Portland Timbers vs Houston Dynamo Predictions, MLS Picks, Betting Tips 7/18/2020

by Guy Bruhn - 7/17/2020

Game: Portland Timbers vs Houston Dynamo

Date: Saturday, July 18, 2020

Location: ESPN Sports Complex in Orlando, FL

TV: ESPN2

Odds/Point Spread: Portland (+110) Houston (+300)

Diego Valeri and the Portland Timbers (2-0-1, 3rd in the Western Conference) are headed to ESPN Sports Complex on Saturday where they'll meet the Houston Dynamo (0-2-1, 11th in the Western Conference). The goalkeepers protecting the net are Steve Clark for the Portland Timbers and Marko Maric for the Houston Dynamo. The Timbers are priced at +110 while the Dynamo are at +300. The O/U is set at 2.5.

The Portland Timbers step onto the pitch with a mark of 2 wins, 0 draws, and 1 loss which puts them at 3rd. During the season thus far, they have scored a total of 4 goals which ranks them 10th in the Western Conference and 20th in MLS. Their goal differential is 0, which puts them at 17th in MLS. The Portland Timbers currently have a total of 2 assists, which ranks them 24th in MLS and 12th in the Western Conference. When talking about shots on target, they currently have a total of 10 which ranks them 9th in the Western Conference and 22nd in MLS. As a group, Portland currently has a total of 35 fouls which means they have an average of 11.6 fouls per contest. They currently have a total of 6 points for the 2020 season.

Diego Valeri is one of the top players for the Timbers. The midfielder from Argentina has appeared in 232 contests in the time he has played pro soccer and has played a total of 18,057 mins. During that time, the 32-year-old has a total of 76 goals and has had an assist on 60 goals. He has a career average of 77.8 minutes per game. Valeri has been a starter in 232 contests in his pro soccer career and has a total of 198 fouls over the course of that period. Concerning shots on target, Valeri has produced 234 in his professional soccer career which is 15th when compared to all players still active and 2nd in the West among midfielders. Andy Polo is another player to watch out for on the team from Portland. The 24-year-old from Peru has netted 3 goals in his pro soccer career which ranks him 83rd in the Western Conference among midfielders and 352nd among active players in MLS. He has totaled 4,088 minutes in his professional soccer career which has him ranked 76th among active midfielders and holds an average of 61.9 minutes per game which ranks him 364th in pro soccer. Over the course of his career, he has a total of 22 shots on target which ranks him 62nd in the Western Conference among active midfielders.

The guy defending the goal for Portland will be Steve Clark. Clark (73-62-80 mark during his soccer career) has totaled 50 clean sheets, which leaves him with a 23.1% clean sheet rate. The goalie from the United States has seen 1,079 shots tried against him in 216 career starts. His goals allowed per 90 minutes is 1.47 (318 goals conceded) and he has a save % of .706. Clark has seen the pitch for a total of 19,431 mins and has tallied 762 saves during his pro soccer career.

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The Houston Dynamo will be standing on the other sideline and for the season they have 0 wins, 2 draws, and 1 defeat. With reference to goal differential, they are ranked 13th in the conference and 24th in MLS with -4. They have compiled a total of 4 goals for the 2020 season which ranks 6th in the conference. Houston has a team save % of .529 which has them ranked 24th in MLS, which means there could be plenty of chances to score if they are aggressive.

One of the players to keep an eye on for LAFC is Christian Ramirez. The 27 year-old has driven 85 balls past the goalie over the course of his career. He is placed at 16th among active forwards in the Western Conference in assists with 26 and has totaled 188 shots on target over the course of his career. He has totaled 13,532 minutes and holds an average of 73.1 mins per appearance over the course of his career. Another player to watch out for on this team Mauro Manotas. The forward from Colombia has connected on 50 goals over the course of his pro soccer career which puts him at 15th in the West among active forwards. He also has committed 75 fouls.

Marko Maric will be residing in front of the net for the Dynamo. In his pro soccer career, Maric has given up 135 goals while he has tallied 200 stops in 91 starts. He has surrendered 1.48 goals per 90 minutes and he has a mark of 25-31-35. He sports a save % of .680 and his clean sheet rate sits at 20.9%. Maric has 19 clean sheets while he has defended 294 shots against him in 8,190 career minutes.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Portland (+110)

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Portland Timbers vs Houston Dynamo Predictions, MLS Picks, Betting Tips 7/18/2020

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