MLS Week 17 kicks off on May 31 and June 1 on Saturday and Sunday with 13 games and just one, Seattle vs Minnesota on Sunday. You won’t see LAFC and Vancouver on the slate as they have huge matchups in Club World Cup qualifying and the CONCACAF Champions Cup Final. It’s the last full weekend of MLS for a couple of weeks with international breaks coming up so let’s jump into it with 7 games and 3 parlays for our MLS predictions.
MLS Picks and Parlays #1
Cincinnati vs DC United Prediction
Cincy already went to DC and won 1-0 in April.
Now they’ll get them at home where Cincy is 5-2-0 and 1 of 2 teams yet to lose at home. They’ve scored multiple goals in 5/6 home games as well.
But in all matches, Cincy has a 1-1 draw, 4-2 loss and 3-3 draw in their past 3.
Cincy should win, but their defense has also been abysmal lately. Miazga still isn’t fully fit and it’s showing, plus Hagglund is now out too.
DC drew New England 1-1 but scored in stoppage time. They’ve only lost 1/5 but have only won 1/6 and they’re 1-2-4 on the road, been outscored 18-6 and still have no Benteke. They’ve been blanked in 3 straight road games as well.
- MLS Picks Today: Cincinnati to win
Inter Miami vs Columbus Crew Prediction
It’s another early-season rematch here that saw Miami win 1-0 in Columbus in April. Last year Miami won 2-1 and 3-2 in MLS and Columbus won 3-2 in the Leagues Cup. This season’s 1-0 was a rare low-scoring game between them. The BTTS & Over 2.5 is 6-1 in their past 7 meetings.
On Wednesday, Messi and Suarez scored a brace while both adding an assist and Miami snapped a 4-game winless run and got their first win since May 3. It’s still only 2 wins in 9 and they’ve given up multiple goals in 8/9. The BTTS & Over 2.5 is 7-1 too.
The Herons did lose Alba, Avilas and Lujan who left early with injuries vs Montreal.
Columbus was down 1-0 and 2-1 vs Nashville but a late own goal saw the Crew end level 2-2. They also suffered an injury, losing keeper Patrick Schulte with an oblique injury.
Crew games have also seen plenty of goals of late with BTTS being 7-0 and 10-1. They haven’t kept a clean sheet I’m 11 games, but have scored in 10/11. But, it’s draws of late with scores of 2-2, 1-1, 1-1, 3-2 (L) and 2-2.
Between current form and defensive injuries for both, I see goals.
- MLS Picks Today: Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5
- Parlay Picks: Cincy to win / MIA vs CLB btts & O2.5 (+152)
MLS Picks and Parlays #2
New York vs Atlanta Prediction
They played once already this season, a 0-0 draw in Atlanta in March. Last year it was 2–2 and 2-1 Atlanta.
Atlanta took advantage of an Orlando red card and mounted a comeback on Wednesday, down 2-1, to draw 2-2 and nabbed the winner in stoppage time to win 3-2. Thiare scored the winner and has 3 goals in his last 4 games as a super sub.
The Red Bulls had a 6-goal thriller with Charlotte winning 4-2, and also won 2-0 and 2-2 (pks) in the USOC prior.
Forsberg was rested Wednesday and Choupo-Moting came off the bench to score 2 PKs, so they should be fresh.
At home they’re 7-1-1 in all matches and have scored in every game and multiple in 8/9. So it shouldn’t be a question of if they can score. Just a question of if Atlanta can.
Just when I gave up on Atlanta, they exploded for 7 gaols and 2 wins in their past 2. Those were home games and this is on the road. They have momentum, but I’m not ready to pick them to win. They have scored though in their last 2 road games.
- MLS Picks Today: Both Teams to Score
Toronto vs Charlotte Prediction
Toronto hung in with the Shield contenders Philadelphia Union on Wednesday and even took the lead with a late Brynhildsen 75’ minute goal. But, in typical TFC fashion still came up short as they conceded in the 86’ and 92’ minutes to lose 2-1.
Giving up those late goals to Philly means TFC has conceded in 13/16 MLS games.
TFC still has just 3 wins on the year and only 2 in 8 games, vs DC, and then a Montreal team down a player.
Bernardeschi was suspended on Wednesday and Insigne was on the bench so both DPs should be fresh, and I’ll assume in the lineup this weekend.
Charlotte was up to typical Charlotte things as well in midweek play. They scored some goals, 2, but allowed some goals, 4, and lost 4-2 on the road to the Red Bulls. They have one of the worst road records in MLS at 1-1-6 being outscored 18-9.
