We have midweek MLS action on Wednesday. August 19 with all 30 teams in play across 15 games. These midweek cards sometimes get a bit wacky, sometimes there’s record-setting goals counts, sometimes, there’s mass rotation. So remember to check the lineups. Let’s dive into MLS Week 21 preview, picks and best bets.
MLS Picks and Parlays #1
Columbus Crew vs CF Montreal Prediction
Montreal made a splash by signing Alexis Sanchez but the Chilean legend didn’t start or play vs DC this past weekend. I said that looked like a good Draw game and it was exactly that, a 1-1 game and the second time teams drew this season. Owosu got the goal, and if you’re betting Montreal goals he’s usually the best bet to do as their top scorer.
The point is ok, and Montreal has only lost 3 of 9, but they’re also winless in 8 and have scored only 3 goals in 5 games.
Montreal now travels to Columbus and betting Montreal on the road is rarely a good bet where they’re 1-1-7 and outscored 25-12.
The Crew were solid in Leagues Cup and came into the weekend undefeated in 5. That also maybe looked like saw Draw potential vs Charlotte, but they went down 2-0 within 10 mins and never got back into it, losing 3-1. They didn’t start Brais Mendez who has made a big impact since joining the Crew. He came on at half, while another new signing Josep Martinez came on in the 70’.
BTTS bets have hit in each of the last 7 Crew games, and they’ve scored in 11 straight and 20/21.
In the last 9 meetings between these teams, the BTTS is 8-1.
- MLS picks: Columbus to win
Orlando City vs Chicago Fire Prediction
Last year the Fire won both meetings 3-1. A 3-1 score has oddly hit in 4 of the past 7 head-to-heads. The BTTS has hit in 6/7.
The way both teams play this season, that could happen again.
Orlando sees some of the highest scoring games in MLS. BTTS & Over 2.5 hit in all 3 Leagues Cup games, and while I expected to hit again against another team that plays pretty open in Cincinnati, it only ended 1-1 last week. The Lions have still scored in 11 straight, while conceding in 15/17 and in each of their past 5. Griezmann is the main attraction, but the most consistent Orlando player right now is Tyrese Spicer who has 4G/2A in his last 5 games.
Chicago will have one fewer days of rest having played Portland on Sunday. They scored twice early and held a 2-0 lead until a late Portland goal cut it to 2-1. The Fire are rolling right now with 5 straight wins and wins in 8/10. They’ve scored multiple goals in all 5 recent wins and in 9/10. Defense hasn’t been bad giving up just 4 goals in 5, but they’ve still conceded in 11/13.
- MLS picks: BTTS
- Parlay Picks: CLB win / ORL vs CHI btts (+127)
MLS Picks and Parlays #2
Philadelphia Union vs Inter Miami Prediction
A look at the standings and this one looks like a huge mismatch with Philly 13th And Miami 2nd.
Miami gets one more day to prepare as they played Saturday but suffered a rate heavy defeat away in Nashville 4-1. Suarez and Messi were back in the lineup, but it was Segovia who got the only Herons’ goal.
Miami has now lost 3 straight by scores of 4-1, 3-2, and 2-1 and have just 1 win in 5 games. The BTTS & Over 2.5 is 7-1 and BTTS & Over 3.5 is 6-2. So it’s been all goals all the time at both ends and with so many Miami players, joining, leaving, or getting injured, that’s certainly played a part.
Philly met NYCFC on Sunday and while it look bad at the half down 2-0, they stormed back with 3 second half goals, 2 from Damiani, and 3 assists from the Sullivan brothers to win 3-2. The 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan has 1G/3A in his last 2 games.
Illoski didn’t score or assist but he leads the team in goals, had 5 shots and 2 on target and his SOT totals lately in MLS have been 2, 2, 2, 3, 5, 1 and 2.
While they’re way down in the standings, their form has definitely taken an uptick of late. They’ve won 5/7 overall, and 4 straight in MLS alone and in all comps have scored 3 or more goals in 5/8. They’ve not quite figured out the defense which will probably be an issue vs Miami; having conceded in 10/11.
Miami may be 5-1-0 in the past 6 between these teams, but its been anything but straightforward in a ton of wild shorelines of 6-4, 3-3, 2-1, 3-1, 2-1 and 4-1. Add in a 4-1 Philly win before those 6 and there’s been an average of 5.14 GPG in those games.
In the recent 10-goal thriller in May, both teams had a player with a hat-trick. Suarez had 3 to go with 2 from Berterame and 1 from De Paul, while Illoski had 3 for Philly to go with 1 for Damiani.
Usually teams tighten up when they play eachother again so soon after a game like that, so we probably won’t see 10 again. But 2 or 3 at least seems likely.
- MLS picks: BTTS & Over 2.5 (-163) ADD Messi SOT (-125), or Illoski SOT (-115) or both (+110)
MLS Picks and Parlays #3
Colorado Rapids vs LAFC Prediction
Rapids games are close but rarely seem to draw. They’ve not drawn any of their past 10. They have won 3/4, each of their past two a won 2-0 on the weekend over SKC. They’re 6-0-3 at home and have won each of their past three at home by 1-0, 1-0 and 2-0 scores. Rafa Navarro scored this weekend and has goals in back-to-back games. He doesn’t always put SOT, but has 5 in his last 2 and when it comes to shot attempts he’s had 11 in this last 2 games and 2 or more in 7 straight.
