Free MLS Pick Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo
Looking for Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo free picks? MLS betting sees Portland Timbers taking on Houston Dynamo Saturday, April 16 at BBVA Compass Stadium. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all MLS soccer matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE MLS predictions.
MLS Handicapping
Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo
Date: Saturday, April 16
Time: 05:00 PM
Venue: BBVA Compass Stadium
MLS Moneyline Odds: Portland Timbers 240 / Draw 260/ Houston Dynamo 109 (Bet Now!)
MLS Spread Betting Odds: Portland -0.5 / Houston 0.5
MLS Betting Total: O/U 2.5
Heading into this matchup, the Portland Timbers are the betting favorites, with the spread set at -0.5 goals. Through 7 matches, they have won by this margin 2 times. As for the Houston Dynamo, they enter the match as 0.5-goal underdogs. Through 6 matches, they have covered this margin 5 times.
Portland Timbers
Heading into the Portland Timbers’ 8th game of the season, the team is below .500 at 2-3-2. This mark places them 8th in the Western Conference. Portland will be looking to add another win to their resume, as they are coming off a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver. For the season, the Portland Timbers have finished 2 matches having scored at least two goals. While on defense, Portland’s defense has given up at least two goals 2 times this year.
So far, the Portland Timbers have been an above-average scoring team, at 1.43 goals per 90 minutes (7th). In terms of scoring defense, Portland will look to tighten things up as they are giving up 1.71 goals per 90 minutes, placing them 21st in the league.
On offense, Portland Timbers is led by the strong play of Yimmi Chará and Jarosław Niezgoda, who have each found the net 3 times. So far, their combined goals account for 50.0% of the team’s overall scoring. To start the season, goalie Aljaž Ivačič is turning away goals at a rate near the league average. This has come with the Portland Timbers’ opponents having generated a total of 34 shots on target. Ivačič is saving these attempts at a rate of 64.7%.
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo will host the Portland Timbers, with an above .500 record, at 3-2-1. This mark places them 6th in the Western Conference. Houston comes into the game following a 4-3 win over San Jose. For the season, the Houston Dynamo have finished 3 matches having scored at least two goals. While on defense, Houston’s defense has given up at least two goals 3 times this year.
So far, the Houston Dynamo have been an above-average scoring team, at 1.67 goals per 90 minutes (6th). In terms of defense, Houston is near the MLS average, giving up 1.17 goals per 90 minutes (15th).
On offense, Houston Dynamo is led by the strong play of Darwin Quintero and Fafà Picault, who have each found the net 4 times. So far, their combined goals account for 60.0% of the team’s overall scoring. To start the season, goalie Steve Clark is turning home goals at a rate near the league average. This has come with the Houston Dynamo’s opponents have generated a total of 23 shots on target. Clark is saving these attempts at a rate of 73.9%.
Free Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo MLS Final Analysis:
When looking at how each team has fared while possessing the ball, the Portland Timbers have been the better squad at generating opportunites near their opponent’s goal. So far, Portland ranks 9th in attacking area touches. This compares favorably to the Houston Dynamo sitting at 18th in the MLS. Given that Portland has been better at putting pressure on opposing defenses, look for this to continue as Houston Dynamo’s defense ranks 22nd in attacking possessions allowed. However, even though the Houston Dynamo is a below-average unit in generating attacking possessions, they could benefit from taking on a Portland Timbers defense that also gives up an above-average amount of attacking area possessions.
Look for this match to be a high-scoring game, as each team should benefit from taking on below-average goalies. If looking to wager on a team to win, look for Portland to emerge as the winner in what should be an exciting, high-scoring contest.
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