Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps Prediction, Preview, and Odds - 10/20/21
Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
The MLS betting action goes on Wednesday, October 20, with 12 games around the league, bringing plenty of intriguing picks and markets to the bettors. The playoff race is heating up, so we’re taking a closer look at the Western Conference showdown from Providence Park in Portland where the No. 4 Timbers host the No. 8 Vancouver Whitecaps. These two foes meet for the third time in 2021, and each club has emerged victorious once in their previous two duels.
Portland has just stopped its winning streak
The Portland Timbers are coming off a 2-1 heart-breaking defeat at the Los Angeles Galaxy this past Saturday. They committed the penalty kick in the dying moments of the second half to allow the Galaxy to score a winner.
The Timbers put an end to their four-game winning streak. Also, it was their first defeat in the last nine games overall along with seven victories and a draw. Portland is now laying at the fourth spot of the Western Conference table with 46 points from 29 games (W14, D4, L11) and a 46:46 goal difference.
Felipe Mora leads the way for the Timbers with 13 goals in all competitions this term, including 11 in 25 MLS appearances. However, the 28-year-old striker hasn’t found the net in three straight games. Winger Dairon Asprilla has scored eight goals in 29 apps, while winger Sebastian Blanco is the team’s top assist-maker with five dishes in 20 outings.
Vancouver continues to chase the playoff spot
The Vancouver Whitecaps have played well over the last few weeks. They’ve recorded three wins, one loss, and a pair of draws in the last six outings at any location, though the Whitecaps are winless in three consecutive road contests, earning a couple of points in that span.
Vancouver is now sitting at the eighth spot of the Western Conference standings with 40 points from 29 contests (W10, D10, L9) and a 37:39 goal difference. The Whitecaps are only one point behind the seventh-seeded Minnesota United FC that holds the bottom playoff spot in the West.
Brian White leads the charge for Vancouver with ten goals in 22 appearances this season. The 25-year-old striker has been terrific as of late, accounting for six goals and a couple of assists in his previous six apps. Cristian Dajome has eight goals and four dimes on his tally, but the 27-year-old winger is scoreless in seven straight games.
The Pick:Portland Timbers to Win
Interestingly, the previous four meetings between Portland and Vancouver were finished with an identical 1-0 result, and the Timbers won three of those four tilts. Portland has won five of its last six home contests against the Whitecaps, and I’m backing the Timbers to deliver in this one.
Frankly, this clash could easily go three-way, considering how good the Timbers and Whitecaps have been playing lately. Portland has dominated its opponents at home thus far, winning nine of their 14 games played at Providence Park while tallying a 28:19 goal difference. On the other side, the Whitecaps have won only one of their 14 games on the road along with eight draws and five defeats (15:24 goal difference).
The Total Prediction: Over 2.5 goals
Although the last four encounters between the Timbers and Whitecaps have been proper low-scoring affairs, I’m looking for three goals on the scoreboard in this one. The Timbers are scoring at will, but their defense is leaky, and the Whitecaps have found the back of the net in ten of their last 12 outings on the road.
Nine of Vancouver’s previous 13 road tilts went in the over of a 2.5-goal line, as well as five of Portland’s last six games at home. The Timbers have kept their net intact only twice in their last 11 games in front of the home fans.