MLS Betting Odds
Major League Soccer made its debut in 1996 with 10 teams. In the decades since, the top pro Soccer league in North America has grown tremendously. There are now 27 clubs across the US and Canada, and additional teams are coming. The top local club, the Phoenix Rising of the USL, is certainly interested in being one of them.
As the league has continued to grow, so too has interest in betting circles. Soccer betting is a featured offering at all of the top sportsbooks, and MLS is one of the star attractions. In this complete guide to betting on the MLS in Arizona, we’ll cover what you need to know, including where you can find the best MLS odds and the top ways to wager.
Latest MLS Soccer odds
Check the latest MLS odds direct from the top AZ sportsbooks right here with our live odds feed. When you’re ready to bet, just click the odds you want to sign up and claim the bonus.
Phoenix Rising odds
With the Phoenix Rising looking to compete in MLS, the team’s fanbase in the state is likely to grow. The Rising play at Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex, a 10,000-capacity venue in Chandler, Arizona.
The USL club holds the record for most consecutive victories by a North American professional soccer club with 20 straight. Soccer legend Didier Drogba is the most famous alumni from the team, as he played there near the end of his career.
Who is favored to win the MLS Cup?
Certain franchises just stand above the rest. These clubs are near the top of the table every year. Every league has these teams, and MLS is no different. Here are some of the teams that are favorites year after year:
D.C. United
Located in the country’s capital, D.C. United was one of the 10 founding teams of Major League Soccer. Since then, it has consistently been one of the stronger teams in the league.
It has won four MLS Cups, four Supporters’ Shields, and one CONCACAF Champions League title. Jamie Moreno holds most of the franchise records, including those for games played, goals, assists, and game-winning goals.
English soccer legend Wayne Rooney played for D.C. United for a brief period in the twilight of his career. The team has managed to recruit some large names like Rooney over the years to add to its talent pool.
- Manager: Hernàn Losada
- Top players: Ola Kamara, Edison Flores
Los Angeles Galaxy
Another one of the 10 founding members of MLS, the Los Angeles Galaxy has been the league’s most successful team. It has won the MLS Cup a record five times and lost in the championship another four times.
Many big names have played for the club, including Zlatan Ibrahimović, Rooney, Robbie Keane, and Giovani dos Santos. The team has the financial power to attract aging European superstars, as well as the city of Los Angeles and all that comes with it.
American soccer icon Landon Donovan is synonymous with the LA Galaxy as he spent many years there. Despite all the big names that have played for the club, it’s Donovan who holds the records for most career goals and assists with the team.
- Manager: Greg Vanney
- Top players: Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, Julian Araujo
Seattle Sounders
The Seattle Sounders joined MLS as an expansion team in 2009. Since then, they have managed to be one of the better teams in the league most years.
The Sounders won the US Open Cup four times, two MLS Cups and one Supporters’ Shield. Some of their most notable alumni include longtime US National Team stalwart Clint Dempsey and defender Osvaldo Moreno.
- Manager: Brian Schmetzer
- Top players: Fredy Montero, Nicolás Loderio
How to bet on MLS in Arizona
For MLS, the most popular way to wager will be front and center when you visit an online sportsbook. After you click on the Soccer link to view the schedule, you’ll see all of the upcoming contests listed out individually.
| Match Up | Home | Tie | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| LA Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids | +110 | +230 | +210 |
It’s very similar to a standard moneyline bet that you find in other sports, but with the added twist of the potential for a tie. A draw isn’t uncommon in Soccer, so it’s included as part of the featured wager, which is often referred to as a three-way moneyline.
Since there are three possible choices for the standard bet, there can be a good deal of value to be found with positive odds. At times, there will also be a clear favorite in which case there will be negative odds attached to that choice.
If you click through on a main game listing, you’ll find other ways to get in on the action. While the three-way moneyline generates a good deal of volume, there are other popular bet types to consider, including:
Spread Bets
Just like other sports, there’s a spread element involved, but it’s typically very small for MLS and other Soccer leagues.
- San Jose Earthquakes -0.5 (-110)
- Minnesota United +0.5 (-110)
You can choose the favorite minus the goals or the underdog plus the spread. The side that you pick has to cover the number for your bet to be a winner.
Totals Bets
MLS games may be lower scoring than what you’ll find in other sports, but you can still take a crack at the Over/Under on total goals scored in the game.
- Over 3.5 (-110)
- Under 3.5 (-110)
For our example, if more than 3.5 goals are scored, Over bettors will be happy. Under bettors are rooting for three goals or less.
Double Chance Bets
This is a bet in which you can cover two sides with one wager. There are three possible choices with the odds adjusted accordingly for each.
- Atlanta United or Draw -400
- Toronto FC or Draw -115
- Atlanta United or Toronto FC -390
Tie No Bet
This wager type takes the possibility of a draw out of the equation. If the teams tie, your bet will be considered a ‘no bet’ and you’ll be refunded your stake.
- New England Revolution -420
- D.C. United +330
While that covers many of the top choices for MLS betting, there are even more bet types to consider for those who like to go even deeper. Examples include:
Correct Score: Make your bet on the actual final score of the game from a range of choices.
Both Teams To Score: A simple yes or no question on whether both clubs will find paydirt or not.
