Columbus Crew vs. Atlanta United odds, picks and predictions
Columbus Crew welcome Atlanta United to Lower.com Field for the final best-of-3 first-round match Sunday. Kickoff is set for 7 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 beat Atlanta at home 2-0 on Nov. 1 to kickoff the best-of-3 series. They had 13 more shots and 8 more shots on goal. In the 2nd match, Atlanta won 4-2 at home, ending with 3 more shots and 3 more shots on frame.
Columbus was 12-4-1 at home during the regular season. Its strength is in the attack, averaging 1.97 goals per game. The Crew are led by F Cucho Hernández, who scored 16 goals in 27 matches.
United was 3-8-6 on the road and lost 6-1 at the Crew in their lone regular-season match. Atlanta's strength is also on the offensive side, averaging 1.94 goals per game. United was led by F Giorgos Giakoumakis, who scored 17 goals in 27 matches.
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Columbus Crew vs. Atlanta United odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:19 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Columbus Crew -160 (bet $160 to win $100) | Atlanta United +350 (bet $100 to win $350) | Draw +333
- Over/Under: 3.5 (O: +100 | U: -145)
Columbus Crew vs. Atlanta United picks and predictions
Prediction
Columbus Crew 3, Atlanta United 1
Moneyline (ML)
LEAN COLUMBUS CREW (-160).
The Crew are 12-4-1 in 17 regular season games and beat Atlanta 2-0 at home to kick off the 3-game series. Columbus has won 5 of its last 6 home games, drawing the other.
It has been dominant, while Atlanta is just 3-8-6 on the road this season. The value here is justified given how each team has played in this situation, and given the odds, for a small unit, back the COLUMBUS CREW (-160).
Over/Under (O/U)
BET OVER 3.5 (+100).
Both teams are attack-heavy sides, and there's no reason to think goals won't be scored.
Atlanta has averaged 1.94 goals per game and scored 4 at home in the 2nd of the best-of-3 series. United has also allowed 1.56 per game. They have gone Over this total in 4 of their last 6 matches.
Columbus has scored 2 or more goals in 4 of its last 5 games and has allowed a goal in 6 of its last 7. It has had 2 or more expected goals in 4 of its last 6 as well. The Crew have a potent offense, and that should be on full display.
Take OVER 3.5 (+100).
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