Predictions & Odds for Orlando vs Atlanta, Nashville vs Columbus & More

Sports Betting Dime

26 May 2023

Predictions & Odds for Orlando vs Atlanta, Nashville vs Columbus & More

Orlando City vs Atlanta United Prediction

No matter how you look at it, Atlanta’s games have been good Over plays. The Five Stripes lead the league as the highest Over 2.5 team at 11-3, also tied alongside Charlotte. But their total average goals per game in their matches tops the charts at 3.7, compared to Charlotte’s 3.1.

Atlanta road games by far average the most goals in the league at 4.1, while going 6-1 to Over 2.5 totals.

Orlando on the other hand generally sees lower scoring games. They’re 7-6 to Under 2.5 totals overall and 5-2 to Under 2.5 totals at home.

Luiz Araujo will be suspended after receiving a red card last week, but Giorgos Giakoumakis has quickly taken to MLS, being one of five players tied for second in league scoring with eight goals. His 1.36 goals per 90 is tops in the league. Thiago Almada is right behind with six goals to go with eight assists.

On Orlando’s side, Ercan Kara is heating up with four goals and two assists in five games. While the Lions may not be one of the league’s higher scoring teams (tied in 16th), they scored three on the road in Miami (3-1 win) last week, have scored in three straight and in six in seven,

This rivalry has historically gone Atlanta’s way as they’ve lost just 3/18 games versus Orlando, however, that streak has cooled off of late with the Five Stripes winning only two of the past nine (2-4-3). They’ll be hard-pressed to get all three points in Week 15 as they’ve been awful on the road with only two wins in 23 away games across all competitions.

MLS Picks: Both teams to score (-150), risk 1 unit at Caesars Sportsbook. Get your Caesars Sportsbook promo code to bet on this weekend’s MLS action here.

San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas Prediction

Look back over past seasons and this matchup is typically goal-heavy. It was 1-1 and 4-1 (Dallas) last season. Those results extended a run of six straight matches where both teams have scored. Both have also scored in 8/9. That Dallas win though has been the only time FCD has collected all three points versus the Earthquakes in the past 11 meetings.

That trend looks like it could continue this season. These teams are neck-and-neck in the West with Dallas fourth (22 points) and San Jose, fifth (18 points). The Quakes have actually allowed more goals than they’ve scored (17 GF/ 18 GA), depsite being in a playoff position.

Now most of those goals allowed have come on the road though. At home, they’re 5-1-0 with ten scored and just three conceded. However, San Jose has only kept three clean sheets on the season, all at home, but also to the likes of Colorado, Toronto and SKC; all teams that struggle to score.

Home or away, San Jose matches have all seen both teams scoring and three or more goals in their past five.

At home, San Jose usually give their fans something to cheer for scoring in 10/11 and in 27/29.

Dallas have only lost once in their past eight games and when not playing Minnesota (0-0 draw and 1-0 loss), FCD have scored in each of their other 11 games.

Expecting a Dallas road win would go against a long string of results to the contrary. Dallas is winless in their past 14 road games and have just one win in 24 away games. Despite that road ineptitude, they’ve at least scored in eight of their past nine away from home.

Both teams have in-form strikers with Jesus Ferreira and Cristian Espinoza among the early Golden Boot contenders with eight goals and I see each team getting on the board for my soccer picks today.

MLS Picks: Both teams to score (-143), risk 1 unit at Bet365

Nashville SC vs Columbus Crew Prediction

Nashville are among the league’s best in the MLS Cup odds with 25 points and tied in second with LAFC in the Supporters’ Shield standings behind Cincinnati. Their nine goals conceded are a league-best and 13.1 xGA ranks third. Those numbers are giving us a decent price on the both teams to score market this week.

So long as Hany Mukhtar is on the pitch, Nashville will always be in with a chance to score. The German is second in league scoring with eight goals and scored twice against Charlotte last week in Nashville’s 2-1 road win.

Columbus lost 1-0 on the road to Pittsburgh in the US Open Cup on Wednesday, but in MLS play they’ve scored in all but one game, a 1-0 road loss in Charlotte. That’s goals in 12/13 games, making them the league’s third highest scoring team with 25 goals. Columbus owns an xG of 21.1 which ranks fourth, while they’re eighth in shots and seventh in shots on target. Lucas Zelarayan is leading the Crew with six goals and three assists.

Nashville may be a strong defensive side, but after five clean sheets in their opening seven games, they’ve now allowed a goal in six of their past seven. They also lost 2-1 in Miami in US Open Cup play on Tuesday.

I’m backing that to continue in MLS Week 15 with each team finding the scoresheet.