Major League Soccer (MLS) is North America's premier professional soccer league, featuring 29 teams from the United States and Canada.
MLS is one of the most popular and competitive soccer leagues in the world, attracting top players, coaches, and fans from all over the globe.
Betting on MLS can be a fun and profitable way to enjoy the beautiful game, but it also requires some knowledge, skills, and strategies to succeed.
In this article, we will discuss some of the basics of MLS betting, such as how to read and understand MLS odds, the most popular MLS betting markets, and some methods you can implement to become a better MLS handicapper.
Betting on Major League Soccer: Key Strategies and Insights
Here we will share some of the latest news, tips, and insights on MLS betting and some of the best online sportsbooks where you can place your MLS bets.
How to Read and Understand MLS Odds?
Major League Soccer odds are the numerical expressions of the probability and payout of a particular outcome in a soccer match.
Depending on your preference and location, MLS odds can be displayed in different formats, such as American, decimal, or fractional.
You can use online tools or calculators to convert between different odds formats or learn how to read and understand them yourself.
You can learn more about, Handicap Betting in Soccer and Other Sports. Here are some examples of how MLS odds work:
American odds:
American odds are the most common format used in North America, based on a $100 wager. American odds have a positive or negative sign in front of them, indicating the favorite or the underdog in a match.
For example, if the LA Galaxy are -120 favorites to win against the Colorado Rapids, who are +280 underdogs, it means that you have to bet $120 to win $100 on the Galaxy, or you can win $280 by betting $100 on the Rapids.
If the odds are even, they are displayed as +100 or -100, meaning you can win $100 by betting $100 on either team.
Decimal odds:
Decimal odds are the most straightforward format widely used in Europe and other parts of the world. Decimal odds show the total return of a bet, including the stake and the profit.
For example, if the Seattle Sounders have 2.50 odds to win against the Austin FC, who have 3.00 odds, you can win $2.50 for every $1 you bet on the Sounders or $3 for every $1 you bet on the Austin FC.
To calculate your profit, multiply your stake by the decimal odds and subtract your stake. For example, if you bet $10 on the Sounders, your profit is ($10 x 2.50) – $10 = $15.
Fractional odds:
Fractional odds are the traditional format used in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and they show the ratio of the profit to the stake.
For example, if the New York City FC has 3/2 odds to win against the Chicago Fire, who have 2/1 odds, it means that you can win $3 for every $2 you bet on the NYCFC or $2 for every $1 you bet on the Fire.
To calculate your profit, divide the numerator by the denominator and multiply by your stake. For example, if you bet $10 on the NYCFC, your profit is (3 / 2) x $10 = $15.
Most Popular Major League Soccer Betting Markets
Major league soccer betting offers a variety of markets and options for bettors to choose from, depending on their preferences and strategies. Some of the most popular Major League Soccer betting markets are:
Moneyline:
Moneyline is the simplest and most common type of MLS bet, where you simply pick the winner of a match or a draw if you think the game will end in a tie.
Moneyline bets are also known as 1X2 bets, where one stands for the home team, X stands for the draw, and two stands for the away team.
For example, if you bet on the money line market for the match between Columbus Crew and Charlotte FC, you can choose one of the following options: 1) Columbus Crew to win, 2) Charlotte FC to win, or 3) Draw.
Spread:
Spread is a type of MLS bet where the sportsbook assigns a point advantage or disadvantage to each team based on their perceived strength and performance. The spread is also known as the handicap, and it aims to make the match more balanced and exciting for bettors.
For example, suppose the Philadelphia Union is -1.5 favorites to win against the Nashville SC, which is +1.5 underdogs.
In that case, it means that the Union has to win by more than 1.5 goals for you to win your bet, or the Nashville SC has to lose by less than 1.5 goals or win the match to win your bet.
If the Union wins by exactly 1.5 goals, the bet is a push, and you get your stake back.
Total:
Total is a type of MLS bet where you predict the total number of goals scored by both teams in a match, regardless of the outcome. The total is also known as the over/under, and it is usually set by the sportsbook based on the teams' expected scoring rate and style.
For example, if the total for the match between Minnesota United and the D.C. United is 2.5; you can bet on either over 2.5 goals or under 2.5 goals.
The over bet wins if the match ends with three or more goals. If the game ends with two or fewer goals, the underbet wins.
Props:
Props are a type of MLS bet where you wager on specific events or outcomes within a match rather than the final result.
Props are also known as specials, and they can be fun and creative ways to spice up your MLS betting experience. For example, some of the props you can bet on are 1) The first team to score, 2) The first player to score, 3) The number of corners, 4) The number of cards, 5) The number of shots, 6) The number of saves, 7) The number of fouls, 8) The number of offsides, 9) The number of penalties, 10) The number of own goals, and more.
Futures:
Futures are a type of MLS bet where you wager on the long-term outcomes of the league rather than individual matches. Futures are also known as outrights, and they can be exciting and rewarding ways to show your support and loyalty to your favorite teams and players.
For example, some of the futures you can bet on are: 1) The MLS Cup winner, 2) The MLS Supporters' Shield winner, 3) The MLS Golden Boot winner, 4) The MLS MVP winner, 5) The MLS Coach of the Year winner, 6) The MLS Rookie of the Year winner, and more.
How to Become a Better MLS Handicapper?
Major league soccer betting can be a fun and profitable hobby, but it also requires some skills and strategies to succeed. Here are some of the methods you can implement to become a better MLS handicapper:
Do your research:
Research is the key to successful MLS betting, as it can help you gain valuable information and insights on the teams, players, coaches, injuries, suspensions, form, trends, statistics, and more.
You can use various sources of information, such as official websites, social media, news outlets, podcasts, blogs, forums, and more, to stay updated and informed on the latest MLS news and developments.
Manage your bankroll:
Bankroll management is the art of controlling money and risk when betting on major league soccer or any other sport.
Bankroll management can help you avoid losing more than you can afford, maximize your profits, and minimize your losses.
The basic principle of bankroll management is to set a budget for your MLS betting and stick to it. Depending on your preferences and strategies, you can also use various methods for your bets.
MLS betting also requires knowledge, skills, and techniques to succeed, such as reading and understanding MLS odds, researching, managing your bankroll, and shopping for the best odds.
By following these tips and insights, you can become a better MLS handicapper and enjoy the thrill and excitement of MLS betting. We hope you found this article helpful and informative, and we wish you good luck and fun with your MLS bets.
If you are looking for the best online sportsbooks where you can place your MLS bets, we recommend you to check out [Bet365], [Betway], and [Bovada], as they offer some of the best MLS odds, markets, and bonuses in the industry. Thank you for reading, and happy betting!
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