Result And Both To Score: Choose the winning side or a draw while betting on both teams to score on one single bet.
Halftime Result: A bet on which side will have the lead – or if it’ll be all tied up – at the halfway mark of the game.
MLS betting goes much further than just the result of the game. For even more ways to get in on the action, many sportsbooks offer up same-game or single-game parlays. These are bets in which you can make multiple calls on the same slip, such as a three-way moneyline and the first goal scorer. If you want to bet on MLS, you’ll have plenty of options to explore.
MLS props and futures
Prop bets are wagers on smaller events within the game rather than the game’s overall outcome. Player prop bets are a common subsection of props that have to do with the performance of individual players in statistical categories.
One of the most common player prop bets for MLS is betting on a certain player to score a goal during that game. Depending on the player’s goal-scoring ability, the odds can get quite high. Other prop bets can include things such as how many corners there will be in the game or which team will score first.
For those who are looking to wager on a longer timeline, futures bets have you covered. These are wagers on the season as a whole or what will happen in the playoffs, with odds that come out before the season starts. Given how difficult it can be to predict the outcomes, the odds for futures bets can often be very good.
Since there can be a long period where you are holding your bet, there is a different level of suspense associated with futures. Major events like an injury or trade can influence your chances in large and unforeseen ways. For example, if you bet on a weaker team to win the MLS title and then that team acquires a strong player, your bet is all of a sudden looking much better. Attempting to predict these events is next to impossible but can pay off well if you do it correctly.
Betting on live MLS games via apps
One sports betting format that has rapidly increased in popularity in recent years has been live betting. This is when you place wagers on a game that is happening in real time. Live betting has added another dynamic to watching live sports. It’s another level of excitement that gets people involved, and for the MLS it’s no different.
For MLS bettors who have some experience, live betting can also be beneficial. Getting the chance to watch how the game is unfolding and seeing how the momentum is swinging is crucial information that one cannot get by betting before play has begun.
Because the game changes so quickly, sportsbooks change the MLS betting lines rapidly. This also means that they have less time to perfect those lines, sometimes resulting in odds that are easier to exploit.
Live betting is easiest via an app on a mobile device. This is because the speed at which these devices allow you to bet is unparalleled. When the odds are moving quickly, it’s too slow of a process to be betting live at the teller. Another benefit is the easy line shopping as you can click through Arizona sportsbooks at rapid speed.
When you bet on a game live, most of the same selections that are available to you pregame will still be available live. There will also be some new selections that may not have been available earlier. These often involve splitting the game into smaller sections and betting on the winner of those periods. For example, the half or a 15-minute slice of the game.
MLS betting trends
There are a few MLS-specific trends that are important to take note of if you plan to start betting.
Major League Soccer has a high level of parity
Often MLS teams can go on deep playoff runs despite having mediocre regular-season records. This means you shouldn’t discount a team just because of a weak record. Do some more research and you can get a better idea of relative team strength.
Winning back-to-back MLS Cups is very hard
When a team wins an MLS Cup, it makes sense that it is going to be among the favorites for next season. However, if we look at the recent champions, it’s very hard to go back-to-back. Thus, if a team won last season, maybe look at its competitors to find the next champion.
MLS playoff odds
MLS is one of the only soccer leagues that features a playoff. Fourteen teams qualify for the MLS playoffs, seven from each conference. They qualify based on their regular-season performance.
From there, the top team in each conference will get a bye into the next round. The other six teams in each conference will play in a bracket. For both the conference semifinal round and conference final round, each portion of the bracket is two games, played at each team’s home stadium. The MLS Cup final is a one-game, winner-take-all championship.
For the playoffs, you’ll find a few additional bets. These usually have to do with betting on a specific team to advance through a round. The playoffs are also important because it’s often the time of year when you learn the results of your futures bets.
How to watch MLS online in Arizona
For those who are looking to stream MLS games online, there are a few apps that allow you to watch. This makes viewing MLS easy and is great for watching the teams on which you’ve bet. Apps such as DAZN and ESPN+ will likely cover your MLS streaming needs. They will have games available to watch but do require a purchase to fully unlock all the features.
More Sports Odds
Past MLS Cup winners and results
Here are recent MLS Cup champions along with the runners-up.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Columbus Crew SC | Seattle Sounders FC |
| 2019 | Seattle Sounders FC | Toronto FC |
| 2018 | Atlanta United FC | Portland Timbers |
| 2017 | Toronto FC | Seattle Sounders FC |
| 2016 | Seattle Sounders FC | Toronto FC |
Top Arizona MLS players
Some quality MLS players have roots that go back to Arizona. Whether they were born in the state or spent significant time there while they were young, these are the best MLS players with Arizona ties.
- Greg Vanney: Vanney spent some time in Arizona during his high school days and he would eventually become a staple in North American soccer. He had a career in MLS, played for the US National Team, and has had a successful stint as a manager in retirement.
- Tate Schmitt: He scored an impressive five goals in just 19 games as a rookie and added eight assists for good measure. Schmitt spent time in the Arizona Soccer Association.
- Luis Robles: The only goaltender on this list, Robles has been a strong player with New York and is also a product of the Arizona Soccer Association.