We are just hours away from the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs kicking off, as the defining stage of this MLS season will begin on October 22-23 with two Wild Card matches. The Playoffs include 18 teams, and the first stage consists of two direct elimination matches: Montreal vs. Atlanta in the Eastern Conference and Whitecaps vs. Timbers in the Western Conference.
In the event of a tie at the end of regulation time (90 minutes) in a Wild Card match, there will be no extra time. Instead, a penalty shootout will take place immediately to determine the winner.
After the Wild Card rounds, the winners will advance to the First Round, where they will face the top-ranked teams in their respective conferences: Inter Miami (East) or LAFC (West). Meanwhile, for the losing team in the Wildcard matches, their trip to the playoffs ends.
The successful teams from the Wildcard matches will compete in the First Round, which adopts the Best of 3 Games format. In the event of a tie at the end of regulation time, a penalty shootout will decide the winner, with no possibility of a draw. The series will be in a home-and-away sequence, and the first team to secure two wins will advance to the next round.
Below, we bring you the preview of the Wild Card matches of this 2024 MLS season, with their respective betting odds and our free predictions.
MLS Wild Card betting odds
| Montreal 2.407 | Atlanta United 2.682 | Draw Offs:Â 3.78 |
| Whitecaps 3.10 | Timbers 2.06 | Draw Offs:Â 4.08 |
2024 MLS Wild Card: Montreal vs. Atlanta United
| When? | Tuesday, October 22 at 7:30 PM ET, 6:30 PM CST, 5:30 PM MT, and 4:30 PM PT |
| Where? | Saputo Stadium |
| Where can I watch it? | MLS Season Pass on Apple TV |
Montreal comes into the Eastern Conference Wild Card match, having finished 8th in the Conference, scoring 48 goals and conceding 64. Laurent Courtois’ team comes in with confidence after a 2-0 win over NYC FC in their last regular season match. However, they must put up a solid defensive game to stop Atlanta United’s dangerous offense.
On the other hand, Atlanta United, ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference, is eager to cause an upset as an away team. With 46 goals scored and 49 conceded, Rob Valentino’s team comes into the match in high spirits after securing a 2-1 win over Orlando City. Atlanta is used to playing these types of playoff games, so they may be able to step up to take the win and advance to the next round.
Their most recent meeting, last Wednesday, October 2, 2024, resulted in a 2-1 Montreal victory over Atlanta United.
For this match, our prediction is a win for the locals.
Montreal vs. Atlanta United Betting Pick: Montreal
2024 MLS Wild Card: Whitecaps vs. Timbers
| When? | Wednesday, October 23 at 10:30 PM ET, 9:30 PM CST, 8:30 PM MT, and 7:30 PM PT |
| Where? | Providence Park |
| Where can I watch it? | MLS Season Pass on Apple TV |
Although Vancouver should be the home team, a scheduling conflict forces them to play at the Timbers’ stadium.
The Whitecaps secured a Playoff berth in eighth place in the Western Conference by accumulating 47 points from 34 games. Meanwhile, Portland Timbers also got the same point total but lost out on the tiebreaker criteria (number of wins) as the Whitecaps earned 13 wins, one more than them.
The Whitecaps finished the regular season with four consecutive losses to the Sounders (0-3), Minnesota (0-1), LAFC (1-2), and Real Salt Lake (1-2). On the other hand, the Timbers drew four of their last five matches, the most recent being against the Seattle Sounders with a 1-1 score.
For this match, our winner’s chip is on the Portland Timbers.
Whitecaps vs. Timbers Betting Pick: Portland Timbers
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