Portland Timbers vs Columbus Crew Prediction, Odds & Best Bet for MLS Match (Goal-Scoring Issues Hinder Timbers)

The 2023 MLS season continues on Saturday with an exciting showdown between the Portland Timbers (5-9-8, 23 points) and Columbus Crew (10-6-6, 36 points).

Portland Timbers vs Columbus Crew Match Info

2023 MLS Regular Season Game
Portland Timbers vs. Columbus Crew
Date: Saturday, July 15, 2023
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Providence Park — Portland, Oregon
Coverage: Apple TV

Portland is now winless in its previous five matchups after Wednesday's 0-0 draw with the Colorado Rapids. Meanwhile, Columbus nearly came up short against New York City FC earlier this week, however, Sean Zawadzki's goal in the 94th minute forced a 1-1 draw.

Portland Timbers vs Columbus Crew Odds & Spread

All MLS betting lines, odds and prop bets are from FanDuel Sportsbook.
Moneyline: POR: (+110) | CLB: (+200) | Draw (+250)
Spread: POR: -1 (+320) | CLB: +1 (-140)
Total: 2.5 – Over: (-138) | Under: (+114)
Team to Score the First Goal: POR: (-145) | CLB: (+120) I NO GOALS: (+1200)

Portland enters this contest as the slight home favorite on FanDuel Sportsbook's odds. This 10:30 p.m. ET clash also features an over/under of 2.5 goals with the Over favored at -138 odds.

Portland Timbers vs Columbus Crew Betting Trends

- Portland and Columbus played to a 1-1 draw in their most recent matchup on Sept. 18, 2022.
- Portland sits 12th in the Western Conference with a 5-9-8 (W-L-D) record in 2023.
- Columbus sits fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 10-6-6 (W-L-D) record in 2023.
- Portland is 0-2-3 (W-L-D) in its last five matches.
- Columbus is 2-0-3 (W-L-D) in its last five matches.

Portland Timbers vs Columbus Crew Prediction & Pick

Portland's lethargic offense is a key reason why it hasn't tasted victory in five consecutive matchups. The Timbers have only scored three times while getting shut out twice during that span. In fact, their 23 total goals are tied for sixth-worst during the 2023 MLB season, whereas the Crew's 43 are the most in the league

Columbus is coming off back-to-back draws, but it at least has two victories over the last four weeks — a span where Portland doesn't even have one. On top of that, the Crew haven't lost to the Timbers in nearly four years and with the way that the latter has been playing recently, I doubt that trend changes.

Look for Cumbus to march into Providence Park and leave with the victory.

Final Score Prediction: Columbus: 2 | Portland: 1

Portland Timbers vs Columbus Crew Best Bet

As far as the best bet goes, let's stick with the Over on the 2.5-goal spread. For starters, Portland-Columbus meetings tend to feature a fair amount of fireworks. The last five matchups between these clubs saw an average of 3.8 goals scoring, going over 2.5 four times over that stretch.

Secondly, the Over on this prop has been hit in a pair of Portland's previous four matchups, as well as in two of Colmbus' last three. In other words, don't expect a quiet meeting between two teams hungry for a win.

Bet: Over 2.5 Total Goals (-138)

Devon Platana is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Devon Platana also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username PepeSilvia0. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.