MLS Picks: Week 26 Betting Advice
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Last weekend saw another high-scoring group of fixtures take center stage in the MLS in what was another monumental week of action.
Nashville ran all over its playoff rivals Dallas, just as the MLS Cup champions returned to winning ways in Chicago.
Those inside the Top 7 can’t afford to drop any more points as the race for the playoffs heats up, and we’ve put together our betting advice for this huge set of games this weekend.
Game of the Week
New York City +175 at Orlando City +130
Although a derby in Ohio is worth noting between Columbus Crew and Cincinnati, the game between New York City and Orlando City makes the headlines for us as both teams cannot afford to lose.
Only two places in the Eastern Conference separate them, as New York sits third with Orlando in fifth. New York beat the Chicago Fire 2-0 last week and Orlando extended its winning run to two games with a win against Charlotte.
Now that New York broke its four-game winless run, we think it should have enough in the tank to get another three points on the road. It will be a close one, so we’re heading for a low-scoring win for the Pigeons.
New York City to win 1-0 is +1000 with DraftKings.
Best Bet of the Week
Inter Miami (+370) at New York Red Bulls (-160)
Inter Miami's rise into the playoffs will be put to the test when it meets with New York Red Bulls at the Red Bull Arena on Saturday. The Red Bulls are ahead of Miami by five points in the Eastern Conference and they should get the job done in this one despite the turnaround in form from Phil Neville’s team.
Miami is on an unbeaten run of five games, which has seen it defeat the improved Toronto, the MLS Cup champions New York City and tie with Eastern Conference hopefuls Montreal.
New York is going to face another tough test. Only New York City, Montreal and Philadelphia have scored more goals than the Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference. After it conceding just 33 goals, only the Columbus Crew and Philadelphia have better defensive records.
New York cannot afford to lose with the gap on those below them decreasing by the week, and we think the urgency to get all three points should be enough to see it beat Miami.
Philadelphia Union to win and over 2.5 goals is +300 at FanDuel.
Team of Last Week
Philadelphia Union
There were a few teams in this debate this week. Montreal defeated New England 4-0, Sporting Kansas City won 4-1 and Nashville recorded an impressive 4-0 victory against Dallas.
However, after smashing D.C. United 6-0, the Philadelphia Union is our pick for the team of last week.
Julian Carranza stole the show by scoring three goals and assisting one, as the Union had a total of 22 shots, with 12 of them hitting the target.
They scored a goal after 37 minutes, which means Philadelphia managed to score five goals inside 45 minutes thereafter. It is now top of the Eastern Conference by five points ahead of this week, and it will take something special to stop Philadelphia now.
Philadelphia to win 3-0 is +1200 with FanDuel.
Players to Watch This Week
Julian Carranza, Philadelphia Union
After netting a hat-trick against D.C. United, Carranza comes into this new week off of one of the best games an MLS player has had so far this season.
The 22-year-old was the main man in the 6-0 demolition over D.C. at the Audi Field, making him the first MLS player to take home the MLS Player of the Week honors twice in 2022. Carranza scored his first goal of the match in the 47th minute, before completing his hat-trick with two goals in the 70th and 74th minutes.
Carranza has now set a career-high with 12 goals and seven assists in 24 matches from 22 starts since joining from Miami. Better yet, the Argentine assisted on a goal in the 6-0 win, meaning he played a part in four of the six goals in the game.
Julián Carranza to score anytime is +150 against Colorado with PointsBet.
Hardest Game to Call
Seattle Sounders +150 at Portland Timbers +140
You know it’s a tough one to call when both teams are near enough the same odds to win the match heading into the game.
What's more, both Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers are on 33 points this season, but with contrasting results. The Sounders have won 10 games in contrast to Portland's seven, but they have scored fewer goals with just 35 compared to the Timbers' 43.
Portland is on a winless run of five games and Seattle has not won a game in its past three since beating Dallas 1-0. The two teams are adrift of the playoffs by one point, meaning a win could rocket either of them into the Top 7.
It does, however, look like a tie is on the cards with Portland and Seattle so close in the table.
A tie in this game is +250 with DraftKings.
Throw Ins
These are some other bets worth a look at on this week’s schedule:
- Minnesota to win 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 is +275 at BetMGM.
- Lorenzo Insigne to score anytime is +190 at PointsBet.
- A 0-0 or 1-1 tie between Orlando and New York is +340 at FanDuel.
- Exactly three goals scored in the game between Philadelphia and Colorado is +265 at DraftKings.
- Montreal to win the second half of the game against Chicago is +225 Caesars.
Power Rankings
- LAFC ↔
- Philadelphia Union ↔
- Montreal ↑
- Austin ↓
- New York City FC ↑
This Week’s Schedule with Moneylines (All Times Eastern)
Today
- LAFC (+125) at Austin (+165), 8 p.m.
- Seattle Sounders (+150) at Portland Timbers (+140), 10 p.m.
Saturday
- Houston Dynamo (+310) at Minnesota United (-145), 3:30 p.m.
- Inter Miami (+370) at New York Red Bulls (-160), 7 p.m.
- Toronto (+165) at Charlotte (+130), 7 p.m.
- Colorado (+400) at Philadelphia Union (-180), 7:30 p.m.
- Columbus Crew (+210) at Cincinnati (+105), 7:30 p.m.
- Montreal (+190) at Chicago Fire (+120), 8 p.m.
- San Jose Earthquakes (+270) at Kansas City (-125), 8:30 p.m.
- Real Salt Lake (+260) at Dallas (-110), 9 p.m.
- Nashville (+150) at Vancouver Whitecaps (+155), 10 p.m.
Sunday
- D.C. United (+440) at Atlanta (-210), 4 p.m.
- New York City (+175) at Orlando City (+130), 7:30 p.m.
- LA Galaxy (+210) at New England (+100), 8 p.m.
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