The Best MLS Predictions & Picks for Week 7

It’s MLS Week 7, with 13 games Saturday and, 1 game on Sunday, being SKC vs Portland. Let’s get into our top soccer picks and parlays and MLS predictions for this weekend.

The teams who played Concacaf Champions Cup this week and also next are Columbus, New Englqnd and Miami. New England didn’t play last week and this week Orlando is on a bye.

LAFC vs LA Galaxy Prediction

The 1st edition of El Trafico comes our way Saturday with the Galaxy leading the West in 1st, still undefeated at 3-3-0, with 12 points and LAFC just 9th at 2-1-3, 7 points.

Both have gone 4-2 to O2.5 totals, LAG games avg 3.7 GPM and LAFC games 3 GPM.

But regardless the year, players or position or form of the teams this LA rivalry always sees goals. Last year it was 3-2 LAFC on the road in MLS, 2-0 Galaxy on the road in USOC, 2-1 Galaxy at home in MLS and 4-2 LAFC at home in MLS.

In 21 all-time meetings BTTS is 17-4 and BTTS + O2.5 is 15-7. Simply 3+ goals have been scored in 16/21 and the total goals scored in those games is 91, good for an average of 4.33.

But you can also make a case for goals in almost any LA Galaxy game. They won 1-0 last week but scored minutes into the game, had more chances but were slowed down by a water logged field that looked borderline unplayable. Prior to that, their scores this season were 3-2, 3-3, 2-2, 3-1 and 1-1. BTTS in LAG games is now on a 14-1 run, where the average goals in the 14 games prior to last week had been 4.93 (69 goals in 14 games).

LA should def score. LAFC just lost 3-2 to the usually goal-starved Colorado Rapids last week, albeit after going down a man. But despite the slow start for LAFC I see them scoring at least 1 at home, they still have Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga.

• MLS Predictions: BTTS & O2.5 (-150)

MLS Parlay Picks

Here is one three-game parlay to include in our Week 7 MLS predictions.

Minnesota United vs Real Salt Lake Prediction

Here are 2 of 4 teams on 10 points in the upper echelon of the West, all 2 points back of 1st place LA Galaxy.

The Loons, minus Emanuel Reynoso (green card) had their first setback of the season last week losing 2-0 in Philly. It was also just the second time in 21 MLS games they failed to score. Reynoso is likely still out this week but there’s little being said right now.

For the second week in a row RSL went down a goal and for the second straight week they rebounded and won. 2-1 versus Vancouver in Week 5 and 3-1 to St. Louis last week, which saw Chicho Arango score a hat-trick. RSL has now won 3/4 and have only failed to score once, the season opener in Miami. But then they’ve only kept 1 clean sheet, at home to LAFC in a blizzard.

Recent meetings have all seen goals. Last year it was 2 draws, 1-1 in Minnesota and 2-2 in Utah. The year prior it was 3-2 Minnesota and 3-0 RSL, both winning at home.

• MLS Predictions: Both Teams to Score

Austin FC vs San Jose Earthquakes Prediction

Both are off to poor starts to the season. Austin 11th at 1-3-2 and SJ 13th at 1-0-5. The 13 goals allowed by SJ is tied for the most alongside Chicago in all of MLS. Both teams have scored 7 goals.

It’s not just this season which has been a struggle for either team though.

Austin’s 2-1 win last week over Copa Tejas rival Dallas, was just their second since July 15, or 17 games. They’ve conceded a goal in 19/21, but in scoring in 17 of those games BTTS has been a great bet in Austin games going 16-5 in that time. And when at Q2 Stadium Austin has scored in 15 straight games in MLS.

The Quakes have 1 win this season themselves and it’s a similar story where that is just their second win in 17 MLS games. They too have conceded in 15/17, scored in 13/17 and BTTS is 13-4 in that time.

Outside of the first ever meeting which was 0-0, every other game has seen goals. It was 1-1 and 2-2 last year and 3-3, 2-2, 4-0 and 4-3 in the other games.

This should be goals. Especially for Austin at home and versus a San jose team down Preston Judd and Jack Yueill who both saw red last week.

• MLS Predictions: Austin to score

St. Louis City vs FC Dallas Prediction

Dallas, losers last week to Austin are another struggling team at 1-0-4.

Their games all see goals. All 5 have gone Over 2.5. All 5 have seen BTTS with four 2-1 scores and one ending 3-1.

But then St. Louis, has also only won 1 game, but has only lost 1 too, having drawn 4 times. They’re scoring, 11 goals for, but allowing goals too, 11 goals against. At 3.7 GPM, they are tied with Portland, LA Galaxy, and Chicago for the most average goals in their game.

That happens with scorelines of a 3-1 loss last week, 2-2, 3-3, 2-2, 2-0 and 2-1.

Dallas is missing players, though some may be questionable to return this weekend, Jesús Ferreira and midfielder Asier Illarramendi, Paxton Pomykal, Alan Velasco and Geovane Jesus, and new DP Peter Musa hasn’t made an impact yet.

Both teams won at home last season, St. Louis 2-1 and Dallas 2-0.

In St. Louis’ 23 all-time home games in all comps, they’ve scored in 20. Dallas hasn’t kept a clean sheet in 11 straight MLS games and only once in 15 road MLS games.

I don’t see that happening here either. The best soccer picks in this game could be BTTS or a St. Louis win or at least Over 1.5 in this parlay.

• MLS Predictions: Over 1.5
• Parlay Picks: MIN vs RSL both score / AUS to score / STL vs DAL over 1.5 (+148)