MLS Week 28 Odds & Picks: DC vs Minnesota, Nashville vs Orlando & LAFC vs Portland

• MLS Week 28 takes place in midweek on Wednesday, September 29, 2021
• FC Cincinnati will have a new head coach after last weekend’s loss
• Read on for the odds and our best bets from MLS Week 28

Wednesday night see a full slate of MLS action as MLS Week 28 features 13 matches,

After another loss this weekend, FC Cincinnati parted ways with head coach Jaap Stam. Tyrone Marshall, the club’s U-19 academy head coach, still step in on an interim basis.

Let’s look ahead to the odds and best bets from the MLS Week 28 schedule below.

MLS Week 28 Odds

Odds as of Sept 28 at DraftKings

DC United vs Minnesota United Prediction

At 7:30 pm EST DC United hosts Minnesota United in MLS week 28 in the only inter-conference matchup of the round. DC are sixth in the East with 37 points, while Minnesota is also sixth in the West with 37 points as well.

DC come into this match after Saturday’s 4-2 win over Cincinnati. The score, in truth, almost flatters Cincinnati considering both of their goals came late-on in the 80′ and 84′ minutes. DC have risen up the East standings, currently in a rich vein of form at 3-1-1 in their past five matches.

For Minnesota, after a run of matches that saw them win just one in six, have now reeled off back-to-back wins. First 3-0 at home to the LA Galaxy, and then 2-0 at home to the Houston Dynamo on Saturday.

Full slate of MLS matches tonight…

Plus @ColumbusCrew taking on Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup (8pm ET, ESPN2 & Univision)! pic.twitter.com/nwQGuS5D9R

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 29, 2021

There is a big contrast in how each team’s games have faired for totals bettors. Over bettors cashed DC United games over 2.5 goals at a 17-9 clip. Whereas the Over is only 10-15 with Minnesota. That’s the second-most Overs in the East for DC and the fewest Overs in the West for Minnesota.

Considering Minnesota’s propensity for Unders, it’s no wonder there has been a clean sheet kept in seven of their past nine matches. However, on the road, the Loons have kept just a single clean sheet all season and that came eight rounds ago.

So expecting them to keep DC off the board at Audi Field seems unlikely. DC has scored in 10/12 home matches. They’ve scored in each of their past eight at home, outscoring opponents 22-7. In their past three at Audi Field, they’ve scored ten goals.

Looking for our 10th win at @AudiField tomorrow night. 👀

Preview ➡️ https://t.co/lEHFLRijZf

— D.C. United (@dcunited) September 28, 2021

Both of these teams pressure their opponents at a high rate. DC ranks fourth overall in pressures, while Minnesota ranks fifth. Neither team holds a majority of the possession. Minnesota averages 50.1-percent and DC just 47.2. This could result in a bit of a wide-open, and possibly sloppy game. As many of DC’s matches often become.

Both teams to score at -140 odds is not a bad price. For more value, adding the Over 2.5 goals at +100 could be better.

Pick: Both to Score & Over 2.5 Goals (+100)

Nashville SC vs Orlando City SC Prediction

Nashville looks to maintain their current status in second place in the East, while Orlando will be hoping to jump back into the top four when these two meet at 8:30 pm EST

After just their third loss of the season three matches back, Nashville was 5-1 winners in Miami and drew 0-0 with Chicago in their past two matches.

At home at Nissan Stadium, Nashville has yet to taste defeat, with an 8-6-0 record. Their 31 goals scored at home are the most in the East, and when you consider they’ve only conceded 14 times on their home pitch, that plus-17 goal-differential is tied for tops in the league.

Wednesday Night Soccer 🙌

🕣 8:30 p.m. ET
📺 Fox 35 Plus & LionNation TV
📻 @969thegame & @Accion979#VamosOrlando | #NSHvORL pic.twitter.com/WwNMpKXaq3

— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) September 29, 2021

Despite their position in the playoffs currently, Orlando has been average at best on the road at 3-4-6. They’ve scored just 14 times in 13 road matches and have allowed 25. The Lions have failed to collect a win on the road in their past eight and have lost each of their past three, conceding multiple goals in those three.

Overall, Orlando has lost four in a row, allowing multiple goals in each, after Saturday’s 2-1 loss in New England. A Nashville win is likely (-175), but a little better value could be had on them scoring at least two goals.

Pick: Nashville to Score Over 1.5 Goals (-145)

LAFC vs Portland Timbers Prediction

Eighth place LAFC, entertain fourth-place Portland at 10:30 pm EST on Wednesday night in MLS Week 28.

It’s a crucial playoff matchup with LAFC three points back of seventh place RSL for the final playoff birth in the West. While Portland is four points clear above RSL. LAFC come into this match off back-to-back losses after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat in San Jose.

Meanwhile, Portland is enjoying their best form of the season. They’ve collected the most points in the West (20) over the past ten rounds. Only New England (25) and Atlanta (22) have collected more points during that time. Over the past five rounds both Portland and New England have collected the most points in MLS with 13.

How will the West finish? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/f7AhbMrWes

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 28, 2021

The Timbers are now 5-1-0 (WDL) in their past six games and are coming off a complete demolition of RSL on Saturday. Portland won 6-1, with six different goalscorers. They also welcomed back injured striker Jaroslaw Niezgoda late in the second half and he scored immediately on his first shot on goal. Portland has outscored their opponents 15-4 during their current undefeated streak.

This will be the third meeting between the teams in 2021, with Portland having won each of the previous two by 2-1 scorelines and both at home. One of those came as recently as September 19.

"It's a crucial moment for me."

Jarek Niezgoda talks about finally get back on the scoresheet, and what it will mean for him moving forward. #RCTID pic.twitter.com/E2gRJ7J0kA

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) September 26, 2021

in 12 all-time meetings between these sides, ten of them have seen both teams scoring. Eight have seen both scoring with three or more total goals.

Portland could be a live road dog in this match. It’s never easy to beat a team three times in one season though. LAFC home matches have gone Over the 2.5 goal total at a 9-4 clip this season. Despite their struggles, LAFC have scored in every single home match this season and have scored multiple goals at home in seven of their past eight.

Expect plenty of goals once again on Wednesday.

Pick: Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals (-135)