MLS is Back Round of 16 Odds & Picks July 28: Columbus vs Minnesota & Portland vs Cincinnati

• MLS is Back Round of 16 wraps up on Tuesday as Columbus battles Minnesota, and Portland takes on Cincinnati
• The Crew posted three group stage wins, and face a Loons squad missing star defender Ike Opara. Winners of just six games in 2019, Cincinnati meets the Timbers as heavy underdogs
• Read on to get all the odds and storylines for Tuesday’s MLS is Back matchups

The Round of 16 of the MLS is Back tournament wraps up on Tuesday with a pair of matches. The Columbus Crew try to remain undefeated in 2020 as they take on Minnesota United as +105 favorites, while later on Tuesday, FC Cincinnati look to establish a rare three-match win streak as they battle the Portland Timbers as distant +300 underdogs.

Here are all the odds, trends, and storylines for this MLS is Back knockout stage matchups.

MLS is Back Round of 16 Odds

Odds taken on July 26th. 

Surging Crew Look to Stay Perfect in Knockout Stage

After marching to a perfect 3-0-0 record and taking home top spot on the Group E table, the Columbus Crew enter their Tuesday night betting matchup with Minnesota United as the hottest team in MLS. The Crew kept clean sheets in each of their three group stage wins, extending a sizzling start that has seen them go 10-3-0 in 13 outings across all competitions so far in 2020.

Former CSUB Roadrunner, Gyasi Zardes (@gyasinho) is on 🔥 🔥🔥.

Zardes has scored 3 goals in 2 games at #MLSisBack world cup style tournament, sending the Crew to the knockout stage. (Via @FOXSoccer) pic.twitter.com/y5ikoTvn1V

— Bakersfield Sports Network (@BakoSportsNet) July 17, 2020

While the Crew’s red-hot start is not yet reflected in the MLS is Back futures, where they lag as an attractive +1400 bet to win this tournament, there has been no denying their dominance so far at this event. Powered by Gyasi Zardes’ three goals, Columbus has outgunned opponents by a wide 7-0 margin, capped by a 1-0 victory over Atlanta United. That win proved to be all the more impressive, coming with goaltender Eloy Room sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Room has surrendered just one goal in four appearances since joining Columbus this season following over a decade of play in his native Netherlands, but will remain sidelined indefinitely, adding to injury woes that have forced several players to miss time including defender Vito Wormgoor, striker Youness Mokhta, and midfielder Lucas Zelarayán.

That opens the door for Minnesota United, who enter Tuesday’s contest as +235 underdogs after avoiding defeat in the group stage with a 1-0-2 record, good for second place in Group D. The Loons were denied first place on the Group D table after surrendering a late goal in a 2-2 draw with the Colorado Rapids to close out the group stage. However, the club has otherwise risen to the occasion, shocking heavily favored Sporting Kansas City with a pair of goals after the 90th minute to steal a 2-1 win in the tournament opener, and following up with a scoreless draw against Real Salt Lake.

https://youtu.be/AtLZWHlM_ew

Victories over the Crew have been rare. Minnesota’s narrow 1-0 victory in May 2019 marks the only time they have topped Columbus in four all-time meetings, allowing six total goals over their three previous defeats. However, like the Crew, Minnesota has performed steadily in 2020, with its only loss in 10 matches in all competitions coming against Vancouver in the Timbers Preseason Tournament.

The key for the Loons is whether they can shut down the vaunted Crew attack, particularly in the absence of reigning MLS Defender of the Year Ike Opara, and considering their inability to contain the also-ran Rapids in the group stage finale.

Picks: Columbus Crew to win and both teams to score (+275)

Can Cincy Continue Cinderella Run vs Talented Timbers?

Later on Tuesday, FC Cincinnati aim to keep their Cinderella run alive as they battle the Portland Timbers as long +300 underdogs. Winners of just six matches in league play during 2019, the Orange and Blue have enjoyed a respectable start to 2020, and have already posted wins in five of 11 outings across all competitions. The club showed its resiliency in the group stage, rebounding from a lopsided 4-0 loss to Columbus in their tournament opener to record a pair of clean sheet victories over Atlanta and the New York Red Bulls to seize second place on the Group E table.

Make it ✌️ for @fccincinnati!

Valot's own goal doubles the lead. #CINvRBNY pic.twitter.com/nlKScRLbpH

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 23, 2020

However, Cincinnati must find a way to generate offense if they are to have any hope against the Timbers. The club have just three total goals so far in the tournament, with one of them being an own goal, courtesy of New York in last week’s win over the Red Bulls, and tallied just seven total markers in their past nine league contests.

Scoring has not been an issue for the Timbers, who enter Tuesday’s Round of 16 finale pegged as lofty -127 favorites. Portland scored two goals in each of their three group stage contests, and has found the back of the net at least once in each of its past 15 matches in all competitions. The tournament has been a coming out party for Jeremy Ebobisse. The 23-year-old has scored three times to date, and is poised to fill the lengthy void left by the departure of Fanendo Adi three years ago.

https://twitter.com/FutureUsmnt/status/1286518062494158849?s=20

The Timbers face a relatively unfamiliar foe in the Orange and Blue, whom they have faced on just one previous appearance. That initial meeting went poorly, resulting in a stunning 3-0 loss in Cincinnati in May 2019. However, with the Portland defense surrendering more than two goals just once in 27 league matches since June of last year, the Timbers are well positioned to shut down their upstart Ohio rivals, and punch their ticket to the quarter-finals

Picks: Portland Timbers to win (-127); Jeremy Ebobisse first goal scorer (+550)