MLS Week 26 Odds & Picks: Toronto FC vs Nashville SC, Portland Timbers vs LAFC & More

• MLS Week 26 takes place from September 17-19, 2021
• Will Toronto’s nine-match winless skid continue?
• Read on for the odds and our best bets from MLS Week 26

MLS Week 26 kicks off on Friday night with Inter Miami hosting the New York Red Bulls with Miami surging towards their first playoff birth. Eight more matches take place on Saturday, with four on Sunday, highlighted by an exciting Portland vs LAFC clash in the Western Conference Sunday night.

The league was busy this week with midweek play taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday. Philadelphia also exited the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals against Club América on Wednesday as well.

Let’s look ahead to the odds and best bets from the MLS Week 26 schedule below.

MLS Week 26 Odds

Odds as of Sept 17 at DraftKings

FC Cincinnati vs NYCFC Prediction

Two teams at opposite ends of the table meet in MLS Week 26 when FC Cincinnati hosts NYCFC at 7:30 pm EST.

In 13th place sit Cincinnati at 4-8-11 (WDL), with NYCFC up in fourth at 10-5-8.

In the midweek play, Cincinnati suffered a heavy 4-0 road defeat to Atlanta United. For New York, they’ll have one extra day rest having played on Tuesday, in a wild 3-3 draw with FC Dallas.

While it was disappointing to drop two points at home, NYCFC had some positives to take away. Maxi Moralez picked up his first goal since July 25. Heber also made his first appearance for the club in the final nine minutes after being out with injury since September 23, 2020.

We love you, @Heber__Araujo 💙🤙 pic.twitter.com/V4yYicof2G

— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) September 15, 2021

Adding Heber back into the offense should only improve an NYCFC attack that ranks third overall in scoring with 41 goals for. Their xG of 43.4 is second to only LAFC’s 44.6.

The quality between these sides couldn’t be more different. Cincinnati has just four wins on the season. One was recent, against Toronto, 2-0. But Toronto is in a tailspin, was on the road and shorthanded. Another of FCC’s wins this season also came against TFC. Otherwise, they have one win each against Chicago and Montreal. Chicago is just as poor as Cincinnati and Toronto, and the Montreal win was way back in May.

Prior to last weekend’s win over Toronto, Cincinnati had gone winless in 11 matches.

They’ve already lost 5-0 to NYCFC once this season and while the scoreline may not get that inflated this time, a road win for New York should still be a winning bet Saturday.

Pick: NYCFC win (-110)

Toronto FC vs Nashville SC Prediction

I’m finding that I continually gravitate to previewing TFC games each week. And it’s not even because I’m from the area and watch most of their games. I mean, sure I’m watching them find new ways to keep losing games each week, but anyone can look at the standings and see a team with a 3-6-15 record is a good team to bet against week in and week out.

On Wednesday, Toronto hosted Inter Miami and once again fell in defeat, their sixth straight loss. It also extended their winless skid to nine.

The cards were stacked against TFC once they were reduced to ten men in the 37′ minute. However, they hung in the match, actually creating more attempts on goal (10-9) than Miami. They also possibly should’ve won the game if not for the lack of goal-line technology in MLS. With just minutes to go, Miami goalkeeper Nick Marsman made a poor giveaway to Toronto’s Jacob Shaffelburg. Shaffelburg’s ensuing shot looked to have crossed the line by the time Marman made the save, however, a goal was not given.

Soooooo we're saying this didn't cross the line, eh? pic.twitter.com/d4MGWm4KYa

— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) September 15, 2021

Soon after, Chris Mavinga was whistled for a foul on Christian Makoun in the box resulting in a PK which Makoun would put home for the late winner.

Having not played in midweek, Nashville will be the more rested team for this one at 7:30 pm EST Saturday in MLS Week 26.

Nashville has just two defeats this season and just one in their past 15. Over their past five, they are 4-1-0 and have outscored their opponents 12-4.

Last Saturday, Walker Zimmerman’s 66′ minute goal gave Nashville a 1-0 road win over CF Montreal. Only five teams have scored more than Nashville this season with Hany Mukhtar (10) and CJ Sapong (9) leading the way in team scoring.

MVP contender? 🥇@NashvilleSC's Hany Mukhtar leads the league in combined goals (10) + assists (9): https://t.co/ArcUUQFwLo pic.twitter.com/FvAE97E3bM

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 14, 2021

Alejandro Pozuelo will likely miss out once again through injury for Toronto and it’s hard to see where the offense will come from for TFC. Not only can Nashville score, but they’ve also allowed the second-fewest goals (21) this season.

Previously this season Nashville won 3-2 at home and drew 1-1 in Toronto when these teams met.

Pick: Nashville SC win (+155)

Portland Timbers vs LAFC Prediction

What easily looks like the match of the round in MLS Week 26 sees the Portland Timbers hosting LAFC at 7:30 pm EST Sunday night.

Both teams were in action on Wednesday night and both team’s games featured plenty of goals. It didn’t look that way at first though for Portland, who was hosting Colorado. With the score 0-0 at half and Portland reduced to ten men after Bill Poni Tuiloma’s second yellow card, a 2-2 final result may not have been expected.

The teams exchanged goals in the second half before Colorado took a late lead in the 87′ minute which looked like it would be the winner. However, Sebastian Blanco drew Portland level with a 91′ minute equalizer.

"We take the field and have the Timbers Army behind us, anything is possible."

Dear Providence Park, from Sebastián Blanco. #RCTID pic.twitter.com/12UtuIu0Sk

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) September 14, 2021

Portland will be disappointed to drop points at home after three straight road wins, however, a four-match undefeated streak will still have their confidence at a high.

All three of those aforementioned wins came via clean sheets. A rarity in Timbers’ games. They had conceded in eight previous games prior to this, and both teams had scored in each.

LAFC’s midweek match also entered the half scoreless but still ended in a 2-1 road win in Austin. A penalty from Cristian Arango in the 59′ and winner from Danny Musovski in the 81′, proved to be enough for the win. Austin managed just a single shot on target, which proved to be their only goal by Diego Fagundez in the 67′.

Will anyone catch the @NERevolution? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/VLdF0ycVqE

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 16, 2021

LAFC have now won back-to-back games and are undefeated in three after a poor run of form that saw them fail to win over a seven-game stretch. They’ve scored 10 goals in those three, while also allowing five.

It’s the second of three meetings between the two this season and the second in Portland. The Timbers won 2-1 at home back on July 21.

Goals are usually on the cards when these teams meet. In 11 all-time meetings, both teams have scored nine times. At least three goals have been scored seven times. And that combination (BTTS & Over 2.5) has cashed seven times as well. Last season there were two 1-1 draws and a 4-2 Galaxy win.

Pick: Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals (-150)