MLS 2020 – Round 1 – Best Bets, Odds, Picks & Predictions

Like the majority of major soccer leagues around the world, MLS was suspended due to the pandemic. However, the 2020 season is set to kick-off on Thursday, July 8, with the “MLS is Back Tournament” being staged at the ESPN Wide World of Sport Complex in Orlando, Florida. 

Nobody knows exactly how it will turn out, but it’s certainly going to be a wild ride! Here are the best bets for Round 1. 

Montreal Impact vs. New England Revolution – 07/09/20 

Montreal Impact and New England Revolution go head-to-head for a second time in three games. The two sides met before the season was shutdown, with Montreal extending their unbeaten run in this fixture to three games with a 2-1 win in February. In fact, the Impact come into this game on a four-game unbeaten run. Meanwhile, New England failed to win either of their two games before the campaign was put on hold. Considering Montreal’s impressive record in this fixture, odds of 3.50 for the Impact win seem too good to miss here. 

Pick: Montreal Impact to Win – 3.50 

Atlanta United vs. New York Red Bulls – 07/11/20 

Atlanta United won both of their games 2-1 before the season was stopped, beating Nashville and Cincinnati. The 2018 champions – who finished second in the Eastern Conference last year – score plenty of goals, but they also concede more than they’d like. New York Red Bulls finished ten points behind Atlanta last year but come into this game on the back of a solid start to 2020 (one win, one draw). Both teams have scored in each of the Red Bull’s previous six games in all competitions, so I’m backing both sides to get on the scoresheet in this game. 

Pick: Both Teams to Score – 1.70 

Los Angeles FC vs. Houston Dynamo – 07/13/20 

Los Angeles FC were the highest scorers in 2019 by some distance. On their way to finishing top of the Western Conference, the team netted 85 goals in 34 games last year – an average of exactly 2.5 goals per game. LAFC managed to amass a whopping 32 points more than Houston Dynamo last season, with Houston finishing third from bottom in the division. It is also worth mentioning that the Dynamo suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Sporting Kansas City in their previous game. LAFC are the favorites to win this game at 1.67, but I recommend adding the over 2.5 goals market into the mix to boost the odds. 

Pick: Los Angeles FC to Win and Over 2.5 Goals – 2.10