The 2022 MLS playoffs are now less than two months away. Can you believe it? Time sure flies when you're so focused on the day-to-day results. But now, we need to put our 2022 MLS betting hats on and predict which teams will gobble up the final playoff spots.
When looking at these betting odds on MLS, please note that we're only trying to select two teams from the Eastern Conference and two teams from the Western Conference to make the 2022 playoffs. Each conference has seven spots to give away, and currently, there are five postseason locks from either side. Our mission is to identify the final four clubs.
Before we dive head first into our end-of-the-season online soccer betting, though, here's a look at the latest odds to make the 2022 MLS playoffs, courtesy of the fine folks over at BetUS:
| To Make Playoffs |  |
|---|---|
| Crew (East) | -375 |
| FC Cincinnati (East) | -105 |
| Inter Miami CF (East) | +155 |
| Revolution (East) | +300 |
| Atlanta United (East) | +1330 |
| Toronto FC (East) | +2400 |
| Nashville SC (West) | -400 |
| Galaxy (West) | -300 |
| Timbers (West) | +160 |
| Whitecaps (West) | +570 |
| Sounders (West) | +615 |
| Rapids (West) | +1900 |
Please note that our 2022 MLS betting picks are accurate as of Monday, September. If you're making your MLS playoff picks anytime thereafter, you should double-check these soccer betting odds to make sure they haven't changed—which they will, as matches are played and certain teams are eliminated from playoff contention.
Don't yet have a home to bet on the 2022 MLS playoffs? That's not a problem. Our reviews of the top online sportsbooks are designed to help you sign up with the best online soccer betting sites in the business.
2022 MLS Betting: Eastern Conference Playoff Predictions
For your reference, below you can find the five MLS teams already pretty much guaranteed one of the seven playoff spots in the Eastern Conference:
- Philadelphia Union
- CF Montreal
- New York Red Bulls
- New York City FC
- Orlando City SC
Once more, these five teams are not up for grabs in our 2022 MLS betting predictions. We're interested in picking two clubs from the field below:
- Columbus Crew (-375)
- FC Cincinnati (-105)
- Inter Miami CF (+155)
- New England Revolution (+300)
- Atlanta United (+1330)
- Toronto FC (+2400)
Get it? Got it? Good. Let's get to our best bets to make the MLS Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Columbus Crew are Virtually Playoff Locks
Imagine where the Columbus Crew would be if they didn't start the season so slow. They have been on absolute fire over the past few months. There was even a stretch in which they lost just once over the course of 12 games entering mid-August.
Some initially doubted their ability to sneak into the playoffs. But we were sold when they went into Colorado and grabbed a point from the at-the-time ascending Rapids.
OSB Prediction: Columbus Crew will make the 2022 MLS Eastern Conference playoffs (-375)
Better 2022 MLS Betting Pick: FC Cincinnati or Inter Miami CF?
Rolling with Inter Miami CF is tempting here. They are ahead of FC Cincinnati in the standings by a half-game at this writing, and they have successfully navigated a stretch without Leo Campana.
Still, looking at the schedule to come, we just can't bring ourselves to trust Inter Miami. Cincinnati's slate is much easier, and to their credit, they're about to eclipse the 50-goal mark on the season—something about which Inter Miami's offense could only dream.
OSB Prediction: FC Cincinnati will make the 2022 MLS Eastern Conference playoffs (-105)
2022 MLS Betting: Western Conference Playoff Predictions
To remain as thorough as possible, below you'll find the five Western Conference teams just about guaranteed to make the 2022 MLS playoffs:
- Los Angeles FC
- Austin FC
- Minnesota United
- FC Dallas
- Real Salt Lake
As a reminder, the aforementioned teams are all off the table. We instead want to bet on two of the MLS teams from the group here:
- Nashville SC (-400)
- LA Galaxy (-300)
- Portland Timbers (+160)
- Vancouver Whitecaps (+570)
- Seattle Sounders (+615)
- Colorado Rapids (+1900)
And now, let's get to our best bets to make the MLS Eastern Conference playoffs.
Let's Face It: Nashville SC are Playoff-Bound
Just a few weeks ago, it looked like Nashville SC were on the verge of implosion. A 2-1 loss to the Minnesota United marked a low point in which they couldn't cobble together any sort of offensive cohesion. Dax McCarty even noted the locker room was angry and disjointed at the time.
It hasn't exactly been smooth sailing since, but Nashville has regained their ball-handling and overall offensive mojo. Though they are close to other fringe playoff contenders in record, their schedule the rest of the way favors a postseason bid.
In fact, according to PlayoffStatus.com, Nashville has an 80 percent chance of grabbing one of the final two slots in the Western Conference.
OSB Prediction: Nashville SC will make the 2022 MLS Western Conference playoffs (-400)
Better 2022 MLS Betting Pick: LA Galaxy or Portland Timbers?
Oddsmakers have decided to favor the Galaxy (-300) by a substantial margin compared to the Timbers (+160). That is...certainly a choice.
Portland is currently a full point ahead of Los Angeles in the standings. Granted, LA has the better overall record. And the Galaxy also have a much easier schedule the rest of the way. But Los Angeles has been playing Jekyll and Hyde soccer for this entire season. They beat contenders only to burp out losses against clearly inferior teams. To be perfectly blunt, we just don't trust them.
This is not to say the Timbers have earned our trust. They were billowing in the wind not too long ago and remain under .500 now. But the defensive issues that plagued them in between the posts and in the hot corners have started to stabilize. We like their value at +160.
OSB Prediction: Portland Timbers will make the 2022 MLS Western Conference playoffs (+160)
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