As exciting as the international break has been with World Cup qualifiers and other tournaments going on, Major League Soccer is all set to return to action this weekend. There are some outstanding showdowns on the schedule that fans can’t wait for. Here, we have our MLS picks for big June 19 games. Countless squads out there will look to keep their impressive form going.
To start things off here, Columbus should have no issues taking down the Chicago Fire when the two sides meet on June 19. The Crew are still riding high from their MLS Cup championship last season, as they completely dominated the Seattle Sounders 3-0 with the title on the line. Columbus is in the middle of another fantastic campaign, as they’re currently in sixth place of the Eastern Conference standings with 11 points.
However, keep in mind that Columbus has a game in hand, with most clubs having played eight games already. Nevertheless, the Crew are poised to go on a serious run the rest of the way, as they’re hoping to defend their MLS Cup. Once play gets back underway later this weekend, the Crew will hope to return from the break in style and record a big victory over Chicago.
| June 19 MLS odds |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus to win | -120 | -120 | -120 | -120 |
| Chicago to win | +320 | +320 | +320 | +320 |
| NYCFC to win | -110 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| NE to win | +250 | +250 | +250 | +250 |
For the Fire, they’ve unfortunately looked like one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference. The team will enter Saturday’s tilt with only four points. To make matters worse for Chicago, they’ve struggled both on offense and defense. In seven games, Chicago has given up 11 goals. That’s of course terrible. On the other side of things, they’ve only scored four goals on offense, giving them a -7 goal differential.
The Las Vegas sportsbooks know all about this, which is why Columbus has been given -120 MLS odds for this matchup. Chicago has been set at +320, while a draw has +220 odds. Chicago would love a tie in this one, but we don’t think that will be the case. Columbus is the far superior team, which will be clear from the first minute. Because of this, Columbus is our pick. If you agree, check out our MLS Betting sites, such as Bovada, to make a wager.
Over on the East coast, New England vs. New York City is one of the best games of the weekend, as NYCFC is all set to host NE. Entering play, the Revolution are in first place of the Eastern Conference standings thanks to some truly spectacular play throughout the year. New England indeed sits at the top of the table with its 17 points, while NYCFC is in fourth with 11 points.
Again, though, NYCFC has one game in hand, as they’ve played in eight games this year. New England has appeared in eight contests. New York will have the home-field advantage in this one, which is sure to make a difference. The club’s supporters will be ready to try and make an impact here, as NYCFC will try to record what many would consider an upset.
However, Vegas doesn’t think it’d be an upset, as NYCFC has the better soccer odds leading up to the two teams facing off. NYCFC has been given -110 odds, while New England’s odds are +250. While it might be tough to figure out why New England is such a big underdog, traveling to NYCFC and facing them is never an easy task. Road wins are hard to come by in the MLS, or any league for that matter.
Jesus Medina leads the club with his five goals in seven games this season, while Valentin Castellanos has found the back of the net on four occasions. It will be imperative for NYCFC to get on the scoreboard first and not fall behind New England. The Revolution are simply too good, so NYCFC can’t afford to let them jump ahead. We don’t think they will. NYCFC is our selection.
If you’re looking to test the waters a little bit, a fun 3-team parlay to consider for MLS fans would be Columbus, NYCFC and the LA Galaxy to win their matchups this weekend. Above, we already explained why we think both Columbus and New York will be victorious in their respective showdowns, but the LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders battle is also one to watch.
The Sounders may be in first place of the Western Conference standings, but they recorded a disappointing 0-0 draw to Austin FC right before the international break arrived. In that tie, Seattle’s offense really couldn’t muster anything up. The folks at Lumen Field left the stadium frustrated with what they saw and no one can blame them for that.
Meanwhile for the Galaxy, they’re in third place of the Western table, ready to make plenty of noise against Seattle. Javier Hernandez leads the MLS in goals scored this year. He was also just voted as the MLS Player of the Month, which speaks volumes to how great he’s been this season for the Galaxy. We think LA will be able to defeat the Sounders. So, if you’re up for it, an LA, NYCFC and Columbus parlay could be quite the move.
