The Leagues Cup Group Stage wraps up on Monday and Tuesday with 4 more games on Monday and 1 on Tuesday before we enter the Round of 32. Let’s break down our top picks and parlays for these Leagues Cup predictions here.
Leagues Cup Picks and Parlays
Toluca vs Sporting KC Prediction
Some lustre comes off of this one with Chicago being eliminated and these teams knowing they’ve advanced.
It’s the 2nd year running these teams have met in the League’s Cup with Toluca winning 4-1 last year. In the 2019 Champions League, SKC won 3-0 and 2-0.
SKC played Sunday to round out Round 1, hosting Chicago.
Koutsias got the start for a resting Hugo Cuypers and got on the scoresheet for Chicago to open the scoring. Robert Castellanos drew SKC level at 1-1 and Willy Agada got the winenr in the 76’ minute, 2-1.
The xG was 2.22 to 0.56 for SKC
If you’re a trend bettor, then Agada goalscoring props could be the way to go here. He’s started 20 games at Children’s Mercy Park and scored 20 goals. SKC is home again here.
You’ll also like this trend.
SKC have scored in 24/27 and conceded in 25/27. BTTS bets for SKC this season have gone 25-5 in all comps. Plus the BTTS & Over 2.5 has gone 13-3 and 20-4 in recent SKC games.
As poor as they’ve been for much of the season, they’ve seen a resurgence of late being 5-1-2.
Toluca met Chicago on Thursday and also won. Again Koutsias opening the scoring for Chicago but goals in the 29’, 45’, and 66’ for Toluca including a brace from Jesus Ricardo Angulo paced Toluca to a 3-1 win while piling up 19 shot attempts and 9 on target
Toluca is still undefeated in the Apertura at 2-2-0, scoring 7 and allowing just 3 goals. Paulinho has scored 3 of those 7 goals and is tied for 3rd in league scoring.
Toluca didn’t end last season in top form being winless in 3, but look further back and in their last 26 games in all comps they have just 5 defeats, 2 to Chivas, 1 to Cruz Azul, 1 to Club America and 1 to Herediano in the Champions Cup.
This certainly could be a Toluca win or BTTS & Over 2.5 but given neither needs the win, let’s keep this parlay simple and just ask for 2 or more goals.
- Leagues Cup Predictions: Over 1.5
Houston Dynamo vs Real Salt Lake Prediction
These teams know eachother well. It was 3-2 RSL recently on July 3.
Last year they played 6 times.
- Meeting 1: 0-0 in MLS
- 2: 1-1 then won 3-1 Houston in extra-time in the USOC
- 3: 3-0 Houston win in MLS
- 4: 2-1 Houston win in MLS Playoffs
- 5: 1-1, won in PKs by RSL in MLS Playoffs
- 6: 1-1, won in PKs by Houston in MLS Playoffs
So last season in regulation, Houston was 2-4-0, and overall only lost 1/6.
We’ve seen BTTS go 4-0 and overall taking into account ET and PKs, Houston is 4-1-2.
Houston are 6th in the West and RSL 3rd.
Houston lost to Atlas in Game 1 by a 1-0 score. It was the first time they didn’t score in 12 games. It was also only just their 2nd loss in 11.
RSL had a long undefeated run in MLS of 15 games. Then lost 1-0 to the LA Galaxy and followed up with 3-2 and 5-2 wins. But since, it’s been a 3-0 loss, 1-1 draw and 3-2 loss.
Their first Leagues Cup game was vs Atlas and they won 2-1. They have the rest disadvantage here playing Thursday, compared to last Saturday for Houston.
But RSL welcomes back Chicho Arango from suspension this game.
But the Dynamo need the win here to advance. if they do then all 3 teams will be tied on 3 points and it will come down to goal-differential. Houston are home and will need to attack. This could be BTTS or in this parlay, simply Over 1.5.
- Leagues Cup Predictions: Over 1.5
Club Leon vs Colorado Rapids Prediction
Leon scored early vs Portland just 12 minutes in but it was two Zac McGraw headers assisted by Evander from corner kicks with the winner coming in the 90’ minute which gave Portland a 2-1 win.
Club Leon have just 1 loss in 4 Apertura games, but they have 0 wins, having lost 4-1 and drawn 0-0, 2-2 and 1-1.
Go back to last season and they now have just 1 win in 9.
They have scored in 13/16 but have conceded in 13/15.
The Rapids met Portland on Wednesday and got routed 4-0 with Portland getting goals from 4 different players, and none named Evander, Rodriguez or Mora.
This is basically win and in with both teams on 0 points and Portland through with 6. Leon is seeded 2nd, Colorado 3rd, so it’s definitely a win needed for the Rapids.
These teams have never met.
Again I see BTTS in this game. In fact I like BTTS in all 3 of these games but I’m sure someone will let me down in that parlay. I can’t decide who. Who again, let’s just bet Over 1.5 goals to complete this parlay.
- Leagues Cup Predictions: Over 1.5
- Parlay Picks: TOL vs SKC over 1.5 / HOU vs RSL over 1.5 / LEO vs COL over 1.5 (-121)
FC Cincinnati vs NYCFC Prediction
FCC won 1-0 back in March and last year won 3-0 an 3-1 in MLS and 1-0 in the USOC. Cincy is 4-2-0 in the last 6 vs NYCFC.
Both have played Queretaro in Group L.
NYCFC drew 0-0 and won in PKs on Sunday.
Cincinnati won 1-0 on Thursday and without Luciano Acosta. But with, new CB Chidozie Awaziem. They were 0-6-4 without Acosta prior to this win. They piled up 22 shot attempts, 5 shot on targets but only Yamil Asad in the 64’ minute could score.
So Acosta is a question. So is Santi Rodriguez for NYC who missed out with illness last game.
Obviously NYC have a rest advantage here playing last Sunday vs Thursday.
NYCFC may have gotten the “win” but it came in PKs. So in regulation they have drawn 4 straight games — 0-0, 1-1, 2-2 and 0-0. They only have 1 loss in 7, but no regulation wins in 5 and only 2 wins in 10. So they’re a bit of a wild card.
Cincy isn’t much better with only 1 win in 4 recent games. Both teams have advanced with Queretaro eliminated so tough to know how hard they push for 1st in the group.
- Leagues Cup Predictions: Draw
New England Revolution vs Nashville SC Prediction
In a battle of two struggling teams in their respective leagues between New England and Mazatlan on MD1, it was the Revs who came out on top 1-0 with a goal from youngster Jack Panayotou, 20 years old, who got his first goal with the Revs.
That’s New England’s 1st win in 4 games and only their 2nd in 7. They had conceded a goal in 8 straight prior to Mazatlan.
They’re likely still without Carles Gil but did sign Argentina attacked Luca Langoni from Boca Juniors for a reported club-record signing of $7 million. He should be a boost but the deal was announced Friday and I doubt he’d feature here.
Nashville played on Wednesday and lost 2-0 to Mazatlan in BJ Callaghan’s debut as Nashville coach. More worrying, the offense had just 1 shot on target with 67% possession.
A Nashville win here would put all 3 teams on 3 points bringing goal difference into play.
Most recently the Revs won 2-1 in Nashville back in June. Last season each won at home, New England 1-0 and Nashville 3-2.
This year’s New England win was the only one by a road team in the 7 all-time meetings.
These are just not 2 teams that can be trusted with my money. I would pass this game. Maybe a BTTS bet could be considered seeing that Nashville needs to attack and win here.
- Leagues Cup Predictions: Both to Score
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.
