Columbus Crew vs. Colorado Rapids August 13 Betting Odds & Analysis

Lucas Zelerayan and Cucho Hernandez combined for three goals as the Columbus Crew got back in the win column last weekend in a 3-2 win over NYCFC. The win has the Crew in fifth place in the East on 33 points as they head west to Colorado Rapids this weekend.

Kickoff on Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Colorado is set for 9:00 p.m. ET, streaming on ESPN+ and airing on Bally Sports Great Lakes.

These teams last met in 2019, a 3-2 Colorado Rapids win at home, and the Crew won 2-1 at home in 2018. Colorado has not been a great place for the Crew over the years, with just four wins in 24 trips all-time. The Rapids have won seven of the last nine at home against Columbus, including playoff wins in 2010 and 2011.

Crew Looking to Start a New Streak

Columbus went nine in a row unbeaten before a late loss to Montreal to start August. They bounced back with a 3-2 win over second-place NYCFC on Saturday as Lucas Zelarayan scored twice and Cucho scored the opener.

The schedule is kind over the next month with seven straight games against teams below them in the standings, including two against Inter Miami and one against Atlanta United.

Columbus has scored at least two goals in four of their last six games, and they have posted two clean sheets in that span. They have three wins and six draws in 11 road games this season, and they have seven goals in their last three road games. The Crew are unbeaten in their last five road games, and a win or draw on Saturday will mark the second-best road streak in team history.

Zelarayan has four goals in his last four games after not scoring in 12 straight MLS games. Since Cucho joined the team on July 9, the two have combined for nine goals and four assists. Derrick Etienne Jr. has five goals and five assists on the season, while All-Star Darlington Nagbe also has three goals.

The back four of Jonathan Mensah, Miles Degenek, Steven Moreira, and Pedro Santos allowed just one goal last weekend as NYCFC benefited from an own goal. Goalkeeper Eloy Room has started all 23 MLS games this season, allowing 22 goals and posting seven clean sheets with 63 saves.

Zardes Leads Colorado Against Former Team

Colorado Rapids won last weekend 4-3 over Minnesota United as Gyasi Zardes scored his second MLS hat-trick. This will be the first time Zardes has faced his former team since the Crew traded him to Colorado in May. In five seasons with the Crew, Zardes scored 54 goals in 100 starts and won a MLS Cup.

Even with the win, Colorado is in 10th place in the Western Conference. With 30 points from 23 games, the Rapids can jump into the playoff picture on Saturday with a win and losses by Seattle, Portland, and the LA Galaxy. They have a -2 goal differential on the season.

Colorado is a tough place for any team to win, and the Rapids have seven wins and three draws in 12 home games this season. They are +10 goal differential at home with 21 scored and 11 allowed.

The Rapids have scored nine goals in their last two games, a 5-4 win at New York Red Bulls and a 4-3 home win over Minnesota United.

In addition to the three goals from Zardes, Diego Rubio, Keegan Rosenberry, Collen Warner, Michael Barrios, and Danouma Toure have scored in the last two games.

Rubio has scored in two straight games and leads the team with 11 goals and five assists on the season. Rubio has a goal or an assist in seven straight games, the longest streak in the league this season.

Betting Odds & Analysis

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Columbus Crew (+240)

Columbus Crew (+100)

Draw (+255)

Total Goals: 2.5. Over (-135). Under (+110).

To Score First: Crew (+120). Colorado Rapids (-150). No Goals (+1100).

After a mid-season slump, Zelarayan is back to his usual playmaking self. The midfielder has been involved in each of the Crew’s last eight goals and 11 of the last 12.

Coming off a four-game home stand, the Crew need to get off to a hot start on Saturday, knowing that Colorado can score in bunches as they have come from behind to win in the last two games.