Betting on MLS: What You Need to Know

Soccer might be extremely popular world-wide but if you’re new to Betting on MLS, you’ll want to read this carefully. It affects the team’s calendar, playing schedule and available bets, so it’s a major factor to planning your bets and predicting results.

The MLS is divided into two conferences: Eastern and Western. Each conference has its own set of teams. During regular season, teams play a total of 34 games where they can earn 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. The team with the best regular-season record gets the Supporter’s Shield award.

Great, now let’s talk playoffs:

The MLS Cup is pretty straightforward: top teams from the regular season enter a knockout-style playoff, which end in a final match to get a champion. It’s all about performing well during the regular season to get a good seed and home advantage in the playoffs.

Playoff Qualification

• MLS is split into two conferences: Eastern and Western.
• The top seven teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs.

Seeding: Teams are seeded based on their regular-season performance. The top seed in each conference gets a bye in the first round.

Playoff Rounds

First Round: The second to seventh seeds in each conference play in a single-elimination match. Plus, the higher seed hosts the match.

Conference Semifinals:

• The first seed (which had a bye) plays the lowest remaining seed.
• The other two winners from the first round play each other and,
• Both of these are single-elimination matches.

Conference Finals:

The two winners from the semifinals face off. (Again, it’s a single-elimination match, with the higher seed hosting).

MLS Cup Final

Champions from Each Conference play each other in a single match. The winner is crowned the MLS Cup champion.

• Important: The team with the better regular-season record hosts the final.

The MLS Cup Timeline

• Regular Season Ends in October
• Playoffs Begin in Late October and,
• The MLS Cup Final is played in early December

As you can tell, these are a lot of games and that can negatively affect top teams that want to win everything. Teams with older rosters tend to suffer the most, as well as teams with limited quality outside of their starting 11.

Now it’s time we learn everything about MLS bets: which bets you can place, how to read their odds and figure out how to make the most money. We’ll use practical examples too, so don’t worry if you don’t get it at first.

A Two-Way Moneyline bet is a straightforward bet where you pick which team you think will win the match. In this type of bet, there is no option to bet for a draw – if the match ends in a draw, you lose your bet.

Making This Bet:

Let’s say the match is between Inter Miami and L.A. Galaxy but Messi and Luis Suarez aren’t playing. What are your options if you bet $80?

The Odds:

• Inter Miami to Win: +150
• L.A. Galaxy to Win: -110

When to Go for Two-Way Moneyline Betting on MLS

Go for a Two-Way Moneyline bet when you’re confident in a team’s chances of winning. Its definitely a “black and white” type of bet so make sure to do your due diligence when picking a team!

Three-Way Moneyline bets on MLS are pretty straightforward: choose a team to win, or bet on a draw. MLS matches tend to be pretty even, but sometimes outside circumstances convince you on a specific outcome.

Let’s say the match is between Inter Miami and L.A. Galaxy. Again, Messi and Luis Suarez aren’t playing, so what are your options for an $80 bet?

Inter Miami to Win: +150

• Draw: +200
• L.A. Galaxy to Win: -100

When to Go for Three-Way Moneyline Betting on MLS

Three-Way Moneyline bets are great if you’re confident in a specific outcome. These predictions can be tricky, but if you’re keen on statistics and have solid insight into team performance and specific match dynamics, then you can pick a clear winner (or a draw) and get a nice payout.

First things first: Two-Way Moneyline bets and Full-Time Moneyline Bets are interchangeable terms, so don’t feel too confused if other gamblers use it as such.

The second thing is that these bets are usually reserved for other competitions where extra-time is available. Technically, you can do a Full-Time Moneyline Bet on a hypothetical tie-breaker between two teams that drew their playoffs games, but it’s a niche scenario. You’ll mostly place Two-Way Moneyline bets.

Let’s say the match is between Nashville SC and New York City FC. You want to place an $80 bet. The odds are:

• Nashville SC to Win: +150
• Draw: +200
• New York City FC to Win: +100

When to Go for Full-Time Moneyline Betting on MLS

Go for a Full-Time Moneyline bet when you’re confident in a team’s ability to win outright, or if you anticipate a draw during regular time. What happens after that is not covered by this bet.

This bet is all about predicting which team will be leading at halftime. Since you’re betting on the outcome of the first 45 minutes plus stoppage time (and not the full game!), you’ll want to save these for teams that start off strong very regularly.

