The variance and unpredictability of Major League Soccer were on full display last week, as Portland and Minnesota pulled off shock upsets and the New York Red Bulls drew against the New York Red Bulls, forcing a managerial change.
Week 8 of the MLS season could bring more surprises. With US Open Cup matches the past few days and a mid-week slate coming up, some teams will have to rotate to navigate the congested schedule.
Here are our predictions and MLS picks for this weekend’s MLS slate.
Week 6 results: 6-8, -1.03 units
MLS SEASON: 47-56, -5.54 units
MLS moneyline picks for Matchday 8
| Game | Pick |
|---|---|
 Vancouver Whitecaps vs  Sporting Kansas City |
-667 |
 Toronto FC vs  Austin FC |
-108 |
 CF Montreal vs  New York Red Bulls |
+155 |
 Colorado Rapids vs  Inter Miami |
Draw +300 |
 FC Cincinnati vs  Chicago Fire |
+155 |
 Atlanta United vs  Nashville SC |
+115 |
 New England Revolution vs  Columbus Crew |
+200 |
 New York City FC vs  Charlotte FC |
Draw +270 |
 Orlando City vs  Houston Dynamo FC |
+155 |
 Philadelphia Union vs  DC United |
Draw +260 |
 FC Dallas vs  LA Galaxy |
+115 |
 Minnesota United vs  Portland Timbers |
-125 |
 Real Salt Lake vs  San Diego FC |
+100 |
 Seattle Sounders vs  St. Louis CITY SC |
-141 |
 Los Angeles FC vs  San Jose Earthquakes |
+400 |
Odds courtesy of Sports Interaction.
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Vancouver Whitecaps vs Sporting Kansas City
Pick: Vancouver (-667)
Vancouver is perhaps the best team in the league, and Sporting KC is awful. That’s why Vancouver is one of the most favored sides in MLS history this weekend. That said, this juice is absolutely not worth the squeeze, so please don’t bet this straight up—not at these odds.
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Toronto FC vs Austin FC
Pick: Toronto (-108)
Toronto is still stinging over allowing a stoppage-time equalizer to 10-man Cincinnati last weekend. They now host an Austin team that is winless in its last 5 MLS matches and just got knocked out of the US Open Cup on the road at Louisville City. Toronto has taken 11 of 15 points and will add to that tally here.
CF Montreal vs New York Red Bulls
Pick: New York Red Bulls (+155)
For the second season in a row, CF Montreal will finish April with a different manager than the one who started the season. Marco Donadel’s only result was a 3-0 shock away win over the Red Bulls. With Julian Hall’s form, I’m not expecting a repeat of that result.
Colorado Rapids vs Inter Miami
Pick: Draw (+300)
I can’t pass up backing Colorado Rapids getting a result at this price. They used multiple starters midweek in the US Open Cup at home, but they’re playing very well and have that high-altitude advantage. Replacing Javier Mascherano as manager won’t fix Inter Miami’s woes, with Rodrigo de Paul looking putrid. Inter Miami will get its sixth draw in seven matches.
FC Cincinnati vs Chicago Fire
Pick: Chicago Fire (+155)
This Chicago team is legit, posting consecutive clean sheet wins over Nashville and Atlanta. They face a Cincinnati side whose only wins this season have come over Montreal and Atlanta, and coughed up six goals to New England. I love this price even on the road.
Atlanta United vs Nashville SC
Pick: Nashville (+115)
I would run—not walk—to get Nashville at plus-money odds. Nashville isn’t far off Vancouver as one of the best teams in the league, and last week they claimed victory in Charlotte despite not starting Sam Surridge or Hany Mukhtar. This is a gift against an Atlanta United side that isn’t very good.
New England Revolution vs Columbus Crew SC
Pick: New England (+200)
I’m not passing on the Revs at this price. They showed a lot of fight in their 1-0 win over DC United last weekend, and the Crew lost striker Wessam Abou Ali to injury against Orlando. The Revs have outscored opponents 10-1 at home this season, bad news for a side trying to replace more than half its scoring output this season.
New York City FC vs Charlotte FC
Pick: Draw (+270)
Charlotte is in terrific form and was a bit unfortunate not to get a point vs. Nashville last week. Now Wilfried Zaha is back from suspension, and they’re facing an NYCFC side winless in their last three. Neither defense can keep a clean sheet, while NYCFC should win, I’m not sure I trust them to do so.
Orlando City SC vs Houston Dynamo
Pick: Houston Dynamo (+155)
Orlando came through with a +360 draw for us last week against the Crew, but I’m back to betting against them. Yes, Houston’s allowed 15 goals in their last five matches—but they also played four of the Top 10 teams in MLS in that span. Their defense isn’t great, but they’ll outscore this poor Orlando side.
Philadelphia Union vs DC United
Pick: Philadelphia (-120)
I still don’t trust this Union side, but this is a spot where they should win. They’ve had a week off since their first victory of the season away at Montreal, while DC United went 120 minutes—and lost—against One Knoxville in the US Open Cup on Wednesday night. Given the travel and how many starters went the full match, DC United’s fatigue will be their downfall as they lose for the fifth time in their last seven.
FC Dallas vs LA Galaxy
Pick: Dallas (+115)
The Galaxy were thumped 3-0 by Toluca on Wednesday night, and now travel to face a Dallas team with a week’s rest. Dallas is playing quite well, and only LAFC has defeated them thus far. I’m happy to get these odds for them to win at home.
Minnesota United vs Portland Timbers
Pick: Minnesota (-125)
Don’t look too much into Portland’s upset win over LAFC last week, given how heavily LAFC rotated their squad. The Timbers have been terrible away from home, and the Loons have allowed only one goal in two home fixtures. Portland’s allowing the second-most shots per game on the road, which should help Minnesota’s limited offense.
Real Salt Lake vs San Diego FC
Pick: Real Salt Lake (+100)
Playing 10 vs. 11 is a bold strategy, Cotton—but it’s not paying off for San Diego. They’ve seen a player sent off in four straight matches in all comps, including a 2-2 draw at home vs Real Salt Lake. Christopher McVey has seen three reds, including one in that match, and is suspended here. RSL dominated the second half in that meeting, and I’ll back them here.
Seattle Sounders vs St. Louis CITY SC
Pick: Seattle Sounders (-141)
The Sounders were knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday despite a 3-1 home win over Tigres. They had last weekend off and will feel good against a St. Louis side that, while unbeaten in three in the league, fell 1-0 at home to Seattle just last month.
Los Angeles FC vs San Jose Earthquakes
Pick: San Jose Earthquakes (+400)
This is a value play. We are likely to see some rotation again from LAFC following their away trip to Cruz Azul on Tuesday night, where both Denis Bouanga and Heung-min Son started. San Jose has already won away at Vancouver, and a price of +400 is far too high given their quality.
