CF Montreal (16 wins, 9 losses, 4 draws) welcomes the Columbus Crew (9-6-13) to Saputo Stadium Friday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we preview the CF Montreal vs. Columbus Crew odds and lines, and make our best MLS bets, picks and predictions.
Columbus enters this match in 6th place in the Eastern Conference, but could drop out of playoff position with a loss and wins by New England and Cincinnati. The Crew are 0-2-1 against top-4 East sides on the road this season.
Columbus is coming off a 0-0 draw with the Chicago Fire and has drawn 4 of its last 5 matches. The Crew are led by 2021 All-Star M Lucas Zelarayán, who has 8 goals and 5 goals. Newcomer F Cucho has 8 goals in 11 appearances.
As for Montreal, it has been better on the road this season, posting a 7-5-2 record at home and an impressive 9-4-2 record on the road. Montreal is averaging 1.83 goals per game while allowing 1.55.
Despite allowing the most goals of any team in playoff position, CF Montreal does sit in a comfortable 2nd place. They’re led by 31-year-old star F Romell Quioto with 15 goals this season.
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CF Montreal vs. Columbus Crew odds, lines, picks and predictions
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 3:08 p.m.. ET.
- Money line: CF Montreal -117 (bet $117 to win $100) | Columbus Crew +320 (bet $100 to win $320) | Draw +270
- Over/Under: 2.5 (O: -125 | U: +100)
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Prediction
CF Montreal 2, Columbus Crew 2
Money line (ML)
BET TIE OR COLUMBUS CREW (-120).
Instead of banking on a tie, which Columbus has been doing at a high rate this season, back the Crew here to either end this game with as many goals or more.
Columbus has lost just once since May 21, and between now and then, they have played teams like Philadelphia, Real Salt Lake, Toronto and NYCFC. Its lone loss was to Montreal, having 1 fewer shot.
Similarly, Montreal has strangely struggled at home, and while it has lost just once in August, it was at Saputo Stadium, where it 1-1-1 in its last 3 matches. Also Columbus should have more to play for in this battle.
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Over/Under (O/U)
LEAN OVER 2.5 (-125).
Montreal has a terrific offense and a struggling defense. CF Montreal is one of the more high-paced sides in the MLS, scoring the 2nd-most goals (53) in the East.
They sit 2nd to Philadelphia, which is the top scoring team (63 goals) in the conference. However, the Union have only allowed 21 goals in 30 matches while Montreal has allowed 45 in 29 games.
Columbus, while it was a strong Under play earlier in the season, has gone Over this total in 6 of its last 11. In its Aug. 3 loss to Montreal it topped this total.
Expect at least 3 goals netted in this match.
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