MLS Week 21 Odds & Picks: New York vs New England, Portland vs LA Galaxy & LAFC vs Houston

• MLS Week 21 includes 13 matches across Tuesday and Wednesday
• The Philadelphia Union have taken over the Supporters’ Shield race after thumping Toronto FC on the weekend
• Read on for the odds and our best bets from MLS Week 21 here

Another midweek slate of MLS matches begins on Tuesday with Montreal vs Nashville SC and the Vancouver Whitecaps vs Seattle Sounders. On Wednesday, 11 more matches round out the schedule.

During Week 20, Philadelphia made a huge statement by routing Toronto FC 5-0 to take a lead in the Supporters’ Shield race, resulting in their MLS Cup odds shortening to +500.

Orlando City’s 12-match undefeated streak came to an end with a last-minute Inter Miami winner, the Colorado Rapids returned to the pitch for the first time in a month (4-0 loss) after being ravaged by positive COVID tests, and superstars Carles Gil and Carlos Vela made long-awaited returns to their respective squads after lengthy injuries.

Outside of the Rapids, most teams now have either three or four matches remaining, so the playoff races are truly heating up with Decision Day less than two weeks away on November 8.

Let’s look at the Week 21 odds and provide some best bets below.

MLS Week 21 Odds

All odds taken Oct 27 at Bet365

Pick 1: New York Red Bulls vs New England Revolution

New York is seventh in the East with 26 points and will host New England, sixth in the East with 29 points at 7:00 pm EST on Wednesday. This one looks to be a fairly even match on paper with plus-money being offered across the board and the Red Bulls +115 home favorites.

For the second game in a row, the Red Bulls’ Brian White scored a stoppage-time equalizer to give New York a share of the points. Down 2-1 on the road to Chicago on Saturday, White scored in the 91′ minute for a 2-2 draw. The week prior, he scored in the 95′ minute to rescue a point at home to Orlando in a 1-1 draw. The Red Bulls have now drawn three consecutive matches and are undefeated in four after drawing Toronto 1-1 and defeating Atlanta 1-0.

Just call him… The Equalizer pic.twitter.com/yHdf8rLxL4

— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) October 25, 2020

New England is also coming off a 1-1 to the draw specialists of the league Nashville SC on Friday. The Revs welcomed back DP and influential midfielder Carles Gil who had been sidelined with injury since July. The score remained 0-0 until the 74′ minute when Walker Zimmerman put Nashville ahead, only for New England to draw level just three minutes later.

These teams met on August 29 in a match that saw few opportunities either way and which ended in a 1-1 draw.

The bet that jumps off the board to me is another draw between these teams. Though the streak of draws for New York has to end sometime soon one would think.

“It’s incredible. I’ve worked really hard for this moment.”

Carles Gil made his long awaited return on Friday night for the #NERevs https://t.co/CHTiZXIR2Y pic.twitter.com/5VWmisaGFh

— Sam Minton (@sam_minton22) October 24, 2020

When the league restarted this summer, New York saw six of seven matches end with a clean sheet for one team or another. That trend has now completely flipped with both teams scoring in their matches in seven of their past eight. With that lone outlier being a 1-0 win, the Bulls have now scored in eight-straight.

For New England, their form guide reads similarly. In their first 11 games since the tournament, six finished with a clean sheet and seven ended UNDER 2.5 goals. However, their past four matches have all seen both teams scoring and three of four have also gone OVER 2.5 goals. At 2-1-1 in those matches, Bruce Arena’s side is also in a good run of form.

I could see another 1-1 draw (+275) in this match or UNDER 2.5 goals (+105), though simply betting both teams to score can offer at least a modest return.

Pick: Both Teams to Score (-150)

Pick 2: Portland Timbers vs LA Galaxy

It’s a clash of western foes when top-four Portland hosts rock-bottom LA at 10:00 pm EST Wednesday night.

The Timbers sit on 32 points in third place, five points above fifth-place Minnesota and just a single point off the West-leading Sporting Kansas City. With just four regular season games remaining and the next three all at home and against current non-playoff teams, Portland sits in a strong position of finishing atop the conference.

They also come into this match well-rested, having been off this weekend and having not played since last Thursday in a 1-1 draw with rivals Seattle.  It was their second-straight 1-1 draw after previously drawing with LAFC as well. A 2-1 loss to RSL on October 14 is their only defeat in nine matches as they’ve gone 5-3-1 (WDL) during that stretch.

"The fact that we are disappointed, here in Seattle, with a tie, it means that we are a strong team."

