Saturday, October 5, 2013

Predictions: Crew (H) v Sporting

Big game at Crew Stadium tonight, Sporting KC is in town. Whistle blows at 7:30 PM EST, 6:30 PM Central.

GAME NOTES
CLB: Same lineup as previous 3 likely
CLB: Hot streak, have won last three
CLB: Recent results: have shutout NY, TFC, HOU, CHI at home
SKC: Oriol Rosell is out, Red Card
SKC: Decent results last 6, even GD 9 pts
SKC: Looking to catch NY for top spot in East

PREDICTIONS
(in no particular order)

1. COLUMBUS DISPATCH ... COLUMBUS CREW
"Something about the timing and location of this game points to an upset in the making," writes team beat writer Adam Jardy.

2. HOME TEAM ... COLUMBUS CREW

3. BET 365 ... COLUMBUS CREW
Home team favorites at 31/20 but a little unusual that it isn't even (which has been the trend in MLS for home teams). Next most likely is SKC win 7/4 and draw 9/4.

4. WV HOOLIGAN ... DRAW
Site Editor and Writer Drew Epperley has a hunch... "This one feels like a draw to me for some reason." has it at 1-1.

5. GOAL.COM ... DRAW
No preview yet, which is strange for this site. Reader prediction has this as a draw.

6. TABLE POSITION ... SPORTING KC

7. WIN DRAW WIN ... DRAW
Looks pretty tight. Stake is on 1-1 and home side getting less than 50% (41% Crew, 33% draw). Crew slight favorite but close enough to call this even.

8. MLSSOCCER.COM ... COLUMBUS CREW
Contributors to the "Pick 'em" feature at the virtual home base of MLS are jumping on the Crew bandwagon. Four of the six picking Crew and the other two say draw.

9. MASSIVE REPORT ... DRAW
Patrick Guldan thinks one of the important things for the Crew will be the play of Trapp and Tchani, saying "...the central midfield pair will have to work to move the ball around and unsettle a well drilled." He has this one finishing 1-1.

10. WHOSCORED.COM ... COLUMBUS CREW
Graham Ruthven is a Crew believer now as well. After mentioning how the Crew have perked up in recent weeks, he is all in with them now. Even going as far as saying, "Dominic Oduro and Federico Higuain are among the most potent attackers in the league, and with Sporting KC's backline struggling at the moment the Crew's attacking duo could make the difference."

++++++++++++++
MY THOUGHTS, PREDICTION
The Columbus Crew hot streak finds itself back in the friendly confines of Crew Stadium tonight after a wild 4-2 win at Dallas last week.

The indicators above tell us this one will be tight and I tend to agree.

Sporting KC is one of only two teams that can pull out point on the road in MLS this year. Facing a hot team on the road shouldn't phase them too much but this one really comes down to motivations.

Circumstance has got the Crew playing like a teenager hopped up on Mountain Drew right now and they have cut through less motivated teams recently.

Does Sporting have a whole lot to play for here?

They are within range of taking NY for the top spot in the east and also want to maintain a home advantage in the playoffs.

KC has abused the Crew in KC during previous two matches this year so this one is hot team verses good team situation.

Temps look to be a little above normal tonight here in Columbus. High 70s around kickoff. Storms are rolling through trying to flip the switch to fall temps, might be a little damp.

Enjoy the game.

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