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MLS Week 29 Odds & Picks: Los Angeles Galaxy vs LAFC, Orlando City vs DC United & More

Ryan Metivier

by Ryan Metivier in Soccer News

Updated Oct 1, 2021 · 8:24 AM PDT

MLS Week 29
LA Galaxy forward Javier Hernandez celebrates after scoring during the second half of a Major League Soccer match against Austin FC Saturday, May 15, 2021, in Carson, Calif. The Galaxy won 2-0. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
  • MLS Week 29 takes place from October 2-3, with 13 matches across the weekend
  • NYCFC and Nashville meet in an Eastern Conference top-four matchup, while the Galaxy and LAFC meet in El Tráfico on Sunday
  • Read on for the odds and our best bets from MLS Week 29

With every team in play during the midweek action on Wednesday, the league is right back at it this weekend with MLS Week 29 and 13 more matches. None will be more anticipated than another edition of the all-LA rivalry El Tráfico on Sunday.

There could be some tired legs this weekend. 26 teams played in MLS games, while the Columbus Crew were 2-0 winners over Mexican club Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup. Supporters’ Shield leading New England will sit out this weekend.

In the span of less than a week, another head coach has been axed. First, it was Jaap Stam in Cincy. Then the Chicago Fire parted ways with Raphael Wicky after the Fire’s 2-0 win over NYCFC on Wednesday. That’s now the seventh coach to be fired or leave his position this year.

After Portland’s win over LAFC in midweek, they’re surging up the West standings. They’re now in fourth place and undefeated in seven matches. They’ll host the slumping Inter Miami who’ve now lost three straight after a close 1-0 loss to Atlanta on Wednesday.

Let’s look ahead to the odds and best bets from the MLS Week 29 schedule below.

MLS Week 29 Odds

Matchup Home Draw Away
Austin FC vs Real Salt Lake +145 +260 +185
CF Montreal vs Atlanta United +130 +260 +210
FC Cincinnati vs New York Red Bulls +195 +250 +140
Orlando City SC vs DC United +120 +265 +220
FC Dallas vs Minnesota United +115 +260 +230
Vancouver Whitecaps vs San Jose Earthquakes +115 +265 +225
NYCFC vs Nashville SC -130 +290 +360
Philadelphia Union vs Columbus Crew -165 +320 +450
Sporting Kansas City vs Houston Dynamo -175 +330 +475
Toronto FC vs Chicago Fire +110 +270 +240
Portland Timbers vs Inter Miami -170 +330 +450
LA Galaxy vs LAFC +155 +280 +160
Seattle Sounders vs Colorado Rapids +110 +255 +255

Odds as of Sept 30 at DraftKings

Orlando City SC vs DC United Prediction

It’s seventh versus third in the East respectively, when Orlando hosts DC at 7:30 pm EST Saturday night in MLS Week 29. It will be the second meeting between the teams this season with Orlando winning 1-0 in DC back in May. That match, certainly wouldn’t qualify as a match of the year. Each team only registered one shot each on target and the lone goal came at the seven-minute mark.

On Wednesday, Orlando stopped a run of four straight losses with a 2-2 draw in Nashville. On paper that looks ok. A road draw against a team with just three losses all season. However, Nashville led the game 2-0 until a 76′ minute penalty and 93′ minute own goal rescued a single point for the Lions.

The form guide could not read more opposite for these sides. Orlando is now winless in five and own just two wins in their past 12. DC has won back-to-back matches after Wednesday’s 3-1 home win over Minnesota and Saturday’s 4-2 home win over Cincinnati. They are now 4-1-1 in their past six.

Orlando’s games have been wide-open of late. At least three goals have been scored in each of their past six and both teams have scored in five of those six. They are now 16-11 to Over 2.5 totals.

The same can be said about DC’s matches, which average 3.2 goals per game, the highest average in MLS behind Portland’s 3.3. DC is 18-9 to Over 2.5 totals and are 10-1 to the Over in their past 11. If you were to have bet both teams scoring and the Over 2.5 in those 11 matches, you’d be cashing tickets at an impressive 9-2 rate.

