Columbus Crew at FC Cincinnati Hell is Real August 27 Betting Odds & Predictions

The second edition of the Hell is Real Derby has a lot riding on it this weekend. FC Cincinnati sit in ninth place in the Eastern Conference with 34 points as they host rivals Columbus Crew on Saturday. The Crew have 35 points and head into the match in the final playoff spot in the conference.

The winner of Saturday’s game could be as high as fifth place by the end of the weekend, while the losing team will likely be in 10th place. Columbus won the first matchup this season 2-0 with goals from Cucho Hernandez and Lucas Zelarayan.

Saturday’s contest is set for 7:30 p.m. at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati. The game will stream on ESPN+ and air on both Bally Sports Ohio and STAR 64. Last year the teams drew 2-2 at TQL, and the Crew’s lone win in Cincinnati came in 2019.

Betting Analysis

You can bet on the Hell is Real Derby 2.0 Columbus Crew vs. FC Cincinnati matchup for FREE in Ohio with betJACK! Click here to get started.

Columbus Crew +210 Moneyline

FC Cincinnati +110 Moneyline

Draw +265

Total Goals: 2.5. Over -140. Under +115

Both teams to Score: Yes -170. No +135

This game should have goals with the way these teams play. Cucho and Vazquez are both in prime goal-scoring form, and both teams are very healthy for this contest.

The crowd will be very amped up as the Orange and Blue look for revenge against the Crew and also a chance to leapfrog their rivals in the standings.

Cucho Can’t Stop Scoring

Columbus ended Sunday’s game with a second straight draw, but they have a point in 12 of their last 13 games. After a lengthy weather delay, Atlanta United took the early lead, and Cucho tied the game in the 66th minute. His second goal of the contest came six minutes later, but Atlanta tied the game in the 77th minute.

With the 4-2-3-1 formation, manager Caleb Porter had his usual starting lineup against Atlanta. Cucho started up top with Zelarayan in support, Luis Diaz and Derrick Etienne Jr. took the wings. Artur and Darlington Nagbe started in defensive midfield with Steven Moreira, Milos Degenek, Jonathan Mensah, and Pedro Santos in defense.

Artur picked up another yellow card and will be suspended for the contest against Cincinnati. He’s started 16 games but missed all of June and July with injury, so the Crew are used to playing without him. The last time he was out, Aidan Morris started alongside Nagbe, and James Igbekeme is also an option.

Cucho has played in eight games for the Crew with six starts. Since joining the team from Watford in the English Premier League, the Colombian has eight goals, or one every 73 minutes. Zelerayan has scored four goals since July 17 and eight on the season while also leading the team in assists.

Eloy Room leads the Crew in minutes played with 14 more than Nagbe, as those two have started all 25 games. The veteran goalkeeper has 73 saves with 25 goals allowed. He has seven clean sheets to go with eight wins and 11 draws.

Zelarayan has four goals in five career games against FCC, while Santos has three goals in eight outings. Room has allowed five goals in seven starts against Cincinnati, and he has 15 saves with four clean sheets.

Vazquez Leads Cincinnati

For the eighth time in the last ten games, FC Cincinnati ended Saturday’s game with a draw. The Orange and Blue have only one loss since May 28, the setback against Columbus. However, they have just two wins in that span, with the other nine games ending in draws.

FCC has scored in 18 of their last 19 games, and they have at least two goals in 11 of those contests. The defense has allowed a goal in 10 straight games, with at least two goals allowed in six of those games.

Brandon Vazquez has 15 goals on the season and just signed a contract extension through 2025 with an option for 2026. The 23-year-old has four assists to go with his goal tally and could earn a September call up to the USMNT for the World Cup prep games.

Vazquez has teamed with Brenner and Luciano Acosta to form a formidable three-pronged attack. Acosta, who captains FCC, has six goals and 14 assists. Brenner has nine goals and four assists on the season, with all of his goals coming in the last 11 games.

New defender Matt Miazga scored his first goal of the season against the Red Bulls, his former team. Neither team scored after the 23rd minute as Miazga, Geoff Cameron, and Nick Hagglund held their ground in the 3-4-1-2 formation. Junior Moreno and Obinna Nowbodo started at defensive midfield with Alvaro Barreal and Alvas Powell as wingers.

Roman Celentano has started 19 games for FCC in goal. The 21-year-old has made 52 saves and allowed 32 goals while keeping three clean sheets. FCC lost four of the seven games before Celentano took over, and they have just four losses in his 19 starts.

FCC has nine goals in their nine games against the Crew, and no player has scored more than one time. Vazquez hasn’t scored in six games against Columbus, while Brenner is scoreless in three outings. Celentano’s only outing against Columbus was the 2-0 loss in July.