Toronto FC vs Columbus Crew Predictions, Picks, MLS Odds 8/17/2019

by Guy Bruhn - 8/16/2019

Saturday, August 17, 2019

MAPFRE Stadium

Jozy Altidore and Toronto FC (9-6-10, 9th in the Eastern Conference) are headed to MAPFRE Stadium on Saturday where they'll meet the Columbus Crew (7-5-14, 11th in the Eastern Conference). The expected starting goalies are Quentin Westberg for Toronto FC and Eloy Room for the Columbus Crew. The Crew are priced at +121 while TFC is at +196. The O/U is set at 3.

Toronto FC comes into this game with a record of 9 wins, 6 draws, and 10 losses which is good for 9th in the Eastern Conference. Thus far in the season, they have scored a total of 39 goals which is good for 5th in the conference and 9th in MLS. This means that if are going to walk away with a victory, they will want to put some goals in the back of the net. Their goal differential is -2 which is good for 15th in MLS. Toronto FC will be looking to get teammate involved in the game as they currently have a total of 28 assists which is good for 8th in MLS and 5th in the conference. Regarding shots on target, they currently have a total of 128 which is good for 5th in the conference and 8th in MLS. As a unit, Toronto has a total of 242 fouls which has them averaging 9.68 fouls per contest. They currently have a total of 33 points for 2019 and they are averaging an attendance of 24,880.

Jozy Altidore is one of the standout players to watch for TFC. The forward from the United States has engaged in 15 games for the year and has played a total of 1,107 mins. During that period of time, the 29-year-old has tallied 9 goals and has had an assist on 2 goals. He currently holds an average of 74 mins per appearance. Altidore has been a starter in 11 games for the year and has committed 18 fouls over the course of that time. In discussing shots on target, Altidore has totaled 18 which has him ranking 39th in Major League Soccer and 8th in the East among forwards. Alejandro Pozuelo is another guy to watch out for on the squad from Toronto. The 27-year-old from Spain has racked up 9 goals this season which ranks him 4th in the Eastern Conference among midfielders and 21st among all qualified players in pro soccer. He has played 1,777 minutes and averages 85 mins per appearance which ranks him 111th in pro soccer. For the season, he has a total of 24 shots on target which ranks him 3rd in the Eastern Conference among midfielders.

The man protecting the goal for TFC is Quentin Westberg from the United States. He is 32 years old and has racked up 1,710 mins minding the net this year. Westberg is allowing 1.63 goals per 90 mins which has him ranked 17th in the East and 28th in Major League Soccer. For the 2019 season, he's allowed 31 goals. He's earned a save % of .631 which has him ranked 13th in the East.

The Columbus Crew step onto the pitch with a record of 7 victories, 5 draws, and 14 losses ranking them 11th in the Eastern Conference. Thus far in the season, they have racked up a total of 26 goals which ranks 11th in the East and 22nd in the league. This means that if they are going to get the win in this game, they will want to make sure they are scoring goals and making the other team work. Their goal differential is -12 ranking them 22nd in the league. The Columbus Crew will look to move the ball around the field and get the ball to their strikers as they have compiled a total of 19 assists which ranks 22nd in the league and 11th in the East. in respect to shots on target, they have compiled a total of 85 which ranks 12th in the East and 24th in the league. As a group, Columbus has obtained a total of 317 fouls which has them averaging 12.19 fouls per contest. They have compiled a total of 26 points for the 2019 season and they have an average crowd of 14,162.

Gyasi Zardes is a great player to watch for the Crew. The forward from the United States has participated in 21 contests for the season and has played a total of 1,857 mins. Over the course of that time, the 27-year-old has a total of 9 goals and has had an assist on 2 goals. So far this year he is averaging 88 minutes per game. Zardes has been a starter in 21 contests for the season and has a total of 17 fouls during that period. Regarding shots on target, Zardes has 18 which is 37th in Major League Soccer and 6th in the East among forwards. Pedro Santos is another player to keep an eye on for the squad from Columbus. The 30-year-old from Portugal has scored 8 goals so far this year which ranks him 5th in the Eastern Conference among midfielders and 27th among all qualified players in professional soccer. He has played a total of 2,091 mins and averages 84 mins per appearance which ranks him 126th in professional soccer. For this year, he has earned 16 shots on target which ranks him 15th in the Eastern Conference among midfielders.

Protecting the goal for the Crew is Eloy Room from the Netherlands. He is 29 years old and has racked up 360 mins minding the net this year. Room is conceding an average of 1.50 goals per 90 minutes which puts him at 14th among East goalies and 22nd in MLS among goalies. During this year, he has given up 6 goals. He's earned a save % of .538 which puts him at 23rd among East goalies.

Who will win tonight's MLS game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Columbus (+121)

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Toronto FC vs Columbus Crew MLS Tips 8/17/2019

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