Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs Portland Timbers Prediction, 4/18/2021 MLS Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

by Josh Schonwald - 4/14/2021

Game: Vancouver Whitecaps vs Portland Timbers

Date: Sunday, April 18, 2021

Location: Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, UT

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Vancouver (+400) Portland (-213)

Rio Tinto Stadium is the site where Diego Valeri and the Portland Timbers (11-6-6 last season, 3rd in the Western Conference) will take on the Vancouver Whitecaps FC (9-0-14 last year, 9th in the Western Conference) on Sunday. The men protecting the net will be Maxime Crepeau for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Steve Clark for the Portland Timbers. The Timbers are priced at -213 while the Whitecaps are at +400. The total is set at 2.5.

Vancouver played LA in their last game and walked away with a win by a score of 3-0. The Whitecaps tried 7 dribbles in this match and were able to convert 4 of those attempts for a percentage of 57.1%. In the passing game, they ended the game with a 91.4% received passes percentage by completing 529 out of their 579 targeted passes last contest. In terms of shooting accuracy, Vancouver wrapped this game up at a 37.5% clip by hitting 6 shots on target of 16 total shots. Vancouver had an average of 1.04 goals per 90 min (24 total goals) and accounted for 18 assists in all matches for last year.

Cristian Dajome is a guy who should be able to impact this match for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. He has totaled 10 assists while accumulating 20 yellow card cautions thus far in his career. Dajome has been in the starting lineup in 120 games during his soccer career and he scores 0.21 goals per 90 minutes. The forward hailing from Colombia has tallied 25 goals in 10,735 professional minutes played. Another guy who could decide the outcome is Lucas Cavallini, the forward representing Canada. He has assisted on a goal 6 times in his pro soccer career while he has scored 66 total goals. Cavallini has been on the pitch for 13,922 mins in 155 starting assignments and has been given a total of 66 yellow card cautions. He sports an average of 0.43 G/90 so far in his pro soccer career.

The man protecting the net for Vancouver Whitecaps FC is Maxime Crepeau. Crepeau has seen the pitch for 8,427 minutes and is sitting with 325 stops during his soccer career. His GA/90 is 1.55 (145 goals allowed) and he has earned a save percentage of 70.9. The keeper from Canada has had 460 shots sent in his direction in 94 career starts. Crepeau (25-17-51 mark in his career) has earned 24 clean sheets, which has earned him a 25.5% clean sheet percentage.

When they last stepped on the pitch, Portland walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 1-1 against Dallas. They wrapped up this match by completing 629 out of their 721 passing attempts earning a rate of 87.2%. The Timbers earned a 73.1% successful dribble rate by completing 19 out of the 26 dribbles they tried. Portland had 8 shots on target out of the team's 22 shots attempted which had them at a 36.4% clip in their last game. Having a total of 46 goals and 34 assists in all their contests, Portland averaged 2.00 goals and 1.48 assists per 90 minutes.

Diego Valeri should be able to be counted on for Portland Timbers. The forward born in Argentina has played 19,662 professional minutes and has scored 84 goals. He has accounted for 30 yellow cards in his career and has helped on a goal 65 times. He sports an average of 0.38 goals per 90 and has been given a starting assignment in 224 contests so far in his career. You should also keep an eye on Yimmi Chara, the forward born in Columbia. Chara has been handed 4 yellow cards in 11,851 professional minutes played (132 starting assignments). His goals per 90 min average during his soccer career is 0.23. He has tallied 30 goals thus far in his career while assisting on a goal 28 different times.

Steve Clark will reside in front of the net for Portland Timbers. Clark has 54 clean sheets and has defended 1,158 shots attempted against him in 20,961 mins in his career. He has earned a save % of 71.6 and his shutout rate is currently at 23.2%. He has conceded 1.46 goals per 90 while holding a mark of 81-68-83. During his professional soccer career, Clark has allowed 340 goals and has accounted for 817 saves in 233 starting assignments.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Portland (-213)

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Pick:	KANSAS CITY CHIEFS -5.5
Start:	December 15, 2024 @ 1:00 PM
Expert:	Doc's Sports

Analysis:

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

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs Portland Timbers Prediction, 4/18/2021 MLS Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

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