2024 MLS Outrights: Inter Miami Still Favorites
Extent of Messi’s Injury Could Shift Odds
Defending Champions Columbus on a Tear
Inter Miami opened up the 2024 MLS Season as favorites to win their first-ever MLS Cup.
With two-thirds of the season over with, Inter Miami are still favorites but a concerning ankle injury to Lionel Messi in the Copa America Final could hurt them.
Meanwhile, defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew are on a five-game winning streak and are looking like the team to beat in the league.
Portland have also won five of their last six games as we enter the home stretch. With 11 games to go for most teams, let’s take an updated look at the 2024 MLS outrights.
Lionel Messi crying after getting injured in his last Copa America 💔
He sustained leg injury during Argentina’s Copa America final against Colombia. Injury occurred during a chase & he planted his right leg awkwardly.
Tears are definitely not due to physical pain. pic.twitter.com/5ODMnWAsL9
— BhikuMhatre (@MumbaichaDon) July 15, 2024
Favorites
Inter Miami have a wealth of top-level experience on their team, including Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets. If all of them are healthy for their playoff run, there’s no reason they can’t win their first MLS Cup.
- Messi has scored 12 goals in 12 games this season, while Suarez has 12 in 16.
However, with Messi and Suarez away on international duty, Inter Miami, who are in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 14-5-4 record, lost 6-1 to first-placed FC Cincinnati.
Messi’s ankle injury is a concern too and prospective bettors should wait to see the extent of his injury. The MLS playoffs odds currently price Inter Miami as +175 favorites.
Messi’s injury in slow motion pic.twitter.com/TLMcyAZEWg
— Mezcal Vibes (@FPL_Mezcal) July 15, 2024
Strong Contenders
LAFC won the MLS Cup in 2022 and reached the final in 2023. They were also on a 13 game unbeaten streak, in all competitions, before falling 5-1 at home to Columbus Crew last weekend.
In Denis Bouanga and Mateusz Bogusz, LAFC have two of the top four scorers in the league. Currently, LAFC are in first place in the Western Conference, with a 13-4-5 record and sit at +700 odds to win a second MLS Cup in three years.
FC Cincinnati won the MLS Supporters’ Shield in 2023 and they’re in the running to do it once again.
They currently have the best record in the league, at 15-3-5. In 2023, Luciano Acosta won the MLS MVP award and he’s leading the league, with 18 assists.
However, reigning MLS defender of the year, Matt Miazga, is out for the rest of the season. Still, FC Cincinnati reached the Eastern Conference Final last year and the 2024 MLS outrights currently list FC Cincinnati at +750 odds.
Dark Horses
LA Galaxy ended the weekend in third place in the Eastern Conference, with a 12-7-5 record. They haven’t won an MLS Cup since 2014 but attacking players like Gabriel Pec, Riqui Puig and Dejan Joveljic have all been superb this season.
- LA Galaxy are currently priced at +1000 odds to win the MLS Cup.
It’s somewhat shocking defending champions Columbus Crew can be considered dark horses but they’re listed at +1200 odds to defend their title at the moment.
During their five game winning streak, the Crew have outscored their opponents 20-2 and they’re in third place in the East with a 12-6-3 record.
Coach Wilfried Nancy has them playing some of the most attractive soccer on the continent. Plenty of MLS predictions have Columbus making another deep run in the playoffs and we think they will too.
There’s not much hype surrounding Real Salt Lake but they have the league’s leading scorer, Cristian Arango. He’s scored 17 goals and helped RSL to a 12-7-4 record this season.
Real Salt Lake won their first, and only, MLS Cup title in 2009 and they’re priced at +1400 odds to win for the first time in 15 years.
Notable Longshots
The New York Red Bulls have drawn five of their last six games and recently lost Emil Forsberg an injury. Forsberg could be back next month and the Red Bulls are currently in fourth place in the East.
The 2024 MLS outrights price NYRB at +2000 odds to win their first MLS Cup.
- The other MLS teams in the league with better than +5000 MLS Cup odds at the moment are NYCFC (+2000), Vancouver (+2500), Colorado (+3300) and Charlotte (+3300).
Meanwhile, Portland Timbers (+5000) have lost only one of their last ten games and won five of their last six. They are hitting their stride under Phil Neville and are the only team in the league with three ten goal scorers.
Philadelphia Union started out the season as one of the favorites to win the title, at +1100 odds. Their reserve team is first in the MLS Next standings but the Union’s senior side is in last place in the Eastern Conference.
They sit at +6600 MLS Cup odds but are only five points outside of a playoff position at the moment.
For MLS betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
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