New York Red Bulls Are Early Odds Favorite to Win MLS Cup

The 2019 MLS is approaching, and the favorites for the new season are out and MLS betting has begun.

Leading the way on most soccer betting sites is New York Red Bulls, followed by reigning champions Atlanta United. The city of Los Angeles checks in at 3rd and 4th favorite with LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC tied for the third favorite.

MLS Eastern Conference Leads The Way

It feels like the MLS season just ended, but the new season begins on March 2. Surprisingly, Atlanta United is not the favorite to repeat, but New York Red Bulls at +400. Atlanta United sits directly behind their northern rivals at +500.

The Red Bulls remain one of the heavy favorites in the league, despite their troubles in the playoffs. New York made the final back in 2008, but haven’t made the final since then. They’ve made the semi-finals three times in the last five years, but haven’t been able to get back over the hurdle.

The biggest turnover for the Red Bulls is likely midfielder Tyler Adams leaving the club for Red Bull Leipzig. The 19-year-old midfielder is considered by many to be one of the best USA International prospects to fill out the midfield going into the 2022 World Cup qualification cycle. New York will have a large task to replace Adams, who had the 3rd most appearances as a midfielder on the team.

Some places might be undervaluing Atlanta United due to the loss of head coach Tata Martinez to the Mexican National Team. However, the Five Stripes managed to lure Frank De Boor from Europe to replace him. De Boor’s last stop was at Crystal Palace for a grand total of 5 games, and 14 previous games at Inter Milan. His managing career is defined by his 6 years with Dutch side Ajax, where he amassed a 60.3% winning percentage.

The Best of The Rest

The Western Conference has two favorites tied for third with LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC tied at +600, despite the Western Conference being dominated by the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers for the last 4 years. Seattle’s odds to win the MLS Cup sit at +700, while Portland, despite making the cup final last season, sits well below at +2200.

The odds surrounding the LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC likely fall to the expectations surrounding the teams. Los Angeles FC got off to an absolutely blazing start in 2018, raising expectations surrounding the team in the process, only to get knocked out of the MLS Playoffs in the first round.

For the LA Galaxy, the only thing one has to say to lower their odds is Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swedish hero scored 22 goals last season, second only to Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez. The Galaxy, however, failed to make the playoffs last season.

Fifth odds favorite coming into the 2019 season is New York City FC at +650. NYCFC will have to overcome their captain, and leading scorer, David Villa, leaving the club to go to Japan. NYCFC are followed by Seattle, Toronto FC (+1100), the Philidelphia Union (+1400), Sporting Kansas City (+1400), and Portland. MLS newcomers FC Cincinnati enters the league at +6600 odds to win in their first season at the top flight.