MLS Picks & Predictions
Our Major League Soccer betting guide will prepare you to bet on the league that's growing at a rapid pace. We’ll take a look at the MLS Championship odds, reveal our futures tips and provide some effective pointers to help develop your betting strategy.
MLS 2024 Season Picks and Betting Tips
The MLS is the largest soccer league in the USA, with the regular season running from February to October and the postseason culminating in December.
The 2024 MLS season features 29 teams, 26 from the US and three from Canada, who compete in Eastern and Western conferences during the regular season. 18 teams will progress from to the MLS Cup Playoffs, with the final two eventually contesting the MLS Cup championship game on December 7th 2024.
The teams ranked seventh and eighth in each conference progress to a wildcard round to determine which will join the top seven teams in the first round of the playoffs.
Round one is a best of three series but all subsequent rounds are single-game knockouts until, eventually, the two conference champions meet in the MLS Cup final, to determine the overall winners.
The conference and postseason format is far closer to other major US sports, such as football and basketball, than other global leagues which crown a champion based on the league standings alone and have separate knockout cup competitions.
MLS sides are subject to a salary cap in order to promote financial health but are allowed a finite number of exemptions due to the Designation Player Rule, which allows each side to recruit a limited number of players on a higher salary. This rule has become notorious in recent seasons for allowing MLS clubs to recruit some of the biggest players on the planet.
The 2024 MLS season will feature a range of global stars, including eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Victor Wanyama, Christian Benteke, Lorenzo Insigne, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Riqui Puig, Xherdan Shaquiri, Thiago Almada, Douglas Costa and more.
The defending champions, Columbus Crew, are rated by sportsbooks as the third most likely team to win the MLS Cup and retain their crown, behind overwhelming favorites Inter Miami as well as Los Angeles FC.
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2024 MLS Cup Odds: Who will win the MLS Cup?
In a remarkable display of skill and strategy, Columbus Crew emerged as the deserving victors of the last season, not only showcasing a stellar performance in the finals against Los Angeles FC but also maintaining a high level of play throughout the year. Their prowess was not just in fleeting moments; they led the league in goals scored, asserting their dominance with an attacking flair that was unmatched. Despite ranking seventh in goals conceded, their offensive dynamism and relentless pursuit of victory propelled Wilfried Nancy’s squad to glory.
As we look ahead to the upcoming season, Columbus Crew, the reigning champions, are not the only ones aiming for the title with an aggressive approach. Inter Miami, under the guidance of Tata Martino and bolstered by the addition of Luis Suárez, is making headlines. With Leo Messi and Suárez leading the charge, Inter Miami boasts the league's most formidable attack, a testament to their strategic acquisitions and tactical brilliance.
This transformation has positioned Inter Miami as the frontrunners for the title in the eyes of bookmakers and fans alike, especially after their astonishing Leagues Cup triumph, which marked a dramatic turnaround from their previous standings. Meanwhile, Columbus Crew, having retained much of their championship-winning roster, remains a strong contender in the eyes of many, even as Los Angeles FC faces uncertainty with potential player departures, including Carlos Vela, casting doubts on their competitiveness.
Other teams, such as Cincinnati, the recent Supporters Shield winners, and the New York Red Bulls, featuring Emil Forsberg as their marquee player, might not be the primary favorites, but they possess the potential to cause upsets. Their talent and squad depth could lead to unexpected victories, making the upcoming season an intriguing and unpredictable contest.
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2024 Championship Shortlist: Who are the top teams this season?
| Team | MLS Cup Winner Odds |
|---|---|
| Inter Miami | +200 |
| Columbus Crew | +900 |
| FC Cincinnati | +1100 |
| Los Angeles FC | +1100 |
| LA Galaxy | +1200 |
| New York Red Bulls | +1200 |
| Philadelphia Union | +1400 |
| Seattle Sounders | +2100 |
odds from sportsbook.fanduel.com
As the 2024 MLS season approaches, anticipation builds with several teams marked as favorites. Although the competition hasn't kicked off yet, the buzz around these squads is impossible to ignore.In the Eastern Conference, keep an eye on Inter Miami and the Philadelphia Union, both boasting impressive rosters that blend experience with talent. They're poised to make significant waves this season.
