FC Cincinnati at Columbus Crew Betting Preview: Hell is Real Derby August 27 Odds

Friday night soccer in Columbus as the Hell is Real Derby returns for a second edition this season. The struggling Columbus Crew look to end a long losing streak and get back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture as they host the feisty Orange and Blue from FC Cincinnati. Kickoff from Lower.com Field is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, and the game will be televised on ESPN.

Overall this will be the eighth Hell is Real derby, and there have been at least three goals scored in six of the prior contests. In July, FCC led at home 2-0 before the Crew rallied to earn a 2-2 draw. Overall, Columbus has won three, FCC has won one, and there have been three draws. 

FC Cincinnati Looking to Bounce Back

FCC took it on the chin against first-place New England last weekend with a 4-1 road loss. Prior to that disaster, they had drawn four straight games and only allowed one goal in 360 minutes. 

FC Cincinnati hadn’t won since June 26 when they went to Orlando and stunned the Lions 2-0. Their last 10 games have resulted in seven draws and three losses. The losses have all come on the road with a 4-1 setback at New England, a 3-0 loss at Nashville, and a 5-4 loss in Montreal. 

Brenner and Luciano Acosta lead the FCC attack, though the Orange and Blue have scored just two goals in their last six games. Brenner has four goals and two assists since July 17, while Acosta has had a hand in each of FCC’s last three goals. He assisted Brenner’s late strike against the Revolution last Saturday, and his final goal came against Atlanta United on July 21. 

Crew In Goal-Scoring Drought

The Crew finally found the back of the next on Saturday against Seattle Sounders but let the lead slip away for a 2-1 loss. The goal by Bradley Wright-Phillips was the first for the Crew in three games after consecutive 1-0 defeats to Chicago Fire and New York Red Bulls. 

The defense has been very leaky for the Crew in 2021. Over the last three home games, they have allowed nine goals, a team record for a three-game span. Overall they have allowed at least two goals in four of the last six games and haven’t posted a clean sheet since a 0-0 draw against Nashville SC on July 21. 

Free kicks have been key for the Crew this year, especially off the deadly foot of Lucas Zelarayan. He has four goals from set-pieces this season, and defender Jonathan Mensah has added two off corners in the last month. However, the Crew have an MLS-worst 12 goals from open play this season as the playmaking struggles compared to last season. 

Betting Analysis

FC Cincinnati +310 Moneyline. +0.5 goals (-105)

Columbus Crew -110 Moneyline. -0.5 goals (-110)

Draw +260. 

Total Goals: 2.5 Over (-105), Under (-115)

First Goal: Crew -160. FCC +160. No Goal +700

This is an absolute must-win for the Crew. They enter the weekend with a five-game losing streak and have fallen out of the playoff picture in the East as they sit in ninth place. Beating their in-state rivals at the new stadium could be exactly what they need to salvage the season and get in position to defend the MLS Cup title. 

Meanwhile, FCC are on a franchise-worst winless streak and would love nothing better than to keep the Crew in a tailspin. A loss, coupled with a win by Toronto FC on Friday, would dump FCC back into the last place in the East on 17 points.

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