Examining Historical Trends in MLS Cup Odds and Outcomes

The MLS Cup is the biggest event in the soccer calendar, and its rich history is ripe for research. We’ve delved into the 2020-2022 seasons to discover what they say about the winner and how you can use the data to make picks with Sportzino.

Columbus Crew – 2020 MLS Cup Winner

The Columbus Crew started the 2020 season with odds of +4,400 to win the MLS Cup. It made them one of the biggest underdogs in the history of the MLS to go on to win the tournament. Part of what made their achievement so impressive was that they hadn’t even made the post-season in the previous year.

However, after a losing record in 2019, they had a winning record in 2020 and made it to the MLS Cup final. They battled to a comfortable 3-0 win against the Seattle Sounders. Another impressive aspect of their victory was that the Sounders had MLS Cup odds of +800 at the start of the season and had won the previous year’s MLS Cup, so they were expected to win the game. It shows that soccer is one of the most surprising games on the planet.
The Crew has moved on from this shock win to appear as one of the more fancied teams in the MLS. If you want to choose them as the cup winner, you can find their odds at Sportzino.

New York City FC – 2021 MLS Cup Winner

New York City FC weren’t an underdog going into the 2021 season, but they weren’t the outright favorite with odds of +1,000. LAFC, Seattle Sounders, and Columbus Crew all had more favorable odds. So, while it wasn’t a complete upset, other teams were expected to beat New York City FC to the title.

They finished fourth in the Eastern Conference, which wasn’t a highly impressive finish. It left them as an outsider going into the post-season, particularly compared to their pre-season odds. However, they bucked the trend in the final and beat the Portland Timbers on penalties.

LAFC – 2022 MLS Cup Winner

Los Angeles FC entered the 2022 season as the outright favorite, with odds of +700. The regular season went as expected, with them finishing top of their conference. They took this form into the post-season and had a relatively simple progression to the final.

They played the Philadelphia Union in the final, their toughest match. It took them until penalties to claim the win, but they weren’t to be denied. It was the first MLS Cup in the franchise’s history, leaving them wanting more.

What Does the Trend Show?

The trend shows that soccer is highly unpredictable. It’s not just in the case of the MLS, even the EPL has surprise results, such as Leicester winning the league. It shows you’re better off making predictions on individual games, as there isn’t as much deviation from the mean as there is across an entire season.

Where to Make your Predictions

If you’re ready to start making MLS predictions, Sportzino is the best platform available. It covers the whole MLS season, from the conferences to the MLS Cup final. Each game offers a range of markets, ensuring you can make any predictions you like. Sportzino also adds in-play predictions, so you can use it easily if you have specific research about when teams score goals.