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The Columbus Crew welcome Atlanta United to Lower.com Field Wednesday for the 1st match of a best-of-3 playoff series. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET (Apple TV). Below, we preview BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Columbus Crew vs. Atlanta United odds, and make our best expert MLS picks and predictions.
The Crew ended the season 3rd in the Eastern Conference, posting a 16-9-9 record. They scored an East-leading 67 goals while allowing just 46 for a conference-best +21 goal differential. The Crew were an impressive 12-4-1 at home. They were led by F Cucho, who ended the season with 16 goals in 27 matches. The Crew are coming off a regular season-ending 2-1 home win over CF Montreal.
United finished 6th in the East and had a 13-12-9 (9 losses) record. They had 66 goals for, the 2nd-most in the conference, and 53 against. Atlanta was 3-8-6 on the road and haven’t won on the road since Aug. 20. United drew Columbus 1-1 at home in their 2nd-to-last regular-season match. United is led in scoring this season by F Giorgos Giakoumakis with 17 goals in 27 matches.
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Columbus Crew vs. Atlanta United odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 9:46 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Columbus Crew -165 (bet $165 to win $100) | Atlanta United +360 (bet $100 to win $360) | Draw +333 (bet $100 to win $333)
- Over/Under: 3.5 (O: +105 | U: -155)
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Columbus Crew vs. Atlanta United picks and predictions
Prediction
Columbus Crew 2, Atlanta United 2 (Crew win in extra time)
Moneyline (ML)
SPRINKLE DRAW (+333).
United hasn’t played well enough on the road for this to be even a half-unit play, but both sides have drawn frequently drawn the home stretch of the regular season.
United drew their final 2 games, including a match against Columbus and the conference-leading FC Cincinnati, and they drew 4 of their last 7 games. Columbus drew 3 of its last 5 games and had fewer expected goals than its opponent in 2 of those 5.
Put all the trends together and DRAW (+333) has some value.
Over/Under (O/U)
BET OVER 3.5 (+105).
The Crew have scored in every game they’ve played in September and October (8 matches) and have scored multiple goals in 5 of those and 3-plus goals in 3.
In 6 of those 8 matches, they have had 2 or more expected goals. This offense is elite and is averaging 1.97 goals per game. Both defenses are slacking with Columbus allowing 1.35 and Atlanta allowing 1.56.
United has scored in every game since June 24. In their 7 games after August, they have scored multiple goals in 5 of those and have allowed a goal in every game as well. They have scored 9 goals in their last 4 games.
Expect plenty of goals and take OVER 3.5 (+105).
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