Colorado Rapids vs. Los Angeles FC Prediction, Preview, and Odds - 11/7/21

META TITLE: MLS Colorado Rapids vs. Los Angeles FC

Colorado Rapids vs. Los Angeles FC

The ultimate round of the 2021 MLS regular season is set for Sunday, November 7, so we’re breaking down the Western Conference battle between the Colorado Rapids and Los Angeles FC. These two foes meet for the second time in 2021, and LAFC outlasted Colorado 2-1 as massive -205 home favorites on May 22. Both teams have a lot to play for this time around, so let’s take a closer look.

The Rapids are fighting for the No. 1 seed in the West

The Colorado Rapids are coming off a 1-0 victory at the Houston Dynamo this past Sunday. They kept the ball in possession for only 40 percent of the time but managed to record the clean sheet for the second time in the last three outings.

The Rapids occupy the third spot in the Western Conference with 58 points (W16, D10, L7) and a 46:33 goal difference. They trail the top-seeded Seattle Sounders by just a point, while No. 2 Sporting Kansas City has 58 points as well. The Rapids are guaranteed No. 3 seed and could improve with a win over LAFC if other things go their way.

The 29-year-old striker Dominique Badji scored the winner against Houston. He’s found the back of the net once in three of his last four outings. The Rapids have won three of their last six games along with a draw and a couple of losses, tallying eight goals in the process and yielding six in a return.

LAFC desperately need a win

Although they haven’t lost in six straight outings, recording three wins and three draws in the process, LAFC sit at the ninth spot of the Western Conference standings with 45 points (W12, D9, L12) and a 51:46 goal difference. They are two points outside of the playoff picture and three points behind No. 5 Minnesota, so Los Angeles has to beat Colorado this Sunday.

LA is coming off a disappointing 1-1 home draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps this past Tuesday. Playing as firm -175 favorites, LAFC took a whopping 25 shots (11 on target) and yielded just five in a return, but the Whitecaps scored on two shots on target.

The 26-year-old striker Cristian Arango leads the way for LAFC with 13 goals in 16 appearances, and he joined the team in August. The former Millonarios FC player has scored seven goals over his previous five outings.

Pick: Los Angeles FC to win

The visitors will almost certainly clinch the playoff berth with a win over Colorado, so I’m going with Los Angeles FC at +210. Frankly, this game could easily go three-way, though LAFC will be eliminated from the

playoff contention with a draw. Keep that in mind if you like in-game betting, as we should see a late goal in this one.

Draw at halftime could be a way to go because both teams should be cautious in the first half, but the eventual opening goal will be a massive game-changer. If LAFC score first and early, the visitors will sit back and defend, and the Rapids might wait for the second half to change their plan.

Total: Under 3.0 goals

The Rapids own the second-best scoring defense in the West, and we shouldn’t expect to see a high-scoring affair on the closing day. None of their last four contests has produced more than a couple of goals in total.

On the other side, eight of LAFC’s last ten games have produced three or fewer goals in total, so I’m backing Under 3.0 Goals at -120. Hopefully, we’ll see a quiet first half, but you never know in games like this one.