As anyone who has observed MLS for any extended period can attest, preseason favorites are rarely the team left standing at the end. Still, it’s at least mildly encouraging that two different oddsmakers think the Seattle Sounders chances of winning MLS Cup are pretty decent.
Everyone seems to agree that Toronto FC is the favorites, which makes sense. They are bringing back most of the team that put together arguably the greatest season in MLS history and even added some solid-to-good pieces. Bovada has them as 3.5-to-1 favorites and While Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook has them at 4-to-1.
On Bovada, the Sounders sit tied in second with Atlanta United at 8-to-1 odds, just ahead of the Portland Timbers 9-to-1. They are also 8-to-1 on Westgate, but Atlanta edges them out for second at 6-to-1.
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Of course, the odds are as much a reflection of where they books believe the money is going to go as much as they are an expectation of actual results. The Sounders are a very popular team and if the bookmakers are anticipating a lot of action to go Seattle’s way regardless, that’s going to affect their odds. Atlanta United, the other team with similar odds, is in the same basic situation.