Portland Timbers vs. St. Louis CITY SC 8/24/24 – As the season unfolds in Major League Soccer, Portland Timbers’ clash with St. Louis CITY SC is sure to be a must-see for fans and bettors alike. Providence Park will host what should be an interesting contest between a mid-table Portland and a struggling St. Louis this Saturday night. Both outfits are keen to rise up the table making it a fascinating match-up for top multi-handicapper picks out there. The game’s unpredictability though makes it interesting as the Timber have 10-6-9 record while CITY SC has 4-11-10.
Portland Timbers vs. St. Louis CITY SC 8/24/24 Game Info |
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When: | Saturday, August 24, 2024 at 10:30 PM ET |
Where: | Providence Park |
TV: | ATV |
Stream: | NFL Game Pass |
Portland Timbers (10-6-9) vs. St. Louis CITY SC (4-11-10)
A strong performance at home will help the Portland Timbers to secure a mid-table position. Their attack line which is led by Jonathan Rodríguez and Felipe Mora has been very effective, with the former scoring 12 goals and providing 6 assists from 20 starts. He poses a big threat on St. Louis’ defense, characterized by porousness throughout this season due to his ability to score as well as create chances. Rodríguez’s aggressive play and sharp shooting are expected to challenge the CITY SC backline throughout the match, emphasizing the significance of this Real Salt Lake-San Jose Earthquakes duel.
St. Louis CITY SC may have shown some resilience in their recent match but overall, they have been struggling this season. They are facing an uphill task against the Timbers having won only four games out of 25 played so far. João Klauss remains crucial for CITY SC with five goals and three assists to his name. His role will be key in trying to open up the Timbers’ home defense that has had patches of inconsistency in it. CITY SC will need to leverage any defensive lapses by Portland to secure a favorable outcome, highlighting the challenging nature of this LA Galaxy against Atlanta United FC game today.
Maxime Crépeau GK vs. Roman Bürki GK
Portland’s Maxime Crépeau gets a record of fortitude with 39 saves and 25 goals conceded. His performance will be vital in ensuring solidity at the back. Portland’s Crépeau could be the game changer with his timely saves particularly when St. Louis has its lethal strikers on display.
On the other hand, Roman Bürki from St. Louis has been more of a tried and tested figure by facing 67 shots and giving away 37 goals in total through his previous 24 starts. Experience is key and Bürki’s ability to cope under pressure is what CITY SC needs to stay competitive in this match. This contest may well turn on how he deals with Portland’s marauding forwards.
MLS Odds/Point Spread: Portland Timbers -0.5 -143, Total Odds: 3.5
The betting odds favor the Portland Timbers, reflecting their stronger season performance and home advantage. The spread suggests a tight game, but with the Timbers expected to edge out a victory. The total over 3.5 at +100 indicates expectations for a high-scoring affair, likely driven by both teams’ recent trends of games going over.
Portland Timbers Betting Trends
Portland’s recent form shows a mixed bag with a 1-1 record in their last 5 games, but an interesting trend is their performance at home where the totals have gone OVER in 10 of their last 12 games. This suggests a potential for high scoring, which might be exacerbated by St. Louis’s defensive weaknesses.
St. Louis CITY SC Betting Trends
For CITY SC, the trends are slightly more encouraging with a 3-1 record in their last 5 matches. However, their away form shows vulnerability, having lost more games than they have won. Their capacity to upset or hold to a draw will largely depend on their ability to shore up their defense and capitalize on counter-attacks.
Portland Timbers vs. St. Louis CITY SC 8/24/24 Betting Picks
The Timbers’ home field and offensive strength would allow them take advantage of their opponents as per a more extensive analysis and underlying trends. This means that St. Louis has not given up even though they have been in poor form lately and therefore, the game might not be as easy for Portland as predicted by the bookies’. However, given both teams propensity to engage in high scoring games lately, there is a chance that this match-up could have value for over total goals.
Given their good form so far, it seems like a better choice to make prop bets related to goal scorers such as Rodrigo or Mora. Moreover, with some attractive options of free MLS picks for the game particularly on Over/Under markets.