San Jose Earthquakes host Colorado Rapids at PayPal Park on Wednesday, October 28 (10:30 PM ET / 9:30 PM CT / 7:30 PM PT).
San Jose Earthquakes have no fresh fitness worries to report here, with top scorer Preston Judd pushing for more after a 16-goal campaign, well backed by Timo Werner and Ousseni Bouda, who have 6 goals apiece and a combined 68 chances created between them. Colorado Rapids are equally unaffected on the injury front, leaning on attacking midfielder Paxten Aaronson as their chief playmaker, with 7 goals and 54 chances created this season, alongside striker Darren Yapi as the focal point up top.
San Jose sit fourth in the Western Conference, firmly in the playoff picture, while Colorado are down in ninth on 39 points from a 30-game season that has brought 11 wins, 6 draws and 13 losses. The reverse fixture between these two finished 1-1 on October 11, and San Jose have also drawn 1-1 with Nashville and Real Salt Lake since, a run that points to a cagey, low-event affair rather than an end-to-end shootout. Expect the home side’s superior edge in front of goal, led by Judd’s 16 strikes, to be the difference in a tight, low-scoring contest at PayPal Park.
San Jose Earthquakes vs Colorado Rapids: Best Bets & Predictions
A tight Western Conference battle at PayPal Park, with the Quakes fancied to edge a low-scoring affair.
Our approach: our Signal model weighs current form, standings position and underlying attacking data to land on a cagey San Jose win, backed by Preston Judd's season-long scoring return.
Odds correct at time of writing and shown in American format for illustration; your local odds may vary. 19+ (18+ in AB/MB/QC). Please play responsibly. ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600 (ON).
Season Form & Standings
San Jose sit fourth in the Western Conference and remain firmly in the playoff picture, while Colorado are ninth in the West on 39 points from 11 wins, 6 draws and 13 losses, with a goal difference of 0 leaving them needing results to close the gap.
Western Conference
| Team | Pos | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Rapids | 9 | 30 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 41 | 41 | 0 | 39 |
San Jose Earthquakes vs Colorado Rapids Predicted Lineups
Predicted XI — updated for the latest team news.
San Jose Earthquakes
5-3-2Colorado Rapids
4-2-3-1Potential Match-Winners
- Preston Judd (San Jose Earthquakes): The division’s find of the season up top, Judd has posted 16 goals from 78 shots, with 39 on target — the most direct route to goal involvement on either side.
- Ousseni Bouda (San Jose Earthquakes): A constant outlet alongside Judd, Bouda has fired 46 shots this season, managing 6 goals and 31 chances created in support play.
- Paxten Aaronson (Colorado Rapids): Colorado’s creative hub, Aaronson has created 54 chances and chipped in with 7 goals of his own, giving the Rapids their most reliable source of final-third quality.
Recent Form
San Jose Earthquakes: D W D D D
- 2026-10-18: San Jose Earthquakes 1-1 Nashville SC (D, home)
- 2026-10-15: Real Salt Lake 1-1 San Jose Earthquakes (D, away)
- 2026-10-11: Colorado Rapids 1-1 San Jose Earthquakes (D, away)
- 2026-09-27: San Jose Earthquakes 3-1 Portland Timbers (W, home)
- 2026-09-20: San Jose Earthquakes 2-2 LAFC (D, home)
San Jose’s form reads 4 draws and a win from their last 5, including this month’s 1-1 draws with Nashville SC and Real Salt Lake, plus a 1-1 stalemate at Colorado on October 11.
Colorado Rapids: D L D D D
- 2026-10-18: Portland Timbers 0-0 Colorado Rapids (D, away)
- 2026-10-15: Colorado Rapids 2-2 Minnesota United (D, home)
- 2026-10-11: Colorado Rapids 1-1 San Jose Earthquakes (D, home)
- 2026-09-27: LA Galaxy 3-2 Colorado Rapids (L, away)
- 2026-09-20: Colorado Rapids 3-3 Seattle Sounders (D, home)
Colorado’s form reads 4 draws and a loss from their last 5, including a 3-3 shootout with Seattle Sounders, a 2-2 draw at home to Minnesota United, the 1-1 draw with San Jose, a 0-0 stalemate at Portland, and a 3-2 loss at LA Galaxy.
San Jose Earthquakes vs Colorado Rapids Prediction
This looks a tight, low-scoring night at PayPal Park. San Jose, fourth in the West and well placed for the playoff picture, should have enough in Judd’s movement to find the breakthrough that Colorado — Ninth in the West on 39 points — can’t match at the other end. We’re backing a narrow San Jose Earthquakes win, 1-0, with goals at a premium throughout.