Columbus Crew vs. CF Montreal Betting Preview, Odds & Picks

Columbus Crew vs. CF Montreal Betting Preview, Odds & Picks

Barry Devoe
3 years ago
3 min read
Columbus Crew vs. CF Montreal Betting Preview, Odds & Picks

Coming off a much-needed positive result, albeit a draw, the Columbus Crew return home this weekend in search of three points to get back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Standing in their way are CF Montreal, one of the teams ahead of the Crew in the playoff race. Kickoff Saturday is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Lower.com Field in Columbus and the game will air on ESPN+.

These teams met back in May with a dull 0-0 draw in Florida. Montreal managed three shots on goal but the Crew didn’t have any. Last season the teams split 2-1 victories and Columbus leads the all-time series 11-9 with four draws. 

Zardes Returns to Action

The big news for Columbus last weekend was a return to goal-scoring form for striker Gyasi Zardes. Playing 90 minutes for the first time in over a month, Zardes scored the lone goal in a 1-1 draw. The draw was a positive result as it came on the road against the first-place New England Revolution and also saw Zardes in action for the first time in over a month. 

The return was a welcome one for a team that is starved for goals. Zardes has five on the season, two less than Lucas Zelarayan. Miguel Berry has emerged as a super-sub for the Crew with five total goals including a pair of game winners. They still need the likes of Pedro Santos, Darlington Nagbe, Kevin Molino, and Bradley-Wright Phillips to step up.

The Crew are in 10th place and need to climb up to seventh. A win over fifth-place Montreal would close the gap significantly. Only eight points separate third place from 10th place in the East as only New England and Nashville appear safe heading into the final six weeks of action. 

Goalkeeper Eloy Room and the defense have turned things around lately but are still desperate for the clean sheet. They haven't had a shutout since July 24 but have allowed just one goal in each of the last three games. That’s quite the change from allowing 11 goals over a three-game span in August or seven goals in three games earlier this month. 

Montreal a Balanced Attack

CF Montreal enters the weekend in fifth place and could be in third by the end of Sunday. They trail NYCFC by two points and are just one behind Orlando City for fourth. The team formerly known as the Impact have won two straight and three out of four while suffering just one loss in the last seven games. 

In their last three wins, Montreal has totaled nine goals. Mason Toye leads the way on the season with seven while Romell Quioto has five. Djordje Mihailovic, acquired in the off-season from Chicago Fire, leads the team with 10 assists and has added four goals, both career highs. 

Montreal has played three goalies this season, partially due to Clement Diop leaving the team by mutual agreement in August. James Pantemis has played the last two wins and on the season he’s allowed 16 goals in 12 starts. Sebastian Breza lost just one of his starts in August and has allowed five goals in five games.

Batting Analysis

Columbus Crew +115 Moneyline

Montreal +240 Moneyline

Draw +255

Total Goals: 2.5. Over -130. Under +105

First Goal: Columbus Crew -140. CF Montreal +130. No Goals +800

Getting off to a great start is key for the Crew who have not only struggled at their new stadium but have fallen behind early. After winning just one of the first six games at Lower.com the Crew has won the last two, in come-from-behind fashion so maybe they are starting to get more comfortable in the new digs. Montreal has played road or neutral site games most of the season so being on the road shouldn’t bother them at all.

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