Major League Soccer’s MLS Cup Playoffs won’t begin until October. Despite the postseason being months away, leading sportsbooks around the world have selected Atlanta United as their unanimous favorite to lift the MLS Cup.
Is Atlanta United the best in MLS this term?
Playing in just their second season in MLS, Atlanta United has secured the third best points total in the league after seven games. The Five Stripes have registered five wins, one draw and one loss during the early part of the season.
Atlanta is now +450 to win the MLS Cup, which is the best odds of any team in the league. Although the club is in second place in the MLS Eastern Conference, one point behind New York City FC, bettors shouldn’t worry. The two sides are very competitive and will most likely trade places with one another several times this term.
Atlanta United has already clashed with NYCFC (+500) this season. The match ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw. The two clubs will meet again on June 9 in New York in their final meeting of the regular season.
It is important to note that MLS’s structure does not always reward the league’s best regular season team in the playoffs. The playoff structure allows for teams, which barely sneak into the postseason, to go on a run and finish as MLS Cup champions.
Is Toronto FC dead in the water?
Defending MLS Cup champions Toronto FC has started the season slowly. The club has picked up just three of a possible 15 points and sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Despite its poor start, Toronto is just six points back from a playoff spot, currently.
Toronto’s poor early season play has been due to the team playing in the CONCACAF Champions League during the middle of the week. The travel and extra matches have hurt the team’s MLS form. Wednesday night saw Toronto lose the Champions League final to Mexico’s Chivas. Now, with its focus back on MLS, Toronto can put all of its energy into regaining the MLS Cup.
Led by forward Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto has appeared in two straight MLS Cup finals. In 2016, the team lost to the Seattle Sounders, but in a rematch last season, the club won in dominant fashion. Toronto may be last in the Eastern Conference, but the team still has the third best odds to win the MLS Cup (+1000).
What’s the best MLS Cup futures bet?
Sporting KC is a team bettors shouldn’t sleep on. Currently, Sporting are at odds of +1200 and sit behind the two Los Angeles clubs. The team’s playing squad received a much needed overhaul during the MLS offseason. It has resulted in Sporting winning 17 points from a possible 24 and being joint-leaders in the overall MLS standings.
Defensively, Sporting are a bit shaky and the team has allowed 11 goals in eight games. Offensively, Sporting have been brilliant as the team has scored 20 goals, the most in MLS.
Sporting’s biggest problem each season, however, is the US Open Cup. The midseason cup tournament often takes Sporting’s attention away from MLS play. The added fixtures also causes the team to be fatigued by the time the MLS Cup Playoffs roll around. If Sporting get eliminated from the competition early on, then the team’s attention will be firmly focused on the MLS Cup Playoffs.
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