Portland Timbers vs Los Angeles FC Prediction, 10/18/2020 MLS Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

by Guy Bruhn - 10/15/2020

Game: Portland Timbers vs Los Angeles FC

Date: Sunday, October 18, 2020

Location: Providence Park in Portland, OR

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Portland (+177) Los Angeles (+161)

Jeremy Ebobisse and the Portland Timbers (9-3-5, 2nd in the Western Conference) play Los Angeles FC (7-3-7, 4th in the Western Conference) at Providence Park on Sunday. The expected starting goalkeepers will be Steve Clark for the Portland Timbers and Pablo Sisniega for Los Angeles FC. LAFC is priced at +161 while the Timbers are at +177. The O/U opens at 3.25.

The Timbers have collected 37 goals for the year, which ranks them 2nd in MLS. They have launched 191 shots at their opponents goal with 81 on target, which is a 42.4% shots on target percentage. Portland has been able to control possession for 45.5% of matches while they successfully dribble 60.1% of the time (11th in Major League Soccer). They have caught 5,997 passes from teammates on 7,037 attempts on the campaign, earning them a receiving percentage of 85.2%.

Jeremy Ebobisse is a guy who can be a difference maker for Portland. Ebobisse has had a starting assignment in 60 matches during his career while scoring 0.42 goals per 90 mins. The forward from the United States has 27 goals scored in 5,845 professional minutes played. He has accounted for 9 assists while earning 4 yellow card cautions so far in his career. One more player who should impact this match is Diego Valeri, the forward who was born in Argentina. He has helped on a goal 64 times thus far in his career while he has scored 83 goals. Valeri has earned 19,193 mins during 219 career starts and has earned himself a total of 29 yellow card cautions. He is currently averaging 0.39 goals per 90 minutes during his career.

The man who will defend the goal for Portland will be Steve Clark. Clark (79-65-82 record during his soccer career) has 53 clean sheets, which gives him a 23.3% clean sheet rate. The goalkeeper from the United States has faced 1,133 shots attempted against him in 227 starts. His goals allowed per 90 minutes is 1.49 (337 total goals surrendered) and he holds a save % of .712. Clark has played for 20,421 minutes and has earned 798 stops during his MLS career.

LAFC have successfully dribbled 58.7% of the time for the campaign while totaling 37 goals. They have a receiving percentage of 85.1% and they control possession of the ball 58.8% of the time. Los Angeles has 8,873 pass targets this season (4th in MLS) and they have 7,549 successful received passes. They have connected on 39.4% of their shots on target on 264 shots.

Bradley Wright-Phillips should provide solid play for Los Angeles. The forward who represents England has been on the pitch for 31,710 professional minutes while he has scored 193 goals. He has totaled 46 yellow cards thus far in his career and has helped on a goal 44 times. He is averaging 0.55 goals per 90 mins and has been in the starting lineup in 346 games in his professional soccer career. Be sure to keep an eye out for Latif Blessing, the forward who is from Ghana. Blessing has been given 12 yellow card warnings in 7,493 minutes (80 starting assignments). His goals per 90 average so far in his pro soccer career is 0.18. He has accumulated 15 goals in his pro soccer career while helping on a goal 12 times.

Pablo Sisniega will be residing in front of the goal for LAFC. In his career, Sisniega has allowed 31 goals while he has accounted for 45 stops in 18 starts. He has allowed 1.72 goals per 90 minutes and he has earned a record of 9-2-7. He has a save % of .609 and his clean sheet rate is currently 5.6%. Sisniega has recorded 1 shutouts while he has defended 69 shots attempted against him in 1,620 mins in his career.

Who will win tonight's MLS game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Los Angeles (+161)

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Free Play from Doc’s Sports. Take #465 Kansas City Chiefs -5.5 over Cleveland Browns (1p.m., Sunday, December 15 CBS) The Chiefs keep winning games and sooner or later one of those wins will come by a comfortable margin. I look for that to be this Sunday against a Browns team that is just playing out the string. Cleveland currently sits at 3- 10 and will enter this game having lost 4 of their last 5 games. Their only win came against Pittsburgh in a snow game on a short week. All 4 of those losses by the Browns have come over the posted number for this game. Kansas City is better on both sides of the football, and I just do not see the Browns offense keeping pace. Do not miss out on Doc’s Sports Weekend card featuring top plays in basketball, football, and hockey. We will feature our World-Famous Nonconference Game of the Year in College Basketball on Saturday. This game has won 13 of the 15 years it has been in existence and it is a must have for any big game hunter. Read More Read Less

Portland Timbers vs Los Angeles FC Prediction, 10/18/2020 MLS Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

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