Gio Savarese reflects on tonight's performance. #RCTID pic.twitter.com/BVlr636CNB

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) October 23, 2020

In last place in the West with 18 points and six points back of the final playoff position, the season is quickly slipping away from Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s side. Little has gone right for the Galaxy this season who were winless (0-1-6) from September 13-October 14. They finally broke that streak with a 1-0 win over Vancouver by scoring in the 91′ minute, but quickly returned to losing ways against rivals LAFC on the weekend (2-0). And while an early red card and some bad luck on a ball which looked to be out of bounds led to them conceding the game’s first goal didn’t help matters, it was still another loss in a likely lost season.

The teams have met three times this season. Portland won 2-1 at MLS is Back, the Galaxy won 3-2 in Portland on September 2 and Portland were 6-3 winners in a wild shootout in LA earlier this month on October 7.

There's a new team in first in the West. 👀 pic.twitter.com/Gj48oIUG99

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 25, 2020

While Chicharito sat out Sunday’ El Trafico match, the Galaxy offense has been ineffective with our without the Mexican striker.

All season their offense has been too reliant on Cristian Pavon. If Pavon doesn’t take over a game, the Galaxy will likely lose. They’ll also likely bomb cross after cross at their opponents hoping for something productive to happen. It does not. The Galaxy had 36 crosses to Vancouver’s 17 and were tied 0-0 until a stoppage-time winner. They had an average amount (20-21 against San Jose) and lost 4-0. They had a whopping 30-6 advantage in crosses against Portland in the aforementioned 6-3 loss as well. On the season, the Galaxy rank tied-fifth overall with 266 crosses.

I picked Chicharito to win the Golden Boot this year. 🤦🏼‍♂️ https://t.co/7emDWnYlVo

— Doug McIntyre (@ByDougMcIntyre) October 19, 2020

Last year both teams won at home, Portland 4-0 and LA 2-1.

Portland may again be without Jeremy Ebobisse in attack, however, in Diego Valeri, Felipe Mora and Jaroslaw Niezgoda, they have plenty of offense to create problems for a Galaxy backline which has kept just one clean sheet in eight matches.

You can bet goals in this match and wager on both teams scoring and OVER 2.5 goals at (-150), but I think a Timbers’ win can offer a little better price.

Pick: Portland win (-120)

.@11carlosV is back! 💪@MattDoyle76 breaks down why that means more room for the rest of @LAFC's offense. pic.twitter.com/vXXQL7XBoE

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 26, 2020

Pick 3: LAFC vs Houston Dynamo

Late Wednesday night at 10:30 pm EST Los Angeles FC hosts Houston Dynamo as heavy -223 favorites.

The Dynamo need points and need them now as the regular season is quickly winding down and they find themselves three points out of the Western Conference playoffs. They had a huge opportunity to pick up three points on the weekend leading Columbus 1-0 before allowing an own goal in the 67′ minute to only pick up a single point in a 1-1 draw. Houston held an advantage in attempts (24-8) and shots on target (6-1) but failed to secure the win.

Heading on the road to Banc of California Stadium may not be the place to pick up points where LAFC have won 2-0 and 3-1 in their past two home dates. LAFC have been very inconsistent this season but are still fourth in the West. They are also 3-1-1 in their past five and are coming off a huge confidence-building 2-0 win over their arch-rivals the LA Galaxy on Sunday afternoon.

Ball CLEARLY out. Way to go MLS. pic.twitter.com/6GfkxQ7eMp

— Jon Herz (@championyankees) October 25, 2020

The Galaxy were without Chicharito (injury sustained in training) and took an early red card in the 22′ minute, but held on until a controversial LAFC opening goal in the 58′ minute. LAFC had welcomed back several starters from international duty, then also saw the return of the reigning league MVP Carlos Vela in the second half. Vela hadn’t played since getting injured on August 22 and subbed on in the 70′ minute, before scoring LAFC’s second goal in stoppage time to double their lead.

Carlos Vela puts the finishing touch on an @LAFC El Trafico victory on his return from injury 😤

Follow @MLS for more pic.twitter.com/7l6TfS8A8A

— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 25, 2020

Houston’s weekend draw was their second-straight draw, after finishing tied 2-2 with Minnesota in their previous match. They haven’t won a match since October 7, a 2-0 home win over Dallas, which is their only win in their past 11 matches.

That was also the only time they’ve kept a clean sheet in 11 matches. On the road, Houston is dreadful, with just a single win in 2020 away from their home ground. They won 5-0 away to SKC back on August 25, but are 0-3-3 since.

These teams met once earlier this year at the MLS is Back Tournament which ended all square tied 3-3. LAFC were without Carlos Vela and Houston still had Albert Elis. Now, Vela is back from injury and Elis is playing in Portugal. Last season LAFC won both meetings 3-1, while in 2018 they won 4-2 at home and the teams drew 2-2 in Houston.

I think the momentum is building in LA after their weekend win and return of their star players and at home should cruise past this Dynamo squad.

Pick: LAFC -1.5 (+120)