MLS Predictions Today – Odds & Picks for Matchday 26 (July 15)

• It’s the last matchday on Saturday, July 15, 2023 before Major League Soccer breaks for the Leagues Cup
• Top three teams meet in the East when Cincinnati host Nashville in one of the early evening games
• Get our top MLS picks and predictions for Week 26 below

The Leagues Cup is upon and with it comes a shut down of MLS play for the next month, but not before one more round of fixtures this weekend for MLS Week 26. It’s a massive card with 14 games and 28 teams all taking to the pitch on Saturday with only San Jose being on a bye. Check out the latest MLS odds plus all of our top MLS predictions today for Week 26 here.

MLS Odds Week 26

In the MLS odds for Week 26 the biggest favorites are Chicago (-154) over Toronto, St. Louis (-175) over Miami and Seattle (-143) over Dallas. One of the closest matches expected this weekend is the Minnesota vs LAFC match where the Loons (+150) and LAFC (+155) both have nearly identical odds. Odds from Bet365 as of July 14.

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MLS Picks Today

Our MLS predictions this week touch on five games from the 14-game card.

There are several streaks going coming into Week 26. On the positive, Columbus (8), NYCFC (8), RSL (8) and the LA Galaxy (7) are all riding impressive undefeated streaks. On the negative side, Miami (10), Charlotte (7), Toronto (7) and Portland (5) haven’t tasted victory in some time.

If you’re trying to find an edge with teams that were off on Wednesday versus teams that played, the rested teams include: Orlando, Charlotte, DC, NYCFC, Toronto, Miami, Columbus, Dallas and the LA Galaxy. The quirk there though is that all nine of those teams play on the road this weekend. And outside of Orlando at 4-3-3 and DC at 4-2-6, all have porous records away from home.

FC Cincinnati vs Nashville SC Picks

It’s 1st versus 3rd in the East when Cincinnati hosts Nashville on MLS Week 26. The teams are separated by ten points in the standings with FCC on 48 and Nashville with 38. FCC are the current favorites in the MLS Cup odds at +400.

Cincy went on the road and came away with all three points against the Red Bulls on Wednesday in a 2-1 win. They come back home to TQL Stadium now where they’re still undefeated this season at 10-1-0 while outscoring opponents 21-7. Their ten-game winning streak was halted on July 1 when they drew 1-1 with New England.

Meanwhile, Nashville played home to Philadelphia on Wednesday and fell 2-0. It was their second-straight defeat and fourth in their past five games. Nashville has failed to score in all four of those defeats and none of those five have seen goals from both teams. With Golden Boot leader Hany Mukhtar going scoreless in five games, the Yotes’ offense has gone ice-cold.

Cincinnati has trended to an Over team at 13-9 and have done so in each of their past five.

Nashville is one of the highest Under teams though at 15-8 and have gone Under in each of their past five.

It was an Under when these teams last played, a 1-0 Cincinnati win in Nashville back at the start of the season in March. It was also an Under last season when the teams drew 1-1 in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati is in incredible form right now as in 2023 across all competitions they’ve lost only two of 26 games and both of those came on he road. At home they have just one loss in their past 22 regular season home games and have scored in 27 straight home games as well. So it’s hard to bet on them losing this game. They should also see Matt Miazga and Brandon Vazquez back available for selection after the US was eliminated from the Gold Cup. New DP striker Aaron Boupendza could also potenially see some time in MLS Week 26.

Meanwhile, Nashville will be without fullbacks Daniel Lovitz and Shaq Moore who both received red cards on Wednesday.

• MLS Predictions: Cincinnati to win (-106); risk 1 unit at Caesars Sportsbook

Midweek was busy at the top of the Eastern Conference. #AllForCincy keep their winning ways out in front, with #NERevs looking to stay within reach. pic.twitter.com/VTI19w7uF5

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 13, 2023

Chicago Fire vs Toronto FC Picks

Don’t look now but the Chicago Fire are making a playoff push with back-to-back wins and wins in four of five. They won 3-0 at home over Montreal on Wednesday and 1-0 at home over Nashville last Saturday. They’re now in the final playoff spot in the East with 29 points in ninth, ten points ahead of Toronto in 14th with just 19 points.

The Fire will stay at home for this one where they’re 4-6-1 this season and have just that single defeat in their past 12 dating back to last season. They’ve scored a goal in 11 of those 12 at home.

Home or away, Bob Bradley or no Bob Bradley, TFC keep losing. They lost 1-0 at home to St. Louis last weekend. It was Toronto’s fifth straight defeat while being shut out in all five. They’re winless in eight, have just three wins on the season and just three wins in 29 going back to last season. Then there’s their road form. Just two wins in their past 36.

