Predictions and Best Bets for MLS Games on Friday, August 27, 2021

MLS Heineken Rivalry Week is back, and we have three huge derbies on the cards this Friday, August 27.

First up, Ohio rivals Columbus and Cincinnati clash in the Hell is Real Derby. The Canadian Classique takes center stage north of the border, with Montreal hosting Toronto. Finally, Orlando and Miami wrap up Friday’s MLS action in the Floriday Derby.

Here is the full MLS schedule for Friday, August 27, 2021.

All eyes will be on the Crew at Lower.com Field, as they look to snap a six-match losing streak on Friday. The Reds are also in desperate need of a positive result, having registered two draws and four defeats since their last victory.

In this piece, I share my predictions for all three MLS games taking place on Friday, August 27. I also reveal the best MLS betting picks for Friday’s matches at the end.

Let’s kick things off with my Columbus Crew vs. FC Cincinnati prediction.

It is no secret that Columbus is in a REALLY bad place right now. I mean, Caleb Porter’s men have lost each of their previous six matches – conceding 15 goals along the way (2.5 goals per game).

That said, Friday’s Hell is Real Derby provides them with an ideal opportunity to get back on track and return to winning ways. If they need an incentive to avoid a seventh straight defeat, then facing their arch rivals should fire them up.

They can also take confidence from the fact that Cincinnati has only managed to beat them once in eight MLS meetings.

On the flip side, Cincy heads into Friday’s clash on a mammoth ten-game winless run. Although Jaap Stam’s men have picked up seven draws in that time, they were crushed 4-1 by New England last weekend and have only managed to score two goals in their previous six outings.

Of course, this is destined to be a hard-fought battle; Hell is Real Derbies always are. But I’m confident that Columbus will get the better of Cincy. After all, they are the defending MLS Cup champions.

It’s safe to say that Montreal hasn’t enjoyed playing against Toronto in recent years. The Reds have won four of the last six Canadian Classiques, dominating their rivals time and time again.

But can you remember what happened when the two sides met on the opening weekend of the 2021 MLS season? If you can’t, you might want to watch the video below to relive Montreal’s 4-2 thrashing of TFC.

There is no denying that Montreal has outperformed Toronto in every department this year. I mean, Wilfried Nancy’s side currently sits sixth in the Eastern Conference – 13 points clear of last-place TFC.

Although a record of 7-7-7 underlines Montreal’s inconsistency, Toronto’s record of 3-6-12 is nothing short of dreadful. That’s why I’m backing the Quebec outfit to inflict another defeat on the Reds at Saputo Stadium.

12 points separate second-place Orlando and eleventh-place Inter Miami as the two rivals prepare for the next installment of the Florida Derby.

The teams actually faced each other earlier this month, producing a 1-1 draw at Exploria Stadium. The Lions also beat the Herons 2-1 back in June, meaning they remain unbeaten against their foes in 2021.

Orlando’s interchangeable forward line is arguably one of the best in Major League Soccer at the moment, with Nani (9 goal, 6 assists), Benji Michel (4 goals, 5 assists), Tesho Akindele (3 goals, 5 assists), and Chris Mueller (2 goals, 4 assists) shining throughout the campaign.

Yes, Phil Neville must be given credit for turning things around at Inter Miami. The Herons suffered six straight defeats between May and July but have since lost just one of their previous seven outings (4 wins, 2 draws).

Still, it feels like the gulf between the two Florida clubs remains vast. If the Lions bring their A-game on Friday, they shouldn’t struggle to get the better of Neville’s side.

I have scoured the top online sportsbooks to find the best value MLS bets for Friday’s games. Here are my Major League Soccer betting picks for Friday, August 27.

After thrashing Toronto earlier this year, Montreal will be confident of doing the double of their rivals on Friday. The home side is priced at 1.90 to win this one, but I recommend adding the over 1.5 goals market into the equation to bump up the odds.

The Reds have the worst defensive record in the entire league, having conceded 44 goals in 21 games (2.1 goals per game). I’m backing Montreal to register another high-scoring victory over TFC.

At 1.75, backing Orlando to beat Inter Miami isn’t the worst bet in the world. Yet, if you throw the both teams to score market into the mix, the odds suddenly look a lot more attractive.

I’m confident that Orlando will win on Friday, but the Herons have upped their game in recent weeks. Considering both teams have scored in six of Miami’s previous seven matches, backing the Lions to win and both teams to score makes perfect sense.

For more Major League Soccer betting advice, head over to our MLS betting guide.