MLS Week 16 Odds & Predictions

• MLS Week 16 is spread out over Friday, Saturday and Sunday this weekend
• Austin FC have scored the fewest goals in the league (10) alongside Inter Miami
• Read on for the odds and our best bets from MLS Week 16

It’s a full weekend of MLS Week 16 action with three matches on Friday night, followed by eight on Saturday and two more on Sunday evening. Arguably the standout clash of the weekend sees NYCFC hosting the Columbus Crew to kick off the weekend Friday night at 7:30 pm EST. The Crew has already defeated NYCFC twice this season.

Let’s look ahead to the odds and best bets from the MLS Week 16 schedule below.

MLS Week 16 Odds

Odds as of July 29 at DraftKings

LA Galaxy vs Portland Timbers Prediction

The third-placed LA Galaxy host eighth place Portland at 10:00 pm EST Friday night in MLS Week 16 action.

LA is coming off a poor 4-0 defeat to FC Dallas, now their third-straight without a win. All three of those came on the road though, whereas at home they’re 5-0-2 with 12 goals scored in those seven matches. The Galaxy have kept just two clean sheets at home and that came against the goal-starved Austin FC and San Jose Earthquakes.

Diego Valeri, folks. Goal number 100 as a Timber. #RCTID pic.twitter.com/CGKKQ8jO0Y

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) July 22, 2021

The Timbers lost a late one in their last match, a 2-1 defeat to Minnesota United. Level at 1-1 late in the match, Robin Lod scored an 85′ minute winner for the Loons. Portland had two wins in their matches prior to that defeat, though both were at home. Away from Providence Park, they have just one win this year. However, they have scored in five of their matches away from home.

It’s the second meeting this season between these sides. The Timbers won 3-0 at home on May 21. And while both teams didn’t find the scoresheet, it was still the eighth-straight game where at least three goals were scored between these teams. The four scorelines between the Galaxy and Timbers last season read as 2-1 (POR), 3-2 (LA), 6-3 (POR) and 5-2 (POR).

✨ @CH14_ is working his way back ✨ pic.twitter.com/v81uTCg9EO

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) July 29, 2021

Even without Chicharito (still looking very doubtful for tonight), LA should be able to find the scoresheet against a very average Portland defense. But so too should Portland, with the likes of Felipe Mora, Diego Valeri, Jeremy Ebobisse and Sebastian Blanco, be able to contribute to the scoresheet as well. History tells us goals are on the cards between these two.

Pick: Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 (-125 at Bet365)

Sporting Kansas City vs FC Dallas Prediction

Sporting Kansas City is riding high, sitting second in the West, just two points back of Seattle, and three back of New England for the Supporters’ Shield. They’ll host FC Dallas at 8:30 pm EST Saturday night in MLS Week 16.

After last weekend’s 3-1 win over the Seattle Sounders, SKC are undefeated in five matches at 4-1-0. They’ve also dropped just a single result in their past ten at 9-2-1. They have been susceptible to conceding goals though, allowing a goal in eight of those ten. In 13 of their 15 matches so far this season, both teams have scored.

Grow, develop, and play your kids.#PathwayToThePros | #SportingKC pic.twitter.com/LjILr7VqaA

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) July 29, 2021

Dallas are coming off a win of their own, an impressive 4-0 home win over the LA Galaxy where Ricardo Pepi scored a hat-trick inside the opening 50 minutes of play. This snapped a run of four games without a win for Luchi Gonzalez’s side. The win did come at home though, where Dallas is still undefeated at 3-5-0.

They’ll be away at Children’s Mercy Park in KC for this one and away from home, their stats are brutal. They’re 0-0-7 with two goals scored and 15 conceded. That’s the worst road goal-differential in the league. Their poor road form stretches much farther back than just this season too. In their past 26 on the road, they are just 3-5-18.

FC Dallas does have the upper hand in this matchup of late though. They were 2-1-0 last season and 3-2-0 against SKC in the last five.

18-year-old Ricardo Pepi has a hat-trick for @FCDallas 👀

Another exciting USMNT talent to watch.

(via @MLS)

pic.twitter.com/DXgPvK53V8

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 25, 2021

SKC are undefeated at home at 5-3-0 and have scored 16 while conceding just eight. They have the third-most middle third touches of the ball in the league, second-most in the attacking third and fifth-most in their opponent’s penalty area.

Given how few road goals Dallas have scored and the fact that SKC rarely keep clean sheets, you could find value in both teams scoring at -140. But given the home/road form of these sides, it’s hard to bet against an SKC win.

Pick: SKC to Win & Score Over 1 Goal (-143 at Bet365)

Austin FC vs Colorado Rapids Prediction

Newcomers Austin FC haven’t been all that bad this season. They’ve allowed just 15 goals in 14 matches—good for fourth overall in MLS. Unfortunately, their ten goals scored is easily a league-worst, tied alongside Inter Miami in goal-scoring futility.

Now 13th in the West, Austin FC will entertain the fourth-place Colorado Rapids at 9:00 pm EST Saturday night. Austin will hope some of those offensive woes can be improved with the addition of new DP signing Sebastian Driussi. The Argentine attacking midfielder has 56 career goals in 183 starts with River Plate (Argentina) and Zenit Saint Petersburg (Russia).

A proven winner. A strong presence in the attack. A playmaker. ATX, get ready for @SebadriussiOk. 🔥

— Austin FC (@AustinFC) July 29, 2021

Despite being at home and playing against a historically young Seattle Sounders starting lineup, Austin still came away on the wrong end of a 1-0 defeat. It was their second straight scoreless defeat and the eighth time in their past ten matches where they were held off the scoresheet.

Colorado is coming off a Rocky Mountian Cup rivalry defeat to RSL (3-0) last week. But prior to that they were 2-2-0 in their previous four and had conceded just twice in that span. All four of those came at home. In their past two away matches, they’re now 0-2 and have been outscored 6-1.

Austin has just three wins on the season so far, but one of those came in the second week of the season, on the road in Colorado, a 3-1 result. Diego Fagundez and Cecilio Dominguez (2) each scored in the second half to overturn a 1-0 halftime deficit.

Betting Unders in Austin matches would’ve paid off in 8/10 recent games. You could follow that trend again here at -115 odds for there to be less than 2.5 total goals.

Or back the draw with the offensively-challenge Verde and Black and a Rapids team with only five goals away from home this season.

Pick: Draw (+235)