With the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament set to hold its pair of semifinal showdown on Wednesday and Thursday night, it’s time to find out which two teams are offering the best value in their respective postseason matchups. With four teams left standing in what has been a thoroughly competitive 2020 campaign, let’s find out who’s in action and where the best betting value lies, along with their MLS odds.
MLS Semifinals Betting Predictions – Highlights, Top Picks, Previews
Philadelphia Union (4-1-2) vs. Portland Timbers (5-1-1-)
Philadelphia ranks 10th in scoring (1.6 gpg) and seventh in defense (1.1 gpg) while Portland ranks sixth in scoring (1.7 gpg) and ninth in goals allowed (1.3 gpg). The Union come into this clash on fire, having won two straight and four of five including an emphatic 3-1 win over Sporting Kansas City on Thursday. Portland has gone 4-2-0 over their last six matches and the Timbers come into this affair off their own convincing 3-1 win over New York FC on Saturday.
While Portland has dominated this series by winning four straight and six of the last 10 matchups, the Union are a legitimate championship contender and one of the hottest teams still standing. Philadelphia has gone 6-1 ATS over their last seven while the O/U total is 3-4 during the same, seven-game span. Portland has gone 4-2-1 ATS over their last seven games while the O/U total is 3-2-2 during the stretch.
While Portland has been playing well and has not lost in their last seven, Philadelphia is even hotter coming into this matchup and I believe the Union are going to find a way to get the job done, mostly because they’re looking to extract some revenge against Portland.
This matchup looks like it could come down the very finals moments and I think the Over has a strong chance of cashing for O/U total bettors. The Union get it done to advance to the MLS Championship game as Mark McKenzie and Jack Elliott star outplay Portland’s Sebastian Blanco.
- Pick: Philadelphia 3 Portland 2
- When: Wednesday, August 8, 2020 at 8:00 PM ET
- Where: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
- Philadelphia Union Vs Portland Timbers Live: FS1, TUDN, UniMas, TSN, TVAS2
- Money Lines: Philadelphia +175 / Portland +125 / MLS odds.
- Total: 2.5
Orlando City SC (4-1-2) vs. Minnesota United FC (5-0-2)
Orlando ranks 13th in scoring (1.3 gpg) and a stellar third in goals allowed (0.9 gpg) while Minnesota ranks second in scoring (2.4 gpg) and sixth in goals allowed (1.1 gpg). Orlando has gone 3-2-0 over their last five and come into this affair off a 1-1 draw against Los Angeles FC on Friday. Minnesota has gone 4-3-0 over their last seven and come into this clash off an emphatic 4-1 smackdown of San Jose on Saturday.
After recording wins in this series in 2018 and 2019, Minnesota played Orlando to a 1-1 draw the last time they met on August 17. Still, Orlando has struggled to score as they’ve been limited to an identical one goal in each of their last three matches while Minnesota has put seven goals in the back of the net over their last three. Orlando has gone 4-2-1 ATS and ¾ O/U over their last seven while Minnesota has gone a bankroll-boosting 5-1-1 ATS and 4-2-1 O/U over their last seven.
The bottom line for this pairing is that Orlando just doesn’t have enough offense to keep pace with a Minnesota squad that can strike early and often against any unsuspecting opponent. While Orlando goalkeeper Andre Blake has been playing lights out, I love the way Minnesota’s Jan Gregus and Osvaldo Alonso have been simply electrifying. I’m going with the United to get it done while this one finishes over the 2.5-goal O/U total.
- Pick: Minnesota 3 Orlando City 1
- When: Thursday, August 9, 2020 at 8:00 PM ET
- Where: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
- Orlando City Vs Minnesota United Live: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, TSN, TVAS2
- Money Lines: Orlando City +188 / Minnesota United +110 / Draw +300
- Total: 2.5
