San Jose Earthquakes vs Houston Dynamo: Predictions, Picks, Odds & Starting Lineups

San Jose Earthquakes host Houston Dynamo at PayPal Park on Saturday, September 12 (10:30 PM ET / 9:30 PM CT / 7:30 PM PT).

No fresh absences have been flagged for either side ahead of this one, so both managers should have their key men available at PayPal Park. San Jose’s attack still runs through Preston Judd, who has scored 11 goals in 1,617 minutes this season, with Timo Werner (30 chances created in 901 minutes) and Ousseni Bouda (5 goals, 29 chances created) offering support in the final third. Houston travels with Guilherme Augusto Vieira dos Santos in similarly rich form, the Dynamo’s 12-goal top scorer, alongside Mateusz Bogusz, who has created 22 chances from midfield this season.

US viewers can watch San Jose Earthquakes vs Houston Dynamo on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.

Season Form & Standings

Houston Dynamo sit second in the Western Conference, firmly in the playoff picture. They arrive on 40 points from 23 games — 12 wins, 4 draws and 7 losses — with a +4 goal difference. San Jose Earthquakes, by contrast, sit sixth in the West, still inside the conference picture but with far less cushion.

Western Conference

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Potential Match-Winners

• Preston Judd (San Jose Earthquakes): Leads San Jose’s attack with 11 goals in 1,617 minutes this season, the shortest route to a home breakthrough.
• Timo Werner (San Jose Earthquakes): Has created 30 chances in just 901 minutes since arriving, the clearest source of service in San Jose’s final third.
• Guilherme Augusto Vieira dos Santos (Houston Dynamo): Houston’s talisman has scored 12 goals and created 45 chances in 1,856 minutes, the most productive numbers on either roster.

Recent Form

San Jose Earthquakes: L L L D D

• 2026-09-06: Austin FC 1-1 San Jose Earthquakes (D, away)
• 2026-08-30: Houston Dynamo 0-0 San Jose Earthquakes (D, away)
• 2026-08-23: San Jose Earthquakes 1-5 Minnesota United (L, home)
• 2026-08-20: LA Galaxy 1-0 San Jose Earthquakes (L, away)
• 2026-08-16: San Jose Earthquakes 1-3 St. Louis City SC (L, home)

San Jose’s form reads L L L D D across their last five matches. Losses gave way to back-to-back draws, including a scoreless trip to Houston on August 30.

Houston Dynamo: W W L D D

• 2026-09-06: Charlotte FC 0-0 Houston Dynamo (D, away)
• 2026-08-30: Houston Dynamo 0-0 San Jose Earthquakes (D, home)
• 2026-08-23: St. Louis City SC 2-1 Houston Dynamo (L, away)
• 2026-08-20: Vancouver Whitecaps 0-1 Houston Dynamo (W, away)
• 2026-08-16: Houston Dynamo 1-0 LA Galaxy (W, home)

Houston’s form reads W W L D D across their last five matches. Their most recent results were both draws — scoreless with San Jose on August 30 and scoreless again away to Charlotte FC on September 6.

San Jose Earthquakes vs Houston Dynamo Prediction

Houston Dynamo sit second in the West with a real shot at a high playoff seed. But this fixture already showed its hand when the sides played out a scoreless draw at Houston on August 30. San Jose Earthquakes, sixth in the West, get the benefit of home advantage and a proven finisher in Preston Judd, whose 11 goals lead the roster. Expect another tight game at PayPal Park, with the Earthquakes edging it 1-0.