Top MLS Bets: Matchday 9 Picks with Winning Odds and Expert Picks

The L.A. Galaxy are flying high ahead of their El Trafico derby with LAFC. They lead the Western Conference with 13 goals scored and are unbeaten with 12 points. They enter this week as a legitimate contender for the Supporters’ Shield, given to the team with the most points at the end of the regular season. As far as LAFC is concerned, their inconsistency is represented by the first 22 minutes that 18-year-old David Martinez experienced in last week’s loss to Coloardo. He subbed on in the 63rd minute and needed just 13 minutes to score, putting LAFC up 2-1 on the Rapids. However, in the 78th minute, the ref showed him a yellow card, and in the 85th minute, he got a second caution, sending him off and leaving LAFC shorthanded. It just took a few minutes after that for the Rapids to get a pair of goals, turning a late 2-1 lead into a 3-2 setback. In seven games, they have just seven points. Let’s look at your best MLS betting pick for El Trafico as well as Inter Miami’s trip to Colorado.  

2024 MLS Betting Odds and Analysis for the Best 2 Games to Bet On the MatchDay 7

Inter Miami -120 vs Colorado Rapids +285

When: Saturday, April 6, 7:30 pm ET
MLS Odds: Inter Miami -0.5 / Draw +285 / Total 3

Inter Miami sits in second place in the Eastern Conference, having taken 11 points from seven games. They started out well but have taken on some water lately, and the fact that every team below them in the table has at least one match in hand could calse more problems later. With Lionel Messi on the shelf, Inter has a three-game winless streak going, including a 1-1 draw in MLS play and a 2-1 loss to Monterrey in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal tie. Inter will also be missing Facundao Farias (knee), Ian Fray (knee), Robbie Robinson (knee), Federico Redondo (knee), Serhiy Kryvtsov (hamstring) and Nicolas Freire (hamstring).

Colorado is seventh in the Western Conference with eight points out of six games. They have two wins, two draws and a loss in their last five MLS fixtures. Colorado got that aforementioned 3-2 win over LAFC, a match that they dominated throughout but needed those late goals to turn a possession and shot advantage into a win. The Rapids will be missing Daniel Chacon (knee), Jasper Loffelsend (hamstring) and Jonathan Lewis (knee).

LAFC -135 vs L.A. Galaxy +315

When: Saturday, April 6, 7:45 pm ET
MLS Odds: Los Angeles -0.5 / Draw +315 / Total 3

LAFC looks to shore up the defense in this match as they have permitted eight goals in their last three matches. They look forward to coming home as they have a three-match losing streak away from BMO Stadium. At home, though, they are unbeaten and have only given up a single goal. They have a stretch of three home matches in their next four, which will give them a solid chance to climb back up the table. They have won three of their last four at home against the L.A. Galaxy, including a 4-2 victory in 2023. Lorenzo Dellavalle (ACL) is out for the season. David Martinez will miss the game (suspension), and Tomas Angel (abductor) is doubtful.

The Galaxy do lead the West, but the Vancouver Whitecaps are right behind them and have a match in hand, so they could still move into first if they win and the Galaxy struggle. Jalen Neal (abdominal injury) is the only expected contributor that we know will be on the shelf, while Martin Caceres is doubtful. Can the Galaxy end a streak of subpar play when they meet their L.A. neighbors across town? Can LAFC get back to solid defense at home?

Who knew that the state of Ohio could deliver such dominant soccer? The top two teams in Major League Soccer as of this writing are the Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati. Columbus did get their first loss of the young 2024 season last week, but that 2-0 verdict came on the road and featured some iffy officiating – the first time refereeing has caused major controversy in a season in which MLS is using replacement officials while their union referees are holding out. FC Cincinnati got another clutch goal from Lucho Acosta in their 1-0 takedown of NYCFC.

As we go into Maatchday 6 of the season, let’s break down some of the top MLS betting odds for the top weekend matchups in the first division of United States pro soccer.

