Galaxy host 'Caps with sights on Supporters' Shield

Soccer Betting Lines

09/16/2011 - Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Galaxy already have a spot reserved in the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs, but it will be searching for a win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday to help solidify its bid for the MLS Supporters' Shield.

After defeating the Colorado Rapids 1-0 last weekend, Los Angeles became the first team this season to clinch a postseason berth. The Galaxy will now be looking to claim their fourth Supporters' Shield, which would tie them with D.C. United for the most in MLS history.

"We are in the playoffs and it would be nice to win the Supporters' Shield, that's the next objective for us," said Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena. "Win the Supporters' Shield and advance out of group play in the CONCACAF Champions League, which is going to be another big challenge for us. We have those objectives in the short term and certainly we want to go after the MLS Cup as well."

Los Angeles is looking like a force down the stretch, with several players firing on all cylinders.

Landon Donovan scored his 12th goal of the season in the victory over Colorado, tying him with Thierry Henry for the league lead. Youngster Paolo Cardozo made his third start of the season and impressed with his confidence, coming close with several strikes from distance. And Donovan Ricketts returned between the pipes, making his first appearance since fracturing his forearm on June 25.

The Galaxy sit in first place in the Western Conference with 55 points on the season, seven points ahead of second-place Seattle Sounders FC. They also hold the distinction of being the only MLS team who have still not lost at home this season, posting a 9-0-5 record at The Home Depot Center.

Vancouver, meanwhile, is in last place in all of Major League Soccer, bottoming the West with just 22 points from its 27 games. While the Galaxy have not lost at home, the Whitecaps have not won on the road, going 0-10-5 away from Empire Field.

In its most recent match, Vancouver played to a 1-1 draw at Red Bull New York. It was a disappointing result for the Whitecaps, who found themselves winning at halftime with a man advantage, following the sending off of Jan Gunnar Solli.

"It's just that if we were going to win one on the road, that was probably going to be our best opportunity [in New York]," Whitecaps goalkeeper Joe Cannon said. "We have two more [away] games, but you have to think that if you can't beat a team when you're up a man and up a goal, it's going to be a really big uphill battle when you go to places like Los Angeles and Dallas."

Cannon, who has split time in goal this year with Jay Nolly, could be in for a rough night if the previous meeting between these two clubs is any indication.

Los Angeles thrashed Vancouver 4-0 at Empire Field on July 30 behind a Donovan brace. Additional goals came from Sean Franklin and Adam Cristman.

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Big 12 Conference betting odds

Work left to do: Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas State

Texas joins Texas A&M and Kansas as locks after getting league win No. 11. Texas Tech greatly helped its own hopes and crippled OK State's with the two-point win Saturday. Is K-State the last reasonable hopeful? Could be an elimination match in Stillwater on Tuesday, at least for the Cowboys.

Work left to do:

Texas Tech [18-11 (7-7), RPI: 44, SOS: 12] A critical two-point win over OK State leaves the Red Raiders with Baylor and at Iowa State left. Get both and the Red Raiders likely are good to go. Get one and there could be some interesting comparisons with a K-State team that could finish two or three games "ahead" of them in the standings but doesn't have any of the quality wins Texas Tech has. Not a lot in nonconference play (against Arkansas in Little Rock being the best win, by far) to lean on.

Oklahoma State [18-9 (5-8), RPI: 50, SOS: 35] Still without a road win, the Cowboys now need to win two on the road just to get to .500 in conference play. It's hard to recall a team (OK, other than Clemson) falling so precipitously from lock status to almost certainly out of the NCAAs at this point. There are wins to be had in the last three, including a very big home game against K-State on Tuesday, but this team is reeling. Can you tell the pressure to win is getting to them with the way the final possession played out at Texas Tech? There are some good nonconference performances to lean on, specifically beating Missouri State and Syracuse on neutral floors and Pitt in OK City, but if the Pokes don't right this very, very soon, that won't be enough.

Kansas State [20-9 (9-5), RPI: 56, SOS: 96] It pays to be in the Big 12 North. The nine league wins are Colorado (twice), Missouri (twice), Iowa State (twice), Baylor, Nebraska and (a good one against) Texas. That helps explain the middling computer profile. The win over USC is nice, but the nonconference leaves a lot to be desired. The game at OK State in Stillwater on Tuesday is huge, as it could KO the Cowboys and leave K-State with a home date against Oklahoma with which to work.