The market for 2022 MLS Cup futures is heating up as we prepare for the playoffs to start. And though the postseason picture isn't yet set in stone, this lingering uncertainty is part of the appeal.
Currently, the odds to win the 2022 MLS Cup Final, which will take place in November, are all over the place. No team is paying out worse than even money, yet eight clubs are paying out under 20-to-1. This is the kind of parity that makes betting on Major League Soccer incredibly entertaining.
To get us started, here's a look at the odds for MLS betting, which we have grabbed from our friends over at BetOnline:
| Pick To Win MLS Cup |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| FC Cincinnati | +420 | +500 | +475 |
| Los Angeles FC | +600 | +600 | +500 |
| Philadelphia Union | +850 | +850 | +700 |
| Inter Miami CF | +900 | +900 | +900 |
| New England Revolution | +1100 | +1100 | +1100 |
| St. Louis City SC | +1100 | +1100 | +1100 |
| Seattle Sounders | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Nashville SC | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Atlanta United FC | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
| Orlando City | +2600 | +2600 | +2600 |
| Austin FC | +2600 | +2600 | +2600 |
| Colmbus Crew | +2600 | +2600 | +2600 |
| Real Salt Lake | +2800 | +2800 | +2800 |
| FC Dallas | +4400 | +4400 | +4400 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | +5000 | +5000 | +5000 |
| Minnesota United | +5000 | +5000 | +5000 |
| Houston | +6500 | +6500 | +6500 |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | +8500 | +8500 | +7500 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | +8500 | +8500 | +7500 |
| New York City FC | +8500 | +8500 | +7500 |
| New York Red Bulls | +10000 | +10000 | +8000 |
| Kansas City | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
| CF Montreal | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
| Charlotte FC | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
| DC United | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
| Portland Timbers | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
| Chicago Fire | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
| Colorado | +42000 | +10000 | +50000 |
| Toronto FC | +42000 | +50000 | +55000 |
Please note that our 2022 MLS Cup futures are accurate entering Friday, September 30. Sportsbooks will continue shifting these soccer betting lines ahead of the MLS postseason (beginning October 10) and right on through to the 2022 MLS Cup Final (scheduled for November 5). That means you will want to continue checking these betting odds on the MLS Cup until you actually submit your wager.
For anyone who needs a place to bet on the MLS Cup, allow us to point you toward our reviews of the top online sportsbooks. If you simply take a few moments to browse through all the information we've put together, you'll know which sportsbooks qualify as the best online MLS betting sites in 2022.
Now, as you can see above, oddsmakers have slotted the Philadelphia Union and Los Angeles FC into tiers of their own. Is this accurate? Does reigning champion New York City FC have a chance to enter the mix? And which other teams should you consider?
Without further delay, here are our best bets to win the 2022 MLS Cup.
Should the Philadelphia Union be Favorites on the 2022 MLS Cup Futures Market?
The Philadelphia Union offense is currently on the mother of all tears.
Sure, their 68 goals on the season leads MLS. But it's nothing compared to what they've done lately—which is basically average over five scores per contest in recent weeks.
This hot streak has helped them inflate their goal differential all the way to plus-46. That's nearly 20 goals higher than the next closest team, Los Angeles FC.
Why Isn't Los Angeles FC Favored Over the Philadelphia Union?
Many sportsbooks had Los Angeles FC listed in front of the Philadelphia Union for much of the season. So...what changed?
In a way, Los Angeles FC did. They've been embroiled in a slump for the past few weeks, and they're now up to eight losses on the season—four more than Philadelphia.
It also doesn't help that Los Angeles has struggled to tamp down their penalties. Most recently, they got a red card in the 13th minute of their loss to Dallas.
To be clear, Los Angeles isn't imploding. But they've earned this slight dip in the 2022 MLS Cup futures department.
Better 2022 MLS Cup Futures Bet: New York City FC, Nashville FC or New York Red Bulls
At this writing, oddsmakers aren't too high on the reigning champion New York City FC. They have given them +1800 MLS Cup odds—tying them with Nashville SC and the New York Red Bulls. That seems a little extreme at first glance. In actuality, it's not.
After a hot start to the season, New York City FC has essentially come undone. They have been racking up losses left and right, with an offense that verges on anemic and sloppy.
Funnel your attention toward the Red Bulls instead. They have been perhaps the hottest MLS team for weeks, picking up 13 combined points over their past six matches.
Best Dark Horse Bet to Win the MLS Cup
While we would no way throw all of our eggs into the Los Angeles Galaxy's basket, we have to acknowledge their upside.
Can they be infuriatingly incompetent on penalty kicks and wide-open shots on goal? Absolutely. But they've also nabbed some big-time victories, including a recent one over Nashville SC.
Teams that play up to the level of their opponents are always threats to make noise in the playoffs. The Galaxy could be the latest example of this.
OFFICIAL PREDICTION: Which Team is the Best Bet to Win the 2022 MLS Cup Final
And with all of this in mind, our 2022 MLS Cup futures prediction lands on the Philadelphia Union.
Granted, we gave a lot of consideration to Los Angeles FC. But their recent struggles has us second-guessing their ability to generate enough offense in the postseason.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, is shooting a blistering clip on one-timers and has some of the deepest ball-handling talent in the league. This could be a team that wins every game by 4-1 or something similar. Take them seriously, like the favorites that they are.
OSB Prediction: Philadelphia Union
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