MLS Week 31 Odds & Picks

• MLS Week 31 offers up midweek action with 12 games on Wednesday with many teams still fighting for a playoff spot
• Both teams have scored in nine straight matches between the Dynamo and Galaxy
• Read on for the odds and our best bets from MLS Week 31

Wednesday night features a full slate of MLS action with 12 matches kicking off on MLS Week 31.

Having played Sunday night against SKC, the Vancouver Whitecaps will be one of the teams who have the shortest amount of rest of anyone playing on Wednesday. NYCFC, are in a similar boat, with one day fewer of rest as their opponents, Atlanta United. The Red Bulls, SKC and RSL are off in midweek.

MLS games are usually notoriously high-scoring and this season has been no different with an average of 2.75. As such, I’ve narrowed down a few games where I could see goals coming from on Wednesday. And while we’re focusing on a few of the “lesser” teams below, there are plenty of teams in good form worth betting on too.

MLS Week 31 Odds

Odds as of Oct 19 at DraftKings

The Philadelphia Union are undefeated in six games since falling out of CCL. They could offer some road value in Minnesota.

Nashville SC drew their fourth-straight match on Saturday with three coming by 0-0 scores. They’ve lost just three times all season and once in their past 11. Their opponents, current MLS Cup champs Columbus, may not even make the playoffs this year, but they are 3-1-1 in their past five. Perhaps another draw is in the cards.

Meanwhile, Atlanta hosts NYCFC which could be a match for the final playoff spot in the East. Atlanta has only been down at halftime four times this season, while NYCFC have been behind after 45 minutes just seven times. A half-time draw offers odds of +115.

Let’s look ahead to the odds and best bets from the MLS Week 31 schedule below.

Midweek MLS action heading your way! 👏 pic.twitter.com/YrTXWhcyPi

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 20, 2021

FC Cincinnati vs Chicago Fire Prediction

Of all of the MLS Week 31 games on Wednesday, this one is probably not going to be on many people’s TVs. Even if you have multiple screens, you’re probably not sacrificing one for Cincinnati vs Chicago at 7:30 pm EST. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t bet it.

Cincinnati is 14th in the East, while Chicago is 12th. Neither team is making the playoffs so there’s really no reason for either to hold back and be ultra-defensive here.

Cincinnati lost 1-0 at home to Orlando on Saturday, and have now scored just once in three games. They’ve also lost seven straight and 10/11. FCC are 4-8-17 on the season and at this point, no game looks like it should be a win for them. However, they are playing a Fire team that is almost equally as poor. And on the road, they are especially poor.

A career-best 6 saves for Gaga.

This one was tops 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vIQCNlGNt5

— Chicago Fire FC (@ChicagoFire) October 17, 2021

Chicago has just one road win this season and just one road win in 25 games. They did though hold the Supporters’ Shield leading New England Revolution to a 2-2 draw on Saturday at Gillette Stadium. Chicago has conceded in every single road game this season, minus their 1-0 road win over the Red Bulls. They’ve conceded multiple roads in each of their past five and in 10/14.

Cincinnati gives up the most attempts on goal in all of MLS and the fourth-most shots on target. While Chicago concedes the seventh-most shots on their own goal. When it comes to opponents’ touches in their own penalty area, Chicago ranks 26th and Cincinnati 25th.

The teams have played once earlier this season which was a 1-0 Cincinnati win in Chicago but I see a more open game this time around.

Pick: Both to Score & Over 2.5 (-125)

Top 4 remains the same 💪#ATLUTD soars 📈

Full rankings: https://t.co/0CG2comFa7 pic.twitter.com/KZZVFt8NK8

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 19, 2021

Houston Dynamo vs LA Galaxy Prediction

The Dynamo host the Galaxy at 8:30 pm EST Wednesday night in MLS Week 31.

The Galaxy gave their playoff hopes a jolt in the arm by defeating the Portland Timbers 2-1 with a 95′ minute winner on Saturday. That gives them 42 points, good for sixth in the West, one point above Minnesota in seventh and two above eight-placed Vancouver. It snapped a streak of nine straight games where LA had gone without a win.

WHAT A NIGHT 💥

Relive @SachaKljestan's late game heroics in our @Wingstop Match Recap pic.twitter.com/hVOsOi8hRd

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) October 19, 2021

Currently 11 points out of the playoffs, the Houston Dynamo aren’t likely to be playing into November but they are finishing the season strong. On Saturday they took down the Seattle Sounders 2-1 at home, making the Dynamo 3-2-2 (WDL) in their past seven. At home, Houston is 6-3-3, an undefeated 3-1-0 in their past four and have outscored opponents 8-3 in those past four.

These teams just played on September 21 and drew 1-1. It was their third third-straight 1-1 result between them. It was the ninth-straight game where both sides have scored in this matchup.

Considering both teams have scored in 70% of Houston’s games this season and 66% of LA’s, there’s a good chance that trend continues on Wednesday.

Pick: Both Teams to Score & 2.5 (-130)

San Jose Earthquakes vs Austin FC Prediction

This is probably the Western Conference version of the Cincinnati vs Chicago match we previewed above. The final game on the MLS Week 31 schedule sees tenth place San Jose hosting 13th placed Austin at 10:30 pm EST. Austin are certainly not making the playoffs. San Jose are very likely to miss out, as they are eight points back of seventh-place Minnesota. They’d also have to leapfrog both LAFC and Vancouver who are ahead of them.

It's a close race in the West! 😤 pic.twitter.com/LFc0LPA4l6

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 18, 2021

The Earthquakes did themselves no favors either by losing 3-1 in Los Angeles to LAFC on Saturday. It was their third-straight loss.

Austin has two wins in their past three games, but both of those came at home. That short winning streak was snapped Saturday in a 1-0 home loss to Minnesota. Austin had their chances though, mostly in the first half, and did finish with 19 attempts and eight shots on target. Away from Q2 Stadium Austin is 2-2-10 with seven goals scored compared to 22 allowed. They haven’t won on the road since May and are 0-2-9 since. During their current six-game road losing streak they’ve been outscored 13-1.

San Jose’s home matches average 2.9 goals per game, and they actually own the worst home record in the West.

These teams have met twice this season, both in Austin and both with very different results. In June, the teams drew 0-0. Then just a few weeks ago on September 18, San Jose won a wild 4-3 result. In that match Austin took a 3-1 lead into the half, however, three Earthquakes’ goals within the opening 18 minutes of the second half secured the three points for San Jose.

Austin is horrible away from home. But San Jose’s home advantage is minimal. Austin had 15 attempts and ten shots on target when they last met. Combined the teams put 18 shots on target. Anything similar, in a game where San Jose is fighting for their playoff lives, and Austin looking to finish the season strong, should see both teams finding the back of the net.

Both teams scoring offers -170 odds, adding the Over 2.5 brings the odds to -120. Or, simply backing the Over at -155 could be another way to go.

Pick: Over 2.5 Goals (-155)