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This weekend’s two Major League Soccer games include an interesting one in Columbus against New England. Club soccer has been suspended nationwide due to the international break, but MLS is using the pause as a make-up week for LAFC and the Crew. When the two teams advanced to the Leagues Cup final in August, they were forced to reschedule these home games. Continue reading to access expert MLS soccer tips for Columbus vs New England on Saturday.
- Major League Soccer
- Matchweek 33
- Columbus Crew vs New England Revolution
- Saturday, October 12, 2024, 7:30 PM EST
- MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
MLS Soccer Tips: Who do Sportsbooks Favor?
On Saturday, Columbus is the overwhelming favorite to win at home. The Crew are (-249) to win and extend their unbeaten streak to eight games against the Revolution. New England’s chances of winning this weekend are slim according to sportsbooks, with odds as high as (+576). At (+440), a draw comes with a strong payout to winning bettors.
MLS 
Columbus -249 -253 -250 New England +576 +564 +550 Draw +430 +425 +440
Want to better understand the 3-way moneyline (1X2) market? See our soccer betting tips and learn about MLS betting in 2024.
Columbus Crew Call-Ups Leave Roster Depleted
Call-ups for national teams have begun with the arrival of the second international break of the fall season. Teams who are still slated to play during this two-week window will have to make due without players who have been selected to represent their nations in international competitions or friendlies.
Notably, Columbus has been severely impacted by call-ups. Along with two goalkeepers who will not be available, Patrick Schulte of the United States and Nicholas Hagen of Guatemala, star player Cucho Hernandez is off to play for Colombia. Columbus’s five-man absentee list is completed by defenders Steven Moreira (Cape Verde) and Mohamed Farsi (Algeria).
That means that Columbus’ starting goalie for this weekend will either be Evan Bush or Abraham Romero. Despite having a ton of Major League Soccer experience, 38-year-old Evan Bush has only participated in six games over the past four years. Abraham Romero, who started Columbus’s most recent game during the international break, will probably get the starting nod on Saturday.
However, Romero was sent out for a risky foul on Jordan Morris of Seattle in the first half of his start last month, forcing midfielder Sean Zawadski to take up the gloves. Unsurprisingly, that game was a 4-0 home loss for the Crew. Though it is improbable that another such exceptional situation will arise, the parallels are evident. With such a thin roster, Columbus should be careful not to underestimate New England.
New England Revolution Soccer: Nothing Left to Play For
Following a season in which they won the Eastern Conference the previous year, New England has fallen to the bottom of the table in 2024. The dismal state of affairs for Caleb Porter and company is a contributing factor to the manager’s outburst during his postgame press conference last weekend. Porter expressed specific annoyance about his team’s lack of penalty calls this year. With two games remaining, New England is mathematically eliminated from the 18-team playoff picture.
This season, New England has played poorly away from home, scoring very few goals and collecting just 12 points in 15 games. In the history of the franchise, this season will be the worst on record. They have nothing to lose at this point in the season, so there may be lineup changes as veterans accept a break in favor of giving younger players an opportunity to establish themselves.
MLS Soccer Tips: Game Situation a Massive Factor
The only true motivation for either team to fight in this match is pride. The Revolution are no longer in the running for the playoffs and Columbus has secured the second spot in the Eastern Conference. Therefore, both teams’ lineups will probably include a large number of new players as a result of this circumstance.
This actually brings the game closer, as there is more unpredictability in player rotations and motivation. With only their third-string goalie and two important defenders out of the lineup, Columbus’ defense will be far more exposed than usual. Columbus will also need to find a replacement for Cucho at the top to receive service.
Although a few players from New England are also absent, their contributions to the team’s performance are not quite as significant. The Revs should play with a level of freedom they haven’t been able to enjoy as they have been pressing for points in recent weeks.
Free Columbus Crew vs New England Revolution Soccer Betting Pick
After goalkeeper Abraham Romero made a terrible decision that resulted in his early dismissal just a month ago, we watched the Crew get destroyed at home. Honestly, a comparable result is not implausible. Although New England has lost the last two encounters, in the prior six iterations of this fixture, New England has drawn five and won one.
In conclusion, this game is kind of a crapshoot to bet on. According to my forecasts, the lines are quite accurate, but the Revolution should be valued more given the game situation and the international call-ups. I’d take a tiny wager on the Revolution to win in the Draw No Bet market because this game might go either way. This line is available at (+425) on Bovada, so I will suggest that as a conservative quarter unit play.
Odds are accurate at time of writing but subject to change.
Top Sportsbooks for New England Revolution Soccer
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