The MLS odds for Week 1 above list Austin FC as the biggest favorites at home to expansion side St Louis, as well as FC Cincinnati at home to the Houston Dynamo. FCC bettors can still get plus-money on each of Brandon Vazquez, Brenner and Luciano Acosta to score in that game; all of whom finished with double-digit goals last season. The lone Sunday matchup sees Seattle as -135 favorites at home to Colorado. With an odd amount of teams this season at 29, the Chicago Fire will be the one team on bye this week. Meanwhile El Trafico at the Rose Bowl has been postponed due to inclement weather in Los Angeles. Odds from February 24 at FanDuel Sportsbook. Be sure to claim the latest to bet on this weekend s MLS odds.
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MLS Predictions Stats for Week 1
Last year in Week 1 there were 35 goals in 14 games. Over/Unders were 7-7 and both teams scored in five of those 14 games.
However, overall, the average goals per game last year was 2.96. A final score of 2-1 was the most common scoreline with 59 games (12%) of finishing with that result. 80 percent of games went over 1.5 goals, while 58 percent went over 2.5.
Home advantage plays a big role in MLS with 49 percent of all games being won by the home team last season. Away wins and draws happened 26 and 25 percent respectively. The other common trend in this league is goals from both sides. Only five teams (Philadelphia, Charlotte, NYCFC, Chicago and DC) saw fewer than 50 percent of their games featuring goals from both sides. There were 15 teams that had 60 percent or more of their games having both teams scoring. FC Cincinnati (24 games), Atlanta United (24) and Portland all went over 70 percent. All said, 59 percent of MLS games saw goals from both sides in 2022.
Why is all this important? It s to say that while picking outright winners in MLS can often be hard with so much parity, you can find trends to follow. It s not the league to usually go looking for big road underdogs to cash. It is a league that usually serves up plenty of scoring, making it great for neutrals. And with us only being in Week 1 and not having seen some of these teams or new players in action yet, we re taking a conservative approach to our MLS predictions for Week 1 here. It s a strategy that s worked, leaving us .
DC United vs Toronto FC Prediction
Recent results between these teams have read 2-2, 2-1, 3-1, 7-1, 2-2, 2-2, 5-1 and 1-1. See a trend? It s goals coming from both sides.
Toronto conceded a goal in 31/34 games last season, on their way to allowing the third-most goals in the league at 66. They worked on improving the defensive side of the ball this offseason by clearing house in net and bringing in MLS Cup-winning and USMNT keeper Sean Johnson from NYCFC. TFC also signed FC Dallas captain and veteran CB Matt Hedges and brought in LB Raoul Petretta from Turkey and CB Sigurd Rostred from Denmark.
Offensively, with Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi, they should put up plenty of offense. TFC also added Adama Diomande from LAFC at striker. The starting XI looks strong, but beyond that the main questions are depth.
While pre-season doesn t count for much, the early returns look much like how last season ended. Their results have been: 3-0 (L), 2-1 (L), 2-2 (D) and 2-1 (L). TFC now hasn t tasted victory in ten overall matches.
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DC could be looked at similarly to TFC. After all, these teams did finish 13th (Toronto) and 14th (DC) last season in the East. DC allowed the league s most goals with 71. Their preseason results have read 3-2 (L), 2-1 (W) and 2-1 (L). They allowed a goal in 28/34 games last season.
United made tons of moves this offseason with players coming and going as manager Wayne Rooney looks to put his stamp on the team. Polish international and formers Leeds No. 10 Mateusz Klich joins a midfield with tons of question marks. But a forward unit that didn t resign second-leading scorer Ola Kamara still has plenty of attacking firepower with Christian Benteke and Taxi Fountas. However, winger Martin Rodriguez is done before the year even starts with an ACL injury in preseason.
Right now there s nothing point to this being anything different than what we usually see from these teams.
MLS Predictions: Both teams to score (-165), risk 1 unit at Caesars Sportsbook
