2024 MLS Predictions, Picks and Betting Odds – Soccer Betting Preview June 22

MLS Match Betting Preview for June 22

WagerTalk MLS handicapper Nick Borrman presents his June 22 MLS match betting preview with predictions and best bets including Columbus Crew vs Sporting Kansas City and FC Cincinnati vs New England Revolution. Which teams is he looking to pick up points and which will have high or low scoring matches? Read his MLS betting preview Now

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Columbus Crew vs Sporting Kansas City | Saturday June 22 | 7:30pm ET

Columbus -225 | Draw +360 | Kansas City +475
Asian Handicap: Columbus -1.25 | Total: 3.0

Let’s start with missing players as we are smack dab in the middle of summer international tournaments. Good news for SKC fans is that they don’t have any international call-ups so they will be at full strength for this match while the Crew are close to full strength with just one key player missing in Jacen Russell-Rowe.

Their two most important offensive weapons though, will be on the pitch in Cucho Hernandez, who scored again on Wednesday, along with Diego Rossi.

Looking at the data, SKC’s offense isn’t very good as they average only 0.98 xG per match, which is the 2nd fewest in the league, and worrisome in terms of scoring when it comes to this bet. But they have managed to score more often than not, as they have only been held off the scoresheet twice this season including scoring in eight straight.

SKC has lost six straight away games, allowing at least two goals in five of those six, but that’s just on the road. Overall, they have conceded in 16 straight matches, a total of 38 goals, while keeping just one clean sheet all season. They have now conceded four goals in back-to-back matches with both games averaging a combined 5.35 xG.

Columbus was caught in a slow start at Miami on Wednesday and suffered a 1-2 loss at the short-handed Herons. That was just their second loss of the MLS season, and only third if you count their run to the final in the Champions Cup.

If the Crew are to rebound here, it will certainly start with their offense as they have scored 13 goals over their last six matches including at least two in four of their last five. Defensively though they have managed just one clean sheet since April and only one at home since March.

In an odd schedule twist, Columbus hasn’t played a home MLS match since May 11, a run of five straight away games. I expect Lower.com Stadium to be rocking this weekend which will help fuel Columbus and hopefully bring along the goals with it.

MLS Prediction: Both Teams to Score + Over 2.5 Goals (+100)

FC Cincinnati vs New England Revolution | Saturday June 22 | 7:30pm ET

Cincinnati -195 | Draw +320 | New England +450
Asian Handicap: Cincinnati -1.0 | Total: 3.0

Aside from one loss to Nashville, Cincinnati has been on a roll, winning nine of their last ten matches and I like them to do that again here against the worst defense in the league.

You can lay the -1.0 goal handicap if you prefer, but I’m recommending Cincinnati & Over 1.5 combined goals in the match because Cincy’s defense has left something to be desired as of late.

Cincy started their current run with a ton of success thanks in large part to their defense. They won six straight matches without allowing more than one goal while scoring only two goals or fewer in their first five matches.

However, since then, they have allowed at least two goals in four straight matches but have overcome that in three of those games as they have scored at least three goals in four of their last five, including four goals on three separate occasions.

Most impressively, following their 0-2 home loss to Nashville, they rebounded in a big way with back-to-back wins scoring four goals in each. Their offensive confidence is high to say the least.

New England has had the worst defense all season and while it was easy to make an excuse for them early as they were juggling both MLS and Champions Cup duties, they haven’t improved since being ousted from the Champions Cup.

They won four of their ten matches since the end of that competition, but they have allowed 18 goals including three to Philly, and four each to NYRB and Miami.

Their 1.93 xGA average per match is worst in the league and that number balloons to 2.76 away from home, also the worst in the league.

Cincinnati team total is priced at -200 and if you believe they score two goals here, then they also likely win the match as New England struggles to score with just ten goals in their last ten matches including being held to one goal or fewer on seven occasions.

So, the combo of Cincinnati to Win and Over 1.5 combined goals is a much better price and value than their Team Total.

MLS Prediction: FC Cincinnati + Over 1.5 Goals (-135)

New York Red Bulls vs Toronto FC | Saturday 6/22 | 7:30pm ET

NYRB -175 | Draw +310 | Toronto FC +400
Asian Handicap: NYRB -1.0 | Total: 2.75

Toronto was the worst team in the league last season and while they have improved with seven wins already this season (they had only four all last season), their defense is not one to be trusted right now.
Somehow, Toronto kept four clean sheets in their first five matches, but since have conceded 30 goals in their last 14 matches.

They have been especially poor as of late, allowing 18 goals over their last eight matches including at least two in six of those games.

Their xGA confirms those numbers as Toronto allowed 1.17 xGA in their first 11 matches but has risen to 1.54 over their last eight. Directly correlated, they have only one win in those eight games.

The Red Bulls were a statistically unlucky team last year allowing just 0.99 xGA, the 2nd best mark in the league, yet barely made the playoffs and were knocked out in the first round.

This year though, the results have come with nearly identical numbers as they have allowed an ever-so-slightly higher 1.06 xGA per match, but that now ranks 1st in the league. Their defense is no fluke.

At home, New York is unbeaten in eight matches, allowing a total of only five goals including keeping four clean sheets. Only once have they allowed more than one goal.

I believe a return to Red Bull Arena will get them off the schneid of their three-game winless run. Despite scoring only two goals in those three matches, their chances created numbers showed a much higher 5.6 xG tally suggesting they could have scored several more. Especially considering they had scored 13 goals over their previous five matches.

MLS Prediction: New York Red Bulls -1.0 (+105)

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