The Crown have won just once in 6 and twice in 9 overall matches in all comps. And all of their games have been exciting with the BTTS & Over 2.5 being 8-0 and even the Over 3.5 in that combo being 7-1.
Only 4 teams have seen more average GPG in their matches than the 3.3 of Charlotte.
Last year both won at home, TFC 1-0 and Charlotte 3-2.
- MLS Picks Today: Both Teams to Score
- Parlay Picks: NYRB vs Atlanta btts / Toronto vs Charlotte btts (+159)
MLS Picks and Parlays #3
This one covers an early Saturday afternoon game, a late Saturday game and the Sunday Night Soccer matchup.
Nashville vs NYCFC Prediction
The Yotes are flying at 8-4-4 and 3rd in the East with 28 points. They drew Columbus 2-2 on Wednesday and have’t lost any of their past 9 matches. They’ve piled up the goals with multiple goals in 5/6 for a total of 11 goals in those 6. As long as Mukhtar and Surridge get the start, they should continue to get on the scoresheet.
NYCFC aren’t far behind at 7-3-6 with 24 points in 8th. But they did lose 3-0 at home to Houston. They’ll be on the road here where they’ve struggled away from Yankee Stadium. NYC are 1-3-4 on the road, only beating Toronto, while scoring only once in 4 games.
Last year both won at home, Nashville 1-0 and NYCFC 3-1 and in the 6 6 all-time meetings no road team has ever won with home teams going 5-1-0.
Want a winner? Take Nashville around -120 to win. Or, just score. Last time we came off a midweek round, the weekend saw very low scoring.
- MLS Picks Today: Nashville to score
LA Galaxy vs RSL Prediction
Two bad teams meet here in RSL, 12th at 4-3-9 and LA, 15th at 0-4-12.
LA has tied the longest winless streak in any season ever at 16. They lost 1-0 at home to a usually leaky San Jose defense on Wednesday. They coughed up the loser to San Diego in stoppage time last weekend. The game prior they drew late by scoring themselves vs LAFC. The before they gave up a 2-0 lead to Philly.
Basically, LA are bad. And can’t hold leads or draws, in the rare instances when they have them. But they’ve been hanging out around and one day, sometime soon, they have to win a game. This could be one of their best chances.
RSL hasn’t had much success this season with only 4 wins in 16 games, but 1 of those 4 came against LA last month in Utah, a 2-0 home win. Since that time, they’ve only won once and have 0 wins in their past 6 games. Only once in those 6 have they scored more than once. And only once in 9 games have they kept a clean sheet.
- MLS Picks Today: LA to score
Seattle vs Minnesota Prediction
It’s Sunday Night Soccer and the only Sunday game.
Jesus Ferreira got his first goal as a Sounder and it was the game’s only goal as Seattle beat San Diego 1-0 at home on Wednesday. That keeps Seattle as 1/2 teams who have still yet to lose at home.
The Sounders have won back-to-back 1-0 games, have only 1 loss in 9 games and that lss was the only game in that time where they gave up more than 0 or 1 goal. They haven’t been piling up goals themselves though either with 3 goals in 4 games.
The Loons played Vancouver and drew 0-0. They drew 1-1 in the previous game prior. And have only lost once in 8 games and twice in 17.
In 3 meetings last year Seattle won 2-0 (MLS), 2-0 (LEC) and 3-2 (MLS). The Sounders have owned the Loons being 7-1-0 in recent seasons. Go further back and Minnesota has only 1 win in 17 all-time meetings.
Both teams are among the top defensive teams in MLS. Minnesota are tied for the 2nd-fewest goals allowed in the league with 14 and have the most clean sheets with 8. Seattle aren’t far behind having only conceded 19 goals, to go with 5 clean sheets.
Both are 9-7 to Under 2.5 totals and then 12-4 (MIN) and 11-5 (SEA) to Under 3.5.
Under 2.5 at -150, the Draw at +240 or Under 3.5 in this parlay are all my options.
- MLS Picks Today:
- Parlay Picks: Nashville to score / LA to score / Seattle vs Minnesota Under 3.5 (-129) OR Under 2.5 (+136)
That wraps up this weekend’s best bets, good luck with yours and heck the link in the comments to score some free bonus money at hits weekend at spotsboosk like Bet365, DK, CZR and more. The link is SUE.com/STS and it’s in the comments.
Before you make your MLS predictions, check out the best new customer promo codes from all the top sportsbooks! Want more picks in video form, visit the Shred The Spread YouTube Channel for more!
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.
