Soccer Predictions Orlando City vs Columbus Crew, Picks and Odds
The Major League Soccer has reached the conference semifinals, with four games scheduled for this weekend—two each from the Eastern and Western conferences. The first match of the MLS semifinals features Orlando City hosting Columbus Crew on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at 5:30 pm (ET) at Exploria Stadium, with Orlando City having home-field advantage. You can catch the live stream on the MLS Season Pass streaming service.
This is an Eastern Conference semifinal, and on this page, you will find betting tips and odds that we believe hold value for wagering.
Orlando City advanced to the MLS semifinals by eliminating Nashville SC in the previous round. The MLS CUP Playoffs had a different format in Round 1, with a best-of-three series between teams. Orlando City secured their spot in the semifinals by winning both games against Nashville FC, 1-0 at home and 1-0 away.
Recalling that Orlando City was the runner-up in the Eastern Conference, with Cincinnati as the champion.
There was a hiatus in the MLS, with Orlando City’s last match played on November 7, the game in which they eliminated Nashville SC. The team had a strong run of results, finishing the regular season and starting the playoffs with five consecutive victories.
Orlando City’s Last 5 Results:
- Nashville 0 – 1 Orlando City
- Orlando City 3 – 2 New England
- Toronto 0 – 2 Orlando City
- Orlando City 1 – 0 Nashville
- Nashville 0 – 1 Orlando City
For the home team, the statistics reveal notable numbers. Playing at home, Orlando City has an average of 1.78 goals scored per game and concedes an average of 1.06 goals per game.
This could be the first time the Orlando City franchise reaches the conference finals in Major League Soccer.
Columbus Crew
The visitors, Columbus Crew, will be facing a strong team and a crowd-filled stadium, requiring resilience to handle the pressure on the field. Columbus Crew finished third in the regular season of Major League Soccer, setting up a clash of two top teams in the conference semifinals.
Columbus Crew eliminated Atlanta United, dealing with a full three-game series. They won the first game of the MLS Cup Playoffs 2-0, but Atlanta United drew level in the second game (4-2), forcing a decisive third game. As Columbus Crew had a better regular-season record, they had home-field advantage in the third game and secured their spot in the semifinals with a 4-2 victory.
This was the only defeat for Columbus Crew, as they maintained positive results before that.
Columbus Crew’s Last 5 Results:
- Atlanta United 1 – 1 Columbus Crew
- Columbus Crew 2 – 1 Montreal
- Columbus Crew 2 – 0 Atlanta United
- Atlanta United 4 – 2 Columbus
- Crew Columbus Crew 4 – 2 Atlanta United
In away games, Columbus Crew has an average of 1.56 goals scored and concedes an average of 2% goals per game.
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Orlando City vs. Columbus Crew: Betting and Predictions
Analyzing the betting market and odds for what can be considered a de facto final this time, as there is no best-of-three series, it’s a win-or-go-home situation.
For this game, we have two betting tips—one for the goal market and one for the handicap +0.5 (Draw no Bet) in favor of the underdogs. Orlando City enters as a slight favorite with odds of +115 for victory, while Columbus Crew is priced at +195 to win the game. These are tight lines, making it challenging for bettors.
The most noticeable lines suggest taking the Over 2.5 goals, which is priced well for a game that promises to be open. Place a bet on Over 2.5 goals with odds -162 FANDUEL sportsbook An extra betting tip, with good odds, is to take the Draw No Bet option in favor of Columbus Crew for those looking for higher odds while still protecting their investment in case of a draw. This line is paying a price at odds of +120. Orlando City cannot be considered such a strong favorite in a conference semifinal where the competition is between the second and third-placed teams.
- Prediction: Over 2.5 Goals odds -162
- Extra Prediction: Draw No Bet – Columbus Crew odds +120