While DC has been much stronger at home at Audi Field, they have the fourth-most away goals (20) in MLS, despite a 2-4-8 (WDL) record. The Over is 10-4 in their road matches. Both teams have scored in eight of their past nine road dates.

Until proven otherwise, DC’s matches always stand out as potential goal-fests. Their attacking, pressing style generates goals. Often for both sides. Orlando is averaging 1.77 home goals per game, but also 1.00 goals per game allowed. It’s hard to see either side keeping a clean sheet here.

Both to score at -150 is decent odds. Both to score with at least three goals comes in at -105 should prefer closer to even-money.

Pick: Both Teams to Score (-150)

Sporting KC vs Houston Dynamo Prediction

Sunday at 4:00 pm EST sees SKC hosting the Houston Dynamo in MLS Week 29.

Sporting are second in the West, just two points back of leaders Seattle. On Wednesday, they were 3-1 road winners in Dallas. Houston is unlikely to make the playoffs, down in 12th in the conference, ten points back of seventh-place Minnesota. On Wednesday they drew 0-0 at home with Vancouver.

Each team has won at home once this season back in May. 1-0 for Houston in May and 3-2 for SKC.

The Dynamo went 16 matches without a win before finally taking all three points at home to Austin back on September 11. That’s put them on a streak of 2-2-1 (WDL), which for them is much improved. That said, they’re still scoreless in their past two. And both of those wins in their past five came at home. Away from home, there are no positives to take from Houston’s play. They are 0-6-8 with just 12 goals scored and 24 conceded away from BBVA Stadium. That winless run goes past this season as well. Overall they haven’t won on the road since August 25, 2020, a streak of 22 matches. That one road win is their only road win in 34 away dates.

Sporting KC should have the ball in the Dynamo half for much of this match. SKC holds the second-highest average possession in MLS with 55-percent, compared to Houston’s league-worst 44.3-percent. SKC have the second-most attacking third touches in the league and Houston allows the seventh-most attacking third touches to their opponents.

Sporting are the third-highest scorers in MLS and own the fifth-best xG. With the likes of Daniel Salloi, who has 15 goals on the year, with two on Wednesday, and good for third in total scoring, SKC should be good for a couple goals and the home win.

Pick: SKC to Win & to Score Over 1.5 Goals (-143 at Bet365)

Los Angeles Galaxy vs LAFC Prediction

It’s another installment of the Los Angeles El Tráfico rivalry at 8:00 pm EST Sunday night in MLS Week 29. LAFC are sitting in ninth in the West on 33 points, five points back of the LA Galaxy who are sixth, with 39.

This will be the third match between the teams this season with the first seeing the Galaxy winning 2-1 in May, and the second a 3-3 draw on LAFC’s home pitch.

This rivalry always sees goals. In 12 all-time meetings, there have never been fewer than two goals scored. And while the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic is now in Italy, Diego Rossi is in Turkey and Carlos Vela is injured, there is still enough offensive talent and very questionable defending to go around for us to see more goals come Sunday.

Both LA teams suffered defeats on Wednesday. LAFC only conceded two shots on target to Portland, but each of those shots resulted in goals. Portland defeated LAFC for the third time this season and each by a 2-1 scoreline. LAFC has now lost three straight.

The Galaxy looked to be on their way to a 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake after Chicharito drew them level in the match. However, a 95′ minute winner for RSL gave them the win and the Galaxy a third straight defeat as well. They’ve scored just once in those three losses. However, their form is much worse than that, when you consider they are winless in eight.

LAFC has conceded a goal in 14/15 recent matches. They’ve also scored in 20/22 recent matches, Both teams have scored with at least three goals being scored has occurred in 6/8 LAFC matches.

Both of these teams are among the highest Over teams on the season with the Galaxy at 18-9 to Over 2.5 totals and LAFC 17-10.

There’s not much to like about either team right now. But this rivalry always brings out the best in these teams and a 2-1 result, either way, would not be unexpected.

Pick: Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals (-155)

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