Seattle Sounders FC vs. Vancouver Whitecapts Prediction, Preview and Odds - 10/9/21

Seattle Sounders vs Vancouver Whitecaps

Seattle defeated the Colorado Rapids 3-0 in their most recent MLS fixture on Sunday. Cristian Roldan scored one goal and added a pair of assists in helping the first-place Sounders to the victory over the surging Rapids. Seattle has won each of the last three matches in the MLS outscoring its opponents by a combined 8-2. Seattle will play without Jordan Morris, Jordy Delem, Nico Lodeiro and Brad Smith, while Nicolas Benezet and Raul Ruidiaz are questionable.

Vancouver defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 3-0 in their most recent MLS fixture on Saturday. Vancouver’s Brian White notched a hat trick with goals in the 26th, 59th and 73rd minutes. Vancouver is unbeaten in each of its last four fixtures in the MLS with one win and three draws. Vancouver will play without Eric Godoy and Caio Alexandre, while Cristian Gutierrez, Luca Cavallini and Ranko Veselinovic are doubtful.

Seattle maintains first place in the West

The Seattle Sounders are first in the MLS Western Conference standings with a record of 16-6-5, 54 points and a +22 goal difference. Seattle is two points clear of second-place Sporting Kansas City and has one match in-hand, as the Sounders have played 27 matches and Sporting Kansas City has played 28. Seattle is tough to beat at home as the Sounders have won each of the last two on their home pitch with two clean sheets.

The leading goal scorer for Seattle is Raul Ruidiaz with 16 but Ruidiaz is nursing a sore hamstring and could miss out. The second leading goal scorer for Seattle is Fredy Montero with 6. Joao Paulo is the leader in assists with eight, while Cristian Roldan has five. Goalkeeper Stefan Frei has appeared in 10 matches for Seattle and allowed only four goals. Frei is coming off a 3-0 win over Colorado and made four saves.

Vancouver battling for seventh and final playoff spot

The Vancouver Whitecaps are eighth in the MLS Western Conference standings with a record of 9-10-8, 37 points and a 0 goal difference. The top 7 places qualify for postseason play and Vancouver is currently just one point behind seventh-place Minnesota and three points ahead of ninth-place LAFC. Vancouver has six draws in its last seven matches on the road with one victory.

Vancouver’s leading goal scorer is Brian White with nine, while Cristian Dajome has scored eight. Deiber Caicedo has five assists to lead the Whitecaps while Dajome has four. Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau has appeared in 21 of Vancouver's 27 matches and has allowed 22 goals. Crepeau has clean sheets in each of his last three starts and four of the last five, but Crepeau is unavailable as he will be playing for Canada's national team. Therefore, Thomas Hasal will play. Hasal has appeared in six matches and allowed 10 goals.

Pick: Seattle Sounders -133

Seattle is holding a two-point advantage at the top of the MLS Western Conference and Vancouver is battling for the 7th and final playoff spot in the conference. These two met on June 26 in Seattle and battled to a 2-2 draw. Vancouver has played to a draw in six of its last seven played on the road and Vancouver goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau has posted clean sheets in each of the last three matches played, but the Canadian national will not play as he will be playing in Canada’s Concacaf World Cup qualifying match on Thursday against Mexico as well as Sunday against Jamaica. Seattle has outscored each of its last two opponents at home 4-0 and has won four of the last five head-to-head against Vancouver. At home, Seattle has three wins and one draw in its last four against the Whitecaps.

Total: Over

In the first match between these two this season a total of 4 goals were scored. The 2.5 goals per match threshold has been exceeded in each of Seattle's last three matches. Vancouver will be on the road and using a backup goalkeeper, who has allowed 10 goals in his six appearances this season for the Whitecaps. These two Western Conference Rivals have combined to score three goals or more in three of the last four head-to-head matches.