Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

Inter Miami and Columbus Crew are two of the top five teams in the odds to win the MLS Cup this season but neither team is in great form heading into their match-up in Florida on Saturday night.

The home team is in sixth position in the MLS Eastern Conference standings after Wednesday's 4-2 win over Montreal, while the Crew are fourth but a 2-2 tie with Nashville on Wednesday extended their winless run to five games.

Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew betting picks and predictions

Draw (+300)

Inter Miami versus Columbus Crew looks like a marquee match-up on the weekend MLS slate but both teams are some way off their best at present.

Lionel Messi's Miami side had gone four games without a win before their welcome 4-2 success over Montreal, but with the Canadian side last in the Eastern Conference standings with only one win in 16 games, it would have been a huge disappointment if they had not taken three points from that contest.

Miami's roster depth was already being tested and head coach Javier Mascherano has even more injury headaches to deal with now as defenders Gonzalo Lujan and Jordi Alba were both hurt in the first half of the Montreal match.

On top of that, Tomas Aviles, who went into the game to replace Lujan after 12 minutes, left the game at half-time after taking a hit to his ankle.

While Inter retain a huge amount of offensive potential with their veteran South American forward line of the 37-year-old Argentinian Messi and 38-year-old Uruguayan Luis Suarez, they are having to keep the goals flowing due to the deficiencies of their defense.

Miami has allowed 15 goals in its last five games and that weakness can be exploited by strong opposing teams.

The Crew should fit that description after winning championships in 2020 and 2023 and finishing second in the East last season, and they have lost only two of their first 16 league games this year. 

However, they have seven draws to go with their seven wins and appear to be lacking the killer instinct they have had over the last few seasons.

Four of Columbus's last five games have ended with the scores tied - including match-ups with first-placed Philadelphia and last-placed Montreal - and another draw has value at +300 odds.

Over 3.5 goals (+100)

Miami's defensive issues have led to plenty of entertainment for fans at their recent games, with three of their last four producing six goals, while there have been four or more scored in seven of their last eight games.

Crew contests have also featured plenty of goalscoring action, with both teams scoring in their last seven games, and four of the last six ending with over 3.5 goals.

Inter won 1-0 when the teams met in Ohio six weeks ago, but that was the first time in their last six meetings that only one side had been able to get on the scoresheet.

A repeat of that low-scoring contest seems unlikely with Miami's defensive selection issues and the offensive firepower of both teams and backing over 3.5 goals appeals, with 2-2 and 3-3 ties both in play as potential final scores.

Luis Suarez anytime goalscorer (+105)

Luis Suarez played a key role in Inter's 4-2 win over Montreal with two goals and one assist. While the Uruguayan has had twice as many assists as his four-goal MLS tally this season, he is worth a wager at plus-money to add another goal against Columbus.

Suarez did not have more than three shots in any of his first eight appearances this season but has been more involved in recent games, making five goal attempts in the loss to Orlando City and having four more against Montreal.

With Lionel Messi as his partner in the Inter front line, the clinical forward should continue to prosper.

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Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew odds

Inter Miami	+115
Tie	+300
Columbus Crew	+200

Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew player props

Anytime Goalscorer

Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)	-110
Luis Suarez (Inter Miami)	+105
Diego Rossi (Columbus Crew)	+162
Jacen Russell-Rowe (Columbus Crew)	+162
Leo Afonso (Inter Miami)	+175
Daniel Gazdag (Columbus Crew)	+187

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.