Out West, LAFC and the Houston Dynamo are drawing attention. LAFC, known for their attacking prowess, and the Dynamo, with their cohesive unit, are expected to be at the forefront of the title chase.
Also in the mix are the Columbus Crew, Seattle Sounders, and LA Galaxy. The Crew's strategic gameplay, the Sounders' seasoned lineup, and the Galaxy's rich history and dynamic mix of players make them serious contenders. Part of what makes the MLS so exciting is the real potential for a dark horse squad to surprise everyone, our pick for this year's teams to look out for are Sporting KC in the west and the new Nashville FC in the East.
As teams gear up for the season, these are the ones to watch, each bringing something unique to the table in the race for the MLS Cup.
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2024 MLS Cup: Odds on the Favorites to take the cup
We’ve touched on the three favorites in the MLS Cup 2024 betting and now we’re going to take a look at the chances of every team in the competition, using odds from FanDuel.
- Inter Miami CF +200
- Columbus Crew +900
- FC Cincinnati +1100
- Los Angeles FC +1100
- LA Galaxy +1200
- New York Red Bulls +1200
- Philadelphia Union +1400
- Seattle Sounders FC +2100
- New York City FC +2800
- St. Louis City SC +2900
- Orlando City SC +2900
- Nashville SC +2900
- Houston Dynamo +3400
- Atlanta United +3400
- Sporting Kansas City +4100
- Minnesota United +4100
- Real Salt Lake +4100
- Portland Timbers +4100
- DC United +4100
- CF Montreal +4100
- Vancouver Whitecaps +5000
- Charlotte FC +5000
- FC Dallas +6500
- New England Revolution +6500
- Austin FC +6500
- Chicago Fire +11000
- Toronto FC +11000
- San Jose Earthquakes +11000
- Colorado Rapids +12000
odds from sportsbook.fanduel.com
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Eastern Conference Picks: Who will top the group?
As we gaze into the crystal ball for the upcoming Major League Soccer season, the battle for supremacy across the conferences promises an enthralling narrative. Each conference, with its distinct roster of teams—15 in the Eastern and 14 in the Western—sets the stage for a fierce competition to not only top the tables but also secure a coveted playoff spot. The top seven teams from each conference will earn a direct pass to the playoffs, with the eighth and ninth spots entering a preliminary play-in round, underscoring the importance of a strong regular season finish.
In the Eastern Conference, Inter Miami is tipped by many as the team to beat. With a constellation of stars from Barcelona, including Luis Suárez, Leo Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, Inter Miami's roster reads like a who's who of football royalty. This ensemble of talent, complemented by promising youngsters like Benjamin Cremaschi, Leonardo Campana, and David Ruiz, positions Inter Miami as a powerhouse capable of clinching the title. Their blend of experience and youthful vigor makes them a formidable force, with expectations high for further high-profile additions to their ranks.
Odds for the Best Western Conference Teams
- Inter Miami CF: +137
- Philadelphia Union: +800
- Columbus Crew: +600
- New York Red Bulls: +900
- Nashville SC: +2000
- Atlanta United: +1600
- New England Revolution: +3300
- CF Montreal: +4000
- Charlotte FC: +5000
- Chicago Fire: +6600
- FC Cincinnati: +700
- Orlando City SC: +1200
- New York City FC: +2000
- DC United: +4000
- Toronto FC: +10000
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Western Conference Picks: Who will top the group?
Turning our attention to the Western Conference, the competition appears more open and unpredictable. Los Angeles FC, despite its appeal, faces stiff competition. St. Louis City SC, having topped the conference in their inaugural season to the surprise of many, is back in the fray, alongside Houston Dynamo, led by the charismatic Héctor Herrera and fresh from their US Open Cup triumph. The Seattle Sounders, perennial contenders, cannot be discounted, while FC Dallas sees this season as a prime opportunity to leverage their strong squad and savvy recruitment strategy.
