Columbus Crew vs Chicago Fire FC Prediction, Odds, Best Bets - MLS

The regular season ends at SeatGeek Stadium with Chicago Fire FC fourth in the East and Columbus Crew eighth and still climbing. Columbus have won five straight and arrive as the East's form side, while Chicago's season has swung between big wins and soft defeats, 61 goals scored and 50 conceded in 33 matches. Hugo Cuypers has scored 13 of Chicago's goals, and Columbus keep finding scorers in places Chicago will have to watch all afternoon.

The Matchup

Columbus have won five straight, beating Charlotte FC 3-1 and Toronto FC 4-2 at home and winning 2-0 at FC Cincinnati, 2-0 at FC Dallas and 3-0 over D.C. United in the last three weeks, scoring 14 and conceding 3 across the five. The goals sit spread across the squad rather than on one man. Taha Habroune, Brais Méndez and Wessam Abou Ali have 5 goals each, Dylan Chambost has set up 9, and Patrick Schulte has made 104 saves behind a defense that has settled at the right end of the season.

Chicago's threat is more concentrated, and more volatile. Hugo Cuypers has scored 13 goals, Maren Haile-Selassie has 12 goals and 9 assists, and Philip Zinckernagel has 7 goals, 11 assists and 98 shots, the busiest creator on either side. Chris Brady has made 88 saves in Chicago's goal, and he has needed most of them, because Chicago have conceded 50 in 33 matches alongside the 61 they have scored.

Neither club has named its side yet. The expectation is Haile-Selassie and Johan Gómez leading the line for Chicago, the front two from the 4-2 win at Colorado Rapids on November 1, with Zinckernagel and Jonathan Bamba wide and Anton Saletros in midfield. For Columbus, the expectation is the front three from the win over D.C. United, Gonzalo Tapia, Santiago Rodríguez and Habroune, with Chambost and Mohamed Farsi in the midfield line.

Chicago's last five have swung hard in both directions, losses to Philadelphia Union and New England Revolution around a 3-2 win at Atlanta United FC, a 2-2 draw with Orlando City SC and that win in Colorado, 10 scored and 10 conceded across the five. Columbus's last five have not swung at all.

Key Factors

The split that matters is Columbus on the road against Chicago at home. In the matches pulled since August, Columbus scored 1.75 goals a game away from home and conceded 1.62, and Chicago scored 1.75 a game at SeatGeek and conceded 1.50. Chicago's home matches lean open, and Columbus's last two trips, to Cincinnati and Dallas, both ended in clean-sheet wins. A visiting side that defends its box that well travels into a ground where the hosts give up chances every week.

The honest counterpoint is Chicago's ceiling. An attack with Cuypers, Haile-Selassie and Zinckernagel all producing at once can put two past anyone, and a final-day crowd at SeatGeek gives Chicago every reason to start fast and press the game onto Columbus.

What beats the pick is exactly that start, an early Chicago goal that lets the hosts play on the break while Columbus chase. But Columbus have barely had to chase anything lately, and Chicago's defending keeps the door open for ninety minutes, which is a long time to protect a one-goal lead against the East's form side.

Every pick is published with its line before the game. Odds via consensus sportsbooks at time of writing and move constantly. Must be 21+. If gambling is a problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.