Houston Dynamo vs FC Dallas Predictions, MLS Picks, Betting Tips 8/21/2020

by Josh Schonwald - 8/20/2020

Game: Houston Dynamo vs FC Dallas

Date: Friday, August 21, 2020

Location: BBVA Stadium in Houston, TX

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Houston (-106) Dallas (+220)

BBVA Stadium is the venue where Michael Barrios and FC Dallas (1-2-1, 10th in the Western Conference) will play the Houston Dynamo (0-3-2, 12th in the Western Conference) on Friday. The expected starting goaltenders will be Marko Maric for the Houston Dynamo and Jimmy Maurer for FC Dallas. FCD is priced at +220 while the Dynamo are at -106. The O/U opens at 2.5.

Houston has controlled possession of the ball for 43% of games while successfully dribbling 54% of the time (21st in MLS). They have tried 67 shots with 15 on target, which comes out to a 22.4% SOT percentage. The Dynamo have accounted for 6 goals this year, which is currently 14th in the league. Their players have been on the receiving end of 1,591 passes on 1,907 targets on the year, which makes their receiving percentage 83.4%.

Tomas Martinez is a player who can be a difference maker for the Dynamo. Martinez has been in the starting lineup in 87 matchups in his pro soccer career and tallies 0.19 G/90. The midfielder who was born in Argentina has racked up 15 goals scored (146th among active MLS players) in 7,212 mins played. He has 13 assists while tallying 14 yellow card cautions in his pro soccer career. Another guy who should impact this match is Boniek Garcia, the midfielder from Honduras. He has assisted on a goal 31 times thus far in his career while scoring 13 goals. Garcia has totaled 15,562 minutes during 172 starts and has been given 33 yellow card cautions. He is averaging 0.08 goals per 90 during his career (210th among active MLS players).

The man who will protect the net for Houston will be Marko Maric. Maric (25-32-36 record in his MLS career) has accumulated 19 shutouts, which has his sitting with a 20.4% shutout percentage. The goalie from Croatia has seen 306 shots tried against him in 93 career starts. His goals allowed per 90 mins is 1.48 (138 goals conceded) and he has earned a save % of .686. Maric has defended the goal for 8,370 minutes and has accumulated 210 stops in his career.

FCD have successfully dribbled 71% of the time for the campaign while accumulating 4 goals. They hold a receiving percentage of 87.8% while controlling possession of the ball 59.3% of the time. Dallas has 930 targets on the year (25th in the league) to go along with 817 successful received passes. They have been able to complete 32.1% of their shots on target out of 53 shots.

Michael Barrios should provide a spark for Dallas. He has an average of 0.21 goals per 90 mins and has had a starting assignment in 249 matches thus far in his career. The forward from Colombia has totaled 12,570 minutes while scoring 30 goals (67th among active players). He has totaled 17 yellow cards so far in his MLS career and has helped a teammate on a goal 34 times. Make sure to watch out for Zdenek Ondrasek, the forward who was born in Czech Republic. He has accumulated 82 goals during his MLS career while assisting a teammate on a goal 23 different times. Ondrasek has been given a total of 37 yellow card warnings in 17,468 mins (197 career starting assignments). His G/90 average during his career is 0.42 (38th among active players).

Jimmy Maurer will be looking after the goal for FCD. Maurer has racked up 48 clean sheets while he has defended 573 shots tried against him in 12,428 mins throughout his career. He has a save % of .710 and his clean sheet rate sits at 34.5%. He has conceded 1.22 goals per 90 mins while he holds a mark of 58-45-37. Thus far in his career, Maurer has conceded 169 goals while totaling 407 stops in 139 starting assignments.

Who will win tonight's soccer game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Houston (-106)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Get all of Today's Free Soccer Picks

Get all of Today's Expert Soccer Picks

Start:	December 1, 2024 @ 1:00 PM
Expert:	Vernon Croy
Free $60 Account Sign Up

Houston Dynamo vs FC Dallas Predictions, MLS Picks, Betting Tips 8/21/2020

Most Recent Soccer Picks