Predictions: Crew vs. Union

The Philadelphia Union are in Columbus tonight to take on the Crew. Cool Fall temperatures and a beautiful midwestern sunset will provide the backdrop, 7:30 PM EST game start.

GAMESCRIBE
• PHI have drawn last 3 on the road (TFC, NER, DCU)
• Crew near perfect at home in last 10 (8 Wins, 1 Draw and Loss)
• PHI not mathematically eliminated from playoffs, but close
• Crew fighting to get back in, one spot out
• Crew: Have had some recent clubhouse problems

PREDICTIONS
The WinDrawWin "Your Vote" section has been surprisingly accurate since I started recording game predictions, so this week I'll put up the "Your Vote" favorites for the games that matter most to Crew fans:

CLB / PHI... 55% CLB WIN and 29% DRAW
HOU / NE... 68% HOU WIN and 24% DRAW
POR / DC... 25% DCU WIN and 48% DRAW

BET365 has the Crew taking this one 10/11 (fav), 12/5 Draw, 3/1 Union win. Noteable 11/2 odds on 1:1 Draw (13/2 on 1:0 Crew Win).

WV Hooligan thinks that "[the Union] just don’t have the answer to Columbus’ up front." Epperley calls it for the Crew, 2:1.

MLSsoccer.com goes mostly Crew. In fact, five of the employees picked them, one bit on Philly. It's been a while since these dudes have favored Columbus so much.

Adam Jardy, Columbus Dispatch (no link, paper subscription): "The past four Crew wins have come on goals in the 86th minute or later, but this is a game the club should sew up earlier."

NOT A DUMPSTER FIRE
Columbus needs this win but I'm going with a draw between these two. I don't like going with a boring X but I also don't like how Warzycha coached Crew teams fizzle out at the end of each year.

I'm pretty sure all of German Village heard a sigh last week after I heard about regular gameday players complaining about lineup choices. Regular starter Dilly Duka flat out just went home for a few days. And don't forget Will Hesmer's recent comments about the club deteriorating after the 2008 season and you may have some team watchers a little nervous.

It's by no means a dumpster fire but it is unnecessary noise at a critical time of the year.

Had it not been for a flying Eddie Gaven header against DC last year around this time of year the Crew wouldn't have made the playoffs. Maybe there is something like that in store for the Crew fans tonight.