MLS Week 34 Odds & Picks: Minnesota United vs Sporting KC, FC Dallas vs Austin FC & More

• MLS Week 34 features 11 matches this weekend with six on Saturday, four more on Sunday and one on Monday
• SKC’s Johnny Russell has scored in eight-straight matches
• Read on for the odds and our best bets from MLS Week 34

The penultimate round of MLS fixtures kicks off this weekend in MLS Week 34. There are still plenty of playoff positions to be decided in both the East and West to be played out during this weekend’s 11-match card.

There are a few rested teams this weekend who didn’t play in midweek action. Those include Montreal, Houston and Austin. The round of fixtures will conclude on Monday night with an important match between the Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy, which could see the return of Jordan Morris to the Sounders’ lineup.

Meanwhile, the New England Revolution secured MLS history on Wednesday, defeating Colorado and setting the new all-time points record at 73.

Let’s look ahead to the odds and best bets from the MLS Week 34 schedule below.

MLS Week 34 Odds

Odds as of Oct 29 at DraftKings

FC Dallas vs Austin Prediction

Saturday’s MLS Week 34 matches end with a Texas Derby between FC Dallas and Austin FC at 8:00 pm EST.

Dallas has already claimed the season series between their new in-state rival. They won 2-0 at home in the first meeting and 5-3 in Austin in the second. They’d like nothing more than to sweep the series against the expansion side. Although Austin will still be motivated to end their first MLS season strong.

After being run off the pitch 4-0 in San Jose and dealing with questions on if the team had quit, Austin responded well by defeating the Dynamo 2-1 at home in their next match.

I’ve seen Ricardo Pepi linked with a number of clubs — Ajax, Dortmund, Wolfsburg — but think Fiorentina makes the most sense out of any possible destination. Ambitious project with an attack-minded manager, and a team that are set to lose Dušan Vlahović next year. https://t.co/xrqrKJQmtV

— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) October 28, 2021

But that was at home. Their home-road dichotomy is very distinct. They’re 6-2-8 (WDL), with 24 goals scored and also allowed at home. They’re 3-0-2 with 9GF/7GA in their past five at home. But on the road, they are 2-2-11 with just seven goals scored and 26 allowed on the year. Their past five road games have seen them go 0-0-5 while being outscored 13-1. In fact, they’ve scored just twice in their past 11 road games.

Dallas was in action midweek and were leading RSL 1-0 until coughing up goals in the 80′ and 90′ minutes to suffer a 2-1 defeat. FC Dallas are now winless in ten at 0-4-6.

Both teams have scored in ten of Dallas’ last 12 matches, so that could be a play at -210 but won’t offer much of a return.

There's a lot to be proud of from our win against Houston. These guys don't stop fighting and it paid off on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/SyT2ORamnX

— Austin FC (@AustinFC) October 27, 2021

In an odd standings quirk, all three of the Texas teams rank at the bottom of the Western standings. Houston ranks 11th with 30 points, followed by Dallas with 29 and Austin at 28. So if either of these teams values finishing atop the Texas dumpster fire this season, this game could be more exciting than it looks.

Picking a winner here is tough. Dallas is tied for the second-worst home record in the league. While Austin is tied for the second-worst road record. With only seven road goals all season I’d lean to a Dallas home win. But this one could open up with little on the line.

Pick: Dallas Over 1.5 Team Total (-160)

Minnesota United vs Sporting KC Prediction

Sunday’s matches on MLS Week 34 kick off at 1:00 pm EST with Minnesota hosting Sporting Kansas City.

Sporting are now in the pole position for claiming first overall in the West. This, after Wednesday’s 2-0 home win over the LA Galaxy. Johnny Russell scored both of SKC’s goals, now giving him 14 on the season. He’s hit his purple patch with goals in eight-straight games, plus ten tallies in those eight games. Russell as an anytime scorer in this game is priced at +180.

The man can't be stopped. 🔥

Johnny Russell's brace extends his scoring streak to eight games! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 pic.twitter.com/XPJxjyZA7f

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 28, 2021

SKC is tied with 58 points alongside the Seattle Sounders for first overall in the West, however, have played one fewer game. They also hold the goal-differential advantage. Sporting are 6-0-2 in their past eight. The Over 2.5 is 6-2 in that span.

Meanwhile, Minnesota enters this game fighting for their playoff lives. They’re sitting in eighth in the West with 45 points, tied with RSL who have now leapfrogged them in the seeding for the final playoff spot. Minnesota fell 2-1 in Vancouver, while RSL won 2-1 at Dallas on Wednesday. RSL has also played 31 games, compared to the 32 games played by Minnesota and all others fighting for that seventh spot.

The last four meetings between these teams have seen clean sheets. SKC won at home 4-0 in the last meeting this season, while the teams drew 0-0 in Minnesota in the first meeting. Two of the three meetings last year ended 3-0 (MIN win in SKC) and 1-0 (SKC win at home).

Story: Emanuel Reynoso is the type of player who can put a team on his back, and #MNUFC needs its star No. 10 now more than ever.

“We’re going to fight,” Rey told ⁦@PioneerPress⁩ in an interview on many topics — #MLSCupPlayoffs chief among them. https://t.co/9qnPIdNuQ7

— Andy Greder (@andygreder) October 29, 2021

For different reasons, there’s plenty on the line for both teams in this one. Minnesota needs the points and they should be able to find the scoresheet as SKC has failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their past four matches. The Loons are rarely held off the scoresheet at Allianz Field having scored in 13/16 home dates this season. But SKC and Russell are in too good of form to be held off the scoresheet themselves either.

With neither wanting to risk defeat and neither being great first-half teams, a first-half draw (+125) could be another way to attack this game. SKC are 7-2-7 after the opening 45 minutes, while Minnesota is 5-6-5.

Both to score is priced at -170 while adding a third goal to that market bumps your odds to -115.

Pick: Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 (-115)

Philadelphia Union vs FC Cincinnati Prediction

The Union sit third in the East with 50 points and will be hosting bottom side Cincinnati at 7:30 pm EST Sunday night in the final game of MLS Week 34.

Philly won the only meeting played previously this season, 2-1 in Cincinnati.

The Union were leading in Toronto on Wednesday, only to be set back 2-1, before drawing level 2-2 in the later stages of the match. That makes them 5-3-1 in their past nine.

The Union have been solid on their home pitch all year at 10-3-3. They’ve scored 26 while only conceding ten times in 16 home games all season. Philadelphia have won each of their past four at Subaru Park, keeping a clean sheet in each of their past three.

Just a few games to go, the Eastern Conference race is going to come down to the finish. 🏁 pic.twitter.com/Z8tUoENfrO

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 28, 2021

Cincinnati did something on Wednesday they’d only done on two prior occasions this season. That was score three goals. They led Nashville at home 3-2 at the half. Both of those previous three-goal outputs resulted in losses. And Wednesday proved to be no different. Nashville exploded for three more goals in the second half on their way to a 6-3 win.

That dropped FCC to 0-0-10 in their past ten. They’ve conceded multiple goals in eight of those ten losses and have been outscored 32-13 during that stretch.

That’s awful and in Philadelphia’s final home regular season game, with a chance to still grab the second seed in the East, while also needing to maintain their spot in the top four on the line, I see a straightforward Union win.

Pick: Philadelphia -1.5 (-115)