FC Cincinnati (0 wins, 2 losses, 0 draws) heads south to take on Orlando City (1-0-1) Saturday at Exploria Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Below, we preview the Orlando City vs. FC Cincinnati odds and lines, and make our best MLS bets, picks and predictions.
FC Cincinnati lost 5-0 to Austin FC in its season opener. Austin FC finished in 14th place in the Western Conference the season prior, so it was a demoralizing loss. Not quite as demoralizing as a 98th-minute penalty kick loss to D.C. United in its home opener though.
FCC has yet to score this season, having lost both its first two games by a combined 6-0. F Brenner, FCC’s premier attacker, should be active for its battle with Orlando City.
As for Orlando City, it started off the season strong with a 2-0 win over Montreal CF. However, it drew 0-0 against Chicago last weekend, having put together little offensively in that showing.
Orlando City will enter as the heavy favorite, and rightfully so, as it won 8 of 16 games at home last season and has started off 1-0.
Orlando City vs. FC Cincinnati: Odds, 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 at 7:20 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Orlando City -205 (bet $205 to win $100) | FC Cincinnati +550 (bet $100 to win $550) | Draw +350
- Over/Under: 2.5 (O: -130 | U: +105)
[tipico]
Prediction
Orlando City 2, FC Cincinnati 0
Money line (ML)
PASS.
Betting against FC Cincinnati has been free money so far this season, but at -205, it’s just not worth it in this situation. I would lean to BOTH SIDES NOT TO SCORE at -125 for a myriad of reasons.
For starters, Orlando City has yet to give up a goal while FC Cincinnati has yet to score a goal this season.
However, after giving up 5 to Austin, Cincinnati’s defense looked far better in its second game. It allowed just 10 shots and 4 on goal to D.C. United, a team that opened the season with a 3-0 win over Charlotte.
Orlando, while the strong favorite, has just 3 shots on goal this season and 2 goals. It has the second-fewest shots on goal in the MLS this season, only behind Vancouver who has just 1.
Over/Under (O/U)
LEAN to the UNDER 2.5 (+105).
For all the reasons above, the Under feels like the better play here.
FC Cincinnati has been getting shots off yet doesn’t have that clinical finishing ability in the final third. It has 29 shots and 8 on target yet not a single goal. That’s a problem, and it’s not one easily corrected.
Both teams also rank in the bottom half of the league in shooting accuracy, both under 30%. Orlando has the 4th-least accurate shooting, and FCC sits with the 8th-worst percentage.
With that in mind, given the value, I’d play the plus-money Under odds.
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