Let’s say the match is between L.A. Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders, and you want to place an $80 bet. The odds are:

• L.A. Galaxy to Win First Half: +150
• Draw at First Half: +200
• Seattle Sounders to Win First Half: +120

When to Go for First Half Moneyline Betting on MLS

Go for First Half Moneyline betting when a team is known for strong starts, has key players starting, or when you expect an evenly matched game with cautious play. It’s also useful to hedge full-time bets by covering early game outcomes.

A Second Half Moneyline bet is a wager on which team will win the second half of the match, regardless of the first half score. You’re betting on the outcome of the second 45 minutes plus stoppage time, not the full game. It’s a pretty good bet for teams that are known to turn games around regularly (can’t help to think of Real Madrid on UCL a few years back, they were famous for that).

Teams that tend to save their strongest players for the second half are also good choices for these bets. Let’s say the match is between Inter Miami and L.A. Galaxy, and you want to place an $80 bet. Messi and Luis Suarez are expected to play for Miami, making them the favorites. The odds are:

• Inter Miami to Win Second Half: -120
• Draw in the Second Half: +250
• L.A. Galaxy to Win Second Half: +200

When to Go for Second Half Moneyline Betting on MLS

Second Half Moneyline betting is about predicting which team will win the second half. It’s ideal when you know a team finishes strong, or when the first half was slow and you expect more action later.

A Draw No Bet (DNB) is a type of bet where you pick a team to win, and if the match ends in a draw, your stake is refunded. The payouts aren’t as great compared to other moneylines, but they eliminate the risk of a draw, so they’re a far safer option. We talk more about this bet and how make money with it on our Soccer Betting Lines Explained post, so feel free to visit that after you’re done here.

Let’s say the match is between Nashville SC and New York City FC. You want to place an $80 bet. The odds are:

• Nashville SC (DNB): -110
• New York City FC (DNB): +100

When to Go for Draw No Bet (DNB) Betting on MLS

Generally speaking, a Draw No Bet (DNB) is a safer betting option that eliminates the risk of a draw. You win if your team wins, and if the match ends in a draw, your stake is refunded. It’s a good idea in closely matched games or when you want to minimize risk, because nothing hurts more than seeing the rival team tie a game at the last minute.

Live/In-Play Moneyline betting allows you to place bets on a match while it’s happening. The odds constantly change based on the current state of the game, like the score, time remaining, and team performance.

These types of bets are super exciting for those who like to live on the edge throughout matches and of course, when you can leverage in-game insights, hedge pre-match bets, or if you dig taking advantage of fluctuating odds (beyond soccer betting).

Let’s say the match is between L.A. Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders. The game starts, and you’re watching it unfold. At halftime, the score is 1-1, and you decide to place an $80 bet.

During the Game

Current Odds:

At halftime, the odds might look like this based on the game situation:

• A. Galaxy to Win: +150
• Draw: +200
• Seattle Sounders to Win: +180

Deciding When to Bet:

• You can place your bet at any time during the game. Let’s say you decide to bet at halftime.

When to Go for Live/In-Play Moneyline Betting on MLS

Go for Live/In-Play Moneyline betting when you can watch the game and notice momentum shifts, key player performances, or strategic changes. Keep an eye on key players performance during the game, are they exploiting the rivals’ defensive shortcomings? Do any of the coaches readjusted the team tactics or subbed any players to gain the upper hand?

These bets are better for veterans that understand the ebb and flow of the game, and can adjust accordingly. Wouldn’t recommend them to a beginner.

Extra Time Moneyline betting is about predicting which team will win during the extra time period, not during regular time. It’s ideal in knockout stages when matches go into extra time. These are only available when the match officially goes into extra time, after a draw during regular time. It’s only available during knockout stages or playoff games, not regular league matches.

Let’s say the match is in a knockout stage, and it ends in a draw after regular time, so it goes into extra time. You decide to place an $80 bet during extra time.

The Odds:

• Nashville SC to Win in Extra Time: +150
• Draw at End of Extra Time: +200
• New York City FC to Win in Extra Time: +180

When to Go for Extra Time Moneyline Betting on MLS

Try to go for an Extra Time Moneyline bet during knockout stage matches when you expect the game to be closely contested. It’s ideal if you have insights into which team has better stamina, key substitutions, or strong extra time performance. This bet is useful when the regular time ends in a draw and you anticipate a decisive outcome in during those last few extra minutes of a game.

