Good Morning,
Columbus finishes up a three game home stand tonight by hosting a streaking Colorado Rapids team. Kick off is at 7:30 PM EST and 5:30 PM MDT. Temps will be in the low 60s and there is a chance of rain. Good soccer weather.
NOTES
-Colorado has 3 wins in last 5, draw Houston away two weeks ago
-Crew lost at home last week to NY
-Crew without regulars Danny O'Rourke and Agustin Viana
-Rapids are 1-2-2 Away this year
-Crew only have 1 win in 4 at home in 2013
-When Edson Buddle plays, Rapids have won 3, tied 1
-Crew; 5 pts in last 5, Rapids 10 pts.
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PREDICTIONS
Gonna start off with Drew Epperley over at WV Hooligan this week. He puts it down sharply; "This is a game that the Crew have to win if they want to stay with the big boys." He likes the Crew today by 2:0 result.
The same vibe is coming out of MLSsoccer.com offices. All six of the "Pick 'Em" staffers like the Crew. Matt Doyle is still leading the pack with 46% accuracy (they only call on result, not scores). Jason Saghini, Andrew Wiebe, and Kristel Valencia are tied at bottom with 38% accuracy.
Adam Jardy, on the Crew beat for the Dispatch here in town, feels that "anything less than 3 points will be a disappointment." He also mentions that Crew practices have been intense this week coming off last weeks loss to NY.
Meanwhile, over at newly designed Goal.com nobody seems to interested in an early season CLB COL matchup. My score prediction of 6-7 Colorado stands as 50% of the vote.
Bet365 likes the Crew this week, 10/11 odds to win. 12/5 Draw and 3/1 Colorado Rapids.
Win Draw Win 'your vote' section actually likes Colorado this week. 37% of the vote going their way and another 35% picking a Draw. Surprising stake on a 0:1 Rapids win as well.
Last up is a link to The Burgundy Wave, where writer nickdrfc is thinking positively for his Rapids. Also of note; knows exactly what the Crew are doing.
Over at our own Massive Report, Patrick Guldan thinks the Crew will win 2:1.
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MY THOUGHTS
Colorado has been a little sneaky this year in getting results as not many expect them to make much noise. They are banged up and very young. Columbus, on the other hand, does have some expectation to do well this year but have not and are healthy.
So, we have a classic sports tale of the moderate overachiever taking on a slightly underachiever.
I am not surprised with the Win Draw Win vote prediction leaning Rapids, especially considering that the Crew is probably too heavily favored over at Bet365. I called this a Rapids win last Monday on the Massive Report podcast before the news of Danny O'Rourke being out. I'll stick by that call.
Columbus does have the ability to score goals if things tilt their way (much more so than the Rapids) but I think that they will be able to gum up the works.
We'll see. Going to be at this one, looking forward to it.
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