2024 MLS Betting Odds and Analysis for the Best 2 Games to Bet On this Weekend in the MatchDay 6

MLS News: Top Weekend Games

Saturday, March 30

Austin FC +143 vs FC Dallas +175

When: Saturday, March 30, 8:30 pm ET
MLS Odds: Austin FC PK / Draw +245 / Total 2.

Two of the Western Conference’s bottom-feeders square off as 11th-place Dallas 1-0-3, 3 pts heads south on Interstate 35 to face 13th-place Austin 0-3-2, 3 pts. FC Dallas started the season with a victory but has dropped three matches in a row, including a 3-1 setback against the Vancouver Whitecaps on March 17. Asier Illaramendi is in a tie for the FC Dallas lead in scoring…with one goal. Petar Musa leads the side with shots on goal but has yet to find the back of the net. Jesus Ferreira has one assist, which also leads the team. The side averages 1.2 goals per match, ranking 16th in the league. They are tenth in shots on goal and sixth in passing percentage, so you’d think something has to give eventually. The defense has been a problem, permitting 2.0 goals per game, second-most in MLS. Goalie Maarten Paes has started all four matches but is still looking for that first clean sheet. They limited San Jose to a single goal in their season opener but have allowed seven goals over their last three matches.

Home field has not been kind to Austin FC this year, as they are 0-1-2 at Q2 Stadium. Julio Cascante is tied for the team lead in scoring with one goal. Austin ranks 21st in goals scored and 29th in shots on goal per match. Their passing percentage ranks 24th. These offensive metrics rank well behind those of FC Dallas, suggesting that FC Dallas has been the victim of bad luck in terms of scoring goals. The sloppy FC Dallas defense has been more a matter of poor execution. Austin’s goalie, Brad Stuver, has already posted 27 saves on the season, leading the league. It’s hard to imagine how big that negative goal differential would be if Stuver weren’t standing on his head so far. He has one clean sheet but has permitted two goals three times. FC Dallas to win.

Nashville SC +215 vs Columbus Crew +118

When: Saturday, March 30, 8:30 pm ET
MLS Odds: Nashville SC PK / Draw +250 / Total 2.5

The Crew 3-1-1, 10 pts sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, seven spots above Nashville 1-1-3, 4 pts. The road has not been kind to the Crew so far 0-1-1. Their only loss in their last three matches came on the road, when they fell at Charlotte FC. Their offense has been averaging 1.4 goals per game, 14th in MLS. Their passing accuracy ranks second 85.9%. Cucho Hernandez leads the team in goals with three and ranks eighth overall. He has 10 shots on goal, which ranks second overall. Their defense permits just 0.8 goals per match, which ranks fourth overall, and goalie Patrick Schulte has a pair of clean sheets – while ranking just 29th in saves, as the defense doesn’t allow many shots on goal.

Nashville looks to bounce back from a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of LAFC on the road last time out. Teal Bunbury leads the team with two goals and with four shots on goal. The team ranks 25th in goals per match and 28th in shots on goal. Their defense permits 1.8 goals per game, which ranks 23rd. Joe Willis has posted one clean sheet and ranks 19th in MLS in saves per game. I see the Crew figuring out their offensive road problems against a team with some defensive issues. Crew to win.

Lionel Messi withdrew from the Argentinian national soccer team for their upcoming friendlies against El Salvador and Costa Rica. He did return to training on Wednesday as Inter Miami prepare for their Saturday match with the New York Red Bulls. However, he is not expected to appear in that game. He pulled a hamstring against Nashville SC in the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup Last-16 tie. So far he has done some gym-based work and has his eyes set on returning for Inter’s quarterfinal first leg against Monterrey on April 3. His fitness for Inter’s MLS match with NYCFC on March 30 is doubtful at this point. To learn more about Inter’s injury woes going into their match this weekend as well as to gain insight on a couple of other plum MLS betting chances from the U.S. first division of soccer, read on.

