In a Saturday MLS first-round playoff match, the Columbus Crew SC (12 wins, 6 losses, 5 draws) hosts the New York Red Bulls (9-9-5) at 3 p.m. ET. Below, we preview the Columbus-New York betting odds and lines, and make our best MLS bets and predictions.
Columbus Crew SC vs. New York Red Bulls: Key injuries
Columbus Crew SC
- M Fatai Alashe (not medically cleared) out
- D Hector Jimenez (not medically cleared) out
- D Vito Wormgoor (ankle) out
New York Red Bulls
- D Patrick Seagrist (groin) out
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Columbus Crew SC vs. New York Red Bulls: MLS odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Columbus Crew SC 2, New York Red Bulls 1
Money line (ML)
COLUMBUS CREW SC (-106) hasn’t won consecutive matches since picking up back-to-back wins against Nashville SC and Minnesota United Sept. 20-24, both at home. They Crew won the regular-season finale against Atlanta United 2-1, so now is just as good a time as any to snap that consecutive victories drought.
The New York Red Bulls (+260) wrapped up the regular season with just one loss in the final seven, posting three wins and three draws. Their most recent match against Columbus resulted in a 2-0 setback on July 17. In addition, New York has picked up wins in just three of its past 11 road matches.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 2.5 (-139) is the way to go in this one. In New York’s past six road matches, it has seen a total of 23 goals, nearly four total goals per match. Columbus has seen a total of at least three goals in each of the final three games in the regular season, good for an average of 3.0 goals per match.
This won’t be a track meet with end-to-end action all night, but at least three goals is a great bet.
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