The regular season of the 2021 MLS has concluded with the final running order of both the Eastern and Western Conferences decided. With the thrills and spills of the playoffs on the horizon and fast approaching, we’ve taken a look at the latest MLS Cup odds as well as some of the candidates to claim silverware in the MLS postseason.
DraftKings have priced New England Revolution as their favorites to win the MLS Cup in 2021 and Bruce Arena’s consistent Revs are certainly worth their place in the conversation, though a number of other competitors will be determined to launch their own assault for honors.
MLS Cup latest odds
- New England Revolution +225
- Colorado Rapids +350
- Seattle Sounders +700
- New York City FC +900
- Philadelphia Union +1000
- Sporting KC +1000
- Nashville SC +1200
- Portland Timbers +2000
- Orlando City SC +2500
- Minnesota United +3500
- Atlanta United +3500
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC +4000
- New York Red Bulls +4000
- Real Salt Lake +5000
Odds taken from DraftKings. Prices correct as of November 15 at 10:00. Prices are subject to fluctuation.
MLS Cup favorites
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New England Revolution (+225)
New England Revolution have been this season’s outstanding team, winning a whopping 22 fixtures during their regular campaign – a full five more than the next most successful teams in the MLS Eastern and Western Conferences.
Their incredible consistency allowed them to clinch top spot in the Eastern Conference with time to spare and Bruce Arena’s formidable charges rattled the net more often than any other MLS team (65).
Attacking pair Gustavo Bou and Adam Buska scored a superb 31 times between them over the course of the year, while Spanish schemer Carles Gil was their creator supreme, chipping in with 13 assists – just one short of Djordje Mihailovic who notched a league-best 14 for Montreal.
Their return of just eight clean sheets from 34 matches suggests there are defensive wrinkles to iron out, though the Revs have had more than enough firepower at the business end of the pitch to compensate.
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Colorado Rapids (+350)
A dramatic final day flourish allowed the Rapids to pip Seattle Sounders to top spot in the Western Conference and their last-gasp leapfrogging could have far-reaching consequences in the playoffs.
With first place in the bag, Colorado secured an easier path to the final – on paper at least – and their odds with DraftKings were noticeably shortened as a result.
Only three teams conceded fewer goals than Colorado across both Conferences during the regular season and Rapids will hope to lean on that defensive strength when the competition intensifies in the knockout phase.
In Englishman Jack Price, Colorado have one of the best line-breaking midfielders around and the 29-year-old’s pristine passing allowed him to bag 12 assists for the campaign.
Further forward, Rapids like to share the goals around and they didn’t have a single player in double scoring digits during their regular season. Indeed, versatile Colombian Michael Barrios finished as their leading marksman with eight efforts.
“We know with the group that we have, the quality of players in this team, obviously a lot of us are going to play with good players, but actually forming a team like this and putting all the pieces together, it’s tough,” Cole Bassett said. “We know the job is not done. We still have to go out and win our first playoff game. We’re solely focused on that, and then we’ll go game by game.”
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Outsider worth watching: Philadelphia Union (+1000)
Momentum is a hugely powerful force in football and Philadelphia Union finished the regular MLS season propelled by a serious head of steam.
Union lost just once of their final 11 assignments of the campaign – a sequence that was enough to clinch second spot in the Eastern Conference behind runaway winners New England Revolution.
With 48 goals, they were far from prolific over the course of the term, though they conceded an average of just 1.02 goals per 90 minutes at the other end, making them one of the most robust outfits in the entire MLS.
First up for Philly in the playoffs is a date with a New York RB side they haven’t been beaten by in six previous encounters and few teams will relish meeting Union in the next round if they can topple the Red Bulls.
