. And they were down 3-1 in the 2nd half vs Philly Wednesday until goals in the 82’, 89’ and 91’ including 2 by Hugo Cuypers who now has goals in 5/6 games and 6 total in that time.
They won, but conceded multiple goals for the 3rd straight game (9 total) and kept alive a streak of 11 games conceding. They’ve also scored in 8 straight. BTTS and Over 2.5 is 5-0. BTTS is 8-0.
San Jose are also last. Last in the West. They lost 2-0 in St. Louis Wednesday and 3-0 vs LA on the weekend. Those shut outs have been tanking by SJ BTTS bets.
I’m giving it 1 more try. They have scored in 18/23 overall games this season. Hopefully that goal comes early in the game. They’ve been outscored 20-1 in the final 15 mins of games!!?.
- MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score
- Parlay Picks: SKC vs DAL btts / SJ vs CHI btts (+135)
MLS Picks and Parlays #4
Houston Dynamo vs LAFC Prediction
The Dynamo came out strong in Utah scoring just 8 minutes in, but fell behind 2-1, drew 2-2 on an OG but went on to lose 3-2. The score was close, but RSL had tons of chances and if not for a few key saves by Steve Clark who had 8 saves the score could have been worse.
RSL dominated the xG battle 4.11 to 0.78.
Franco Escobar will miss out with yellows for Houston this weekend.
LAFC are coming off a huge 2-1 El Trafico win over the Galaxy on Thursday. They led in shots 22-10 and shots on target 7-4, plus led in xG 3.13 – 1.02.
LAFC are getting goal contributions from everywhere. Kei Kamara scored off a corner in the 38’ and has 3 goals in 4 and is 2nd on the all-time MLS scoring charts with 147.
Denis Bouanga had the winner minutes later from a PK.
Mateusz Boguzs has 10 straight MLS games with a goal contribution and in his last 8 games has 8G / 4A.
LAFC are in the better form undefeated in 12 in all comps (11 wins) with just 1 loss in 17. But Houston hasn’t been far off. They’ll have the extra rest having played Wednesday vs Thursday and LAFC could have some letdown after El Trafico.
I can’t bet on LAFC losing right now, but this could be tight, could be BTTS or a draw.
- MLS Predictions: Both to Score
LA Galaxy vs Minnesota United Prediction
The Loons have to hope the Galaxy look past them after their El Trafico loss on Thursday 2-1.
It was LA’s just 2nd loss in 12 and snapped a 4-game winning streak and 3-game shutout streak but kept alive a 8-game scoring streak.
Minnesota is slumping hard with 5 straight losses outscored 14-6 in those games, while also being winless in 6, and having only 1 win in 9.
They could find some inspiration in knowing they’ve been strong vs the Galaxy recently. The teams drew 2-2 in May and Minnesota is 3-3-1 with just 1 loss in 7 meetings.
The other trend is goals between these teams. Those 7 scorelines? 2-2, 5-2, 4-3, 3-2, 1-1, 3-3 and 3-0.
I can’t bet on a Minnesota win here. LA has been too good. Could be BTTS & Over 2.5 or simply Over 1.5.
The Loons are 20-1 to Over 1.5.
LA is 18-4 to Over 1.5.
- MLS Predictions: Over 1.5
Portland Timbers vs Nashville SC Prediction
These teams are about the same in their respective conferences.
Nashville is 7th in the East with 26 points.
The Yotes aren’t in bad form. They have just 4 losses in 12. But … two of those have come in their last two games losing 2-1 to Miami and then 2-0 to Columbus on Wednesday. Now most teams lose to those two teams, so that’s not the worst.
But most teams are also losing to Portland right now too.
The Timbers are 6th in the West with 30 points.
They came into Thursday’s game undefeated in 7 but that came to an end in a 3-2 road loss to Dallas.
Only Miami, LAFC, RSL and the LA Galaxy have scored more goals than Portland who also have multiple goals scored in 7/8 games.
Timbers win if you want a straight bet, or just ask them to score in this parlay.
- MLS Predictions: POR to score
- Parlay Picks: HOU vs LAFC btts / LA vs MIN over 1.5 / POR to score (-102)
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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.
