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FC Cincinnati welcomes the New York Red Bulls to TQL Stadium Sunday for Game 1 of a best-of-3 first-round playoff series. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET (Apple TV). Below, we preview BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the FC Cincinnati vs. New York Red Bulls odds, and make our best expert MLS picks and predictions.
FC Cincinnati won the Eastern Conference with 69 points. They were 20-9-5 (9 draws) on the season and ended with 57 goals for and 39 goals in the 34 league matches. Cincinnati is led by M Luciano Acosta with 17 goals and 10 assists in 32 matches. FCC lost 2-1 inn its lone home game against the Red Bulls on Oct. 4
The Red Bulls finished 8th in the East with 43 points and an 11-10-13 record. New York had a -3 goal differential with 36 goals for and 39 against. The top-7 teams got a guaranteed playoff spot and the Red Bulls beat Charlotte FC 5-2 in a play-in game Wednesday. F Elias Manoel had a hat trick for the home side.
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FC Cincinnati vs. New York Red Bulls odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:31 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: FC Cincinnati -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | New York Red Bulls +280 (bet $100 to win $280) | Draw +270 (bet $100 to win $270)
- Over/Under: 2.5 (O: -135 | U: -105)
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FC Cincinnati vs. New York Red Bulls picks and predictions
Prediction
FC Cincinnati 2, New York Red Bulls 0
Moneyline (ML)
BET FC CINCINNATI (-120).
FC Cincinnati lost in their lone home game against the Red Bulls, but they were 13-2-2 at home this season. Their home strength was a pivotal reason for their league-high 69 points.
FCC should also have fresher legs, not having played Wednesday like the Red Bulls. Despite losing at home on Oct. 4 to New York, Cincinnati had more expected goals in that match. FCC is the better, more talented side and should win.
Take FC CINCINNATI (-120).
Over/Under (O/U)
LEAN UNDER 2.5 (-105).
The Red Bulls haven’t been a score-heavy side this season. They average 1.06 goals per game and allowing 1.15 per game. While both matches during the season ended 2-1, neither team has more than 1.3 expected goals in either matchup.
To continue, the Red Bulls may have scored 5 on Charlotte but had just 5 expected goals. Against an elite goalie and a better backline, that efficiency is very unlikely to repeat itself.
Given the high intensity of the game and the Red Bulls lacking pace, take UNDER 2.5 (-105).
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