So, just to be on the same page: Point Spread betting (also known as Handicap betting) levels the playing field between two teams. A favorite team is given a negative point spread, and the underdog a positive point spread.

To win the bet, the favorite must win by more than the spread, while the underdog can lose by less than the spread or win outright. So, the underdog has an advantage and the favorite has to rally and beat the spread, which turns boring games into real nail-biters.

Example Match: Inter Miami vs. L.A. Galaxy

Let’s say the match is between Inter Miami and L.A. Galaxy, and you want to place an $80 bet. Messi and Luis Suarez are expected to play for Inter Miami, making them the favorites. The point spread might look like this:

• Inter Miami -1.5: -110
• L.A. Galaxy +1.5: +100

When to Go for Point Spread Moneyline Betting on MLS

Go for a Point Spread bet when you believe the favorite will win by a significant margin or the underdog will keep the game close. It’s ideal for managing risk and getting better odds. Remember that this bet is useful when you expect a clear difference in performance between the teams.

Its important to clarify first that PK (Pick’em) Spreads betting and Draw No Bets are interchangeable terms, since they’re functionally are the same thing. This is because there’s no handicap given to either team, so you just pick a winner and get a push if they draw. Simple enough.

We talk more about these bets in our What Does Pk Mean In Soccer Betting? Piece, so feel free to check that out.

Let’s say the match is between L.A. Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders. You want to place an $80 bet on the PK Spread.

The Odds:

• L.A. Galaxy (PK): -110
• Seattle Sounders (PK): +100

When to Go for Point Spread Moneyline Betting on MLS

In general, go for a PK Spreads bet when you expect a closely matched game and want to avoid the risk of a draw. It’s ideal when you have strong confidence in one team winning but want your stake refunded if the match ends in a draw. This bet is useful for minimizing risk in evenly contested matches.

Quarter Lines betting splits your bet into two halves with different handicaps, offering a way to manage risk and potentially win or minimize losses. It’s mostly used by veterans that really want to add strategic depth to each bet.

These are also known as Asian Handicap Quarter Lines, splits your bet into two halves, each with a different handicap. It helps manage risk by giving you a chance to win half your bet or minimize losses. These bets typically come in the form of 0.25, 0.75, 1.25, etc.

They’re great if you know what you’re doing and have the tactical insight to back up your predictions, so not really something I’d advice beginners to jump into from day one. But hey, the sooner you learn the better right? Let’s look at an example.

Example Match: L.A. Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders

Let’s say the match is between L.A. Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders. You decide to place an $80 bet on a Quarter Line. The odds and handicaps might look like this:

• L.A. Galaxy -0.25: -110
• Seattle Sounders +0.25: +100

Betting on Seattle Sounders +0.25

Odds: +100

What It Means: Your $80 bet is split into two $40 bets:

• $40 on Seattle Sounders +0 (Draw No Bet)
• $40 on Seattle Sounders +0.5

Round Robin betting is a way to place multiple parlays at once. It allows you to cover different combinations of bets, reducing your risk. Instead of betting on one parlay, you’re betting on multiple smaller parlays.

Lengthy but detailed Example: Inter Miami vs. L.A. Galaxy

Let’s say you want to bet on several outcomes in this game. You decide to place an $80 Round Robin bet involving three different selections:

1. Inter Miami to Win
2. Over 2.5 Goals
3. Messi to Score Anytime

Placing the Bet

1. Total Bet Amount: $80
2. Number of Selections: 3 (Inter Miami to win, Over 2.5 Goals, Messi to Score Anytime)
3. Type of Round Robin: Let’s say you choose a “2-pick” Round Robin, meaning your bets are placed on combinations of two out of the three selections.