Top MLS Betting Games Matchday 5

NY Red Bulls +120 vs Inter Miami +200

When: Saturday, March 23, 2:00 pm ET
MLS Odds: Red Bulls -0.5 Total 2.5

Inter also saw striker Leonardo Campana and defender Nicolas Freire training separately this week as they recover from muscle injuries, and both are doubtful for the Red Bulls showdown. Inter does have a 3-1-1 record (10 points) and should have momentum after last week’s 3-1 win over D.C. United. Other players have been called up to their national sides. Goalie Drake Callender (U.S.), Diego Gomez (Paraguay), Federico Redondo (Argentina U-23), David Ruiz (Honduras), and Shane Boreglin (Haiti) will all be unavailable. He will have Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who all played together at Barcelona. Suarez had a brace in last week’s win, with Leonardo Campana scoring the third goal. Inter Miami currently leads the Eastern Conference and all of MLS based on total goal differential, but they have played one more match than all of the other teams.

The Red Bulls (2-1-1, 7 points) look to bounce back from a 3-0 drubbing at Clumbus last week. They currently sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. They lead the all-time series with Inter, 5-3-0, although they have gone 2-2 in their matches in New York, and Inter won at New York last season. At home the Red Bulls have a four-match unbeaten streak across all competitions. Defender Andres Reyes made his 2024 debut last week and played all 90 minutes. He was second in interceptions and third in aerial duels won in MLS last year, and he also has four goals in his career. Red Bulls to win.

FC Cincinnati -115 vs NYCFC +300

When: Saturday, March 23, 7:30 pm ET
MLS Odds: Cincinnati -0.5 Total 2.5

New York City FC erased a 1-0 deficit and came back to pick up their first win of 2024 last week, taking down Toronto by a 2-1 margin. Nick Cushing has gotten a significant amount of pressure to deliver in Gotham, and last week’s win helped end a three-match losing streak. A fourth straight loss would have been their biggests skid since 2020. In 2024 so far, set pieces have been their undoing, but they turned things around, converting a free kick into a goal. They have a six-match winless streak going in MLS play going back to the 2023 campaign.

FC Cincinnati stopped New England last weekend, 2-1, bouncing back from their elimination from the CONCACAF Champions Cup at the hands of Monterrey. Cincinnati has played much better on the road than at home; they’ve played twice at home so far and have yet to score a goal in front of their fans. They also haven’t given up any goals at home, giving them a pair of scoreless draws. However, they also haven’t followed a road win with a home win since July of 2023. They do have a five-match unbeaten streak against NYCFC, including three wins across all competitions. Cincinnati to win.

Inter Miami has benefited tremendously from the signing of Lionel Messi, most recently advancing to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League as Messi and Luis Suarez guided the team to a 3-1 win over Nashville SC in the second-leg of their last-16 tie. Messi was able to find Suarez in the eighth minute for a goal. Messi doubled the hosts’ lead later in the first half but was substituted in the 50th minute. Later, it was revealed that Messi had suffered a leg injury that had started to bother him during play, so the team took him off as a precaution. He had rested on Sunday in a 3-2 loss to Montreal, but now he will likely miss Inter Miami’s Saturday contest in Washington against D.C. United. Read on to get our MLS betting insights on that showdown as well as the clash between the Seattle Sounders and the Colorado Rapids.

2024 MLS Betting Analysis: Top Weekend Games in MatchDay 5

D.C. United vs Inter Miami

When: Saturday, March 16, 2:00 pm ET

The Black and Red went to FC Cincinnati and clung for dear life to a scoreless draw. Meanwhile, the Herons took that 3-2 loss against CF Montreal. Fans of D.C. United should actually be pleased by that final score given the porous nature of the D.C. defense a year ago. Last year, away games were a defensive house of horrors as the team permitted two or more goals in nine of their road games. If they can win or draw against Inter Miami, that would draw them even with their longest unbeaten streak. They have a three-game unbeaten start in MLS that is the team’s best start in five years. If the team can beat Inter on Saturday, that will make two straight home wins for the first time since the early parts of 2022. D.C. have points in five of their last six home games, and they haven’t lost at home since September 2023, when they lost a 5-3 barnburner to the N.Y. Red Bulls. They have scored in every regular-season tilt against Inter Miami, but it’s been three years since they beat Inter at home, prevailing then in 1-0 fashion.

