MLS is back And this year there are 30 teams now with the addition of San Diego who join in MLS’s 30th season. There 13 games on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. But this is the first week and as is in the case in any league and especially MLS, there are tons of new pieces here in coaches and players. So let’s keep it simple as we start to watch how these teams play and create 2, two-game parlays for our MLS predictions this weekend.
MLS Picks and Parlays #1
Inter Miami vs NYCFC Prediction
Both meetings last year ended in 1-1 draws. And it 2023 it was 1-1 again and als 1-0 NYC. This has been a bogey team for Miami who haven’t beaten Miami in the past 5 meetings. Miami has actually only won 1 of the last 9 head-to-heads.
Miami rarely lost at home last season in MLS at 11-2-4, with only the Galaxy posting a better home record. NYC weren’t terrible away from but were only 4-8-5.
Miami and Messi are already off to a good start going away to cold KC and winning 1-0 with Messi scoring on Miami’s only shot on target. But that game was Wednesday and they’ll play again on Tueaday so we could see some rotation here.
Their pre-season has been much better than in years past as they went 4-1-0 and scored multiple goals in 4 of those 5 games. Only the 2 playoff losses to Atlanta in the playoffs stand as their only 2 losses in 18.
NYC has been solid in the pre-season at 3-1-1 and scoring in 5/6. They have some holes to fill though with James Sands loaned out and top scorer Santi Rodriguez sold to Botafogo in Brazil this past week. They also have some injuries to Thiago Martins and Tayvon Gray and historically have been slow starters losing 5 straight season openers.
Both teams have new coaches with Pacal Jansen for NYC and Javier Mascherano for the Herons.
I’m siding with Mascherano and Messi kicking off the season with a home win.
- MLS Predictions: Miami to win
Portland vs Vancouver Prediction
They met 4 times last season. Vancouver won 3-2 at home, Portland won 2-0 at home, they drew 1-1 in Vancouver and Vancouver won 5-0 at home.
Both teams have lost a star. Vancouver sold Stuart Armstrong to Sheffield Wednesday. Portland sold Evander to Cincinnati for $12 million. They’ll hope David Da Costa from France’s Lens can fill the hole.
The Timbers ended last season winless in 6 and their pre-season has been hit and miss at 3-1-2. With 65 goals scored last season only 3 teams scored more, but the defense was a mess all year giving up 56, the 3rd-most of all playoff teams.
The Whitecaps have a new coach, ownership wants to sell the team and the lease at BC Place is coming up so there is plenty of uncertainty around the club. Their pre-season has seen them go 2-1-1 and score in all 4 games.
Even without Evander, the Timbers had multiple players scoring in double figures last season including Jonathan Rodriguez.
We’ll bet on him or at least someone scoring for the Timbers.
- MLS Predictions: Portland to Score
- Parlay Picks: Miami to win / Portland to score (+102)
MLS Picks and Parlays #2
Atlanta United vs CF Montreal Prediction
In 3 meetings last year Montreal won 1-0 and 2-1 in the regular season and they drew 2-2 in the playoffs with Atlanta winning in PKs.
Atlanta’s home games last season were wild. In 18 home MLS games there were 3+ goals in 16, the BTTS was 14-4 and the BTTS & Over 2.5 is 14-4 too.
Montreal were one of the worst road teams at 3-9-6. Only Chicago had fewer home wins in the East with 2, while the only other teams overall with 2 or 1 road win were Dallas, St. Louis, SKC and San Jose.
During the pre-season Atlanta lost 2-1, then won 2-0, 2-0 and drew 2-2 so scoring hasn’t been a problem.
Montreal’s season ended after a 2-2 draw and PK loss to Atlanta in the playoffs. So some revenge could be on their minds here. But their pre-season hasn’t been great, losing all 3 games, a rather short pre-season, with 1-0, 1-0 and 3-1 results. They’ve not added many big names in the offseason but have added Giacomo Vrioni th ex-New England striker up top.
The Five Stripes look to be one of the most exciting teams entering the season. They have a new coach. They still have the likes of Saba Lobzhanidze and Aleksei Miranchuk. They brought in Mateusz Klich from DC and still have DC paying his DP contract. Miguel Almiron has returned from Newcastle. And they brought Emmanuel Latte Lath, an Ivory Coast international for an MLS-record $22 million to be their new DP striker from Middlesborough who had 29 goals in 67 matches for them.
At home and with a ton of firepower, I’d bet on Atlanta scoring 2 or winning.
- MLS Predictions: Atlanta to win
St. Louis City SC vs Colorado Rapids Prediction
The Rapids won both games last year 3-0 and 4-1.
St. Louis scored at home in each of their final 7 games last season. This year they lost their first pre-season game 1-0, but since are 3-2-0 and have scored in each of the past 5.
The Rapids tanked down the stretch losing 6 straight and being outscored 19-4. But they too have been solid in the pre-season and have yet to lose at 3-2-0 and outscoring opponents 9-4.
The Rapids usually scored last year with 61 goals for, but the 60 allowed were the 2nd-most of any playoff team and the 8th-most overall.
- MLS Predictions: St. Louis to score
- Parlay Picks: Atlanta to win / St. Louis to score (-136)
San Jose Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake Prediction
Both won on the road last year, SJ 2–0 and RSL 1-0.
RSL ended the season with 2 playoff losses in PKs but those were there only defeats in 8 games and neither were in regulation. They’ve also not lost in pre-season at 1-3-0, but that is a lot of draws. They also drew in the Champions Cup 0-0 with Herediano this week.
Still, it’s no regulation losses in any shape in 13 games.
Like many teams they’ve seen many players come and go this offseason but the biggest move was leading scorer Chicho Arango being traded to this weekend’s opponent San Jose.
San Jose meanwhile has been poor during the pre-season. After a 1-1 draw and 3-0 win, they’ve lost 2-1, 1-0, 5-1 and 2-1. They also finished last season with only 1 win in 8.
- MLS Predictions: Draw (+280)
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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.
