Philadelphia Union vs. Columbus Crew Prediction, Preview and Odds - 10/2/21

Philadelphia Union vs. Columbus Crew

The 2021 MLS betting action continues Sunday, October 3, with the Eastern Conference clash at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, as the Philadelphia Union and Columbus Crew lock horns for the third time this season. Back in April, they played a goalless draw at Lower.com Field in Columbus, while Philadelphia beat the Crew 1-0 in June.

Philadelphia eyes its third straight home victory

The Philadelphia Union are coming off a 1-1 stalemate at the New York Red Bulls last Wednesday. Now, they are undefeated in three straight outings, as Philadelphia outlasted Atlanta United 1-0 and Orlando City 3-1 at home before that draw at Red Bull Arena.

Phila is sitting at the fifth spot of the Eastern Conference standings with 39 points from 26 games (W10, D9, L7) and a 33:26 goal difference. Over their last five showings at home, the Union have recorded three wins, a draw, and a loss to go with a 6:3 goal difference.

Striker Kacper Przybylko commands the way for the Union with nine goals in 26 MLS appearances this season. He’s found the back of the net three times over his last three games. Sergio Santos netted against the Red Bulls on Wednesday to increase his season tally to five goals, while midfielder Jamiro Monteiro has accounted for two goals and five assists across 21 appearances.

Columbus is back on the right track

The reigning MLS Cup champions have been struggling all summer long, but they are undefeated in four straight outings in all competitions. Columbus is coming off a 2-0 home victory over the Mexican side Cruz Azul in the CONCACAF Campeones Cup, and the Crew have won two of their last three MLS contests along with a 1-1 draw at New England.

The Crew are now sitting at the ninth spot of the Eastern Conference table with 34 points out of 27 games (W9, D7, L11) and a 32:36 goal difference. They trailed the No. 7 seed by five points, so the Crew desperately need to stay on the right path.

Striker Gyasi Zardes leads the charge for Columbus with nine goals in 21 appearances. He’s bagged three goals over his previous two outings, including a brace in a 2-1 home win to Montreal last weekend. Miguel Berry has added five goals in 13 apps, while midfielder Lucas Zelarayan has accounted for eight goals and team-high four assists.

Pick: Draw

I would stay away from the side bet, as both teams have played well lately and they have a lot at stake in this game. The reigning champs are almost in a must-win situation, while Philadelphia cannot afford a home loss, so I lean the stalemate at +320.

The hosts are strong favorites at -167, and if you like to follow the betting trends, you should know that Philadelphia has won four of its previous five home tilts against the Crew. Also, Columbus has dropped five of its last six road tilts along with one draw.

The Total Prediction: Both Teams to Score YES

Betting on the totals seems like the best move in this matchup, although the betting trends are not suggesting a high-scoring affair. Anyway, I’m looking for both teams to score and wouldn’t be surprised if the clash ends up in a 1-1 draw.

Both teams want to avoid a loss, as the playoff race in the East is a proper nail-biter. Whoever breaks the deadlock, the other side will have to push forward in numbers. Of course, there’s always a possibility of a goalless draw, but Philadelphia kept its net intact just once in its last seven games overall, while Columbus hasn’t recorded a clean sheet in 11 MLS games in a row.