Even with Messi resting, Inter has considerable talent and experience on the attacking end. However, the gaps between the midfield and the backline that appear when they don’t have possession can cause problems, and Montreal turned those problems into three goals. Inter also struggle to defend set pieces, which led to 15 goals allowed last season and has already led to a few goals in 2023-24. In their last six away matches, Inter are winless, dating back to last September, when they beat LAFC at BMO Stadium, 3-1. They do have points in their last two matches at D.C. United, with a 2-2 draw in 2023 and a 3-2 win in 2022. Take the draw.

Seattle Sounders vs Colorado Rapids

When: Saturday, March 16, 3:30 pm ET

Seattle are still looking for their first win of the 2024 MLS season. Last week’s home tilt with the Philadelphia Union was put on hold due to torrential rain. However, the Rapids picked up their first 2024 victory, taking down woeful Real Salt Lake, 2-1. The Sounders finished second in the West last season but have sputtered so far in 2024. A three-match losing streak to open the season would be their first in six years. However, they have a four-match home unbeaten streak going back to last season, and they have allowed just one goal over their last five home MLS games, including a 0-0 draw against Austin FC at the start of March. They also have won three straight regular-season games when they tally in the first half. Against Colorado, they have won 16 of 19 competitive fixtures. In their last six meetings in Seattle, the Sounders have outscored the Rapids by a combined 18-1.

New head coach Chris Armas got his first win with Colorado last week, and that game was the first time since July 2023 that the Rapids had given up the opening goal of a match but then came back to win. They ended an 11-match winless streak away from home, and if they can beat Seattle, that second road win would match their away win total from the whole 2023 season. Armas’ high-press, high-energy system is already been paying dividends as the team is racking up points. They have two more points (4) out of their first three matches than they had after six matches a year ago. They have only scored in two of their last seven matches in Seattle and have not won at Lumen Field in eight seasons. I like Colorado’s newfound energy and see them capitalizing on a Seattle team that can’t yet get out of its own way. Rapids to win.

One change that you may not have noticed as Major League Soccer enters its third week of play is that the matches are being officiated by replacement referees as the dispute between the league and the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) continues. The disagreement has to do with pay, as most officials make less than $50,000 per year, and benefits. Given that these officials work jobs through the week and then hop on a plane to call these games, the long slog of the schedule, which runs from February to November – and starts for officials with training and preparation in early January – the movement for full-time pay is significant. With very few complaints coming from teams or players about the quality of the replacement officials, though, has the PSRA lost its leverage?

Let’s look at the top matches for MLS betting enthusiasts for this coming weekend.

Top MLS Betting Games and Predictions for the Weekend

Saturday, March 2

Real Salt Lake vs LAFC (2:00 pm ET)

Real Salt Lake are off to a tough start to the 2024 campaign, with just one point out of their first two games. They took a 2-0 beating at home from Inter Miami before heading to St. Louis and getting the away draw against St. Louis City SC. Cristian “Chicho” Arango tallied the first goal of 2024 for RSL in the 75th minute in St. Louis, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead. In the 80th minute, Sam Adeniran brought the equalizer for the hosts. RSL has beaten LAFC just three times in 16 tries. The only injury on the RSL list is Kevin Bonilla (knee). New signing Alexandro Katranis has missed the first two games of 2024 due to personal reasons and is not expected to play.

LAFC has just played once this season, taking down the Seattle Sounders, 2-1, at BMO Stadium. The 2022 MLS Cup winners got tallies from Tim Tillman and Mateusz Bogusz, and those two goals held up despite Pedo de la Vega sending a ball home from the penalty spot in the late minutes of the second half. The only entry on the LAFC injury report is center back Lorenzo Dellavalle, whom the club brought up from LAFC 2 to join the top team. This is more of a depth injury than a concern for the starting XI, though. Hugo Lloris and Omar Campos joined LAFC this season; Lloris had six saves in his debut. Final Prediction: LAFC to win.