Home or away, the game are close. They’ve allowed only 1 goal in 4 games, have clean sheets in 5/8, have only scored more than 1 goal 3 times in 13 games, the Under 2.5 is 8-2 and the Under 3.5 is 10-0.
LAFC had a successful Leagues Cup winning once in regulation and twice in penalties. That pushed their undefeated streak to 8 games. But that ended on Saturday, conceding a PK late to San Diego and losing 1-0.
It was another close game for LAFC whose recent scores have been 1-0, 1-1, 1-0, 1-1 and 1-0. The goals have dried up a bit for them offensively, but they’ve given up just 4 goals in 9 games.
And when these teams played in LA in April it was also close, a 0-0 draw.
- MLS picks: Under 3.5 (-225)
SKC vs St. Louis Prediction
St. Louis is now undefeated in 10 overall games, and in the last 10 rounds in MLS, they and Houston have the most points with 23. St. Louis have risen to 6th in the West. While Hartel returned to Europe and Germany for personal reasons, Becher stepped up with 7 shots, 4 on target and 2 goals in a 3-1 win over San Jose on the weekend. New attacking midfielder from Samsunspor, Carl Holse got some time late in the game in the final 20 minutes.
4 times in their last 6 have they scored 3 goals in a game and they’ve found the scoresheet with at least 1 in 10 straight and 17/18.
Now they play the league’s worst defense in SKC. SKC just got blanked 2-0 in Colorado and they saw two players sent off who will miss out here in Kwaku Agyabeng and Moise Mosquera. They’ve lost 3 straight and 5/6 and while they were at least usually scoring even in defeat, recently it’s been losses of 2-0, 2-0 and 4-0.
St. Louis won 3-2 recently on July 16. Last year SKC won 2-0 and they drew 2-2. SKC has only won 1 of the past 6, there’s been 2 or more goals in all 11 all-time meetings, plus 3 or more 9/11, with BTTS also being 9-2. A road team has only ever won 1/11 but have scored in 9/11. A home team has never not scored.
All of the form points to a St. Louis win. But this is rivalry, and one where the road team has struggled. St. Louis win, double chance or BTTS?
- MLS picks: BTTS
- Parlay Picks: COL vs LAFC under 3.5 / SKC vs STL BTTS (+116)
MLS Picks and Parlays #4
Portland Timbers vs San Diego FC Prediction
The Timbers have the homefield but get one less day to prepare as they played on Sunday vs Chicago and fell in Marti Cifuentes’ first MLS game in charge. He had won his first game in Leagues Cup 3-1, but lost 2-1 to Chicago Sunday. The Timbers have still won 4/6 and the high-scoring games have continued no matter who the coach is with BTTS and Over 2.5 going 9-0. Even BTTS & Over 3.5 is 6-3.
San Diego have been dreadful this season but are maybe turning a corner. They won 2/3 Leagues Cup games and were in action on Saturday vs one of the league’s best in LAFC and went on the road and won 1-0. The game was close with Anders Dreyer scoring the only goal, a PK in the 89’, but the bad news is that he was shown a yellow for taking his shirt off and then promptly took another yellow a few minutes later in stoppage time and is now suspended. But, it’s 3 wins in 3 and they’re 4-1-1 in 6. While Dreye is out, new DP winger Elias Achouri debuted and played most of the second half.
These teams have gotten to know each other well and quickly. Last year they played 5 times in San Diego’s first season. First a 0-0 draw and 4-0 San Diego win in league play. Then in the playoffs it was 2-1 SD, a 2-2 won in PKs by POR and a 4-0 SD win. Then this year Portland won 2-1 in San Diego in April. There’s now been 3 or 4 goals in each of the past 5 matchups.
- MLS picks: BTTS
Vancouver Whitecaps vs Houston Dynamo Prediction
It’s 1st hosting 2nd in the West.
The Dynamo are travelling but get one extra day of rest as they played on Saturday, vs a Sunday game, and the last game of the day that Vancouver played.
Houston beat the LA Galaxy 1-0 which continues a streak which sees them as one of the hottest teams in the league. Over the last 10 rounds, they and St. Louis have collected the most points in all of MLS with 23. Guilherme had the lone PK goal, is 5th in the Golden Boot race and has goals in 4 straight games, and 1+ SOTs in 8 straight.
Houston has now won 4 straight, all in shutout fashion, are undefeated in 8, and have just 1 loss in 12. In just league games, they’ve allowed 2 goals in 7, where Under 2.5 is 6-1.
Vancouver was in Seattle on Sunday and claimed the Cascadia Cup. While it took a while, they dominated the game and finally broke through with 2 goals in the 77’ and 82’ to win 2-0. That snapped a 6-game winless slide and was their only clean sheet in 5 games. Still, they’ve only conceded multiple goals once in 6, but have only scored multiple goals once in 6 as well.
It was just 1-0 Houston back in May, but this one goes to Vancouver where the Caps are 7-1-1. It could be close again but still, a goal could come from both (-150). I see a draw (+333), maybe a 1-1. Using an Under 3.5 or 4.5 in a parlay could be a choice too.
- MLS picks: BTTS
- Parlay Picks: POR vs SD btts / VAN vs HOU btts (+127)
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.
