MLS Odds, Predictions, Picks for Week 24 (July 8)

Sports Betting Dime

07 July 2023

MLS Odds, Predictions, Picks for Week 24 (July 8)

Columbus Crew vs NYCFC Prediction

Both of these teams entered their midweek games on impressive undefeated streaks. And both managed to extend those streaks with draws.

Columbus was in Miami on Tuesday and drew 2-2. That makes them 5-2-0 in their past seven and has also seen them score multiple goals in six of those seven games. The Crew have scored in all but one game this season and lead the league goals scored (42), while being second in xG (32.0) and being fourth in shots on target (99). They’re curently +2000 in the MLS Cup odds.

New York City hosted Charlotte on Wednesday and while the Crown scored early, NYC scored late in the 81′ minute to draw level at 1-1. New York is now undefeated in seven themselves, however, six of those were draws. They’ve also only scored multiple goals once in their past 11 games.

Columbus will have one extra day of rest, plus the home field advantage on Saturday. That could be huge considering the Crew are 8-2-1 at Lower.com Field and have outscored their opponents 29-11.

And while New York City may have just won 1-0 on the road in Montreal last weekend, that was their first road win on the season. They’re now just 1-6-5 on their travels, being outscored 14-9. In Columbus, New York hasn’t won since 2017, and since the 2017 playoffs, home teams have won 12/15 games between these teams.

We just saw this matchup back on June 17 in New York, with the teams splitting the points in a 1-1 draw.

With this one being in Columbus and the Crew offense firing on all cylinders, I’ll take the Crew to win in my soccer picks today.

MLS Picks: Columbus to win (-125); risk 1 unit Bet365

Minnesota United vs Austin FC Prediction

Both of these teams have seen a sort of resurgence lately. For the Loons, they’re now 1-2-1 in their past four, with their last game being an impressive 4-1 home win over Portland. It’s come with the return of Emanuel Reynoso to the lineup. The Argentine playmaker had two goals last week and now has three in his past two games. The Loons could get another offensive boost this week if FInland’s all-time leading scorer Pukki features for Adrian Heath.

Last week’s win was Minnesota’s first in five games, and conceding a goal extends their streak of doing so to six games.

For Austin, they had gone eight games without a win, then won three of four, lost two and are now undefeated in three. The Verde drew 1-1 in Miami last week, following back-to-back 3-0 wins in their games prior.

Austin has now scored a goal in nine-straight games overall, but have conceded a goal in every single road game this season.

A bet on ‘both teams to score’ is on a 5-0 run in Austin road games right now. That’s how we’ll look for our Minnesota vs Austin prediction here.

MLS Picks: Both teams to score (-170), risk 1 unit at Caesars Sportsbook

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) July 5, 2023

MLS Parlay Picks

Here’s one two-game parlay for MLS Week 24 that includes a double chance bet (that’s to win or draw) on two teams.

LA Galaxy vs Philadelphia Union Prediction

The Union enter this game rested having been off since Sunday, whereas the Galaxy played in a huge rivalry game against LAFC at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday. Despite a poor overall season, Greg Vanney’s side rose up and defeated their crosstown rivals in front on an MLS-record 82,110 fans. Goals from Tyler Boyd and Riqui Puig propelled the Galaxy to a 2-1 win.

That makes LA undefeated in six games, though four of those were draws. It still leaves them 13th in the West at 4-7-9.

Road wins are always hard in MLS, and while Philly has one of the better road records in MLS at 3-2-5, they’re still winless in their past three away from home. They were also just shut out 2-0 in Atlanta on Sunday.

Given that recent poor road form and the high the Galaxy will be coming off from their El Trafico win, I’m hesitant to back an outright Union win. Especially when you consider the Galaxy have only lost once in 12 all-time games with Philly. Still, it’s been four years since these teams last met so much has changed for both teams.

However, Philly are still fifth in the East and LA certainly would’ve put a lot of energy into their game versus LAFC. Let’s back the double chance on Philly in our MLS predictions.

Vancouver Whitecaps vs Seattle Sounders Prediction

Vancouver may be looking up at Seattle in the standings, (9th versus 2nd), but they’ve already defeated and shut out the Sounders at home once this season, 2-0, and will have the chance to try and do so again in MLS Week 24.

The Whitecaps have won the past two meetings with Seattle, both at home. Home teams are undefeated in this matchup over the last six games and home teams are also 7-2-1 over the past ten.

The Caps suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat in Kansas City last weekend. But they were previously undefeated in four and had scored in nine-straight games. Across all comps, they had scored in 12 straight.

At home at BC Place they’re 5-4-1 in MLS and have outscored their opponents 21-9. Vanni Sartini’s side actually haven’t lost at home since their first game of the season, a streak of nine games. They’ve also scored in 9/10 home games as well.

If Vancouver can score, and certainly if they can score two, it may be enough to defeat a Sounders team that has been struggling. Seattle’s offense has been toothless of late without Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan away at the Gold Cup.

They did win 1-0 at home to Houston last week. But Houston notoriously struggles on the road and that was just Seattle’s fifth goal in their past eight games. With three goals coming in one of those games, they had been shut out in five of their previous seven. On the road, Seattle hasn’t seen much success of late with just one win in six, while giving up a goal in 7/9 road games overall.