{"id":5830,"date":"2026-05-15T05:53:58","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T09:53:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/us\/?post_type=news&p=5830"},"modified":"2026-05-27T12:03:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T16:03:20","slug":"match-preview-charlotte-fc-vs-fc-cincinnati-05-09-26-mls","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/us\/news\/match-preview-charlotte-fc-vs-fc-cincinnati-05-09-26-mls\/","title":{"rendered":"Charlotte FC vs FC Cincinnati: Predictions, odds & picks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Charlotte FC welcome FC Cincinnati to Bank of America Stadium on Saturday night with the two clubs separated by a single point in the Eastern Conference table.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kick-off is Saturday, May 9, at 7:30 PM ET.<\/p>\n

Charlotte sit seventh on 14 points but have lost four of their last five and are slipping. Cincinnati are sixth on 15 with back-to-back wins following three straight draws. Evander has been one of MLS’s best creators, and Kevin Denkey has six goals already.<\/p>\n

The H2H tilts to Charlotte with three straight wins and no defeats in the last four meetings, and bet365 reflect that with Charlotte priced -109 \u2014 barely odds-on at home \u2014 and Cincinnati out at +260.<\/p>\n

Best Bets & Predictions: Charlotte vs FC Cincinnati<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Our Prediction<\/th>\nOdds & Sportsbook<\/th>\nConfidence<\/th>\nWhy We’re Backing It<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Charlotte FC to win<\/strong><\/td>\n-109 @ bet365<\/a>
(52.0%)<\/td>\n		\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>\nCharlotte have won each of the last three meetings; Cincinnati are without multiple first-team regulars.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pep Biel to score anytime<\/strong><\/td>\n+160 @ bet365<\/a>
(38.5%)<\/td>\n		\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>\nBiel<\/strong> has five goals and four assists in 11 \u2014 Charlotte’s most consistent attacking source.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Both Teams to Score: Yes<\/strong><\/td>\n-200 @ bet365<\/a>
(66.7%)<\/td>\n		\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>\nCincinnati have shipped in nine of their last 10; Charlotte’s home games rarely stay clean.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Over 2.5 goals<\/strong><\/td>\n-188 @ bet365<\/a>
(65.3%)<\/td>\n		\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>\nFive of Cincinnati’s last seven matches have featured three or more goals.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Correct Score: 2-1 Charlotte<\/strong><\/td>\n+800 @ bet365<\/a>
(11.1%)<\/td>\n		\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>\nA Pep Biel goal at one end, a Denkey or Evander reply at the other, Charlotte close it out.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kevin Denkey to score anytime<\/strong><\/td>\n+140 @ bet365<\/a>
(41.7%)<\/td>\n		\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>\nDenkey<\/strong> has six goals in 10 \u2014 Cincinnati’s clearest finisher and the road threat.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

Our approach: Lead with Charlotte at -109, stack BTTS Yes for volume, and pick up Pep Biel anytime as the parlay leg.<\/p>\n

Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.<\/small><\/p>\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"bet365<\/a>\t\t\t\t
\n \n Bet365<\/a> <\/span>\n \n First Bet Safety Net – Get Up To $1,000 in Bonus Bets<\/a> <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n First Bet Safety Net – Get Up To $1,000 in Bonus Bets<\/a> <\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tGet Offer<\/a>
\n Our Score<\/span>\n 9.5<\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n Read our review<\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t

Deposit required. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&Cs, time limits, and exclusions apply.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n

Prediction Markets: Live Odds & Win Probability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Note for US readers:<\/strong> Polymarket is now live for real-money trading in the US following its 2025 acquisition of QCX, a CFTC-regulated exchange, available in most states except Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, Nevada and Ohio. New US users can claim a 100% deposit match up to $50 with code ACQUIRE05. Market prices shown are real-money figures from the Polymarket platform. Kalshi<\/a>, also CFTC-regulated, trades in all 50 states.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

Polymarket<\/a> traders favor Charlotte as the home pick, but the line is much closer than the table position implies \u2014 Cincinnati’s edge in big-chance creation through Evander pulls the spread inward. Kalshi<\/a> sits in the same range across the merged Match Result book. Both venues are on the home side, with neither willing to call this a runaway.<\/p>\n\n\n

Loading match…<\/div>\n\n\n
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\n\t\t\t \n\t\t CODE: ACQUIRE05<\/span>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a>\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\tTRADE NOW!<\/a>
\n Our Score<\/span>\n 8.5<\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n Read our review<\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t

Must be 18 years or older and have a legal, U.S. residential address within the applicable state, D.C., or U.S. territories. Not available in AZ, IL, MA, MD, MI, MT, NJ, NV and OH. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2573). Chat available at\u00a0ncpgambling.org\/chat<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t <\/div>\n \n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Kalshi\"<\/a>\t\t\t\t
\n \n Kalshi<\/a> <\/span>\n \n Trade $10, Get $10 Bonus<\/a> <\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n Trade $10, Get $10 Bonus<\/a> <\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\tTrade Markets<\/a>
\n Our Score<\/span>\n 9.5<\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n Read our review<\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t

21+ only. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2573). Chat available at\u00a0ncpgambling.org\/chat<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n

Season Form & Standings<\/h2>\n

One point separates these two in the Eastern Conference, but both are still on the right side of the playoff line as it stands.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Eastern Conference<\/th>\nPos<\/th>\nGP<\/th>\nW<\/th>\nD<\/th>\nL<\/th>\nGF<\/th>\nGA<\/th>\nGD<\/th>\nPts<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
FC Cincinnati<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n22<\/td>\n25<\/td>\n-3<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Charlotte FC<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n11<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n18<\/td>\n19<\/td>\n-1<\/td>\n14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

Tracking the playoff race? Bookmark the MLS standings<\/a> and the MLS stats hub<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Potential Match-Winners<\/h2>\n