MLS Picks: Predictions, Best Bets & Analysis for the Weekend

We're approaching the final third of games in the 2023 MLS season in what is turning out to be one of the most unpredictable years in recent times. Ahead of some more midweek fixtures next week, we're back for our MLS betting picks for the weekend.

• Columbus to beat New York City 3-0 is +1400 with Caesars Sportsbook
• New England to beat New York Red Bulls and both teams to score is +700 with BetMGM Sportsbook
• St. Louis City to win 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 is +450 with FanDuel Sportsbook
• Giorgos Giakoumakis to score and Atlanta to win is +352 with DraftKings Sportsbook
• D.C. United to beat Inter Miami, over 2.5 goals and Christian Benteke to score anytime is +230 with FanDuel Sportsbook
• Cincinnati to win 2-0 is +1700 with Caesars Sportsbook
• Nashville to win and over 2.5 goals is +337 with BetMGM Sportsbook
• Houston Dynamo to beat Sporting Kansas City and over 2.5 goals is +221 with Unibet Sportsbook
• Minnesota and Austin to tie and Sebastian Driussi to score is +1010 with DraftKings Sportsbook
• A tie between Orlando and Real Salt Lake is +250 with Caesars Sportsbook
• Dallas to win and both teams to score is +600 with BetMGM Sportsbook
• Seattle Sounders to win 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 is +550 with FanDuel Sportsbook
• Carlos Vela to score anytime and LAFC to beat San Jose is +111 with Unibet Sportsbook
• Philadelphia to beat LA Galaxy and both teams to score is +295 with DraftKings Sportsbook

New York City (+310) at Columbus Crew (-140) 

Columbus Crew should have an easy game when it plays against New York City this weekend, as the Crew have now scored 42 goals in 21 games and not lost in the past nine matches.

New York, however, has just one victory in its last 13 matches, and against the best goalscorers this season, it likely loses quite convincingly.  

New England Revolution (+300) at New York Red Bulls (-125) 

New York Red Bulls fell back to losing ways last time out against Columbus just one week on from smashing Atlanta United 4-0.

New England Revolution, however, has not lost any of its last six games and scored 16 goals in this time - no team has scored more during this period.

Despite the odds favoring the Red Bulls, based on recent form, we disagree.

St. Louis City (+140) at Toronto (+165) 

Another week passes, another week where Toronto failed to win. It lost 4-0 at Orlando City during the week and it now means four defeats in a row and seven games without a victory.

St. Louis City remains top of the Western Conference after two wins in the past two games and with 39 goals scored for it compared to the 31 conceded for Toronto, we’re picking St. Louis to win once more.

Atlanta United (+180) at Montreal (+125) 

Atlanta managed to move on from its embarrassing 4-0 loss to the Red Bulls with an impressive midweek victory against Philadelphia Union.

Montreal lost to New York City at home last weekend and after a 0-0 tie with Charlotte before that, it has now failed to score in the past two games.

Up against an Atlanta team that has scored 39 goals in 21 games, it should struggle to get a win once more. Giorgos Giakoumakis has also scored 10 of those goals and he could get in on the act once more.

Inter Miami (+500) at D.C. United (-220) 

After two ties in the past week, Inter Miami remains in last place of the Eastern Conference with 13 defeats from 20 games. It has won five games this year, but only one of those has come outside of Miami.

D.C. also defeated Miami 2-1 just over a month ago after a late winner from Christian Benteke. The former Liverpool man now has eight MLS goals, and he likely bullies the Miami defense once again.

Cincinnati (+195) at Charlotte (+115) 

Cincinnati tied 2-2 with New England Revolution in its last game and it remains six points clear of second place at the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings.

It has lost only twice this year and with Charlotte letting in 36 goals and winning only six of its 21 MLS games, we think Cincinnati gets another victory.

Nashville (+190) at Chicago Fire (+125) 

Nashville should get another win against Chicago after its 11th win of the season when it defeated D.C. in its last game. It made yet another shutout that day, meaning it still has by far the best defensive record in MLS with just 16 goals let in from 21 games.

However, Nashville will be without Walker Zimmerman after his red card in the last game, so the Fire could get a goal.

Sporting Kansas City (+230) at Houston Dynamo (+105) 

Houston Dynamo has still only lost one game in Houston this year after a 1-0 defeat to Seattle Sounders.

It beat San Jose Earthquakes 4-1 in its last game at home, while also beating Los Angeles 4-0 in Houston before that.

At the same time, Sporting Kansas City has also only won one game outside of Missouri.

Austin (+280) at Minnesota United (-125) 

Austin is two points clear of Minnesota in the Western Conference with two games extra to play, meaning it could eventually be eight points above the Loons.

Austin has also put together a three-game unbeaten run by beating Houston and Dallas 3-0 and getting a 1-1 tie with Inter Miami. It also defeated Minnesota a month ago thanks to a goal each from Jon Gallagher and Sebastian Driussi.

Minnesota did win 4-1 against Portland Timbers at home in the last game, however, so we think a tie should come in here.

Orlando City (+230) at Real Salt Lake (+100) 

Orlando is four points above Real Salt Lake in the overall table after a stunning 4-0 win against Toronto. This also came after beating Chicago 3-1, and it has been the best team so far in July.

Salt Lake, however, has won five of its past seven games and only dropped points in ties with Minnesota and New York City.

After excellent runs of form, this one should be a tie.

Dallas (+250) vs Colorado Rapids (+105) 

Despite sitting in last place, Colorado is the favorite to beat Dallas

We completely disagree with these odds, as the Rapids have scored the fewest goals this season (14) and conceded 29 times and won only two of the 20 matches so far.

Dallas sits fifth in the Eastern Conference with eight wins and eight defeats, while it has also let in as many goals as it has scored (23). With this said, it likely wins but also fails to make a shutout.

Philadelphia Union (+140) at LA Galaxy (+165) 

LA Galaxy upset the odds with a win in El Trafico last time out, but this was just its fourth win of the MLS season.

In its 20 games, the Galaxy has also made just four shutouts and let in 32 goals. Now up against a Philadelphia team that has scored 34 times and won 10 games, LA should lose again.

San Jose Earthquakes (+550) at Los Angeles (-160) 

Los Angeles lost for the third game in a row when it was defeated by rivals LA Galaxy in midweek, but it will be confident in beating San Jose once again. LAFC beat it 2-1 back in May, as Stipe Biuk and Carlos Vela scored a goal each.

The Quakes have also let in 28 goals and have only claimed one of its seven victories away from San Jose.

Seattle Sounders (+230) at Vancouver Whitecaps (+105)

Seattle beat Houston 1-0 for the second time this season last weekend and it remains second in the Western Conference as a result. It also has the best defensive record in this division with 18 goals let in from 21 games, while Vancouver has conceded 26 goals already and won just six games.

Vancouver has also not made a shutout in its last seven games and won only two MLS games in this time. After a 3-0 loss at Kansas City, it should lose again here.