Odds for the Best Western Conference Teams
- Los Angeles FC: +300
- LA Galaxy: +700
- Sporting Kansas City: +1200
- Seattle Sounders FC: +500
- St. Louis City SC: +1000
- Royal Salt Lake: +1400
- Houston Dynamo: +650
- FC Dallas: +1200
- Minnesota United: +2000
- Portland Timbers: +2000
- San Jose Earthquakes: +2500
- Colorado Rapids: +3300
- Austin FC: +1600
- Vancouver Whitecaps: +2000
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Top Scorer Tips for the 2024 Major League Soccer Season
When looking for picks to be the MLS top scorer, it’s difficult to look past arguably the greatest attacking soccer player of all time in Lionel Messi, who has set scoring records throughout his career and will be supported by a brilliant team. However, that’s exactly what we aim to do in this section, with Messi bound to be the overwhelming favorite when the odds for this market go live. As such, it might pay to look for value elsewhere.
The first alternative to consider is his Uruguayan teammate, Luis Suarez. The pair formed a brilliant attacking partnership during their time together at Barcelona, alongside the mercurial Neymar, but Messi’s brilliance often overshadowed Suarez’ own formidable goalscoring record. He has outscored Messi before, by a huge 18 goals in the 2015/16 season, and eventually left Barcelona after six seasons with an incredible tally of 198 goals in 283 games. Suarez scored 29 goals for Gremio last season and, if he can hit form early or if Messi gets injured, the Uruguayan could take the division by storm. He is our first Golden Boot prediction for the 2024 season.
The second pick is last season’s MLS Cup MVP and runner up in the race for the Golden Boot, Cucho Hernandez of Columbus Crew. The 24-year-old Colombian scored a respectable nine goals in 16 appearances in his first season at Columbus Crew before going even better in 2023, hitting 22 goals in 34 games to fire his team to MLS Cup glory. Although Columbus may struggle to repeat last season’s heroics, with the might of Inter Miami’s recruitment, they should be a safe bet for the latter stages of the playoffs again. Cucho is getting better each year and could be in for a huge campaign. He is a good value pick at bigger odds.
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Which MLS teams will qualify for the 2024 CONCACAF Champions League?
Navigating the Major League Soccer landscape is not just a quest for domestic glory; it's also a stepping stone to international acclaim in the CONCACAF Champions League, often referred to as the Concachampions. This prestigious tournament, adopting a revamped format this year, will see 27 teams vying for supremacy, qualifying through their respective league performances and national cup victories.
The United States boasts the privilege of contributing six teams to this pan-regional showdown, with five of these slots earmarked for MLS contenders:
- The MLS Cup victor, who not only secures the league title but also a coveted spot in the Champions League.
- The holder of the MLS Supporters' Shield for 2023, awarded to the team with the highest point tally during the regular season.
- The champion of the conference not represented by the Supporters' Shield winner, along with two additional squads that excel in the Supporters' Shield standings, secure their passage to the tournament.
- It's worth noting that Canadian teams follow a different path to qualification, thereby not included in this MLS-based route.
- Another route of qualification is through triumph in the Leagues Cup, a pathway that Inter Miami successfully navigated last season to book their Champions League berth.
Highlighting the stakes, the MLS Cup champion gains direct entry into the Round of 32, bypassing the group stage, underscoring the importance of every match in the journey to both domestic and international success.
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Getting started in sports betting: How does betting on the Major League Soccer work?
The Major League Soccer (MLS) is currently a battleground for 29 teams, split into Eastern and Western Conferences, each embarking on a journey through a 34-match regular season. The scheduling intricacies vary between the conferences: Eastern teams clash in 28 matches within their conference, home and away, against each side, complemented by 6 encounters against Western Conference opponents. Conversely, Western teams also engage in a double round-robin within their conference, with an additional 1 or 2 matches against fellow Western teams and 6 or 7 games against teams from the East.
Here are some key factors to consider:
- The top seven teams from each conference directly secure their spot in the playoffs.
