Toronto FC vs Atlanta United FC Prediction, 10/18/2020 MLS Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

by Josh Schonwald - 10/15/2020

Game: Toronto FC vs Atlanta United FC

Date: Sunday, October 18, 2020

Location: Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, CT

TV: FOX Sports Southeast

Odds/Point Spread: Toronto (-150) Atlanta (+418)

Alejandro Pozuelo and Toronto FC (11-5-2, 1st in the Eastern Conference) play Atlanta United (5-4-9, 10th in the Eastern Conference) at Pratt & Whitney Stadium on Sunday. The expected starting goalkeepers will be Quentin Westberg for Toronto FC and Brad Guzan for Atlanta United. The 5 Stripes are priced at +418 while TFC is at -150. The over/under has been set at 2.5.

Toronto has been able to control possession for 54.9% of contests while they dribble successfully 59.7% of the time (13th in MLS). They have attempted 240 shots at the goal with 98 of them being on target, which is a 40.8% SOT percentage. TFC as a team have earned 29 goals for the season, which is currently 5th in MLS. Their players have been on the receiving end of 8,712 passes from teammates on 9,812 targets for the campaign, which has earned them a receiving percentage of 88.8%.

Alejandro Pozuelo is a player who should impact this matchup for Toronto. He has 49 assists while tallying 30 yellow card warnings thus far in his career. Pozuelo has had a starting assignment in 190 contests during his career and tallies 0.23 goals per 90 minutes. The forward from Spain has earned 44 goals in 17,407 mins played. One more player who could decide who wins is Ayo Akinola, the forward who was born in Canada. He has helped a teammate on a goal 2 times thus far in his career and he has scored 16 goals. Akinola has earned 2,490 minutes during 25 starting assignments and has been given a total of 4 yellow card warnings. He is averaging 0.58 goals per 90 during his pro soccer career.

The man defending the goal for Toronto FC is Quentin Westberg. Westberg has been on the field for a total of 7,857 minutes and has earned 193 stops during his career. His GA/90 is 1.27 (111 total goals allowed) and his save percentage is .672. The goalkeeper from France has seen 287 shots tried at him in 87 career starts. Westberg (34-27-27 mark in his career) has tallied 26 clean sheets, which has him sitting with a 29.9% shutout percentage.

The 5 Stripes have successfully dribbled 62.4% of the time so far this year while accumulating 18 goals. They have a receiving percentage of 89.3% while they control possession of the ball 55.7% of the time. Atlanta has accumulated 9,132 pass targets for the year (2nd in the league) with 8,158 completed passes. They have been able to complete 38% of their shots on target out of 163 shots.

Jeff Larentowicz will be someone to watch for Atlanta. The defender from the United States has totaled 35,516 mins while he has scored 42 goals. He has accumulated 69 yellow card cautions during his pro soccer career and has assisted on a goal 17 times. He is averaging 0.11 goals per 90 and has been in the starting lineup in 397 matches thus far in his career. Be sure to keep an eye out for Jon Gallagher, the midfielder who is from Ireland. He has scored 11 goals in his career while helping on a goal 6 times. Gallagher has been handed 3 yellow card warnings in 4,996 mins played (54 career starting assignments). His goals per 90 average during his MLS career is 0.20.

Brad Guzan is expected to look after the goal for the 5 Stripes. In his pro soccer career, Guzan has given up 496 goals while he has 1,104 stops in 344 starts. He has allowed 1.44 goals per 90 and he has a record of 115-81-149. He has a save percentage of .695 and his shutout rate is currently 26.7%. Guzan has tallied 92 shutouts while he has seen 1,590 shots attempted against him in 31,048 career minutes.

Who will win tonight's MLS game ATS?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Atlanta (+418)

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Toronto FC vs Atlanta United FC Prediction, 10/18/2020 MLS Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

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