Breakdown of Bets

Your $80 is divided among the different parlays. In this example, you’re creating three different 2-pick parlays:

1. Parlay 1: Inter Miami to Win + Over 2.5 Goals
2. Parlay 2: Inter Miami to Win + Messi to Score Anytime
3. Parlay 3: Over 2.5 Goals + Messi to Score Anytime

Bet Allocation

• Total Bet Amount: $80
• Number of Parlays: 3
• Amount per Parlay: $80 / 3 ≈ $26.67 per parlay

How It Pays Out

Parlay 1: Inter Miami to Win + Over 2.5 Goals

• Odds Example:
  • Inter Miami to Win: -150
  • Over 2.5 Goals: +100
• Combined Odds Calculation: (-150 * +100) = (1.67 * 2.00) = 3.34
• Payout Calculation: $26.67 x 3.34 ≈ $89

Parlay 2: Inter Miami to Win + Messi to Score Anytime

• Odds Example:
  • Inter Miami to Win: -150
  • Messi to Score Anytime: +120
• Payout Calculation: $26.67 * 3.67 ≈ $98

Parlay 3: Over 2.5 Goals + Messi to Score Anytime

• Odds Example:
  • Over 2.5 Goals: +100
  • Messi to Score Anytime: +120
• Combined Odds Calculation: (+100 * +120) = (2.00 * 2.20) = 4.40
• Payout Calculation: $26.67 * 4.40 ≈ $117

Possible Outcomes:

All Three Parlays Win

Two Parlays Win

One Parlay Wins

No Parlays Win (kind of an obvious one but just to be thorough):

When to Go for Round Robin Betting on MLS

Go for these when you have multiple strong predictions and want to spread your risk. It’s ideal for covering different outcomes and increasing your chances of winning. If you’re confident in several bets but want to avoid losing everything on one parlay, Round Robin bets allow you to profit even if not all your choices win, it’s the kind of bet that gives you some creative leeway so to speak.

Asian Handicap betting is a way to level the playing field between two teams by giving a handicap to the favorite and an advantage to the underdog. This type of betting eliminates the possibility of a draw, reducing the bet to two possible outcomes.

Again, just like Quarter Line bets, Asian Handicaps are pretty great if you have the chops for it. You’re betting on very specific outcomes with certain handicaps, so you’d probably steer clear from these if you’re new to MLS betting. For now, let’s take a look at how these bets work though.

Let’s say the match is between Nashville SC and New York City FC, and you decide to place an $80 bet. The odds might look like this:

• Nashville SC -0.5: +100
• New York City FC +0.5: -110

Betting on New York City FC +0.5

Odds: -110

• What It Means: You win the bet if New York City FC wins or the match ends in a draw. If Nashville SC wins, you lose the bet.
• Your Bet: You bet $80 on New York City FC +0.5.

When to Go for Asian Handicap Betting on MLS

Go for Asian Handicap betting when teams are closely matched to manage risk or if you’re confident in a favorite’s win for better odds. It’s ideal to minimize the draw risk and find value in tight games. Analyze team form, recent performances, and key player impacts to make an informed decision.

Over-Under betting, (or Total Goals betting, these are interchangeable) allow you to predict whether the total number of goals scored in a match will be over or under a specified number. The sports betting platform sets a goal line and you pretty much bet whether the actual goals will be more or less than the line they’ve set.

The bookmakers use all sorts of internal calculations and variables to set these lines, and part of betting on MLS is knowing how to shop for these lines. Getting the best line is a whole process we’ll discuss in the future, for now let’s look at an example.

Example: L.A. Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders

Let’s say the match is between L.A. Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders, and you want to place an $80 bet. The bookmaker sets the goal line at 2.5 goals.

Betting on Under 2.5 Goals

Odds: -110

• What It Means: You win the bet if the total goals scored by both teams is 2 or fewer. If the total is 3 or more, you lose the bet.
• Your Bet: You bet $80 on Under 2.5 goals.

When to Go for Over/Under (Total Goals) Betting on MLS

In general terms, when you expect either a high-scoring or defensive match. Bet on “Over” if both teams have strong offenses and weak defenses, and “Under” if they have strong defenses or play conservatively.

Analyze recent performances, head-to-head records, and player availability to make an informed decision as always.

This one is pretty straightforward as well. It revolves around predicting whether both teams will score at least one goal during the match. It doesn’t matter who wins or what the final score is, as long as both teams score you’ll see some green coming your way.

Example: Nashville SC vs. New York City FC

Let’s say the match is between Nashville SC and New York City FC, and you want to place an $80 bet on BTTS.

Betting on BTTS – Yes

Odds: -120

• What It Means: You win the bet if both Nashville SC and New York City FC score at least one goal each.
• Your Bet: You bet $80 on BTTS – Yes.

