Soccer Odds

MLS Odds and Betting Lines

Are you thinking of getting into Major League Soccer (MLS) betting but unsure when and how much money to bet?

Read on and learn the best betting tips and strategies that can give you the edge on MLS betting and, hopefully, a win!

MLS Betting

Why Bet on the MLS?

Betting on an MLS match is a convenient way to have fun while making huge payouts. MLS is just one of the professional soccer leagues that allow bettors to bet through smartphones via online betting sites.

The payouts in MLS matches improved after the league shot to fame. The increased sponsorship revenues and the influx of global stars, like Frank Lampard, David Villa, and Steven Gerrard, have attracted greater audiences and funding, making betting all the more exciting!

Reading MLS Betting Odds

To win a soccer bet, you should have a basic understanding of the game’s betting odds. Visit online sportsbooks and you’ll see Major League Soccer odds listed on tote boards as such:

  • Seattle Sounders FC +230
  • Vancouver Whitecaps FC -125

American bettors use a plus or a minus symbol, while UK bettors use decimal odds.

The negative symbol points out the favorite team that’s expected to win the game. The numbers beside the minus symbol dictate how much you need to bet to win a $100 payout.

Meanwhile, the positive sign indicates the underdog. The number beside the plus sign tells you how much you’ll win if you risk $100. So if you placed a bet on a team with a +100 odds of winning, you’d have to bet $100.

Our helpful tips have been featured in leading news sites, such as The Wall Street Journal, CBS, and Sports Illustrated.

Types of MLS Betting

In MLS betting, there are several types of betting options you can choose from.

Moneyline

One of the most common soccer betting types, moneyline involves picking a winner between two clubs.

Totals

Total betting or over/under betting involves placing a bet on both teams' number of goals.

A soccer match has an average total score of two goals. If you think the pooled score for both clubs will be over two points, you can place your bet on over. If you believe otherwise, you can bet on under.

Point Spread

A point spread is a soccer betting option that gives the underdog an advantage before the game starts.

For example, you placed a bet on a soccer game with the odds below:

  • Montreal Impact -1.5
  • New England Revolution +1.5

Montreal has to win by over two goals to cover the spread. If you risked your money on New England, your bet would be a success if the team wins the match outright or loses by just one goal.

MLS spreads are smaller than the score spreads in the National Football League (NFL) and National Basketball Association (NBA).

Futures

A future bet on soccer is one that you make months in advance. You could place your money on a team’s chances of winning the MLS Cup final in April, even before the regular season begins.

Props

During a prop bet, you can bet on players or events as long as the game’s outcome is not affected.

You can bet on which club scores the first goal, how many yellow cards a squad will get, or how many goals a team will score in the first or second half of the matchup.

Live Betting

Live betting or in-play betting lets you bet on an ongoing match. During in-play bets, you can bet on things like which team will score a goal first.

Live odds are gone as quickly as they appear, so if you see the action you like, bet on it fast!

Asian Handicapping

The Asian Handicap or advanced betting refers to the kind of bet where the oddsmaker allows a little extra padding for bettors. Instead of just 0.5, oddsmakers set 0.25, 0.75, and 1.0 options.

The padding reduces your risk on any bet since you could still win the bet if the match ends in a draw.

Parlay

A parlay bet combines multiple predictions in just one bet. For example, you’ll only win the payout if the team you placed your bet on wins, and the match ends with a total score of over three goals.

Bets Scoring

In soccer matches, you have a 50% chance of predicting the outcome correctly. But a draw decreases that chance by 17%.

For example, in a soccer game between Atlanta United FC vs. Columbus Crew SC, the three outcomes are: the first team wins, the second team wins, or a draw.

Below is an example of a moneyline odds for an MLS game:

  • Atlanta United FC -125
  • Columbus Crew SC +210
  • Draw +250

To win $100, you need to bet $125 on Atlanta. Betting $100 on Columbus nets $210 while the draw nets $250.

MLS bets are scored on the game’s result once the regulation time is complete. Regulation time refers to a full 90-minute game plus injury time.

Oddsmakers drop the MLS odds one week before matches. Take advantage of this time by researching injuries and team practices leading up to the game.

One of the best times to place a bet is as soon as the betting lines open. Most bettors place their bets during this time because they generally support favorites, so the moneyline will move accordingly.

Another ideal time to bet on MLS is one hour before kickoff. During this period, teams post the starting lineups and player formations.

Knowing these team details lets you make a more informed bet.

MLS Betting Strategies

Check Media Coverage

Learn what your favorite teams and players are up to by following them on social media. You can also get the most relevant news about soccer teams by visiting the official MLS website, MLSsoccer.com.

Research Matchups

Put your money behind a soccer team in good form.

Monitor Transfer Window

Look out for online sports articles that recap your favorite team’s transfer window.

Note Team’s Away vs. Home Form

When researching on the team to place your bet on, consider the team’s away vs. home form before you place a bet.

Some clubs play better on the road or at home. A familiar pitch and a home crowd can boost a squad’s winning chances. Some players perform better though if they’re away from the pressures of playing at home.

Major League Soccer 101

Founded in 1993, Major League Soccer has developed into an increasingly popular guild. Over time, it joined the ranks of other international soccer leagues, like Bundesliga, France Ligue 1, La Liga, Premier League, and Serie A.

The MLS began with just 10 teams in 1996. But now, it has more than doubled. The North American league shot to fame as world-renowned foreign soccer players, like David Beckham, started playing in it.

There are 24 clubs, divided evenly between the Eastern and Western Conferences. Here are some of the teams under the Major League Soccer:

  • Colorado Rapids
  • FC Dallas
  • Houston Dynamo FC
  • Inter Miami CF
  • LA Galaxy
  • Los Angeles FC
  • Nashville SC
  • New York Red Bulls
  • Orlando City SC
  • Philadelphia Union
  • Portland Timbers
  • Real Salt Lake
  • San Jose Earthquakes
  • Sporting Kansas City
  • Toronto FC

Some teams share a pitch with other leagues like the Major League Baseball (MLB) and the National Football League (NFL), which compete during the Super Bowl.

The MLS season takes place from March to October every year. Clubs from the Western and Eastern Conferences play 34 matches during this period.

The club with the highest points at the end of the season receives the Supporters’ Shield and gets home-field advantage through the playoffs’ duration.

Postseason involves a knockout tournament with 14 teams participating in the MLS Cup. Five teams play in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Champions League against other CONCACAF teams.

Compared to European soccer leagues, MLS has more lenient rules in terms of team standings.

The worst teams at the end of an MLS season don’t have to worry about their league’s status for the next season. But in Europe, teams fall to lower levels in their respective leagues if they finish at the bottom of the standings.