Predictions: Crew (H) v Sounders

A star studded Seattle Sounders team is in Columbus this evening and taking on the hometown Crew up at the fairgrounds (off I-71. You can't miss it, there is a huge billboard with Clint Dempsey's picture on the side). Kickoff is at 7:30 PM EST, 4:30 PM Cascadia time.

GAME NOTES:
-CLB: Higuian out next 2
-CLB: Ryan Finley expected to start
-CLB: Lost last week 4-0 away to RSL
-SEA: Only 1 quality road win this year (5-15 SKC)
-SEA: 6 Red Cards in 12 away fixtures
-SEA: Important match, need wins to keep playoff pace

PREDICTIONS:
(in no particular order)

1. WINDRAWWIN.COM ... SOUNDERS
Reporting an Away 0-1 win and the accurate predictor 'your votes' section shows 45% Seattle (24% Crew).

2. WHOSCORED.COM ... SOUNDERS
Adding in a new one this week with WhoScored.com. They have all the data and he has all the data wins, after all. They like Seattle today 2-1 over the Crew.

3. MASSIVE REPORT ... SOUNDERS
Patrick Guldan, the Editor and Chief of the site I contribute, thinks Seattle has the upper hand today, "Seattle is starting to find their stride and the Crew are nearly to the point were only pride is on the line." Go check out his preview.

4. MLSSOCCER.COM ... SOUNDERS
We've got 5 of the 6 picking Seattle with the other picking a Draw. Matt Doyle still leads the bunch with nearly 50% (116/239) accuracy. That's pretty remarkable actually.

5. GOAL.COM ... NO LEAN, EVEN
Thomas Floyd is on the call for this preview and once again the Crew get a short write up. Floyd doesn't show a lean either way today, "Clint Dempsey will look for his first goal in a Sounders uniform as Seattle travels to face a Crew side without Federico Higuain." However, the prediction poll does lean Seattle.

6. BET365 ... EVEN
We've got both the Crew and Sounders at 13/8 odds (23/10 draw) here today. Most likely scoreline is 1-1.

7. HOME TEAM ... CREW

8. TABLE POSITION ... SOUNDERS

9. WVHOOLIGAN.COM ... SOUNDERS
"...with Columbus missing Federico Higuain in this one, I just don’t see them staying with the Sounders," say's league watcher Drew Epperley. Score prediction? 2-1 Seattle.

10. COLUMBUS DISPATCH ... SOUNDERS (LEAN)
Last up on the list today, but certainly not least, is team beat writer Adam Jardy's thoughts... "These teams appear to be headed in decidedly different directions."

MY THOUGHTS:

Rouge Fire Hydrant (pic @AdamJardy)

Crew fans will finally get to see how the team plays without Federico Higuain. Personally, I think there will not be too much change. Nothing to do with Higuain's quality as a player (he's one of the best in North America) and more to do with how the Crew are set up tactically.

Seattle hasn't been all that great on the road this year and it is hard to expect much different until they prove different. They do have that notable recent event of Clint Dempsey signing up as well as Clint playing again at Crew Stadium on September 10th.

A motivated Dempsey is an extremely dangerous Dempsey. Chad Marshall and Josh Williams will have their hands full today (in the understatement of the year).

With Higuain out, many are expecting college draft pick and scorer of 8 goals in the reserves Ryan Finley to get the nod. I gotta admit, I am excited about this idea.

Finley knows his way around the 18 yard box and has scored tons of goals at all levels in this country. Now it's time to see if he can do it on the MLS level.

Seattle are the clear favorites and they have the talent to completely over run the Crew in the midfield. Can the Crew pull out a huge upset in front of a packed house? Should be a fun watch.

Enjoy the game.