The Designated Pundits break down their MLS bet slips each week LIVE on YouTube. You can catch the replay on Spotify with video, below.
Match- Toronto FC host Colorado Rapids
Pick- TFC Team Total Over 1.5 -120
Toronto FC is in the middle of a little home stretch, and they have a good opportunity to gain momentum and build chemistry. Djordje Mihailovic and Josh Sargent have only just begun what I think will be a fruitful partnership.
Toronto scoring twice at -120 isn’t blowing anyone away, but it is plays like this that can help build our bankroll.
Conversely, the Rapids allowed 3 goals in NYC and Seattle, so why would their defense suddenly put up a showing in Toronto?
Match- Charlotte FC host Philadelphia Union
Pick- CLT Team Total Over 1.5 +102
Charlotte FC host the Philadelphia Union this week, and I think, after witnessing Charlotte’s 6-1 beatdown over RBNY, that they are going to win big.
While Philadelphia’s defense has allowed 9 goals in 5 matches, Charlotte has scored 9 goals in their 3 home matches. Add to their form this stat- since 2025, in 20 home matches, Charlotte scored 2 or more goals 14 times, or 70% of their matches.
Asking a home team to score a second time, at plus money, deserves our attention.
Match- DC United host FC Dallas
Pick- FC Dallas +220
Interconference matchups can get weird, but I think that favors us when FC Dallas heads to the nation’s capitol this weekend.
DC is 1-1 at home, with a loss to Inter Miami and a win over the Philadelphia Union. On the other hand, FC Dallas have only played one away match, a 1-0 loss to LAFC, which shouldn’t even count for comparison’s sake.
With a pretty blank slate here, I default to the better team, which is Dallas. Musa just had a great international break, and the team showed ambition by bringing in a new DP #10, MLS veteran Santiago Moreno.
At +220, we’re getting a 3.25% advantage on the sportsbook’s implied probability. Seems like a slam dunk for me.
Match- Inter Miami hosts Austin FC
Pick- Inter Miami -1.5 -112
Inter Miami opens up their new home, Nu Stadium, this week in Miami. They host Austin FC, who I see as the sacrificial lamb who will get played on the game with the most eyes this week.
I think Miami win by two. There’s going to be a huge home advantage, a surge of emotion, and a feeling of urgency from Miami that they haven’t had this season.
I also think they’ll be bitter that they DON’T have a Wednesday CCC match to contend with.
Match- NYCFC host St. Louis City
Pick- NYCFC -1.5 +200
New York City FC play in Citi Field this week, a place where they have actually been historically better than in Yankee Stadium. If there is any team that can’t rise to that occasion, it is St. Louis City.
St. Louis has already lost by two or more twice this season, while NYCFC has won by two or more twice. I think this one looks like those NYC wins over Orlando and Colorado.
Betting spreads in soccer carries inherent risk, but the reward here is a +200 play on the home team, against an interconference opponent who is 4-2-13 on the road since 2025.
Match- New York Red Bulls host FC Cincinnati
Pick- Evander G or A +130
This week RBNY hosts FC Cincinnati, a team who historically plays well against the Red Bulls. This one will have a few missing defenders: Cincy will be without Miles Robinson, and RBNY will be without Justin Che and Gustav Berggren.
RBNY struggles against 10s this season, allowing two goals to Wiki Carmona, an assist from Djordje Mihailovic, and one of each to Pep Beil. Evander is one of the top 10s in the league, and if this game sees a higher total, which I expect, Evander will be on the scoresheet.
At +130, under regular circumstances, this would be a bargain. In this match, however, with lacking defense and higher expected totals, it feels like a slam dunk.
Match- Houston Dynamo host Seattle Sounders
Pick- Houston Dynamo +145
The Houston Dynamo have been exciting this season, and I expect their home match against the Seattle Sounders to be no different. They play with energy and life, and while they have Sviatchenko on suspension, Seattle has 6 players out and two questionable to play.
The Sounders may be the better team on paper, but that paper is cut thin during week 6. They will be without PDLV, Yeimar, Kee-Hee, Petkovic, Sailor, Hawkins, and have Roldan and Dotson questionable. Adding to the availability, they are looking ahead to a midweek match in Mexico against Tigres.
Seattle won’t send their best, and Houston should get a win.
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