- Teams placed eighth and ninth have a shot at glory through a preliminary playoff round, determining their fate in the competition.
- The MLS Supporters' Shield, awarded to the team with the highest regular season point total, not only brings prestige but also guarantees a place in the CONCACAF Champions League.
- Unlike many soccer leagues around the world, teams finishing at the bottom of the conference standings face no relegation threat.
Given the sport's nature, one popular betting type in MLS is the "Match Result" bet, where bettors can wager on a home win, away win, or draw. This straightforward bet is a favorite for its simplicity and is akin to betting on the outright winner in NBA games, albeit with the possibility of a tie, which adds an extra layer of strategy.
Another common bet is the "Over/Under Goals" wager, where sportsbooks set a total number of goals expected in a match, and bettors decide if the actual total will be over or under that number. For example, if a game between LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders has an over/under set at 2.5 goals, betting "over" means you're predicting a total of 3 or more goals by the end of the match.
"Point Spread" betting is adapted into soccer as "Goal Line" betting, where one team is given a virtual deficit (a handicap) to overcome at the start of the match. For instance, if Inter Miami is -1.5 against the Houston Dynamo, Inter Miami needs to win by 2 or more goals for a bet on them to pay out.
Prop bets are also immensely popular, offering wagers on specific events within a game, such as the first team to score, total corners in a match, or whether a specific player will score a goal. These bets allow for more detailed predictions about the flow of the game.
Lastly, "Futures" bets in MLS could involve predicting the winner of the Supporters' Shield, which team will clinch the MLS Cup, or even which players might win the MVP award. Similar to betting on the NBA champion or season MVP, these long-term wagers provide engaging ways to stay invested in the league's narrative throughout the season.
These elements underscore the competitive spirit of MLS from the season's kickoff, highlighting critical considerations for those looking to venture into sports betting within the league.
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MLS Betting Strategies
We’ve given you our MLS season tips for the futures markets and now we’re going to provide you with some key strategies that you can use to make your own picks on each game round. Here is a short list of our top tips for a winning MLS betting strategy:
- Check MLS Injury News
- Compare MLS Teams Form
- Use a Points System to Help Your Staking
- Take Advantage of Bonus Promotions
- Compare MLS Odds
- Do the Research
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Tip 1: Check MLS Injury News
Injuries to key players can hugely influence the chance of a team winning a game. This is especially true in the MLS, where each team has a collection of marquee designated players, such as Messi, who are vital to their hopes of winning. If you can find out and react to key injury news before a sportsbook adjusts their odds, you can beat line changes and land some big prices.
Follow key social media accounts and keep track of media outlets who are reliable for this information. As soon as you become aware that a key player isn’t available, check to see if the odds have already moved, if not then you have an opportunity.
Tip 2: Compare MLS Teams Form
The first point of consideration before placing any soccer wager is to consider the respective form of the teams. Are the favorites on a long winning streak and look unbeatable? Are the underdogs beginning to hit form and could be a value bet to upset the odds?
As well as general form, you can also consider factors such as the respective home or away form of teams and also even their head to head record against each other. All of this information will help to inform your betting.
Tip 3: Use a Points System to Help Your Staking
You might be keen on two separate bets but have much more faith in one than another. Getting used to using a points system to determine your stake on these different scenarios will help you effectively manage your bankroll. A points system lets you rank your bets and work out how much to stake on them accordingly. The more points you allocate to a bet, the larger your stake should be. Generally picks with shorter odds are more likely to win and, therefore, may result in more points being allocated.
You should also record your bets and your points system to help you to self-analyze your record and look for areas of improvement. Don't forget that when you make soccer predictions.
Tip 4: Take Advantage of Bonus Promotions
Most sportsbooks offer free promotions when you join and at various intervals afterwards. These can take many forms including free bets and rebates. Taking advantage of these betting promotions will help you to maximize your profit. There are a couple of different approaches you can take to free bets. The first is simply to use them as intended, to have a risk free wager. If it loses then the promotion has gone but if it wins, your bankroll is increased.
