The MLS regular season is quickly coming to a close and we’ve reached Matchday 36 this Wednesday with just 3 rounds left until the playoffs.
On Wednesday, October 2, there are 28 of 29 teams involved in 14 games, with only SKC not playing.
Let’s get into 4 parlays, featuring 10 games for the MLS Week 36 predictions.
MLS Picks and Parlays #1
Charlotte FC vs Chicago Fire Prediction
Chicago is the only team officially out of the playoffs in the East. Charlotte looks like they’ll be in, but on the road, being 7th. They could technically move up to the top 4 or still fall to the play-in spots.
The Fire are one of the worst in the league and one of the worst on the road. Away from home they are 2-5-9 and outscored 27-17.
Charlotte had struggled no matter the location, but overall have just 3 losses at home in 15. They blew out New England in their last home game 4-0 and then went to Miami and drew 1-1 last week.
That should instill some confidence here.
Charlotte won 1-0 in Chicago in May and also won 2-0, 2-1 and 3-2 in other recent meetings.
You’d expect them to win here, but other than the big New England win, they’ve not scored more than 1 goal in any of their other 7 games during their past 8l
- MLS Predictions: Charlotte to score
Atlanta United vs CF Montreal Prediction
These teams are both fighting for the playoffs. Montreal sitting just outside the play-in spots, 10th with 37 points and Atlanta 11th with 34 points.
Montreal won 1-0 at home earlier this season between these teams. Last season in Atlanta it was 4-1 for the Five Stripes.
If you’re betting Montreal, you only want to bet them at home. On the road, only the Quakes have been outscored by more. Montreal is 2-5-8 away and outscored 38-18.
Montreal won last week 3-0 but at home to Chicago. Ex-Atlanta man Josef Martinez scored twice. Montreal is 3-1-0 in 4 but all 3 wins came at home. Still, they’ve scored 3, 2, 2 and 2 goals in those games. There’s been 2+ goals in 9 straight games or Montreal so Over 1.5 is 9-0.
Atlanta have drawn 3 straight with scores of 1-1, 2-2 and 2-2.
- MLS Predictions: Over 1.5
Nashville SC vs DC United Prediction
Both are clinging to faint playoffs hopes, DC sitting 12th, 3 points back with 34 and Nashville, 13th, 4 points back with 33.
Benteke leads the Golden Boot race with 21 goals and as long as he’s in the lineup DC has some chance to win and to make the playoffs. They just don’t often win.
They haven’t won any of their past 3 and have just 6 wins in 22 in all comps. But, they have scored in 10/11. Thier only 2 wins 7 have come vs Toronto and Chicago, not great teams, but then again neither is Nashville.
Nashville also don’t often win. Only doing so twice in 14 in all comps. 1, also came vs Chicago. A home 2-2 with Cincy looked good, but then a 1-0 road loss in New England last week was a big setback.
Both teams need this win. Nashville goes to NYC next week which won’t be easy, before finishing with Chicago. They need to stay alive long enough for that game to matter.
DC will go to New England next week, winnable, before hosting Charlotte on Decision Day.
DC won 2-1 at home in July when they last met and have 1 clean sheet in 28 games in all comps, over the lowly Santos Laguna during Leagues Cup.
So Nashville scoring looks almost a given. Certainly it could be BTTS or simply Over 1.5.
- MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score
- Parlay Picks: CHA to score / ATL vs MTL over 1.5 / NAS vs DC btts (+100)
MLS Picks and Parlays #2
Orlando City SC vs Philadelphia Union Prediction
Orlando have clinched the playoffs but not homefield. Philly are holding onto the last play-in spot in 9th, so there’s still lots to play for, for each team.
Both teams have seen their games average over 3.0 GPM. Orlando at 3.2 and Philly at 3.4.
The last 4 meetings were 3-2 Orlando this season and 2-2, 2-1 Orlando and 5-1 Philly in games prior.
Orlando is 4-0-1 in 5, have scored 3, 3, 2, 3 and 3 goals in that time and their last 3 at home were shutout wins of 2-0, 3-0, 3-0. Over the last 10 rounds, it’s Orlando, alongside Seattle who have been in the best form, each collecting 22 points. Philly isn’t far behind with 17.
But then Philly has just 2 MLS losses in 8, and vs Miami and Columbus. In 16 games in all comps the Union have scored in 15, only failing vs Columbus.
- MLS Predictions: Over 1.5
Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami CF Prediction
If Columbus has any thought on catching Miami for the Supporters’ Shield then this is a must-win, if they don’t, Miami clinches it. The Crew have 57 points, while Miami has 65, so it’s unlikely but slightly possible.
In August the Crew won 3-2 in Leagues Cup at home. In June Miami won 2-1 in MLS at home. The 2 meetings last season were 2-2 and 2-1 Miami.
Columbus at home under Wilfried Nancy has only lost 4 times in 48 games.
They are 31-12-4 with a +60 goal differential. Their only 4 losses were last week in the Campeones Cup in PKs to Club America, vs Seattle recently missing players and down a player, and then Cincy earlier this year and Miami last year.
Columbus has scored in 20/22 in all comps and scored multiple in 3/4.
Miami in all comps have only lost 3 of 18 and have no losses in 6, but have drawn 3 straight at 1-1, 1-1 and 2-2. They drew Charlotte 1-1 this weekend but doubled Charlotte’s xG and Suarez missed a tap in in the final moments. Miami is out Tomas Avilas with a suspension after he picked up a card last game.
