MLS is nearing the regular season's homestretch, so let's take a look at who's in shape to lift the MLS Cup.
The latest: FC Cincinnati have deservedly claimed the top spot on the odds board after a superb run of form. Nashville SC remains a solid value play and Inter Miami is on everyone's radar after Lionel Messi's scorching Leagues Cup run.
Here are the latest MLS Cup odds.
MLS Cup odds
Check out the latest odds to win the MLS Cup. Click linked odds to add selection to betslip.
| Team | Odds (Sept. 11) | Odds (Aug. 28) | Preseason Odds |
| FC Cincinnati | +450 | +450 | +2,500 |
| Inter Miami CF | +550 | +600 | +1,400 |
| Los Angeles FC | +700 | +650 | +450 |
| Philadelphia Union | +900 | +1,000 | +600 |
| New England Revolution | +1,100 | +1,400 | +2,800 |
| St. Louis City SC | +1,100 | +1,400 | N/A |
| Seattle Sounders | +1,400 | +1,600 | +1,800 |
| Orlando City | +1,400 | +1,800 | N/A |
| Columbus Crew | +1,600 | +1,800 | N/A |
| Nashville SC | +1,600 | +1,600 | +1,800 |
| Atlanta United | +1,800 | +1,800 | +2,200 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | +2,500 | +7,500 | +15,000 |
| Real Salt Lake | +4,000 | +3,300 | N/A |
| Houston Dynamo | +4,000 | +3,300 | +800 |
Best MLS Cup odds
The favourite: FC Cincinnati (+450)
No one was expecting FC Cincinnati to be this good this season.
The team leads the league in points (57) and wins (17) and sits sixth in goals scored (44) and fourth in goal differential (plus-14). This all comes after a season where Cincinnati was a middling fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Cincinnati is balanced offensively, with 10 multi-goal scorers on the team. Luciano Acosta is leading the way with 13.
Other MLS Cup choices
Best value: Nashville SC (+1,600)
At one point, Nashville was the hottest team in MLS, picking up points in nine straight games. But the Music stumbled after that, losing six of seven and having their odds lengthen from +700 in early June to +2,200 as a result.
But we think the international break did the Music some good. The team made it to the Leagues Cup final before Losing to Inter Miami and still sit fourth in the Eastern Conference with 11 wins and five draws in 24 games.
Back-to-back draws have Nashville down to 16-to-1 and we're bullish on the team returning to form soon.
Hany Mukhtar is leading the league with 14 goals but Nashville's real calling card is its defence. The squad has conceded only 27 goals all season, which is the fewest in the league.
| Team | Odds (Sept. 7) |
| FC Dallas | +5,000 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | +6,000 |
| Minnesota United FC | +6,000 |
| Austin FC | +8,000 |
| CF Montreal | +8,000 |
Team to watch: Inter Miami (+550)
Inter Miami was 200-to-1 to win the MLS Cup — then they signed Messi.
He led the team to a Leagues Cup championship, scoring 10 goals in seven games. And through three MLS game played Messi has a goal and the Herons are 2-1-0.
But Miami is still second-to-last in the Eastern Conference as of September 13. It has eight wins and 14 losses in 26 games played with a minus-nine goal differential.
That said, the Herons are only six points out of a play-in spot with two games in hand.
Messi's demonstrated that he's head-and-shoulders above the rest of this league, but Miami will have to make the playoffs to win the trophy, and that will require a heater to close out the season.
Canadian MLS Cup odds
Let's take a look at the three Canadian teams in MLS and see how they stack up heading down the home stretch.
| Team | Odds (Sept. 11) |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | +2,500 |
| CF Montreal | +8,000 |
| Toronto FC | +100,000 |
- The Vancouver Whitecaps were 150-to-1 to win this trophy before the season and those odds have shortened drastically after a strong run of form. The team has won four of its past six games as of September 11.
- CF Montreal were the only Canadian team to make the MLS Cup playoffs last season. They're no lock to get back into the dance this season but currently hold a play-in spot despite losing two straight games.
- Toronto FC hold the longest odds of any team to win the MLS Cup. The Reds have some of the best top-end talents in MLS with Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi upfront, but they've done nothing with the duo all season. Through 27 games, TFC are last in the Eastern Conference. They did just hire John Herdman but it's too late to turn this season around.