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Toronto FC finished the regular season with only five losses last year, posting an MLS-best 20-5-9 mark before successfully running through the playoffs to win the MLS Cup. The club will try to repeat last year’s success again with another championship run in 2018.
Toronto is going off as a +350 favorite on the odds to win the MLS Cup at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. In addition to having the best record during the regular season in 2017, Toronto FC also had the best goal differential in the league at +37, leading the league in scoring with 74 goals and finishing second in goals against with 37.
Toronto FC kicks off its season Saturday as -165 favorites hosting the Columbus Crew (+450 to win the game, +305 to play to a draw).
The Seattle Sounders finished as runner-ups to Toronto FC in the MLS Cup last season and are going off at +800 to win the championship this year. Each of the last two MLS Cup finals have come down to Seattle and Toronto, with Seattle winning the title on penalties in 2016. Seattle opens 2018 as -160 home favorites hosting the expansion Los Angeles FC (+395 to win, +305 to draw) on Sunday.
Atlanta United’s opening campaign last season was a success by any measure. The team set season and single-game attendance records while finishing the regular season with the fourth best record in the MLS at 15-9-10. Not content to rest on its laurels, Atlanta United acquired a trio of impact players in Darlington Nagbe, Franco Escobar, and Ezequiel Barco this offseason. Going off at +800 to win the MLS Cup, Atlanta United should absolutely be in the running this postseason.
The club’s passionate fans will have to wait to see their team in action. Atlanta United starts this season on the road Saturday as +200 underdogs facing Houston Dynamo (+125 to win, +250 to draw).
Other potential contenders to win the MLS Cup this season include the Portland Timbers (+900), New York City FC (+1000), FC Dallas (+1600), and LA Galaxy (+1600). The Galaxy are +125 favorites at home on Sunday night hosting the Portland Timbers (+210 to win, +240 to draw).
Major League Soccer Cup Odds
Toronto FC +350
Atlanta United +800
Seattle Sounders +800
Portland Timbers +900
New York City FC +1000
FC Dallas +1600
LA Galaxy +1600
Houston Dynamo +2000
Columbus Crew +2500
For more odds info, picks and a breakdown of this week’s top sports betting news check out the OddsShark podcast with Jon Campbell and Andrew Avery. Subscribe on iTunes, or check it out at OddsShark.libsyn.com.