Los Angeles Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids prediction, picks & best bets

On Wednesday evening, the Los Angeles Galaxy will be hoping that the return to home soil sparks a return to winning ways after what was a disappointing defeat on the road last time out.

In contrast, the Colorado Rapids, who are closing in on their hosts, will be searching for another positive result. Read on for our Los Angeles Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids predictions.

Los Angeles Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids prediction

For the Los Angeles Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids match prediction, we believe the final score will be a 2-1 win for LA Galaxy based on our analysis.

Sure, the Rapids are on a good run right now, but their overall road form isn’t great, while they’ve conceded a few too many goals away from home for my liking. Pair this with Galaxy’s habit of outscoring teams at home and it’s not overly difficult to see the hosts coming out on top here.

See below for our Los Angeles Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids predictions:

Los Angeles Galaxy to Win @ -105 with DraftKings Sportsbook
Cole Bassett to Score @ +235 with BetMGM

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Los Angeles Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids betting odds

The early betting ahead of this game suggests that the Los Angeles Galaxy has a 51.2% win probability here, implying also that the Colorado Rapids hold a 29.4% chance of winning.

Bet	Odds
Los Angeles Galaxy to win	-105
Colorado Rapids to win	+240
Tie	+290

Using our own calculations, we believe that the Galaxy has a 53.5% chance of success, giving the Rapids a 28.6% chance.

Los Angeles Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids head-to-head statistics

Since the start of the 2021 MLS campaign, these two have met each other six times. The Rapids have won three of those six, with the Galaxy picking up just one win. When the pair last met, in Colorado, they tied 0-0.

Los Angeles Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids preview

This game will take place on 17/07/2024 at Dignity Health Sports Park. Kick off will be at 7:30 PM local time.

All was not well with Greg Vanney’s men on Saturday night. They went to Dallas following a pleasing home win against Minnesota, but that success did not act as a springboard for a further accumulation of points.

In truth, the Galaxy disappointed in that recent road game, at both ends of the pitch. However, now is not the time for them to dwell on that defeat.

As we all know, on home soil, Los Galácticos are very tough to face. They’ve won five of their last six at Dignity Health Sports Park, beating some strong teams such as NYCFC, so don’t be too surprised if we see the hosts make a confident start on Wednesday night.

For the Rapids, there’s not much to be disappointed about right now. Sure, they failed to get the better of the Red Bulls last time out, but they didn’t lose, while they’ve now lost just one of their last seven MLS games, five of which they’ve won.

Unfortunately for Chris Armas’ guys, they’ve not often been at their best on the road, which is a problem, especially given that this match takes place at a venue where the hosts are strong.

Generally speaking, the Rapids have been too lenient on their travels, giving away too many goals, scoring not enough. That’s worrying.

Los Angeles Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids picks

The early lines ahead of Los Angeles Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids lead me to believe that there are two value plays.

Los Angeles Galaxy to Win

For my money, I think the early market may have overreacted to two things here. Firstly, that loss to Dallas last time out and secondly, the fact that Dejan Joveljic is likely to once again be sidelined.

I wouldn’t pay too much attention to that road loss. The Galaxy are very strong at home.

As far as Dejan Joveljic is concerned, that’s a big miss, for sure. However, the hosts have coped without the Croat before and they still have lots of offensive quality, and if we’re being honest, this is far from being the same as Messi missing for Inter Miami or Acosta missing for Cincinnati.

We know that the hosts are strong at home. They’ve scored plenty of home goals, scoring through several different dangerous offensive players, such as Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil, Diego Fagundez and Ricki Puig, so again, I’m not dwelling too much on the absence of Joveljic.

Let’s take their last five home games. They’ve scored two or more in four of those five, scoring an average of 2.40 goals per game. They’ve conceded an average of 1.20.

If we look at Colorado’s last five on the road, then we can see that they’ve conceded two or more in four out of five, scoring an average of 2.60 goals. They’ve scored an average of 1.60.

Now, of course, the form discussed above isn’t everything, but for me, it helps to determine that the home win may just be a little more likely than the early odds suggest, meaning that by taking odds of -105, we’re grabbing some all-important value for money.

Cole Bassett to Score

I am absolutely betting on the home win at what looks to be a slightly generous price, but there’s also value to be had by betting on visiting forward Cole Bassett to score here.

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Bassett has notched seven goals this season, while he tends to be at his best when playing on the break away to dominant teams, scoring away from home against Real Salt Lake, NYCFC, San Jose and Inter Miami since April.

Factor in that the 22-year-old has been shooting with regularity of late, shooting at least twice in each of his last four, shooting three times in three of those four, and he really does start to look generously priced here.