Chicago Fire vs FC Cincinnati (8:30 pm ET)

Both of these sides came out of their 2024 MLS openers with a single point. The Chicago Fire went to Philadelphia and rew with the Union despite having possession for just 43% of the game and despite the Union easily winning the shots-on-target metric. Chicago has the home-field advantage, but playing at cavernous Soldier Field does not deliver the same emotional boost as playing in some of the smaller soccer-only stadiums does.

FC Cincinnati wasted a number of terrific passes from Acosta, finishing with a disappointing 0-0 tie in their opener against Toronto. Despite the fact that FC Cincinnati has finished well ahead of the Fire in the MLS standings in recent seasons, the series between these two teams is actually pretty close. IN their last 10 matches, FC Cincinnati has won four, Chicago has won three, and three have ended in draws. Over their last five meetings, both sides of have won twice with one ending in a draw, but no game has been decided by more than one goal. An interesting prop for this game is FC Cincinnati over/under 2 ½ goals. Their offense is prolific, but they struggled in their opener and have not been able to do much damage against Chicago in recent meetings. Take the draw, and take FC Cincinnati UNDER 2 ½ goals.

Chicago Fire vs FC Cincinnati | Betting Odds for MLS Games MyBookie Football lines for each match of the season

Previous Betting News

The 2023 Major League Soccer season is about three months along, and FC Cincinnati continues its run of terrific play, with just one loss through the first 13 matches. Interestingly, with a 9-3-1 record, the Eastern Conference leaders only have a +7 goal differential. They sit five points clear of Nashville SC and six points clear of the New England Revolution, contenders for the first time in several seasons. In the Western Conference, newcomers St. Louis CITY SC has maintained its strong start, with a 7-1-4 record, good for 22 points, tied with FC Dallas for third in the conference. LAFC leads the West with a 7-4-1 record, good for 25 points, two points clear of Seattle (and with two matches in hand). Let’s look at the top matches for MLS betting enthusiasts for this coming weekend.

MLS Betting News: Top Weekend Games

New England Revolution vs Chicago Fire FC

When: Saturday, May 27 at 7:30 pm ET
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
TV / Streaming: MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app

The Revs look to bounce back from an unsightly 3-0 beating they took in Philadelphia last week. New England held the ball for 58% of the match but could not generate much offense, launching eight shots, all from distance, without putting a single one on target. Philadelphia had 17 shots, with seven on target. The Revs showed their frustration, being shown five yellow cards over the course of the match, to just one for the Union. The first half was a scoreless affair, and then Daniel Gazdag started the scoring for the hosts in the 56th minute, finishing his brace 18 minutes later from the spot. Julian Carranza added insult to injury with the third goal in the 88th minute.

Chicago also played an extremely physical game, hosting Atlanta United and playing to a spirited 3-3 draw. Andrew Gutman gave Atlanta an early lead, scoring in the 29th minute, just after Chicago went a man down as Federico Navarro was shown a red card. However, Chicago drew level just before halftime thanks to an Atlanta own goal. Chicago made it 2-1 in the 49th minute, thanks to a tally from Maren Haile-Selassie, but Giorgos Giakoumakis brought the visitors level in the 55th minute and gave the visitors the lead ten minutes later. Luiz Araujo saw a red card of his own for Atlanta in the 71st minute, and Chicago took advantage in the 89th minute, tying the game. Atlanta outshot Chicago, 15-10 (7-3 on target) and possessed for 56 percent of the match, forcing five corners. Chicago to win.

Houston Dynamo FC vs Austin FC

When: Saturday, May 27 at 8:30 pm ET
Where: Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, TX
TV / Streaming: MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app

Houston played up I-45 at FC Dallas last week and came home with the point in a 1-1 draw. The first half was mostly a conservative one, as neither team seemed that interested in pressing the action. FC Dallas got the first goal of the game when Jader Obrian tallied in the 53rd minute. It looked like that goal might stand, but then Houston drew level thanks to Thorleifur Ulfarsson’s equalizer in the 85th minute. FC Dallas outshot the Dynamo, 10-8 (4-2 on target) despite possessing for just 43% of the match.

