Crew Round 1 Preview and Predictions (Away, DC)

First game of the year for the Crew as they travel to the nations capital to take on DC United at RFK Stadium. A replacement ref will blow the whistle to start this one at 7 PM EST.

GAME NOTES:
CLB: Without Dominic Oduro, red card last game (last minute) of 2013.
CLB: Come off a good preseason, throttled KC in dress rehersal.
CLB: Won early match in DC last year 2-1.
DCU: Looking to erase last year from memory bank.
DCU: Lots of MLS experience on the team this year.
DCU: Eddie Johnson got paid.

------------
TEN PREDICTIONS
------------

1. BET365 ... DC UNITED
This changed from just two days ago (they must have read my tweet!). They've got DC at 7/5, Crew at 19/10 right now.

2. HOME TEAM ... DC UNITED
Reminder: Just picking the home team in every match will be the correct pick about half the time.

3. GOAL.COM ... DC UNITED
Thomas Floyd with the preview today and he just sort of runs through a quick fact check. Judging by what he wrote, I think he leans DC without Oduro in there. Down at the readers poll, looks like DC as well with 70% of the vote.

4. MASSIVE REPORT ...
(will update when preview available)

5. COLUMBUS DISPATCH ... COLUMBUS CREW
Adam Jardy is still assigned to the beat and thinks that while this one might be bumpy, "...the Crew has an edge with a defense that should be much improved from a year ago." Be sure to pick up a Dispatch if you can, also look around for yesterday's copy, it has a great season preview.

6. WHOSCORED.COM ... DC UNITED
Graham Ruthven with the game prediction going 1-0 DC, "DC United have done a good job of rebuilding over the off-season, but it could take some time for Olsen's team to gel." Also worth noting that there are a number of errors on the preview page (Oduro starting, Glauber injured?).

7. TABLE POSITION ... N/A
No games yet man.

8. WIN DRAW WIN ... COLUMBUS CREW
We've got an away favorite today, a special treat. Very rare for the Crew to get that. Wiseguys think this is 2-1 road team and the 'your votes' section has the Crew 44% picked to win (DC 25%).

9. MLSSOCCER.COM ... DC UNITED
Whoa, Cobi Jones joins the panel this year. Not sure who he replaced but they have kept same number of pickers at six. I'll check some other time. Anyway, looks like we've got 4 of the 6 going DC. Dir. of Video likes the Crew. Cobi likes it a Draw. Comin' strong, like his playin' days.

10. WV HOOLIGAN ... DC UNITED
League watcher Drew Epperley believes, "...United do enough to start out the season in a better way than the whole of 2013."

----------------------
MY THOUGHTS ON HOW IT WILL PLAY

Above: MLS

Tempered expectations for both sides this year. Best way to describe DC is 'wildcard' because they have completely rebuilt the roster, which might spell doom for most, but they have done it with experienced and very good MLS players. As for the Crew, gone are the lofty "the Cup comes through Columbus" expectations. New owner has new coach and reason has returned.

Looking at the lineups I think DC has the ability to jump all over the Crew had it not been for the fact that they are still a team learning to play together. The key to this one for the Crew will be to keep it from turning into a mess. The responsibility falls on the the Crew to hold this one together.

The Crew cannot win a multiple goal type game today. DC is much more capable of that than they are. If they can maintain discipline in the back and have solid possession in the middle they can come out of this with a solid point. Three points might prove to be tough, but who knows this early on.

Can't believe it's already here, game on!