Federico Bernardeschi is still suspended,. But TFC should see the return of the players who were away at the Gold Cup. TFC also made a swap of midfielders this week trading Mark-Anthony Kaye to New England for Latif Blessing, but it’s likely not enough to save TFC here. The Leagues Cup break can’t come soon enough.

The Fire haven’t been a good team for some time now, so seeing them juiced to -150 for the win here in the MLS odds is rare. But that’s just how bad Toronto has been this year. It was 0-0 earlier this season in Toronto, but with the setting now switched to Soldier Field, I’ll take the Fire in my MLS predictions.

• MLS Predictions: Chicago to win (-150); risk 1 unit at Caesars Sportsbook

St. Louis City SC vs Inter Miami CF Picks

St. Louis are the league’s third-highest scorers entering Week 26 and the second-highest scorers at home. They’ve scored multiple goals in 7/11 home games this season.

Miami are not only the worst team in the overall standings (tied with Colorado), but they’re also one of the worst road teams. Away from home they’re just 1-1-8 and have been outscored 18-7. They’ve conceded a goal in every single one of those road games and multiple goals in four of their past five. Their past three road games have been a 2-2 draw, 4-1 loss and 3-1 loss. Reinforcements are on the way (Messi and friends) but for now they’ll just see Tata Martino making his debut as head coach on the sidelines.

St. Louis were shut on the road to LAFC on Wednesday with a rotated lineup, but had won three straight prior. They also welcomed back DP Eduard Lowen who got some action in the final 20 minutes and should feature more this weekend. Let’s bet goals from both teams here in our soccer picks.

• MLS Predictions: Both teams to score (-135); risk 1 unit at Caesars Sportsbook

Austin FC vs Sporting Kansas City Picks

It was 4-1 SKC earlier this season at Children’s Mercy Park. Austin won both meetings last season 4-2 and 2-0 and have now won three in a row over Sporting. Home teams are 4-1-1 overall when these teams meet as well.

If you like goals, this could be a candidate for the highest scoring game this weekend in my opinion. SKC is 15-9 to the Over, while Austin is 14-8. The Verde and Black have scored in 11 straight games and the Over is 9-2 in those games. For SKC, they’ve scored in 9/10 and the Over is 8-2 over that time.

Austin is coming off a 2-1 loss on Wednesday (VAN) and a 4-1 win (MIN) last weekend. Their two most recent home games were both 3-0 wins. Sporting have recorded back-to-back 2-2 draws with RSL and Houston is their past two games.

Both teams also have in-form strikers with Sebastian Driussi scoring five goals in nine games for Austin and Alan Pulido scoring nine goals in eight games for SKC. Driussi has also scored in all four games he’s ever played against Sporing.

Sporting KC has just one road win across all comps in their past 18, so I’d stay far away from a road win and instead stay in the goals market for the Austin vs SKC picks.

• MLS Predictions: Both teams to score & over 2.5 (-110); risk 1 unit Bet365

Battling with the best of the West. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/AGHkWoPluu

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 13, 2023

Vancouver Whitecaps vs LA Galaxy Picks

Vancouver currently find themsevles in the last playoff spot in the West in ninth with 28 points. While Los Angeles are looking to close the gap between themselves and the Whitecaps as they sit 13th with 22 points.

The Caps have been strong at home at BC Place all season. They kept that good form going on Wednesday beating Austin 2-1 to move their home record to 6-4-2. They will be out head coach Vanni Sartini on Saturday after he received a red card at the end of Wednesday’s match though. The Whitecaps have scored in all but one game at BC Place this season and in 14/15 dating back to last.

Riqui Puig has helped to spark the Galaxy’s resurgence with two goals and three assists during LA’s seven-game undefeated streak and has now scored in his last two games. The Galaxy may not have a ton of wins in that stretch being 3-4-0, but they are coming off back-to-back 3-1 and 2-1 wins over Philly and LAFC respectively.

Had you been riding the ‘both teams to score’ (BTTS) train with the Caps lately you’d be 10-2 in their past 12 games. A bet on Over 2.5 would be 9-3 in that time and BTTS and Over 2.5 would be 8-4.

Since the start of LA’s undefeated streak BTTS is 6-1, Over 2.5 is 5-2 and BTTS and Over 2.5 in a SGP is also 5-2.

It was 1-1 in March when these teams last met. Last season the scores were 3-0 Vancouver and 5-2 LA. This season’s 1-1 scoreline means both teams have scored in five of their past six meetings. Both teams rank top-nine, LA eighth and Vancouver ninth in shots on target and I’ll bet on goals once again here.

• MLS Predictions: Both teams to score & over 2.5 (-138); risk 1 unit at Bet365

Before making this week’s MLS predictions, check out the top US betting sites to get a great bonus for all of your MLS Matchday 26 picks.