A strange league, the MLS is. We didn't know it at the time, but last year in July, the Columbus Crew were positioning themselves for a run all the way to the MLS Cup Final, a match which they hosted. Sure, they overachieved, but no one could have forecasted a drop of this epic of a proportion in 2016. The Crew are sitting four points out of the playoffs 15 matches into the season, and they look nothing like contenders for the MLS Cup this year.
Meanwhile, Sporting Kansas City hasn't been anything to write home about either, as it enters the holiday weekend on the wrong side of the postseason cut line, too. Still, SKC is the heavy favorite in this match.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Sporting Kansas City -165
Columbus Crew +375
Draw +275
Over/Under 2.5 (over -120)
ODDS ANALYSIS
It's interesting to think that a team which is just 4-1-4 at home this season is favored by a -165 margin against a team which was in the MLS Cup last year. The Crew though, have yet to win a game on the road, and at just 0-3-4 through seven matches outside of MAPFRE Stadium, it's hard to see how that's going to change.
The total is fairly average by MLS standards at 2.5 with -120 vig on the over.
KEY INJURIES
The Crew have a relatively extensive injury list at this point, but it's not like any of the true superstars of the team are out of the fold. Matt Pacifici still has concussion symptoms which he's trying to get over, while Gaston Sauro is still a couple months away from getting back on the field.
The big issue is Federico Higuain, who is still out after hernia surgery a few weeks ago.
SKC is relatively healthy at this point with just Nuno Andre Coelho and Paulo Nagamura on the shelf.
LIVE BETTING
The Crew really have to get into the win column again soon if they're going to get back into the playoffs. They were beaten last week by Chicago in the U.S. Open Cup, and in their last three MLS matches, they only have a total of two points. Scoring goals hasn't necessarily been a problem, but at the back, there have been some tremendous issues. Columbus has given up nine goals in its last four MLS matches.
Sporting Kansas City has a U.S. Open Cup match to deal with before this one kicks off yet, and that could end up playing a factor as well. SKC does have at least a point to show for its work in each of its last four matches overall, and that at least has it trending in the right direction towards getting back in the playoffs in the Western Conference.
QUICK PICK
Without Higuain in the fold, the Crew just aren't nearly as strong or as threatening offensively as they normally are. Kei Kamara is fantastic, and Ola Kamara has had a good year as well, but neither of these men are the nearly as strong without Higuain in the fold.
The oddsmakers have gotten this one right. Dom Dwyer should once again be a tremendous threat to put the ball in the back of the net, especially in the form he's been in at Children's Mercy Park. If he can get any help whatsoever from the rest of his squad, Sporting should be able to get back into the win column.
MLS Odds: Sporting Kansas City 2, Columbus 0
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here, so start betting with BookMaker today! The matchup between Sporting Kansas City and the Columbus Crew will kick off on Sunday, July 3, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. ET. This fixture from Children's Mercy Park can be seen live on FOX Sports 1.
