Published Oct 30, 5:10am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Oct 30, 5:10am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Oct 30, 5:22am ET
The action in the Eastern Conference playoffs continues this weekend, as the Columbus Crew fight for their playoff future when they host FC Cincinnati. Find our picks here.
FC Cincinnati ended the regular season in red-hot form, and their defensive quality shone once more in game one of this series.
The high-flyers claimed a hard-fought 1-0 success in front of their home fans last week, with Kevin Denkey netting the winner in the final 15 minutes.
|
|
|---|---|
| Columbus Crew | -117 |
| The Draw | +280 |
| FC Cincinnati | +280 |
The pressure will be on the Columbus Crew this weekend, as only a victory will keep their playoff dreams alive.
They succumbed to a 1-0 loss in game one in the series last week, as they lacked the creativity to make a telling impression against a compact defensive unit. The defeat means that the Crew have now won just one of their last six matches in the MLS.
Scoring goals has been a continued issue for the team throughout the season, as they have netted just 1.57 goals per 90 from a relatively low xG average of 1.48.
FC Cincinnati are rightly regarded among the leading chances for MLS Cup glory in the Eastern Conference this season. Their form is red-hot after winning each of their last three.
Meanwhile, they have avoided defeat in their last six. Defensively, they have been excellent in recent weeks, keeping clean sheets in each of their last three fixtures.
Their strong defensive unit has ensured that they have kept clean sheets in 34% of their matches this term, and they have allowed just 1.14 goals per game.
| TOTAL | Columbus | Cincinnati | DRAWS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 |
| Goals | 62 | 39 | 23 |
FC Cincinnati have been one of the standout teams throughout the MLS season. Their defensive record ensures that they will be a standout chance of winning the Eastern Conference this postseason.
Therefore, it could be worth chancing with the visitors when making Columbus vs. FC Cincinnati picks. It could be worth noting that Cincinnati have won 65% of their games on the road in 2025.
|
Pick
FC Cincinnati (+280)
|
New Player Bonus
50% up to $1000
|