Next up for Houston is a visit from Austin FC, 1-0 winners over Toronto at home last week. Austin had peppered the visitors with shots all day long, launching 16 (two on net) to just three for Toronto, and they had possessed for 63% of the match, forcing . However, they did not break through until US men’s national team player Gyasi Zardes tallied during injury time at the end of the second half. The match saw 25 fouls and seven yellow cards (four for Austin). Austin is just one point ahead of Houston in the standings, but the Dynamo have a match in hand. Houston to win.

Live Soccer Betting Odds For Today
Xbet Betting Lines for the Game

MLS Odds

Love betting Soccer? | Xbet Sportsbook offers up to date MLS lines

Previous Betting News

In the 2022 Major League Soccer season, the battle for New York looks like it could be the battle for the top slot in the Eastern Conference, as NYCFC leads the New York Red Bulls by a point – and NYCFC also has two matches in hand. However, Philadelphia and Orlando City also sit within two points of first place, while in the Western Conference, LAFC has 30 points to post the highest total in all of MLS, with Real Salt Lake two points back. Two Texas teams that rarely make much noise in the league, Austin and FC Dallas, sit at third and fourth place at this writing. Let’s take a look at some key matchups in the league this weekend, along with our soccer betting inclinations.

MLS News: Top Weekend Games

→ Saturday, June 25
Austin vs FC Dallas (9:00 pm ET)

Austin (8-3-4, 27 points) leads their in-state rivals by just two points, so FC Dallas (7-4-4, 25 points) would love to swoop back up I-35 after the match with three points from a crucial road win. However, the visitors are already showing signs of their annual summer swoon, as they took a 2-0 beating at home from Vancouver last Saturday. The Whitecaps opened the scoring just two minutes in with a tally from Lucas Cavallini, and then Deiber Caicedo doubled the lead just before halftime. FC Dallas launched 16 shots to just four from Vancouver but only put one on target, and they possessed for 68% of the game and forced five corners, but they could not generate quality chances and settled for shots from distance most of the night.

Austin went to Montreal last Saturday and picked up a gritty road win. Despite losing Daniel Pereira to a red card just before the half, Austin kept control and got the game-winner from Maximiliano Urruti in the 67th minute. Montreal possessed for 63% of the game and outshot Austin, 11-5 (2-2 on target). The Impact also generated five corners, but they could not convert. I see Austin following up on this momentum and creating distance between themselves and FC Dallas.

Final Score Prediction: Austin 2, FC Dallas 1

→ Sunday, June 26
LAFC vs N.Y. Red Bulls (3:00 pm ET)

The Western Conference leaders and the second-place team in the Eastern Conference meet in a possible MLS Cup preview. LAFC salvaged a draw in Seattle last Saturday. The Sounders got a goal in the 58th minute from Albert Rusnak, but then Cristian ARango equalized for LAFC in the 79th minute, and neither team could break the stalemate. Seattle outshot the visitors, 13-11, but LAFC had more on target (7-5). Possession was roughly equal, and the game was physical, featuring 25 combined fouls and three yellow cards. Seattle would like to start moving up the standings and improve their position for the postseason, and three points would have helped them out much more than the single point from a draw, and LAFC did well to match the intensity of the Sounders.

The Red Bulls did what top teams do – take care of business at home. Lewis Morgan found the back of the Toronto net just two minutes in, and then Luquinhas added the insurance tally in the 56th minute for the 2-0 win. The hosts led in shots (14-8), shots on target (4-3) and corners forced (5-4). So while Toronto possessed for 59 percent of the match, they could not turn that time into scoring chances. I see the Red Bulls heading west and causing LAFC some real problems, but not enough to take the win.

Final Score Prediction: LAFC 2, NY Red Bulls 2