After the regular season ended this past weekend, Major League Soccer heads into the postseason action this week, and we have a full MLS Cup Playoffs preview below with our favorite futures plays on the betting board.
The league rolled out a new format this season, starting with two single-elimination matches between the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds in each conference on Wednesday night. Round One will then be played as a best-of-3 series that will have no draws.
Every round following that will consist of single-elimination matches. The playoffs will end with the MLS Cup on December 9, hosted by the higher seed.
We’ll break down both conferences and give our favorite bets to wrap up our MLS Cup Playoffs preview.
MLS Cup Playoffs Preview
Western Conference
St. Louis City SC secured the top seed in the West and will play the winner of Sporting Kansas City and San Jose in Round One. Seattle jumped Los Angeles FC on Decision Day to claim the No. 2 seed and home field in the semifinals if both clubs make it there.
LAFC also draws the tougher matchup in the opening round, with the Vancouver Whitecaps coming to town as the six seed. The Houston Dynamo will host Real Salt Lake to round out the Western Conference pairings.
After the Wild Card round, LAFC and Vancouver will kick off the action in the West this Saturday, October 28.
Eastern Conference
FC Cincinnati won the Supporters’ Shield for the first time in the club’s history and awaits the winner of the New York Red Bulls and Charlotte FC. The East is loaded with top teams, starting with Orlando City and Columbus earning the next top seeds.
Once you factor in that those clubs play Nashville and Atlanta United, it shows the strength of the Eastern Conference. The Philadelphia Union welcomes the New England Revolution on Saturday to open the Round One games in the East.
There is no easy path in this conference. Orlando has been one of the hottest teams coming into the playoffs, but Cincinnati has been dominant all year at home.
MLS Playoffs Future 1 – Seattle Sounders +1400 FanDuel
Whether you look at season-long numbers or data over the last 10 games, Seattle is arguably the highest power-rated team. The reason you are getting them as the sixth-best odds is because of the potential matchup with LAFC in the second round.
However, the Sounders securing home field for the Conference Semifinals is a huge advantage. On the road this season, Los Angeles has a -1.4 xGDiff, according to fbref.com.
This is a huge drop from the +18.9 mark when playing at home. Vancouver is also a team that has struggled away from home if the Whitecaps pull off an upset.
I like this veteran roster and coach to pull it all together in front of their home fans. The Sounders should have Raul Ruidiaz available to pitch in with the goals.
MLS Playoffs Future 2 – Houston Dynamo +2800 FanDuel
Yes, I understand that one of these plays would have to lose, but I can’t look away from the hottest team in the MLS right now in Houston. Over the last 10 games, the Dynamo posted a +5.1 xGDiff and only lost once.
This doesn’t even include the club winning the U.S. Open Cup during this stretch, defeating Inter Miami in the final.
They start with RSL in Round One, who will be without its best player. Houston also beat them 3-0 in the recent meeting. Meanwhile, St. Louis is a very fraudulent top seed that has limped into the postseason.
The No. 1 seed has a -5.3 xGDiff over the last 10 games. It wouldn’t shock me if they were upset in the opening round. I really like the path that is there for the Dynamo to go on a run in these playoffs.
