We are past the halfway point of the MLS season and a few weeks out from the All-Star match, as teams at the top look to keep their position while teams at the bottom look to push for the playoffs.
The top overall club in the league is Los Angeles FC, which has 42 points with a 13-3-4 record. Right behind them is fellow Western Conference team Austin FC, who has 41 points. Philadelphia Union leads the Eastern Conference with 39 points, and New York City FC is right behind them with 38 points.
One of the favorites to win the MLS Cup going into the season were LAFC, and they remain at the top as they continue to pick up results. So is it worth betting on another team to win the MLS Cup, or is LAFC the smart bet to make as their odds continue to lower? Let's get into betting tips for MLS Cup Winner, Conference Winners, and top goalscorer picks.
MLS Cup Winner Betting Lines
All MLS Betting Odds are current as of Monday, July 18, from BetMGM Sportsbook.
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Los Angeles FC (+290)
Austin FC (+550)
New York City FC (+625)
Philadelphia Union (+625)
New York Red Bulls (+1250)
Nashville SC (+1650)
Seattle Sounders FC (+1850)
CF Montreal (+1900)
Orlando City SC (+2000)
FC Dallas (+2200)
Minnesota United FC (+2200)
Columbus Crew (+2500)
LA Galaxy (+2500)
New England Revolution (+2800)
Real Salt Lake (+3000)
Atlanta United FC (+3300)
Charlotte FC (+3300)
Portland Timbers (+3300)
FC Cincinnati (+4000)
Toronto FC (+4000)
Vancouver Whitecaps (+5000)
Colorado Rapids (+6600)
Houston Dynamo FC (+6600)
Inter Miami CF (+8000)
Chicago Fire FC (+12500)
San Jose Earthquakes (+12500)
Sporting Kansas City (+12500)
D.C. United (+25000)
The Western Conference sports the two strongest clubs in the MLS with LAFC and Austin FC, as shown in the odds. Behind them is 2021 MLS Cup Champions NYCFC, along with Philadelphia Union and New York Red Bulls making a push.
The defending champions struggled to start the season but turned things around, losing only once since starting 1-1-3.
➕ MLS Cup Winner Bet: Los Angeles FC (+290) at BetMGM Sportsbook
Get in on the LAFC train now before it's too late. Their odds continue to lower as they continue to dominate, so getting in at plus odds is the best bet.
Not only does the squad have the most wins in MLS currently with 13, but they have the second most goals scored (40) and have the best goal differential with a +18 difference. Steve Cherundolo has done wonders in his first season as head coach.
Los Angeles has the best overall squad, and they continue to add to it by signing two big names during the transfer window: Gareth Bale and Giorgio Chiellini. They are certainly running away with it, as the second-best team to win the MLS Cup is Austin FC at +550.
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MLS Eastern Conference Winner Betting Lines
At the top of the Eastern Conference is the Philadelphia Union, while the defending champions, New York City FC, are right behind them by one point. Outside of those two teams, the two next closest teams are New York Red Bulls and CF Montreal with 33 and 32 points, respectively.
Philadelphia and NYCFC continue to run away with the conference, but only 10 points separate first and sixth place, and anything can happen as the season winds down.
➕ MLS Eastern Winner Bet: Philadelphia Union (+350 or better)
The Union lead the Eastern Conference by only one point, and have the third-best odds to win the MLS Cup. Even though they're tied with NYCFC in terms of odds, Philadelphia has played better than them this season and should make their way to the top of the East.
Philadelphia is the best defensive club in the MLS, with the least amount of goals conceded with 15. No other team in the league has allowed less than 20 goals. It starts with Andre Blake in net, who has eight clean sheets, 67 saves, and an 81.7 save percentage, which is good enough to lead all of MLS.
The saying “defense wins championships” fits the bill here, as they also have the least amount of losses in the league, with only two. Their 10 wins and nine draws have put them in the lead of the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia has been putting their foot on the gas lately, as they’ve outscored their opponents 11-2 in their last three matches.
MLS Western Conference Winner Betting Lines
Los Angeles FC has been at the top of the Western Conference for the entire season, but Austin FC has been making a run of their own lately. Austin has won five of their past seven fixtures, and the other two were draws. These two clubs lead the MLS in wins with 13 and 12 respectively.
Outside of them, the next closest team in the West is Real Salt Lake, with 33 points. So while it seems the battle for first place is a two-team race, the rest of the field is separated by 13 points.
➕ MLS Western Winner Bet: Los Angeles FC (+125 or better)
Taking Los Angeles FC to win the Western Conference is the best bet. Though Austin FC has beaten LAFC in their first meeting this season, Los Angeles is the best club in MLS.
Since losing two in a row in May, LAFC has gone 6-1-1. The additions of Bale and Chiellini will give the squad an added boost as the season closes and the playoffs begin.
MLS Top Goalscorer Betting Lines
The race for the top goalscorer in MLS will be tight like last season. Valentin Castellanos is the league leader with 13 goals, while Hany Mukhtar trails him with 12 goals. Sebastian Driussi, Jeremy Ebobisse, and Jesus Ferreira are right behind them with 11 goals.
Castellanos won the award last season after a tiebreaker, while Carlos Vela is only a few years removed from breaking the single-season record with 34 goals.
➕ MLS Top Goalscorer Bet: Hany Mukhtar, Nashville SC (+400 or better)
Hany Mukhtar is second in the MLS with 12 goals, but he will win the MLS Golden Boot when it’s all said and done. He leads the league with 82 shots and 47 shots on target. The following player on that list is Castellanos, who has 77 shots and 32 shots on target.
Mukhtar also has the advantage of being the primary scoring option for Nashville SC. C.J Sapong is second on the team with five goals, but no one else has more than two. Furthermore, Mukhtar also has 50 more shots and 35 more shots on target than Sapong, who is second on the team in those categories.
Nashville has scored 27 goals this season, meaning Mukhtar has netted 44.4% of the team's goals. He scored a career-high 16 goals in 31 matches last season and already has 12 with 13 more to go. A solid showing to close out the season could secure him the Golden Boot.