MLS 2023 Week 9 Picks and Analysis

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MLS 2023 Week 9 Picks and Analysis
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To help get you ready for your Major League Soccer betting, we’re back for our picks for Week 9.

There are some battles in both conferences right now, with several teams just a few points from the top.

New York Red Bulls (+125) at Montreal (+200) 

The winless streaks of the New York Red Bulls and Montreal continued last week with Montreal losing at home to D.C. United, just as the Red Bulls tied with the Houston Dynamo.

Montreal has won more recently by stunning Philadelphia Union in a 3-2 win, but it still sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with 17 goals conceded. In fact, those three goals are the only goals Montreal has scored, and the Red Bull should win here. 

PICK: New York Red Bulls to win or tie and over 2.5 goals is +198 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Columbus Crew (+185) at Charlotte (+125) 

The Columbus Crew's unbeaten run extended to four games with 13 goals scored and just two conceded after a tie with the New England Revolution.

Charlotte is the underdog here at home, but Columbus has won just one of its eight games, and while the Crew has stayed unbeaten in the past four matches, Charlotte has failed to win and has conceded eight goals.

PICK: Columbus Crew to win and over 2.5 goals is +337 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Portland Timbers (+440) at Cincinnati (-195) 

Despite the odds heavily favoring Cincinnati in this clash, last weekend's results would beg to differ.

The Portland Timbers registered arguably the best win of the MLS this season by stunning the third-placed Seattle Sounders 4-1, just as St. Louis City smashed Cincinnati 5-1.

Cincinnati has conceded just one goal in four games, and with the team back at the TQL Stadium, we expect Portland to lose for the fifth time this season.

PICK: Cincinnati to win 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 is +210 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Toronto (+440) at Philadelphia Union (-190) 

After dominating the Eastern Conference in 2022, Philadelphia meets Toronto, having lost 50% of its MLS games already. Last weekend, Philadelphia tied the Chicago Fire 2-2. This means it's been five games since Philadelphia's last MLS win.

Toronto tied for the fourth game in a row last weekend against Atlanta United.

Despite the poor form, Philadelphia is an easy pick here.

PICK: Philadelphia to win, Daniel Gazdag to score anytime and both teams not to score is +465 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

D.C. United (+260) at Orlando City (-115) 

D.C. United finally got another win last weekend after Lewis O'Brien scored another goal in a 1-0 win at Montreal.

Orlando City also returned to the win column after beating the in-form Minnesota United. The win moved the Lions into seventh place with seven goals scored in seven games, and as D.C. has scored eight goals in eight matches, we expect a low-scoring match.

PICK: Orlando to win, both teams not to score and under 2.5 goals is +341 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Sporting Kansas City (+320) at New England Revolution (-140) 

New England has moved to the top of the Eastern Conference on goals difference after a tie with Columbus. It has also avoided defeat since losing to Los Angeles on March 13, scoring nine goals in the five games since.

New England faces Sporting Kansas City, which hasn't won in its eight games and has scored just two goals.

It makes this one an easy pick for the Revs.

PICK: New England to win 3-0 is +1400 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Dallas (+290) at New York City (-115) 

New York City got a fantastic win against Nashville last weekend and now sits two points behind Dallas in the standings.

Dallas has turned its form around dramatically after losing its first two MLS games of 2023, as the Hoops have beat Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake in the last two matches.

We give the edge to New York in this one, but we also expect a low-scoring game involving two evenly matched teams.

PICK: New York to win 1-0 is +650 with FanDuel Sportsbook.


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Inter Miami (+270) at Houston Dynamo (-115) 

After two 1-0 losses in a row for Inter Miami, the team now has a tough test against the Houston Dynamo, which has not conceded a goal at home all season.

Houston has beaten Austin, New York City and LA Galaxy at home, making this game an easy one to pick. 

PICK: Houston Dynamo to win 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 is +270 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Los Angeles (+165) at Nashville (+145) 

Despite an unbeaten start and another win against LA Galaxy, Los Angeles heads into this game as the underdog against Nashville.

Los Angeles is the underdogs because it's at Nashville, but it has won just two of its four home games.

LAFC has scored 15 goals and conceded only five, so we're picking them again.

PICK: Los Angeles to win, over 2.5 goals and Carlos Vela to score anytime is +508 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

St. Louis City (+230) at Colorado Rapids (+100) 

St. Louis returned to the win column with a stunning 5-1 win against in-form Cincinnati, which sat atop the Eastern Conference at the time. The victory was also Cincinnati's first loss of the season, and although the Colorado Rapids are the favorite here, we completely disagree with that.

The Rapids have scored five goals in eight games and tied with Charlotte last weekend. 

PICK: St. Louis City to win 2-1, 3-1 or 4-1 is +750 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

San Jose Earthquakes (+230) at Real Salt Lake (-105) 

The San Jose Earthquakes continue to stun the MLS the year with an incredible change in form from last year. After beating Kansas City 3-0, San Jose has now extended its unbeaten streak to four games, and despite Real Salt Lake being the favorite, it did lose last weekend.

Salt Lake has now conceded the most goals in the Western Conference with 16, while winning just two of its seven games.

It’s a tough one to call, so we’re heading for a tie.

PICK: A tie is +260 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Austin (+280) at LA Galaxy (-130) 

Austin and LA Galaxy have had terrible starts to 2023, but after losing another El Trafico against LAFC, the Galaxy remain winless.

They will have a great chance to get a win here with Austin scoring just six goals this season. Last weekend, Austin tied the Vancouver Whitecaps, 0-0.

Austin has gone four MLS games without a victory, so we’re backing LA Galaxy to finally win.

PICK: LA Galaxy to win 2-1 is +1300 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Minnesota United (+430) at Seattle Sounders (-185) 

The Seattle Sounders are going to be desperate for a return to the win column after a stunning 4-1 loss to Portland took the club down into third in the Western Conference. 

Seattle does, however, face off with a Minnesota United team that has lost its last two.

Seattle should get another victory here.

The Sounders' Raul Ruidiaz scored once more in the 4-1 loss to Portland, and he will likely have a say in this game.

PICK: Raul Ruidiaz to score anytime and Seattle Sounders to win is +154 with FanDuel Sportsbook.

Chicago Fire (+380) at Atlanta United (-170)  

Both Atlanta and Chicago tied last weekend, but the two remain in the top eight as a result. On the other hand, Chicago has only won two of its games so far, as Atlanta has secured four victories.

As this game is at Atlanta, we think the home team gets a routine win.

PICK: Atlanta to win 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 is +220 with FanDuel Sportsbook.