2024 MLS Predictions, Picks and Betting Odds - Soccer Betting Preview August 24

MLS Match Betting Preview for August 24

WagerTalk MLS handicapper Nick Borrman presents his August 24 MLS match betting preview with predictions and best bets including Charlotte FC vs New York Red Bulls and Los Angeles Galaxy vs Atlanta United. 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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Charlotte FC vs New York Red Bulls | Saturday August 24 | 7:30pm ET

Charlotte +130 | Draw +235 | NY Red Bulls +180
Asian Handicap: Charlotte -0.25 | Total: 2.5

MLS action returns following the Leagues Cup break, well, for everyone but the four semifinalists. Both Charlotte and NYRB failed to make it out of their group, so they have been without game action now for three weeks and will be fully rested with plenty of time to prepare for this match.

Charlotte is the #1 Under team in the league with a 10-15 Over-Under record in league play thanks to a defense that has kept nine clean sheets this season.

Their offense has also been a big reason for their low totals as they have struggled to find the net often. They have been held scoreless six times, which isn’t terrible, but when they do score, it’s not often as they have scored more than one goal on only eight occasions in 25 matches.

At home is where they have been very difficult to score against keeping seven clean sheets in 12 matches while allowing only 1.10 xGA per 90 minutes.

For New York, they have the 3rd best defense according to xG, allowing only 1.15 per match while keeping seven clean sheets.

On the road has not been nearly as good as they have only kept two clean sheets, but against this weaker Charlotte offense, they should feel good about their chances to limit the home side.

Throw in the fact that they have had two extra weeks to prepare for Charlotte and I think we see a match void of many quality chances either way.

New York won the reverse fixture 3-1 at home but on a total of only 2.0 xG in a match that saw a combined total of just 22 shots. If we see similar shot and xG totals here, this one should have a good chance to stay Under the total.

MLS Prediction: Under 2.5 Goals (-110)

Houston Dynamo vs Toronto FC | Saturday August 24 | 8:30pm ET

Houston -155 | Draw +295 | Toronto +330
Asian Handicap: Houston -0.75 | Total: 2.75

Both teams were able to advance from their group in the Leagues Cup, but both were ousted in the round of 32 giving them two full weeks to prepare for this meeting.

Toronto started the season hot with just one loss in their first five matches, but have won only six matches since, with just two of those away from home.

Prior to their 1-0 win over Montreal in their final MLS match before the Leagues Cup break, they had been horrible defensively conceding a total of 33 goals in their previous 14 matches, keeping one clean sheet and winning only two matches.

That was their Achilles heel last season and while this year they have shown signs of improvement at times, their offense has still struggled mightily. Their 1.21 xG average is better than only five teams and, on the road, that drops to 0.91. Not a good omen travelling to Houston who have done a great job defensively at home.

The Dynamo have lost just two home matches this season thanks to their defense allowing ten goals in 11 matches, which only twice did they allow more than one goal.

The first time happened early this season when they were struggling with a busy schedule between Champions Cup and MLS play. Since then, Houston has held their opponents to one goal or less in eight of their nine home matches.

Houston isn’t a team that scores a ton of goals, but with their defense, they haven’t had to. But, considering how poor Toronto’s defense has been, especially on the road, they will be licking their chops here.

Houston beat a very good Real Salt Lake team 3-0 at home in the Leagues Cup group stage and I would not be surprised to see a similar score here.

MLS Prediction: Houston Dynamo -0.75 (-115)

Los Angeles Galaxy vs Atlanta United | Saturday August 24 | 10:30pm ET

LA Galaxy -145 | Draw +320 | Atlanta +280
Asian Handicap: LA Galaxy -0.75 | Total: 3.5

Atlanta had a forgettable Leagues Cup earning two draws and failing to make it out of their group. That wasn’t necessarily the worst thing in the world for this team as they are sitting 9th, in the final playoff spot in the East, and need to fully focus their efforts on a strong run to finish the MLS season. But traveling across the country to LA who have been fantastic at home is not ideal.

The Galaxy have been incredible at home this season with just one loss which came against their cross-town rivals, LAFC. Otherwise, nine wins and three draws in their other 12 home matches proves how tough it is to come here and win.

The Galaxy have scored 31 goals in 13 home matches and have averaged a whopping 2.38 xG per 90 minutes. They haven’t been great defensively though, keeping just two clean sheets, but they simply win with their offense.

Atlanta usually finds most of their success in Mercedez-Benz stadium and this season is no different with only two wins in 12 away matches. They also limped into the Leagues Cup break with three straight road losses allowing an average of 1.73 xGA in those three games.

Offensively has been even worse as they have scored only ten goals in 12 matches, including being blanked five times while scoring more than one goal just twice.

I don’t expect LA to hold Atlanta off the scoresheet given their own defensive concerns, which makes the total appealing to finish Over, especially the combo of Both Teams to Score + Over 2.5, but it’s priced a little too high at -175.

Instead, trust LA to continue to do their thing at home while Atlanta likely struggle once again on the road, especially traveling to the west coast where they have only visited the Galaxy twice since 2018.

MLS Prediction: Los Angeles Galaxy -0.75 (-110)

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