Daily MLS Predictions & Picks – MLS Bets Today: Predictions for the Championship Matchup

Our MLS expert breaks down his top plays and predictions for today’s slate of games below! Find out the picks @NorthSideCapper is eyeing.

MLS Best Bets Today – November 5, 2022

Los Angeles FC vs. Philadelphia Union Pick: Los Angeles FC Moneyline | -130 on BetRivers

4 p.m. ET

It all comes down to this. These are the 90 minutes every club in the MLS has fought for over the duration of the campaign. We’re down to two teams who will battle it out for MLS supremacy. In all fairness to the other teams in the league, this is EXACTLY who should be in the finals. These two clubs were the most dominant throughout and have rightfully earned their spot in this matchup.

The Los Angeles FC welcome the Philadelphia Union to Banc of California Stadium in what should be an absolute thriller of a Final. LAFC took care of business in the Semi-Finals against Austin FC in what was a dominating 3-0 victory.

Things were tight well into the second-half until an own goal by Austin FC gave the LAFC a 2-0 lead they never looked back from. While there was some controversy involving what should have been an Austin FC penalty that was not given shortly after the second LAFC goal , the final result was never truly in question.

Winners of 11 of the last 13 MLS matches played in front of their fans, their star studded lineup will look for one more victory to claim the crown in front of the Los Angeles faithful – that said, it won’t be easy against a Philadelphia side who at times were just as dominant.

Victories over FC Cincinnati (1-0) and New York City (3-1) have seen Philadelphia breeze through the playoffs and into the finals where they will encounter their toughest challenge yet. Their first game these playoffs away from Subaru Park will question their desire to win, although that hasn’t proven to stand in the way of the Union on their trips to Los Angeles in the past. In their past three visits, they have earned two draws and lost once – that being a 4-1 defeat back in 2018 (hardly relevant to the context of this match).

While we think it’s fair to assume we can expect goals given the style of play during the season within these clubs, the Over 2.5 is worth a look, but with the concern being this is a final – a potentially more cautious approach can alter the number of goals we may see.

We’re keeping it simple here – Los Angeles FC on the Moneyline. There’s something special about this squad. Their home dominance throughout the season combined with the veteran stars in this line up who know what it takes to win leaves us with only one result in mind. Los Angeles – start planning the parade.

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MLS Best Bets Today – October 23, 2022

Austin FC vs. FC Dallas Pick: Both Teams To Score | Shop for the Best Odds Below!

8 p.m. ET

A place in the MLS Finals awaits the winner of this matchup as Austin FC welcomes FC Dallas to the Q2 Stadium in Austin. Two squads that finished side-by-side in the Western Conference Standings with 56 points (Austin) and 53 points (Dallas), respectively, will fight for state bragging rights under the bright lights in what should be a thrilling Semi-Final fixture.

Austin FC encountered Real Salt Lake in their Round 1 matchup, playing to a 2-2 draw in the first 90 minutes of gameplay before narrowly squeaking by via the penalty shootout that saw Real Salt Lake miss three of the four shots taken while burying all three of their own.

Prior to that match, Austin had been searching for form having won three of their last 10 matchups — scoring in seven of those 10 but only scoring 2 goals or more in three of those 10 — a far cry from the offensive juggernaut we witnessed early on in the season led by star forward Sebastian Driussi.

Across the field, we have FC Dallas who took a similar path to the semi-finals as their opponent. A 1-1 draw through 90 minutes with Minnesota United FC led to a penalty shootout seeing FC Dallas advance. If Dallas encounters another shootout during the remainder of the playoffs, they will take confidence in their ability to put all five attempts past the Minnesota goalkeeper.

Dallas has proven capable of producing in its opponent’s final third, scoring at least once in eight of their last 10 fixtures leading up to the playoffs and giving us further confidence in the direction of our wager tonight.

While a tight affair is expected, one thing we should be able to count on is both clubs finding the back of the net at least once. Their last four head-to-head encounters have seen both teams score at least one goal while having done so in both matches played in Q2 Stadium -—a 5-3 Dallas victory in August of 2021 and a 2-2 draw in June of this year.

With both teams in good form offensively, we expect to see each side on the scoresheet — possibly ending in another shootout if the first round was any indication of things to come.

MLS Best Bets Today – October 20, 2022

Philadelphia Union vs. FC Cincinnati Pick: Both Teams to Score | -157 at BetRivers

8 p.m. ET

The MLS enters the Quarter Finals with two exciting matches on the slate. We’ve got our eyes focused on one tonight as the Philadelphia Union welcome FC Cincinnati to Subaru Park in a clash of two squads in good form and a thirst for goals.

The Union enter their Quarter Finals matchup off the back of a dominant 1st Place finish in the Eastern Conference (9 points ahead of second placed CF Montreal) and an impressive 4-0 victory over Toronto FC in their final tune up for the playoffs.

A +72 Goal Differential was league-leading, which came in the form of 72 goals scored and a mere 26 conceded. While their defensive backline was absolutely brilliant throughout the year, they did show some minor cracks in the last few games, conceding four times in their final 10 MLS matches.

While that doesn’t seem like much (and it’s not), we’re not asking much from Cincinnati today to help cash our wager – who by the way doesn’t need much of an invitation to score the ball as we have seen.

FC Cincinnati probably aren’t serious title contenders, at least if you choose to measure contenders via the final Standings, where they finished in sixth place and a whopping 18 points behind their opponent today. Their Goal Differential fails in comparison to the Union sitting at +8, but again, we’re looking for goals.

With 64 goals to their name this season, Cincy is as clinical as anyone in the MLS when it comes to taking their chances and burying them in the final third. If there is any hope for Cincinnati to compete tonight, they will look to their star Forwards Brenner and Brandon Vazquez, who contributed 18 and 19 goals respectively. They are both more than capable of breaching any back four in the MLS.

While a lot of the history can be thrown out the window come playoff time, it is important to note when these squads have faced off head-to-head recently, they’ve scored in three of their last four and considering what’s on the line today, we think both Philadelphia and Cincinnati score.

Both Teams To Score in what SHOULD be an entertaining fixture for viewers across the Globe is a must-bet.

MLS Best Bets Today – October 16, 2022

CF Montreal vs. Orlando City SC Pick: CF Montreal Moneyline | -136 on BetRivers

8 p.m. ET

Montreal finished the campaign as one of the hottest clubs in the MLS. Winners of eight of their last 10 to close out the season, their confidence is soaring at heights never seen before in Montreal. Their strong end to the season allowed them to claim second place in the Eastern Conference – a mere twp points behind power house Philadelphia Union.

This strong finish has set them up with the opportunity to play in front of their fans for this first round match up. Unfortunately, Saputo Stadium hasn’t proven to be the fortress this season many have come to know it as. Having won only five of their last 10 matchups at home and two of the last five head-to-head encounters in Montreal, Orlando should have a sense of optimism heading into this crucial tie.

Speaking of Orlando – inconsistency is a word that would be fair to use when describing this team. Heading into the final stretch of the season, Orlando racked up five straight wins between August 13 – September 7, only to lose four of the next six to close out the season.

Fortunately, they did end the year on a high with a narrow 2-1 victory over Columbus Crew and will look to use that as momentum this weekend North of the border.  If a positive result is going to be achieved, Orlando will have to correct their poor road form that saw the team lose three straight while conceding 11 times in that span.

This should be an exciting match up and one that Orlando has had success with in recent history, but Montreal’s form heading into the playoffs is simply too impressive to overlook. We’re riding with Montreal to continue their dominance on the pitch and take advantage of what was a poor finish overall for Orlando.

Montreal moneyline is the play here.