MLS picks: Predictions, Best Bets & Analysis for 7/1/23

In the midst of the CONCACAF Gold Cup involving many MLS stars, North America’s top soccer division carries on for gameweek 21. 

Ahead of some midweek action next week, here’s our picks for MLS this weekend.

• Montreal to win and under 2.5 goals is +425 with BetMGM Sportsbook
• Cincinnati to win and both teams to score is +280 with Caesars Sportsbook
• Austin to win and both teams to score is +370 with Unibet Sportsbook
• Real Salt Lake to win or tie and both teams to score is +152 with FanDuel Sportsbook
• Columbus to win and make a shutout is +227 with BetMGM Sportsbook
• Orlando to win 2-0 is +800 with Caesars Sportsbook
• Denis Bouanga to score and Dallas to score is +215 with FanDuel Sportsbook
• Minnesota to win and under 2.5 goals is +403 with Unibet Sportsbook
• Nashville to win and both teams to score is +250 with DraftKings Sportsbook
• Kansas City or Vancouver Whitecaps to win and both teams to score is +133 with FanDuel Sportsbook
• St. Louis to win and over 2.5 goals is +164 with BetMGM Sportsbook
• San Jose Earthquakes to win 2-1, 3-1 or 4-1 is +400 with FanDuel Sportsbook
• A 1-1 tie between Seattle and Houston is +600 with Unibet Sportsbook
• Julian Carranza and Giorgos Giakoumakis to score anytime is +579 with DraftKings Sportsbook

New York City (+190) at Montreal (+125) 

Montreal has been incredible in its last two games. It beat a Nashville team that is in form, and this came just one week after defeating Minnesota United 4-0 in Canada.

New York City has failed to win its last 12 games and is on the worst run of form out of all MLS teams right now. With this in mind, we can't pick it to win here.

New England Revolution (+220) at Cincinnati (+100) 

First takes on second in the Eastern Conference, with Cincinnati welcoming New England Revolution to Ohio after its second defeat of the season.

Despite losing to D.C. United 3-0, it is still seven points ahead of New England after winning three more games. 

New England has won its past three in a row, however, but it has also failed to keep a shutout in each of those victories.

Austin (+160) at Inter Miami (+145) 

Inter Miami remains in last place in the Eastern Conference with 13 losses in 18 games. During this terrible run of form, Austin has moved into eighth by beating Dallas and Houston Dynamo 3-0 in two Texas derbies.

Although it has lost three of the past four games, Miami has managed to score in them all, so we expect it to at least get a goal here.

Real Salt Lake (+230) at Toronto (+105) 

Toronto has won just three games in 20 matches, but it does meet with the worst defense in the Western Conference in this one.

Real Salt Lake has let in 31 goals so far, but after going on a five-game winning run in MLS, it has now moved into sixth in the table. It has also won at Austin, St. Louis and D.C. during this time.

New York Red Bulls (+270) at Columbus Crew (-110) 

The highest scorers from the Eastern Conference meet the lowest scorers, with Columbus Crew heading into this one with 38 goals from 19 games against New York Red Bulls' 17 goals in 19 matches.

At Columbus, it makes this one an easy pick for the home side.

Chicago Fire (+340) at Orlando City (-140) 

Orlando City's tie at Seattle Sounders means it has lost only one of its past eight MLS games after a defeat at New England.

Chicago Fire has won at Sporting Kansas City and Portland Timbers in recent weeks, although it has lost its last two games in Chicago with a 4-1 loss against Houston and a 2-1 defeat to Columbus.

It should be a convincing win for the Lions.

Los Angeles (+135) at Dallas (+175) 

Los Angeles lost again last weekend, 3-2 in California to the Vancouver Whitecaps. It, however, is still the favorite to beat Dallas after the Hoops lost for the fourth time in the past five matches.

Carlos Vela and Denis Bouanga scored for LAFC in the defeat to the Whitecaps, and those two now have a combined record of 17 goals this year, with Bouanga getting 11 of them.

It’s a tough one to call, so we’re picking both to score with goal number 12 for LAFC’s main man.

Portland Timbers (+220) at Minnesota United (+105) 

Portland is just one point ahead of Minnesota before this weekend's action, as both have won five times this year. Portland has scored five more goals but also let in three more.

The Loons did win at Portland five weeks ago, so we hand them the edge here.

D.C. United (+300) at Nashville (-130) 

D.C. should give Nashville a tough test in Tennessee this weekend after becoming just the second team this year to beat the overall league leaders, Cincinnati.

These two also tied earlier in the season and Nashville has lost its past two games. With this said, we expect a close game but a win for the Music.

Vancouver Whitecaps (+270) at Kansas City (-115) 

Vancouver registered its best win of the season last weekend by beating the 2022 MLS Cup champions 3-2 in Los Angeles. It has now scored 30 times and is only outscored so far by St. Louis in first place. 

Kansas has also let in 30 goals, so expect both teams to score in what is a tough game to call.

Colorado Rapids (+300) at St. Louis City (-125) 

First place takes on last place in the Western Conference this weekend with 18 points separating St. Louis at the top and Colorado at the bottom. 

St. Louis has also scored 23 more goals, so this is an easy pick for the home team.

LA Galaxy (+230) San Jose Earthquakes (+100) 

An all-California affair sees the San Jose Earthquakes aiming to move into third in the Western Conference table and LA Galaxy looking for just its fourth win of the season.

Only Kansas and Salt Lake have worse defensive records in the Western Conference than the Galaxy, and it has made just one shutout in its past 10 games.

The Quakes have won just one of its past four games, so it won't be an easy one for them.

Houston Dynamo (+340) at Seattle Sounders (-140) 

Seattle became the first and only team in 2023 to win at Houston back in May, but it has gone on to win just one of the eight games since.

Houston can also move above Seattle in the table if it wins this game, and it has managed to defeat Chicago, LAFC and San Jose all by scoring four goals in the past month. 

In fact, with another win against LAFC this month as well, it has only lost once in the five games throughout June.

Philadelphia Union (+175) at Atlanta United (+125)

The Philadelphia Union has won 10 of its 19 games this year, meaning only Cincinnati has won more. Atlanta has, however, scored 37 times in 20 games and lost the same amount of matches as the Union (5).

It makes this one tough to call, but we expect a few goals. Julián Carranza and Georgios Giakoumakis will no doubt be involved in some capacity after scoring 10 goals each already.