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Columbus Crew vs Portland Timbers Prediction, 9/18/2022 MLS Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

by Josh Schonwald - 9/15/2022

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Game: Columbus Crew vs Portland Timbers

Date: Sunday, September 18, 2022

Location: Lower.com Field in Columbus, OH

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Columbus (-130) Portland (+323)

The Timbers (11-12-8) are hitting the road to Lower.com Field on Sunday where they will take on the Crew (9-14-7). The Crew open at -130 and the Timbers are at +323. The over/under has been set at 2.75. The starting goalkeepers will be Eloy Room for Columbus Crew and Aljaz Ivacic for Portland Timbers.

The Crew have a ranking of 22nd in relation to goals expected having 36.7, and the xGA are at 37.1. Columbus has surrendered 30 goals while conceding 1.00 goals per 90 min, and their oppositition have compiled 123 SoT against them. The team's difference in goals is currently at 5 with 40 goals put in the net in addition to 35 goals surrendered. They have tallied 9 clean sheets, which puts them at a percentage of 29.0 on the season. The Columbus Crew have a total of 91 saves and also are the owners of a SV rate of 77.2 on the year. Columbus has amassed 53 yellow cards on the year and 1 red card. This year, the club is sitting with an average of 1.37 pts/match (41 points) and have a ranking of 15th in the league with 30 assists.

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This year, Portland has a save % of 71.3 (157 shots on target against), and they also are ranked 10th in soccer with 45 pts. The Timbers have put together an average of 1.5 pts per fixture while having 32 assists and 5 red cards. The Portland Timbers have totaled 50 goals and the team's goals expected over the course of the season is sitting at 45.9. Portland has recorded a clean sheet percentage of 19.4 over the course of the season as well as 86 yellow card warnings. This club's goals against/90 min is currently at 1.48 with 111 saves, and they have earned 6 clean sheets. Portland has a ranking of 11th concerning goals against having 47, and the squad's goal difference is at 3.

The man who is expected to protect the net for Columbus will be Eloy Room. Room has played for 26,481 mins and has 950 saves so far in his career. His GA/90 is 1.27 (375 goals given up) and his save % is .719. The goalie born in Curacao has faced 1,322 shots tried against him in 292 career starts. Room (111-88-95 record in his career) has recorded 71 clean sheets, which has earned him a 24.3% clean sheet percentage.

Aljaz Ivacic will reside in front of the net for Portland. He has allowed 1.61 goals per 90 mins while holding a record of 29-28-28. Ivacic has 17 shutouts while seeing 427 shots tried against him in 7,701 minutes throughout his career. In his career, Ivacic has allowed 138 goals and has 292 stops in 85 starts. He holds a save percentage of .684 and his shutout rate sits at 20.0%.

Lucas Zelarayan is one man who should impact this matchup for Columbus. He has totaled 32 assists while accumulating 11 yellow card warnings in his pro soccer career. The midfielder representing Armenia has totaled 55 goals in 14,835 minutes played. Zelarayan has been in the starting lineup in 165 games thus far in his career and he accounts for 0.33 goals per 90 minutes.

Portland features an attacker in Santiago Moreno, who gives opposing coaches headaches. The forward representing Colombia has accumulated 4,637 professional minutes while earning 12 goals. He scores 0.23 goals per 90 and has had a starting assignment in 52 matches in his career. He has earned 5 yellow card cautions so far in his pro soccer career and has assisted a teammate on a goal 14 times.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Columbus (-130)

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