Week 20 MLS Picks
We had another strong week headed into the international break. Hopefully you had a chance to catch your breath, because we’ve got a full midweek MLS slate to welcome us back to the action!
Before we get to the picks as normal, another reminder that we’ve got an addition to this weekly article in 2025. If you’ve been following along with the podcast during the offseason, you’ll know we’ve partnered with Underdog Fantasy. If you want to play along with us at Underdog, you can sign up today using this link and when you use promo code "NORTHEND" at sign up you'll get up to $1000 in bonus cash plus a free pick!
The official league injury report for Wednesday’s games came out Tuesday afternoon, let’s dive into the Week 20 picks.
Underdog Fantasy Entry of the week
Each match week, we’ll have an Underdog Fantasy entry for you to tail if your heart desires. Let’s get to the board and build a winner!
We’ll begin the midweek entry with Atlanta’s Miguel Almiron, who has been good to us at times this season. The Five Stripes are on the road to take on Columbus and are rightful underdogs, but this line is too good to pass up considering what Underdog Fantasy offers us these days. Almiron is averaging 2.53 shot attempts per 90 this season and he’s been over this number in 11 of his 16 appearances this year. He’s been even more consistent after slowly settling back into his old stomping grounds in the early part of the season, taking two or more shots in 10 of his last 12 games. This line is solid enough to take the sub-1x multiplier.
Then we’ll head to the Windy City, where the Philadelphia Union are in town to take on the Fire. Union starting goalkeeper Andre Blake is out as he finished his Gold Cup duties with Jamaica last night at Q2 Stadium against Panama, so backup Andrew Rick will be between the sticks for Philly. Chicago has been one of the most dangerous teams offensively in 2025, scoring two or more goals in 12 of their 18 games against MLS opposition. In fact, only Inter Miami have scored more MLS goals this season. The Fire are -145 at the books to score two or more goals, making Rick higher than 1.5 goals allowed an extremely attractive option on this slate.
To close out the entry, we’ll take another goals allowed prop, this time going to the Rocky Mountains and attacking the swiss cheese defense of the LA Galaxy. The current Wooden Spoon holders have given up the most goals against so far this season and have allowed two or more goals in 12 of their 18 league matches. Micovic has only made seven starts in this dismal campaign, with John McCarthy nabbing the rest, but the young Micovic has allowed two or more goals in seven of those starts. Like the Fire, the home side is heavily favored to put multiple goals past their opponent, with the Colorado Rapids sitting at -145 at the books to score two or more.
Using the standard payout selection on Underdog, this 3-pick entry will payout a prize of 5.34x your entry fee if successful.
We’ve added some additional plays that can be substituted in place of the props given above if you miss lock for one of those games or one of those options doesn’t start. The additional plays this week are listed in order of preference and we’re fine using these props in any entry.
Anders Dreyer O 2.5 shots attempted (1.07x)
Evander O 1.5 shots on target (1.43x)
Chicho Arango O 3.5 shots attempted (1.2x)
John Pulskamp O 1.5 goals allowed (1.06x)
Marco Pasalic O 2.5 shots attempted (0.94x)
Hany Mukhtar O 1.5 shots on target (1.08x)
Gabriel Pec O 3.5 shots attempted (1.05x)
Results
Underdog Fantasy (Last Week): +8.23 U
Underdog Fantasy (Season): +20.98 U
Week 20 Picks
New York Red Bulls
ML +105
Tonight’s match between the Red Bulls and Toronto FC is a meeting between a moveable force and a stoppable object. Poor cliches aside, something has to give in this one. Toronto is the second worst home team in the Eastern Conference, with just one win in their ten home matches in 2025. On the flip side, NYRB are the second worst road team in the Eastern Conference, with just one win in their nine away trips. But in a vacuum, there’s little doubt that the Red Bulls are the more talented team. Add in that Toronto will be without seven players, with Federico Bernardeschi and Deandre Kerr also listed questionable, and we’re taking Red Bulls to win.
FC Cincinnati
ML +120
This one is simple. The Knifey Lions have the second most points away from home in MLS this season and travel to take on CF Montreal, who are the worst home team in the league and have yet to secure a win in their own park. Cincy is still missing Miles Robinson and Nick Hagglund on their backline, but Montreal is without their lone DP in Giacomo Vrioni. Not that the Italian striker is a world beater, but it’s an extra cookie for us to back Cincy with. We’ll take the Evander-led side at plus money to take all three points tonight.
Colorado Rapids
ML -110
While we could finish off targeting the trio of Canadian teams by going against Vancouver on Wednesday, we’ll avoid the Western Conference leaders and instead target the current Wooden Spoon holders. The LA Galaxy are on the road to take on the Rapids in the elevation of the Rocky Mountains. While Colorado will be without the likes of Cole Bassett and Zack Steffen, the Galaxy remain relatively toothless. They have just eight points from their 18 matches and have yet to win on the road in their ten tries so far in 2025. Getting Colorado near even money to hand the Galaxy their 13th loss of the campaign feels pretty good.
Goal Scorers
Every week we’ll pick a few of our favorite goal scoring options in the betting market. Here are the Week 20 shouts.
Emil Forsberg +245
Evander +200
Luca Orellano +360
Hany Mukhtar +215
Kelvin Yeboah +125
Marco Pasalic +240
Petar Musa +155
Chicho Arango +175
Ted Ku-DiPietro +340
Anders Dreyer +250
Results
Last Week: +3 U
Season: +22.78 U