Alternatively you can guarantee a profit with a practice known as hedging. A short summary of hedge betting is to find a two way market, such as total goals, with two relatively closely priced selections. Bet on one side with your free bet and then, at another sportsbook, bet on the opposite selection with a lower stake. This will create a scenario in which, whichever side wins, you guarantee a smaller profit.
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Tip 5: Compare MLS Odds
Different sportsbooks offer contrasting prices on every MLS game and market you can imagine. As such it pays to shop around and make sure that you are claiming the biggest odds available.
Why take +120 on a selection if +140 is available elsewhere? Simply accepting the first price that you see might be convenient but, in the long term, it will definitely cost your bankroll so opening accounts at multiple sportsbooks and taking the biggest odds on offer is a vital long term discipline.
Tip 6: Do the Research
We’ve already touched on form, which can help you tackle moneyline and spread markets, but soccer has a huge selection of alternative betting options, including prop bets, that require research to be successful. In fact, many of these minor markets may give you a better chance to win if you put the effort into researching statistics and trends that the sportsbooks simply don’t have the time to do.
There are a huge number of statistical resources online for the MLS, make sure you use them to try and get an edge in your betting.
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What Not to Do for MLS Picks
To be successful in sports betting, particularly when betting on the MLS, it's important to continue adapting your strategy to better hone your approach. Adapting to the evolving dynamics of the league is key, but avoiding common betting missteps is equally important for sustained success. Here are several mistakes to steer clear of when placing bets on the 2024 MLS season:
- Ignoring the jam-packed MLS schedule, which can feature congested fixtures including mid-week games and cross-country or even cross-continent travel with CONCACAF.
- Placing bets without considering the recent performance and current condition of the teams involved.
- Failing to shop around for the best odds across multiple sportsbooks, potentially missing out on higher gains.
- Placing significant bets on a team without factoring in form, injuries/absences and rivalry matchups.
- Chasing losses by placing bets on teams you're not famililar with.
- Not considering a teams' form at home or away: some teams play significantlly better in front of the home crowd or on the road. Taking this into account might help you pick that upset.
By avoiding these pitfalls, you're giving yourself a leg-up for sure, but it's important to continually refine your betting strategy. Moving beyond merely backing your favorite team or following what the sportsbook lists as the favorite. Arm yourself with the power of knowledge, compare your betting options and place informed bets!
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MLS Facts and Statistics
As we’ve mentioned, improving your MLS knowledge with statistics and facts is a key pathway to betting success.
Here are some stats, facts and figures on the 2023 MLS season which can inform your wagers ahead of the 2024 campaign.
- Games Played: 493
- Total Goals Scored: 1,359
- Average Goals Per Game: 2.76
- Top Goalscorer: Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles FC)
- Most Assists: Thiago Almada (Atlanta United)
- Goalkeeper With Most Clean Sheets: Stefan Frei (Seattle Sounders)
- Longest Unbeaten Streak: 10 Games (FC Cincinnati / Nashville SC)
- Longest Winless Streak: 11 Games (Inter Miami / New York City FC / Toronto FC)
- Total Attendance: 10,900,804
- Highest Attendance: 82,110 (LA Galaxy vs. Los Angeles FC)
- MLS Cup Winners: Columbus Crew
- Supporters Shield Winners: FC Cincinnati
- Season MVP: Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati)
- Coach of the Year: Pat Noonan (FC Cincinnati)
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Conclusion: Getting your MLS picks correct
The key to successfully betting on the MLS is building up your knowledge of the league and understanding the markets that you’re investing your money in.
Watch and research as many games as possible as, in addition to statistical research, understanding how teams play and whether results reflect recent performances is vital to making strong picks.
The information on this page will provide you with a solid base to build your betting strategy but you should continue to improve it by watching games, doing as much research as you can, following successful tipsters, keeping a track on your betting record and managing your bankroll efficiently
If you can follow these rules, there is no reason that you can’t become profitable betting on the MLS. Good luck!
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Major League Soccer : Best Odds
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