So the BTTS is 18-2 in their past 20 now and the BTTS & Over 2.5 is 16-4.
- MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5
- Parlay Picks: ORL vs PHI over 1.5 / CLB vs MIA btts & over 2.5 (-107)
MLS Picks and Parlays #3
Here are 2 games that I would have to expect goals from and both are at 9:30 pm EST so could make for an exciting split screen.
Real Salt Lake v Minnesota United Prediction
- RSL: The 3.68 GPG in their matches ranks 4th. Further, 94% of their games have seen 2+, 74% have seen 3+ and 71% have seen BTTS.
- MIN: The 3.26 GPG ranks lower at 13th but is still a lot. 97% have seen 2+, 65% have seen 3+ and 71% have seen BTTS.
RSL have been fading of late with just 2 wins in 7 in all comps and just drew 2-2 and 3-3 in recent games. They’re clinging to a home playoff spot but could fall out of the top 4.
Minnesota has been heating up with wins in 6/9 in all comps and are coming off 3-0 and 2-0 wins. Kelvin Yeboah scored twice last game and became the fourth player in league history to score in five of his first six career MLS matches. He also has 7 goals in those 6 games.
The Loons are 8th and look to be in the playoffs but they’ll want to move up and out of the play-in game.
It was 1-1 earlier this season and 2-2 and 1-1 last season. Let’s bet BTTS again.
- MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score
Colorado Rapids vs LA Galaxy Prediction
It’s a top 4 clash here between 4th Colorado and 1st LA. The Galaxy have nearly locked up top spot and comer in fresh being off this past weekend. The Rapids could be jumped by many teams for the final home-field spot still.
Certainly they’ll be pushing for the home field advantage. The Rapids are 5-2-9 away and 10-3-2 at home. They’re the home team in this matchup.
- COL: The 3.58 GPG in their matches ranks 3rd. 94% have seen 2+, 74% have seen 3+ and 71% have seen BTTS.
- LA: The 3.52 GPG in their matches ranks 7th. Then 87% have seen 2+, 71% have seen 3+ and 71% have cashed BTTS bets.
It was 3-2 LA in LA in July and again, let’s bet on at least a goal from both.
- MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score
- Parlay Picks: RSL vs MIN btts / COL vs LA btts (-106)
MLS Picks and Parlays #4
Portland Timbers vs Austin FC Prediction
Austin is technically alive for the playoffs but are 9 points out so basically are sunk. They need 3 wins. 3 Portland losses (starting with this one) and to reverse a -20 goal-difference between these 2 teams.
Away from home they’re 3-4-8 and outscored 21-10.
They’ve faded down the stretch being winless in 5 and scoring only 4 goals in those 5.
Portland has had Austin’s number of late winning 2-0 in Austin in May and being 5-1-0 vs the Verde in 6 recent meetings. They’ve scored 2 goals in each of the 4 vs them as well.
Portland drew Vancouver without the suspended Evander 1-1, he’ll return for this game. They’ve drawn back-to-back games but in all comps have lost just 4 times in 20. And they’ve scored in all bur 1 of those games, plus never failing to score in 16. In 15/20 they’ve scored 2+.
The Timbers can likely lock up a playoff spot and even move out of the play-in spots with a win so they should be fully focused for the win here.
- MLS Predictions: Portland over 1.5
San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas Prediction
San Jose’s season has been long over. Dallas’ is holding on by a thread sitting in 10th, 8 points back of 9th Portland.
The only thing San Jose has to play for is to try and avoid setting the record for the most goals allowed. They’ve given up 72. The “record” is 75.
San Jose games average 3.5 GPG, they’re 21-10 to Over 2.5, 28-3 to Over 1.5.
Dallas games average 3.3 GPG, they’re 20-11 to Over 2.5, and 26-5 to Over 1.5.
San Jose hasn’t won in 5 and have allowed 3, 2, 2, 2 and 2 in those 5 games.
Dallas has just 2 wins in 9 in all comps and outside of a 0-0 draw with Vancouver the BTTS & Over 2.5 has cashed in 5 of their other 6.
- MLS Predictions: Over 1.5
Los Angeles FC vs St. Louis City SC Prediction
St. Louis was officially knocked out of the playoffs this weekend.
LAFC is 2nd in the West, 4 points back of the Galaxy and tied with 52 points with RSL. But 4th Coloraod and 5th Seattle both have 50 points so LAFC could fall out of the top 4 and home-field spots.
This matchup hasn’t seen a ton of goals with LAFC winning 2-0 in St. Louis this year and last year it being 0-0 and 3-0 LA.
LA went winless in 5 games and then won the USOC in extra-time 3-1 before beating Cincy 2-1 on the weekend. So perhaps the arrow is back up on LAFC … tough to say. They rotated some players last game so may have some rested legs here.
St. Louis won 3-1 and 2-1 in recent games but it wasn’t enough, despite only losing once in 6 since Leagues Cup.
Their games are goalfests with BTTS going 11-0, BTTS & O2.5 going 9-2 and 8-0 more recently and there being 3+ goals in 9-2 as well.
- MLS Predictions: Over 1.5
- Parlay Picks: POR 2 / SJ vs DAL over 1.5 / LAFC vs STL over 1.5 (-104)
That wraps up MLS Week 36, I’ll put all these picks and parlays into a graphic at the end of this video. Whatever you’re betting, let’s all cash winners!
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.
