Perhaps the Portland Timbers are experiencing a bit of a hangover right now.
They haven't gotten off to a good start to the season at this point, and having to go on the road to visit the LA Galaxy won't help matters on Sunday in all likelihood.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
LA Galaxy -160
Portland Timbers +360
Draw +250
Over/Under 2.5 (over -140)
ODDS ANALYSIS
We're going to talk more about the home/road splits for the Galaxy in just a minute, but this is another example where they're relatively heavy favorites at home, and probably for good reason. They're lined at -160 to take the three points in this match, and that'll translate to getting the nod by a goal on the Asian Handicap.
The total has to be a bit higher with as well as the LA offense plays here at the StubHub Center, and that's showcased in a 2.5 (-140) price on the over.
KEY INJURIES
The Galaxy are known for their ringers, but they're missing many of them right now. Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard are both going to be out for much of, if not the entirety of this month with leg injuries, and Giovani dos Santos has a left leg injury that cost him last weekend's match and could keep him out for this one, too.
The Timbers have had two long-term injuries at the back with Andy Thoma and Liam Ridgewell, and that's really hurting their chances of keeping their own net clean in most matches.
RECENT FORM
It's really amazing just how good the Galaxy are at home and how dreadful they are on the road. You see their dominance at home virtually every single season, and this year isn't an exception in the early going. LA trumped both D.C. United and San Jose with emphatic victories in March.
However, if you go back and look at the two away fixtures, the Galaxy didn't score in either one, and they have just a point to show for their work at BC Place against Vancouver.
Portland went out on the road for the first time in 2016 last week, and the result was awful. The team had nothing going against Orlando City in what ended up being a 4-1 loss which could've (and should've) been much worse. That dropped Portland to just 1-1-2 in its first four matches on its title defense, and that's not a good sign for this duel.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
The Galaxy might not have some of their superstars, but they've still got some great creators on the pitch in Gyasi Zardes and Mike Magee. These two men both have a pair of goals on the campaign, and we wonder if they're going to find some openings here against a Portland defense which has just looked flat out dreadful over the course of the first month of this MLS season.
Sure, we've seen some good play out of Fanendo Adi for the Timbers with his three goals, but where's Darlington Naege? He's largely been MIA, and he's yet to score, and until that turns around, we're not sure this team is anything more than just one of the averages team in the West.
Of course, it should be remembered that Portland might just be turning back into what it truthfully was going into the postseason last year. The Timbers were only the No. 4 seed in the West and needed an epic shootout just to get past Sporting Kansas City in the opening round of the playoffs. If they're really this mediocre, they'll probably be beaten by multiple goals in Tinseltown on Sunday.
MLS Odds: LA 3, Portland 1
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The fixture between the LA Galaxy and the Portland Timbers will take place on Sunday, April 10, 2016, at 9:30 p.m. at the StubHub Center. The game will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1.
