The Pacific Northwest is well represented with both the Portland Timbers and the Seattle Sounders in the postseason once again, and the most decorated team in MLS history is back in the playoffs too as the Los Angeles Galaxy did not collapse down the stretch this year. The Western Conference First Round is seen as more open than the Eastern Conference, and the MLS betting odds indicate there are more likely to be upsets on this side of the bracket.
MLS Western Conference First Round Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Seattle Sounders -125
FC Dallas +310
Draw +284
Over/Under 3
The Sounders are the biggest favorite in the Western Conference this weekend. Seattle has now made the playoffs in each of its first 11 seasons in the MLS, and the Sounders have finished in the top four in the Western Conference every year. They have only won the conference and advanced to the MLS Cup twice, but they have a favorable draw this year as their second-place finish means they will host two games provided they beat FC Dallas this weekend.
FC Dallas have the worst road record of any team in the playoffs. The club went 3-3-11 on the road this season, but they did earn a result when these sides met in the Emerald City in mid-September. These teams played to a 0-0 draw.
Seattle has scored just two goals in its last four matches to close out the year. The problems with the attack have largely stemmed from an injured Nicolas Lodeiro, as the Uruguayan midfielder missed two matches due to a lower back issue. Lodeiro has 12 assists on the year, but he hasn’t registered a helper since September 1, and if he’s not 100 percent, that’s a potential issue.
Real Salt Lake +107
Portland Timbers +231
Draw +264
Over/Under 3
Maybe returning to the road will give the Portland Timbers a boost. Portland never kicked it into another gear despite a long homestand over the second half of the season, and the Timbers had to beat San Jose on Decision Day to make it back to the playoffs.
This is a familiar spot for Portland. The Timbers made it to the MLS Cup Finals despite being the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference last year, so they know they can go on the road and get the wins they need to move on.
Portland is much more talented than Real Salt Lake but playing in the altitude of Rio Tinto Stadium is never easy. RSL are an impressive 12-1-4 at home this campaign, and that’s the fourth-best record in the MLS. The Timbers beat RSL in both of their meetings this season.
Minnesota United FC +104
Los Angeles Galaxy +231
Draw +274
Over/Under 3 and 3.5
If there’s ever been a one-man team in the MLS, it’s the 2019 Los Angeles Galaxy. Zlatan Ibrahimovic notched 30 goals in 29 games this campaign, and the next leading scorer on the team was Uriel Antuna with six goals. Ibra scored over half his team’s goals, and he will need to score in the Twin Cities since this Galaxy defense is not good.
The Galaxy have conceded a whopping 59 goals this year. They have allowed 10 more goals than any other team in the Western Conference, but the Loons don’t have the overpowering goal scorer that teams covet in this league.
Minnesota United are happy to finally make the postseason in their third year of existence. The Loons have played stingy defense, and they know they will advance if they can shut down Ibra.
Interestingly, the winner of this game will go on to face the best team in league history, Los Angeles FC. Both the Galaxy and the Loons have played well against LAFC this year, and those were the only two teams that the No. 1 seed failed to beat in either meeting.
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