What’s great about this early-season period is every MLS team — all 28 of them with Charlotte FC being the new expansion team in 2022 — has championship aspirations. For now, that is. That’ll change as the season wears on with the contenders separating themselves from the pretenders. But in the eyes of the best online sportsbooks, that’s sort of already happened because only a few select teams have serious odds at winning it all. Below we’ve featured the top betting favorites right now:
| Club |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | +600 | +600 |
| New England | +600 | +600 |
| LAFC | +900 | +900 |
| New York City FC | +1000 | +1000 |
| Sporting KC | +1000 | +1000 |
| Philadelphia | +1200 | +1200 |
| Colorado | +1400 | +1400 |
| Toronto | +1400 | +1400 |
Top Betting Picks To Win 2022 MLS Cup
The MLS single-elimination playoffs are beginning to earn a reputation for being unpredictable. Take for example, clubs that have won the Supporters’ Shield — given to the team with the most regular-season points. There have been 26 different teams that have won it, but stunningly, only seven went on to win the MLS Cup (27 percent). This alone should give you a reason to make multiple betting picks to win the 2022 MLS Cup. That’s the exact approach we’re taking and these three teams are getting a bet from us:
LAFC
Another year, another time LAFC is the MLS champion betting favorite at the top-used soccer betting sites. But despite these high expectations, LAFC has failed to deliver on it — heck, they’ve never even made it to the final. Therefore, a question that has to be atop every MLS bettors’ mind is what’s going to put the franchise over the top in 2022?
Welp, there’s new (but familiar) blood within the franchise. Bob Bradley is gone as manager and in is Steve Cherundolo (who coached LAFC’s affiliate team in Las Vegas a year ago). And then there’s designated signee Cristian Arango. He joined LAFC at the midpoint of 2021 and proceeded to net 14 goals in just 17 games. Now in his first full season with LAFC (and no longer learning on the fly), Arango could form a lethal one-two threat alongside Carlos Vela.
And speaking of Vela, he’s still likely a top-5 most talented player in all of MLS — when healthy. Unfortunately for him and LAFC, that’s been a rarity the last two years. It’s not hyperbole to suggest LAFC’s title hopes rest on Vela staying fit. If Vela is healthy (which is a big if with him turning 33 soon and the recent injury history), then LAFC is the team to beat. That makes them almost a must-bet club.
New England
Remember the Supporters’ Shield “curse” we mentioned before? Welp, New England was struck by it a year ago. The team earned an all-time record of 73 points in 2021 but “choked” in the conference semi-finals (losing to eventual winners NYFC in penalty kicks). It was a horrific ending to an otherwise historic season that saw the Revs go 22-7-5 on the year. We think it’s worth looking past that playoff failure and considering them as strong title contenders this time around.
That’s because most of that 2021 roster is back in the mix with one major addition thrown in — Sebastian Lletget. Revolution traded for play-making midfielder, who racked up 23 goals and 27 assists in 2021 last season with the Galaxy. Lletget’s presence fortifies a team that was already historically good to start with. He could help put New England over the top as the team embarks on a “revenge tour” so to speak.
Toronto
With our final MLS pick, we wanted to take a flyer on a club flying under the radar. In 2022, that’s Toronto FC, who are fresh off a six-win campaign in 2021 (its worst in franchise history). But that was then and this is now: this club could have a massive bounce back in 2022. The aforementioned coach Bradley has taken the helm of the program — and that’s quite the get given he’s the second-winningest manager in MLS history.
Despite Bradley’s pedigree, he might be the second-most important addition Toronto made this offseason. The first is signing Lorenzo Insigne to what is believed to be the richest MLS contract ever. Playing for Napoli last season, Insigne tallied a career-best 19 goals. Only 30 years old, Insigne is still in the prime of his career — not the twilight like many big-contract MLS signings of years past. It’s not unimaginable to believe Insigne takes the league by storm, which makes Toronto FC’s current betting price a complete steal.
How To Bet On 2022 MLS Season?
We’re now onto Year 27 in MLS history. The league has steadily grown and that trajectory continues in 2022 and onward (two new franchises will join next season). If you’re not betting on MLS in 2022, then what are you doing? The league is loaded with betting opportunities from now until October and to get any and all MLS odds this season, all you need to do is visit one of the popular betting sites for MLS below.
