MLS Odds, Picks, Predictions for Week 19 (June 17)

• Six games is MLS will take place on Saturday, June 17, 2023
• A road team has only won twice in 25 all-time meetings between DC and RSL. Meanwhile, New England has lost just two of their past 22 home games
• See all of the MLS odds plus our top MLS predictions for Week 19 here

It’s a very short card in the MLS this weekend during the international break with just six games taking place on Saturday for MLS Week 19. The action gets rolling early though with NYCFC, winless in eight, hosting Columbus, winners of three straight at 3:30 pm EST. Nashville and New England are big favorites in the MLS odds, but did either make our top MLS picks for today? Read on for our best bets here.

We may not have a best bet on that afternoon match, but if you’re looking for a goalscorer prop, the Crew’s Cucho Hernandez has contributed to a goal in each of this past eight games with four goals and six assists. His 48 shots and 16 chances created (64 shots) are second to only the 66 of Atlanta’s Thiago Almada. At +162 to score anytime he could be worth a bet. Or if your book offers the goal or assist market for a shorter price, that could also be an MLS prop to target. While teammate Lucas Zelarayan who has four goals and five assists in his last six games would also typically be a good bet, he’s away on international duty with Armenia.

MLS Odds Week 19

In Saturday’s short Week 19 card, both Nashville SC (-150) and New England (-120) are odds-on favorites to win at home over St. Louis City and Orlando City respectively. MLS odds at Bet365. Claim your Bet365 bonus code this weekend to make your MLS best bets. Wondering where Bet365 is legal in the US? Bet365 can be accessed from CO, NJ, OH, VA and IA. Get all the info you need at the link above.

We went 3-1 last week in our MLS picks and will hope to add to that on Saturday before a quick turnaround that sees another 12 games taking place next Wednesday.

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Nashville SC vs St. Louis City SC Prediction

Only FC Cincinnati has more points than Nashville this season. No team has allowed fewer goals than the Yotes’ 12.

Across all competitions, Nashville has only lost once in their past 12 games. At home at GEODIS Park they’re 6-2-1 with 16 goals scored and only five conceded.

Including the USOC, Nashville is undefeated in eight home games and has won six straight while outscoring opponents 14-3.

In MLS play only, they’ve won four straight which is a team record, while being undefeated in nine, which ties a team record.

While we’re talking home form, Hany Mukhtar has been rolling all season and especially so at GEODIS Park where he has five goals and four assists in his last five home games. Overall, he’s tied in the Golden Boot race with 10 goals, along with 7 assists.

Mukhtar is priced at -110 odds to score at anytime in MLS Week 19.

St. Louis is sitting top of the Western Conference but drew 1-1 last week and lost 2-0 in their match prior. After winning their first three road matches to start the season, they’re 0-1-3 in their past four away from home while being outscored 7-1. They also recently lost on the road 2-1 in the USOC.

Nashville has the DNA of a team that gives St. Louis trouble. That of a team that sits back and counters like they do. Nashville is 23rd in average possession, while St. Louis is 29th. This one may not be pretty but I’m giving the edge to the home team.

• MLS Picks: Nashville win (-150), risk 1 unit at Bet365

With his next goal, @NashvilleSC’s Hany Mukhtar will become just the third different player to record at least 50 goals and 30 assists in a three-year span, joining Sebastian Giovinco and Robbie Keane, who accomplished the feat twice. pic.twitter.com/dyTOuFJEzV

— MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) June 15, 2023

Sporting Kansas City vs LAFC Prediction

Sporting Kansas City are surging up the standings, now in the final Western Conference playoff spot in ninth with 20 points. That comes after going undefeated in their past four games at 3-1-0, and off the back of last weekend’s 4-1 home win over Austin. Striker Alan Pulido had two goals and now has two goals and two assists over his past two games.

LAFC just played a home and away with the Dynamo, losing 4-0 in Houston last week and 1-0 at home on Wednesday. Including the CCL, they’re on an 0-1-5 slide, while being outscored 10-1.

Wednesday’s loss marked the fifth time in their last six games they’ve been held scoreless. A shocking stat when you consider there had only been five times in their previous 67 games across all comps where they had failed to score.

These teams played last month in Kansas City and split the points in a 1-1 draw. That extends LAFC’s scoring streak against SKC to nine games. The only time LAFC failed to score against SKC was in their first meeting back in 2018. However, Sporting themselves have scored in 8/10 all-time meetings.

The CCL letdown is in fullswing for Steve Cherundolo’s LAFC but how long can they be kept quiet? If you believe the scoreless rut will continue, there is some great value on SKC at home this weekend at +150 MLS odds.

Sporting have collected the most points in the Western Conference (17) over the past ten rounds. But clean sheets have been rare. They’ve allowed a goal in each of their past six games and in 11/12. But despite their slow start, SKC is starting to turn their many chances into goals. They’re seventh in shots and third in shots on target and have scored 11 goals in their past four games. But they’ve also allowed an xGa of 1.1 or more in each of those four and also in each of their past 11.

Ordinarily, I’d think LAFC could be the team to take advantage of those chances given up. But leading goalscorer Denis Bouanga is away with Gabon and he’s not alone. So too are Jose Cifuentes, Aaron Long, Denil Maldonado, Kwadwo Opoku and Diego Palacios who are with their national teams. Sure Carlos Vela and Stipe Biuk could still create some offense. But this team was already struggling and now they’ll be extremely shorthanded. In contrast, SKC is missing just one player to international duty.

Let’s ride the hot hand and take the home team for our SKC vs LAFC picks.

• MLS Picks: Sporting Kansas City win (+155), risk 1 unit at Caesars Sportsbook

Here’s something to do this weekend. 👇 pic.twitter.com/KIoNsSM7wP

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 16, 2023

San Jose Earthquakes vs Portland Timbers Prediction

San Jose won 2-1 at home last week over the Philadelphia Union, are undefeated in four and currently fifth in the West.

Portland are in a playoff position themselves in eighth and are coming off last week’s 1-0 home win over Dallas. That was a home win though. Road wins have been rare for Gio Savarese’s side. The Timbers are 1-3-5 away from home this season and have been outscored 17-8. Dating back into last season they have only one road win in 11 and three in their past 23 away games.

That trend may continue in San Jose where the Earthquakes are still undefeated at 6-2-0 (13 GF / 5 GA). Only FC Cincinnati at 9-0-0 have collected more home points than the Earthquakes. And only Houston (2) and Montreal (3) have allowed fewer home goals than San Jose’s five.

Last season we saw plenty of goals between these teams with both winning their home game, San Jose 3-2 and Portland 2-1.

Jeremy Ebobisse, an ex-Timber, has thrived in San Jose. He has seven goals and two assists this season. He’s scored 25 goals for the Quakes since being traded in August 2021. He’s +140 as an anytime scorer in the MLS props this weekend.

In eight home games for San Jose this season they’ve scored multiple goals in 5/8 and also in four of their past five. Let’s back San Jose over 1.5 teams goals in our MLS predictions.

• MLS Picks: San Jose over 1.5 (+100), risk 1 unit at Bet365