The final weekend of games before Leagues Cup. We’ll have 6 games on Friday and 9 on Saturday across July 25-26. Let’s break down 6 of them in this weekend’s MLS predictions.
MLS Picks and Parlays #1
Columbus vs Orlando Prediction
4th Columbus hosts 6th Orlando with 6 points between them.
The Crew have lost just 4 times all season and just once in 7 games. Two games back they lost 3-0 to Nashville but got back to winning ways vs DC this weekend with a 2–1 win. That shutout loss to Nashville is the only time they’ve not scored in 15 games. They’ve also conceded in 18/19, obviously making BTTS bets a great bet at 13-2.
Orlando’s form has taken a dip with just 4 wins in 11 and only 1 win in 5. But that win was this weekend beating New England 2-1. They almost won the game prior vs NYC but coughed up goals in the 87’ and 91’. They too have seen plenty of BTTS bets cashing with previous games being 2-1, 1-1, 2-2, 2-1 and 4-2.
Martin Ojeda scored both goals vs the Revs and has a goal or assist in 7/8 games. He’s had a shot on target or more in 9/10 and last game went 7/4.
The Crew won both games last year 2-0 and 4-3 and have won 3 straight between them. There’s been zero 0-0s in 22 all-time games, the BTTS & Over 2.5 is 7-3 in the last 10 and there’s been 2+ at least in each of those last 10.
Back to this season and between the teams are both good Over 2.5 betting teams at 17-7 and 15-9 and they are 23-7 to the over in their last 30 games combined looking. The Crew have lost only once at home, but Orlando has lost just twice on the road.
- MLS Picks Today: Both Teams to Score
Houston vs LA Galaxy Prediction
11th Houston with 27 points hosts 15th LA with 16.
The Dynamo have only 2 wins in 8 and none in their past 3 where they lost 1-0 and 3–0 and then drew 1-1 with Philly on the weekend. Despite being shut out in 2/3 games, and not getting many wins, Houston have scored in 13/15. But have conceded in 7/8 and 9/11.
The Galaxy’s season is done, but they’ve certainly improved in recent weeks being 3-3-2. In those games they’ve scored 2, 3, 0, 1, 3, 2, 1 and 3 goals. On the weekend they fell behind 3-1 in El Trafico to LAFC but stormed back to tie 3-3. That still means they’ve yet to win on the road all season. They’ve also given up 30 of their 48 goals allowed on the road.
In April they split the points in a 1-1 draw. Last year both won at home by 2-1 scores.
Ponce is Houston’s leading scorer with 7 goals and could be a question mark with injury which gives me some concern on betting goals, but the Galaxy are poor on the road.
- MLS Picks Today: Both Teams to Score
- Parlay Picks: CLB vs ORL btts / HOU vs LA btts (+144)
MLS Picks and Parlays #2
Miami vs Cincinnati Prediction
It’s a quick turnaround from last week’s 3-0 Cincy win between these sides that saw Evander score twice and Valenzuela also getting on the scoresheet. Cincy did about as good a jb as anyone could against Messi and Miami and held them to just 2 shots on target.
Next up was the suddenly hot RSL for Cincy, and that game nearly ended 0-0 on Saturday until Luca Orellano broke the deadlock in the 87’. Cincy has been red-hot with wins in 6/7, goals in 13 straight and Evander has scored in 5/6 games for a total of 8 goals.
Miami responded from that 3-0 loss to Cincy by thrashing the Red Bulls 5-1 on Saturday. Messi and Segovia scored twice each, and Alba another.
Miami now has only 2 losses in 12, Messi has scored twice in 5/6 games, they’ve conceded in 18/19 and the BTTS & over 2.5 is on a run of 9-3.
At some point Messi will be rested. Especially with Leagues Cup starting next week. But will it be this weekend? He’s been playing every game, will want revenge for the recent loss to Cincy and just sat out the All-Star Game. He had 2G/1A last game and has 2 goals in 6/7 MLS games. I expect a better Miami showing but they’re also only 1-2-5 vs Cincy in 8 meetings in regulation.
- MLS Picks Today: Both Teams to Score
Chicago vs New York Red Bulls Prediction
The Fire only have 2 wins in 8, but 1 came on the weekend beating Montreal 2-0 on the road. It was a rare shutout for Chicago who only have 1 win 14 games. They’re always good for scoring themselves having scored now in 6 straight and 13/15.
In the span of a few days the Red Bulls had a huge win and huge loss. First coming back from 2-0 down to beat New England 5-3 and then getting routed by Messi and Miami 5-1 this weekend. The Bulls have just 1 win and 0 clean sheets in 7, but have scored in 10/11.
Betting the Bulls on the road is rarely good. They’re 1-4-7 and have been outscored 17-8. But then Chicago is one of the worst home teams at 2-4-4, being outscored 14-11.
In April, NY won 2-1. That makes the BTTS 5-2 in their last 7 meetings.
- MLS Picks Today: Both Teams to Score
- Parlay Picks: MIA vs CIN btts / CHI vs NYRB btts (+114) OR make MIA v CIN btts O2.5 for (+147)
St. Louis vs Minnesota Prediction
Neither comes into this one off a win. But it’s much worse for St. Louis. They lost 3-0 to Dallas last week and have 1 win in 7 and 2 win 13. They’ve not kept the ball out of their net in any of their past 13 games.
Minnesota drew 1-1 and lost 1-0 in their last 2 games but that loss is their only defeat in 7 and they have only 2 losses in 13. They’ve scored in 8/9. They are missing their top assist man with Pereyra out with suspension.
The Loons have 20 road points and only 5 teams have collected more. They could win outright, but surely will at least score. They’ve scored the 8th-most goals in MLS.
- MLS Picks Today: Minnesota to score
- Parlay Picks: MIA vs CIN btts / CHI vs NY btts / MIN to score (+162)
Philadelphia vs Colorado Prediction
Philly is 3rd in the East and in the Supporters’ Shield race, but tied in 2nd and 1 point back of 1st placed Cincinnati.
They’ve only suffered 1 loss at home in MLS at 8-3-1 and have scored over 2 GPG, scoring 26 goals in 12 games.
Colorado is 7th in West which is so-so, but their road form is poor at 2-4-5 and they’ve been outscored 20-13. Those 2 road wins came way back in March.
More recently the Rapids only have 2 wins in 9, but have a 3-0 win and 3-3 draw last weekend in their last 2. Still, they’ve conceded 3, 0, 3, 2, and 3 goals in their last 5.
The Union drew away in Houston 1-1 last game, but had won 2-1 and 2-0 before that and only have 2 losses in 18 overall games and they’ve scored multiple goals in 11 of those 18.
- MLS Picks Today: Philadelphia to win (-175)
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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.
