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Home » News » MLS » FC Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew: Predictions, Picks, Odds & Lineups

FC Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew: Predictions, Picks, Odds & Lineups

FC Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew predicted formations

FC Cincinnati host Columbus Crew at TQL Stadium on Sunday, October 18 (5:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM CT / 2:00 PM PT).

FC Cincinnati have no fresh fitness concerns to report for this one, with Steeve Kévin Denkey and Evander set to lead the home attack after combining for 29 goals between them this season. Columbus Crew also have their key men available, with Wessam Abou Ali and Taha Habroune the two most likely to carry the visitors’ threat on the road.

Both sides arrive with leaky defenses — Cincinnati’s minus-7 goal difference and Columbus’s minus-5 tell a similar story — and with ninth-placed FC Cincinnati still connected to the Eastern Conference playoff picture and 13th-placed Columbus Crew chasing points of their own, neither side can afford to sit back. Denkey’s movement and Evander’s chance creation should give the hosts the edge in front of their own fans, and Signal’s model has this one finishing 2-1 to FC Cincinnati with goals at both ends.

US viewers can watch FC Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.

Squawka Signal
Match outcome · who wins
FC CincinnatiFC Cincinnati47%mkt 53%Our pick
DrawDraw21%mkt 26%
Columbus CrewColumbus Crew31%mkt 32%

FC Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew: Best Bets & Predictions

Signal has FC Cincinnati at 47% — no edge over the market on the result.

In lineno standout edge on the result
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The tips · best bets
MarketMkt %Signal %Read
Correct ScoreFC Cincinnati 2-1 Columbus CrewCincinnati's minus-7 goal difference and Columbus's minus-5 both point to a game with goals in it, and Signal's model lands on a tight 2-1 home win.
—
9%
Model read
›
Both Teams to ScoreBoth teams to scoreColumbus have conceded regularly on the road while Cincinnati's attack, led by Denkey's 16 goals and Evander's 13, has found the net all season, setting up both teams to score.
71%
71%
In line
›
Over / Under 2.5Over 2.5With Denkey and Evander responsible for 29 goals between the pair of them, and both defenses conceding at a similar rate, the signs point to a game with 3 or more goals.
74%
71%
Priced in
›
Anytime ScorerAnytime Goalscorer – DenkeyDenkey leads FC Cincinnati with 16 goals from 66 shots this season, the kind of volume that makes him the obvious source of a home goal.
—
45%
Model read
Signal edge callsRecord building · settles at full-time

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Season Form & Standings

FC Cincinnati sit ninth in the Eastern Conference with 36 points from 27 games, still in the thick of the playoff picture, while Columbus Crew sit 13th on 29 points from 28 games, needing results to keep their own playoff push alive.

Eastern Conference

TeamPosGPWDLGFGAGDPts
FC Cincinnati9279995865-736
Columbus Crew132885154146-529
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Team News Predicted

FC Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew Predicted Lineups

Predicted XI — updated for the latest team news.

FC Cincinnati

3-5-2
E. Louro
T. Hadebe
M. Robinson
K. Smith
T. Malacia
O. Nwobodo
P. Bucha
S. Gidi
D. Doudera
K. Denkey
T. Barlow

Columbus Crew

3-5-2
P. Schulte
M. Amundsen
S. Zawadzki
Steven Moreira
A. Zaroury
S. Rodriguez
T. Habroune
D. Chambost
M. Farsi
Josef Martinez
Brais Mendez
    Squawka · Team News

    Potential Match-Winners

    • Steeve Kévin Denkey (FC Cincinnati): The forward has scored 16 goals from 66 shots this season, with 31 of those shots on target, making him the home side’s primary scoring threat.
    • Evander (FC Cincinnati): The midfielder has racked up 75 chances created to go with 13 goals in 1,963 minutes, giving Cincinnati’s attack its creative spark.
    • Wessam Abou Ali (Columbus Crew): The striker has 5 goals in just 567 minutes for Columbus, giving the visitors a direct focal point up top.

    Recent Form

    FC Cincinnati: L D D L W

    • 2026-10-11: Atlanta United 1-3 FC Cincinnati (W, away)
    • 2026-09-27: CF Montreal 3-1 FC Cincinnati (L, away)
    • 2026-09-20: Houston Dynamo 2-2 FC Cincinnati (D, away)
    • 2026-09-13: FC Cincinnati 3-3 Charlotte FC (D, home)
    • 2026-09-10: Philadelphia Union 5-0 FC Cincinnati (L, away)

    FC Cincinnati’s form reads L-D-D-L-W, finishing on a high with a 3-1 win away at Atlanta United last time out.

    Columbus Crew: L L W W L

    • 2026-10-11: Orlando City 3-2 Columbus Crew (L, away)
    • 2026-09-28: Columbus Crew 2-1 Inter Miami (W, home)
    • 2026-09-20: CF Montreal 0-2 Columbus Crew (W, away)
    • 2026-09-13: Columbus Crew 0-1 New York Red Bulls (L, home)
    • 2026-09-10: DC United 2-1 Columbus Crew (L, away)

    Columbus Crew’s form reads L-L-W-W-L, with a 3-2 defeat at Orlando City in their most recent outing.

    FC Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew Prediction

    FC Cincinnati sit ninth in the East with 36 points and remain in the thick of the playoff picture, while Columbus Crew’s 29 points from 13th leave them needing results just to stay in touch. At TQL Stadium, Denkey and Evander should have enough in the final third to see off a Columbus side that have lost 15 of their 28 games this season, and Signal’s model backs the hosts to win 2-1.

    Squawka Signal

    Our model rates every MLS fixture — see the numbers behind FC Cincinnati v Columbus Crew.

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