After tracking online soccer betting odds throughout the MLS season, the time has now come to put everything we've watched over the year together. The playoffs are set to kick off on November 19, which means you have a finite number of opportunities left to invest in betting odds on the 2021 MLS Cup Final.
Including the two clubs—New England Revolution and Colorado Rapids—that have earned first-round byes, there are 14 organizations left vying for this year's title. And as we take a look at the latest MLS Futures, we can't help but wonder whether the Seattle Sounders are the best bet to win the 2021 MLS Cup.
Before we get to our MLS Cup predictions, let's first take a look at the updated MLS Cup betting odds, courtesy of BetOnline:
| MLS Championship Pick |  |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles FC | +700 |
| New England Revolution | +700 |
| Seattle Sounders | +700 |
| New York City FC | +1000 |
| Sporting Kansas City | +1200 |
| Atlanta United FC | +1600 |
| Colorado Rapids | +1600 |
| LA Galaxy | +1600 |
| Philadelphia Union | +1600 |
| Columbus Crew SC | +2000 |
| New York Red Bulls | +2000 |
| Minnesota United FC | +2500 |
| Nashville SC | +2500 |
| Orlando City SC | +2500 |
| Portland Timbers | +2500 |
| Toronto FC | +2500 |
| Intern Milan CF | +4000 |
| Chicago Fire | +5000 |
| DC United | +5000 |
| FC Dallas | +5000 |
| Real Salt Lake | +5000 |
| Austin FC | +6600 |
| Charlotte FC | +6600 |
| Montreal Impact | +6600 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | +6600 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | +6600 |
| FC Cinccinnati | +10000 |
| Houston Dynamo | +10000 |
Remember to double-check these MLS Cup odds before settling on your 2021 MLS Cup picks. The MLS Cup Final is currently scheduled for December 11. Lines will continue to move right up until then, particularly as the playoff bracket unfolds. Also, if you're in the market for an MLS betting site, we have reviews for the top online sportsbooks so that you don't have to waste time finding the right fit on your own.
2021 MLS Cup Best Bets
For this exercise, our best MLS bets will seek to answer questions on the top contenders to win it all. We will then conclude with our official 2021 MLS Cup winner prediction.
Better Bet: Seattle Sounders or Colorado Rapids?
Priority is always given to teams with a first-round bye. In this case, that's the New England Revolution (+280) and Colorado Rapids (+450). And it makes sense. They don't have to win as many games to reach or, ultimately, take home the MLS Cup.
Still, while the Revolution were head and shoulders above the rest of the league during the regular season, there isn't a ton of separation between the Rapids and your second tier of options. In particular, the Seattle Sounders (+600) are catching our eye.
If not for an unfortunate 0-3-3 close to the regular season, it might be Seattle with the first-round bye right now. And while many have used their struggles over the closing kick to discredit their championship hopes, we think they're getting slept on.
Seattle has not been this healthy since they began the year, and even with their awkward close to the season factored in, they still had one heck of a campaign. No team allowed fewer goals over the course of their schedule, and the Sounders actually have a larger goal differential (plus-20) than Colorado (plus-16).
Indeed, Seattle will have to win one more game than the Rapids. That doesn't dissuade us. Their first-round opponent is Real Salt Lake (+5000). The Sounders should have no trouble advancing, at which point they'll be on even, if slightly better ground, than Colorado.
Should the New England Revolution be Favorites?
You can't blame oddsmakers for peddling the Revolution as the 2021 MLS Cup favorites. They finished with 73 points during the regular season when nobody else cracked 58. That is a monstrous difference.
Try to find a more high-powered offense. You'll fail. The Revolution had two players, Gustavo Bou and Adam Buksa, tally at least 15 scores on their own. Their passing as a team is divine; they find seams when it doesn't look like there is any.
Opponents should be able to break through their defense for stretches at midfield. That was a recurring theme during the regular season. But those breakdowns are few and far between, and even when they happen, New England generally scores enough for them not to matter.
Are the New York Red Bulls Undervalued
Many MLS bettors won't give the New York Red Bulls (+2500) a second glance unless they're looking for stab-in-the-dark options. When you're laying 25-to-1 odds in a 14-team field, you're clearly not considered a viable option.
Perhaps that's a mistake.
Sure, the Red Bulls tallied more than one goal in just one of their final 11 games. That's a legitimate problem. But their defense can be hell on Earth for opponents to navigate. They own a top-five save percentage and have picked off more passes than any other team. We wouldn't be surprised to see them upset Philadelphia Union (+750) in Round 1 and start gaining traction as a Cinderella option.
2021 MLS Cup Final Prediction
Coming up with our MLS Final winner pick was not an easy process. The dominance of the Revolution tempts us a great deal—especially when they're returning better than even money.
Ultimately, though, we are drawn to the Sounders, one of the two 2020 MLS Cup Final participants.
Seattle's 6-to-1 odds are part of the equation. They are much more of a threat than that suggests. Mostly, however, we can't help but be in love with this team at both ends knowing they'll start the playoffs at close to full strength.
Check out this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can decide which one to use for all your soccer betting:
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