MLS is back! We just had a full mid-week card on Wednesday and we’re right back at it for this weekend with Matchday 34 on Saturday and Sunday.
Wednesday saw 8/13 games with 3+ goals and 10/13 hitting BTTS. Sometimes if it ain’t broke, there’s no need to fix it, so let’s keep betting on goals for this weekend’s MLS predictions, picks and parlays.
MLS Picks and Parlays #1
NYCFC vs Inter Miami Prediction
Miami drew 2-2 in Atlanta on Wednesday with Messi and friends coming off the bench. It’s a 3rd game in a week so they’ll likely have a minutes restriction again.
Miami have only 3 losses in 25 and have scored multiple goals in 14/16. But then the BTTS & Over 2.5 is 16-2 in their past 18 so that is always in play basically every week.
This looks like it could be another in that vein. NYCFC got pumped 5-1 at home to Philly Wednesday making them winless in 5 with only 1 regulation win in 13. They’ve still scored in 8 straight and 10/11.
With scores of 5-1, 1-1, 4-2, 2-2, 1-1, 2-1, 1-1, and 4-2 certainly this bet looks probable again.
Way back in March it was 1-1. Last year there was also a 1-1 and a 1-0 NY win.
To the surprise of no one the money is coming in on goals here. It was -120 at Bet365 and now it’s all the way up to -163.
- MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5
CF Montreal vs Chicago Fire Prediction
Montreal drew 2-2 and and won 1-0 in their last 2 games but lost 4-1, 5-0 and 2-0 before that. They have just 5 wins in 27 games in all comps, just 2 in 9, have conceded in all 9 and in 14/15.
Chicago lost 1-0 away to Nashville this week, have 1 win in 8, have conceded in all 8, but the BTTS & Over 2.5 is 7-1 in that time.
In totals betting, Montreal is 20-9 to Over 2.5 and Chicago is 19-11.
Back in March it was 4-3 Chicago. This time all I want is 1 goal from each.
While no one is expecting either of these teams to make the playoffs after awful seaons, they are both just 2 (MTL) and 4 (CHI) points out and will see this game as a chance for 3 points. Draws won’t do much for either.
- MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score
- Parlay Picks: NY vs MIA btts & O2.5 / MTL vs CHI over 1.5 (-112)
MLS Picks and Parlays #2
Sporting KC vs Minnesota United Prediction
Minnesota has already won twice at home this season, 2-1 and 3-1. Last season SCK won 3-1 as well in the other most recent game. 6 of 8 have seen BTTS.
That’s a common bet that pays off in SKC games, it hit again on Wednesday with them winning 4-1. SKC is trying to keep their playoff hopes alive at 3-1-1 in their past 5. One of those wins was in the USOC, of which they may be looking ahead to with the final coming up next week.
SKC have scored in 26/30 and conceded in 27/30 MLS games. BTTS bets for SKC this season have gone 24-6 as well and it’s hit in 7 of their past 9 MLS games.
Minnesota’s form is also slightly improved. They came out of LEC with a 3-2 loss but then won 2-1 and 3-1 … but … then fell back in the L column Wednesday losing 2-1 at home to Cincy.
They have only 4 wins in 16, 2 of those came over San Jose and 1 over Necaxa. There’s been 3+ goals in 8/12, and all but 1 (28/29) in MLS this season have seen 2+.
As bad as the Loons have been they have scored in 11/12.
Gotta keep betting the goal-scoring trends for these teams.
- MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score
Real Salt Lake vs Portland Timbers Prediction
Portland won 3-0 at home in July. Last year RSL won 4-3, they drew 0-0 and Portland won 2-1. All of those high-scoring games were in Portland, whereas the 0-0 was in RSL. This one is in Salt Lake, for whatever that is worth.
RSL got a win Wednesday, 3-2 at home over Dallas despite no Chicho out with suspension. He’ll be back here.
Anderson Julio had a brace and Brayan Vera a goal from a PK.
RSL has been sputtering though with only 3 wins in 9 in all comps.
There’s been 2+ goals in each of their past 11 games, and 3+ in 8/11.
All Portland games feature goals. 3.8 GPG to be exact, tied for the highest with Miami. It’s been this way with high-scoring Portland games all season but just more recently it’s 6, 3, 1, 8, 4, 4, 3, 5, 3, 5, 5 and 5 goals in their games. When you have a poor defense, and 3 players, Mora, Evander and Rodriguez, all with at least 14 goals, the 1st time in MLS history that has happened on the same team, it’s no wonder.
- MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score
- Parlay Picks: SKC vs MIN btts / RSL vs POR btts (+112)
MLS Picks and Parlays #3
LA Galaxy vs Vancouver Whitecaps Prediction
There’s not been fewer than 2 goals in a game with these two in 10 meetings going back to 2021. In 8/10 there’s been 3+. This season LA won 3-1 in Vancouver in April. Other scores? 2-1, 4-2, 1-1, 3-0, 5-2, 1-1, 2-1, 2-1, 3-0.
LA is the best home team in all of MLS at 11-3-1 outscoring opponents 37-22. But then Vancouver is the 4th-best road team at 7-4-4 outscoring opponents 23-17.
The Caps have been rolling with only 1 loss in 8 and 3 losses in 2 in 15. They’ve also only given up 1 goal in their past 5, though have only scored 5 in 5, but then Brian White had been out, he returned Wednesday and scored in the 1-1 draw with Houston.
LA won 4-2 at home to LAFC, then lost 4-2 away to Portland. They’re back home here where they’ve scored multiple goals in 11/12.
- MLS Predictions: LA over 1.5
San Jose Earthquakes vs St. Louis City SC Prediction
Nothing left to play for for San Jose, out of the playoffs and the clear Wooden Spoon leaders. the Quakes rescued a point though in Seattle Wednesday drawing 2-2, still they’ve given up 2 goals in 3 straight games and have 3 regulation wins in 22.
St. Louis just lost 3-1 at home which continued a trend of goals goals goals for their games with 2-2, 2-1, 4-4, 4-2, 3-1, 1-1 and 2-1 scores to round out their past 8.
St. Louis won 2-0 in July and also 2-1 and 3-0 last season.
- MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5
- Parlay Picks: LA over 1.5 / SJ vs STL btts & O2.5 (+147)
MLS Picks and Parlays #4
Columbus Crew vs Orlando City SC Prediction
Columbus has already won in Orlando 2-0 this season.
The Lions are rolling with 2-0, 3-0 and 2-0 wins, all at home though. Their one road game since LEC was a 3-0 loss in KC. Orlando has just 2 losses 15 in regulation.
The Crew are the Crew, if you’ve been watching and betting MLS you know they’re a top team. After a 4-0 loss and 0-0 draw they got back in the win column Wednesday winning 2-0 in Toronto.
Prior to those other 2 games they had scored in 16 straight and had won 7 straight. The Crew at home are always a good bet only having lost 3 times in the Wilfried Nancy era.
Orlando is good and 6-3-5 on the road but have also given up 26 road goals in 14 games.
- MLS Predictions: Columbus to score
FC Dallas vs LAFC Prediction
This season LAFC won 1-0 at home but each of the previous 10 other all-time meetings have seen 2+ goals.
Dallas lost away to RSL Wednesday, 3-2, but did get some goals from guys who they’ve been missing for much of the year in Jesus Ferreira an Alan Velasco. Still they have only 1 win in 7 and have given up multiple goals in 5/6 and a total of 13 GA in those games.
This is the worst we’ve seen LAFC in some time now winless in 4 with 1 win in 5. Scoring is down but maybe the Dallas defense is the remedy. Or maybe Dallas is getting LAFC at the perfect time.
One way or the other there should be 2 goals or more.
- MLS Predictions: Over 1.5
Philadelphia Union vs DC United Prediction
These two are on the brink of the playoffs with Philly 9th with 33 points and DC also with 33 points but 10th. They’ll meet in the one Sunday game this weekend.
The Union just thumped NYC 5-1 in New York Wednesday. They have wins in 8/13 and have scored in 13/14 but have only 1 clean sheet in 8 games.
DC is undefeated in 3 and 6-1-3 in their past 10. There’s been 3+ goals in 13 of their past 14 and the BTTS bet has hit in 5 straight with scorelines of 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 4-3 and 2-1.
Scores between these two have been all over the place. 2-2 this year in May and 3-1 Philly last year in the game prior. But then 0-0, 0-0 and then 6-0 and 7-0 Philly back in 2022. DC has only won 1 of the past 11.
- MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score
- Parlay Picks: CLB to score / DAL vs LAFC over 1.5 / PHI vs DC btts (+103)
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.
