MLS Betting Preview: Predictions, Picks and Odds For Saturday June 3

Betting Preview for MLS Saturday June 3

WagerTalk MLS handicapper Nick Borrman presents his Wednesday May 31 MLS predictions and picks around key matches including Columbus Crew vs Charlotte FC and Philadelphia Union vs CF Montreal. Which teams is he looking to pick up points and which will have goal scoring? Read his betting preview now!

Columbus Crew vs Charlotte FC | Saturday June 3 | 7:30pm ET

Charlotte -165 | Draw +310 | Charlotte +380
Asian Handicap: Columbus -1.0 | Total: 2.75

I faded Charlotte last week and while the play ultimately settled as a Push, I was happy with the wager considering Charlotte were able to generate just 0.2 xG in the match and never really posed a threat to score.

They did a solid job at containing Philadelphia though, but now face another strong offense in consecutive matches which likely spells trouble.

The Crew scored three goals in a 3-2 win over Colorado on Wednesday as they continue their torrid scoring form at home, netting 21 goals through eight matches, which is the most in the league.

Their xG numbers back up their actual goals as they average 2.0 xG per 90 minutes which ranks 4th while their 0.84 xGA also ranks 4th. That is just a fancy way of saying Columbus is a very good home side.

Charlotte meanwhile continues to rank near the bottom in several areas:

1.04 xG – 24th
1.49 xGA – 24th
10.1 Shots for – 28th
3.4 on Target – 26th
12.0 Shots allowed – 12th
4.7 on Target – 21st

They have played better defensively on the road of late, allowing only two goals over their last three matches after conceding 12 in their first five.

However, they took advantage of a red card vs Atalanta to limit the Three Stripes, somehow kept a clean sheet vs the Galaxy despite allowing 1.70 xGA, and I already mentioned the decent job they did vs the Union. But against an offense like the Crew has, I would be shocked if Columbus doesn’t net at least two in this match.
Speaking of which, the Over is another solid option here. Charlotte has an 11-5 Over/Under record while Columbus is 9-6.

Prediction: Columbus -1.0 +100

New York Red Bulls vs Orlando City SC | Saturday June 3 | 7:30pm ET

NY Red Bulls -125 | Draw +255 | Orlando +320
Asian Handicap: NYRB -0.5 | Total: 2.25

And another ‘Under’ bites the dust. I’m running out of clever sayings to begin every time I preview a NY Red Bulls Under, which is literally every match right now.

After playing to just their 2nd Over of the year against Montreal two weeks ago, everything is back to normal as the Red Bulls have rebounded with back-to-back Under matches against Seattle and Miami, bringing their season Over/Under record to 2-14.

Yes, that’s an 87.5% win percentage if you just bet the Under in each of their matches. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

I’ll continue to echo the same trends that I do every week. New York have the best defense in the league according to xG, allowing just 0.90 xGA per 90 minutes, as they are one of only two teams in the league allowing less than 1.0 per match along with Nashville. Where they have been failing is offensively which was once again the case against Inter Miami.

NYRB put up 2.3 xG against Miami but scored just one goal. They did, however, still manage to win the match. For the season, they remain the biggest underperformer in the league, scoring just 11 goals on 21.8 xG.

Orlando has been an average team across the board this season with their biggest weakness coming offensively as they create only 1.10 xG per match which is better than just seven other sides. Because of that, they too have been an Under team with a 6-8 Over/Under record.

This is once again another good spot to bet on NYRB to win as well. They continue to be a “buy” team and their xG numbers rank them 5th in the league while Orlando come in at 19th. Getting them at -125 is a great number and will only rise as we get closer to kickoff.

Prediction: Under 2.25 Goals -110

Philadelphia Union vs CF Montreal | Saturday June 3 | 7:30pm ET

Philadelphia -195 | Draw +330 | Montreal +475
Asian Handicap: Philadelphia -1.0 | Total: 2.75

Philly continues to roll along after their slow start to the season with just two wins in their first eight matches. But you can make the excuse that they simply struggled to manage both their MLS and CONCACAF Champions League duties as we have seen many MLS teams do over the years.

However, the Union are now on a seven-match unbeaten run with six wins and just one draw, allowing four goals while keeping four clean sheets.

They haven’t allowed more than one goal in six straight games. In their first eight matches, Philadelphia allowed 1.30 xGA per match, but since, that has dropped to 1.07 over their last seven.

At home, Philly did lose vs Orlando back in March, but that remains their only home loss over the last two seasons. They haven’t allowed a goal at Subaru Park in their last three matches.

Montreal just doesn’t seem like the team to ruin that streak either. The Canadian side averages only 1.02 xG per match which is the 3rd fewest in the league, and on the road, they have been atrocious.

They earned one win at Kansas City at the end of April, but otherwise are winless in their other eight away matches with seven losses and one draw. They have been held scoreless six times in nine matches. They have also conceded 21 goals, allowing at least two in seven of nine.

Montreal did manage a 3-2 win over Philadelphia already this season back in March. But that was at home, and it was in the middle of Philly’s struggles with Champions League duties. Now that Philadelphia looks back in the same form that saw them reach the MLS Cup Final last season, this is a great spot to expect some revenge.

Prediction: Philadelphia Union -1.0 -120