Betting on BTTS – No

Odds: +100

• What It Means: You win the bet if either Nashville SC or New York City FC does not score.
• Your Bet: You bet $80 on BTTS – No.

When to Go for Both Teams to Score (BTTS) Betting on MLS

Both Teams to Score (BTTS) bets are a decent bet when both teams have strong offenses and regularly score. If any key defenders got expelled or injured, that’s also a factor to consider into your bets.

Double Chance betting pretty much covers two out of three possible outcomes, so you can already suspect that payouts aren’t going to be as juicy as, say, a moneyline bet. But, it’s still a safer bet that risk-adverse players will appreciate.

Let’s say the match is between Inter Miami and L.A. Galaxy. Messi and Luis Suarez are expected to play, making Miami the favorites. You decide to place an $80 bet on a Double Chance bet.

Your Double Chance Options

1. Inter Miami and Draw (1X): You win if Inter Miami wins or the match ends in a draw.
2. L.A. Galaxy and Draw (X2): You win if L.A. Galaxy wins or the match ends in a draw.
3. Inter Miami and L.A. Galaxy (12): You win if either team wins (no draw).

Let’s say you choose Inter Miami and Draw (1X) with odds of -300.

Odds: -300

• What It Means: You win the bet if Inter Miami wins or if the match ends in a draw.
• Your Bet: You bet $80 on Inter Miami and Draw (1X).

When to Go for Double Chance Betting on MLS

Remember that these are always good when you want to minimize risk, especially in closely matched games or when you’re confident one team won’t lose. It’s ideal for unpredictable matches or when betting on underdogs.

Now this bet involves predicting the precise final score of a match. It’s ideal when you have a strong prediction and are seeking high payouts. This is a type of bet where you predict the precise final score of a match so it’s a bit challenging but it does offers high payouts because of this.

Let’s say the match is between Nashville SC and New York City FC, and you want to place an $80 bet on the exact score.

You decide to bet that the final score will be Nashville SC 2 – 1 New York City FC. The odds for this exact score might be +800.

Odds: +800

• What It Means: You win the bet if the final score is exactly 2-1 in favor of Nashville SC.
• Your Bet: You bet $80 on Nashville SC to win 2-1.

When To Go for Exact Score Betting on MLS

Go for them when you have a lot of knowledge on the matchup, and each of the teams’ current forms, season’s performance, head-to-head records, and player availability. Use this bet whenever you’re confident in the likely scoreline and looking for a big return on a small wager.

Predicting which player will score the first goal in a match is a pretty specific thing to do. It’s a really popular bet due to its payouts, but it’s definitely not an easy one to get right. It requires doing a serious analysis and the team’s season performance and lineups and a nice dose of good ole luck.

Let’s say the match is between L.A. Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders, and you want to place an $80 bet on the first goal scorer. You decide to bet on Dejan Joveljic from L.A. Galaxy to score the first goal.

• Player: Dejan Joveljic
• Odds: +600

In other words: You win the bet if Joveljic scores the first goal of the match. If any other player scores first, or if there are no goals, you lose the bet.

When to Use First Goal Scorer Betting on MLS

First Goal Scorer bets are ideal when you have insights on key players. If you know a particular player is in good form or has a good record against the opposing team, this type of bet can give you a big pay.

For instance, if Joveljic has been scoring consistently, betting on him to score first is a good idea. Try to also keep in mind which players are likely to be in attacking positions early in the game. If L.A. Galaxy tends to start strong, picking one of their forwards might be a smart choice for a first goal scorer.

Last Goal Scorer betting is a type of bet where you predict which player will score the final goal in a match. It’s the opposite of the First Goal Scorer, and it turns any regular match into an exciting watch all the way to the finish. The payouts are pretty good too, but predicting this one can be pretty difficult, unless the team has a reliable scorer on the bench that tends to turn things around at the last minute.

Let’s say the match is between L.A. Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders, and you want to place an $80 bet on the last goal scorer. For this example, you decide to bet on Raúl Ruidíaz, who is expected to come off the bench in the second half for the Seattle Sounders.

Choosing your Player

• Player: Raúl Ruidíaz
• Odds: +500

What It Means: You win the bet if Ruidíaz scores the final goal of the match. If any other player scores last, or if there are no goals, you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on Ruidíaz to score the last goal.

When to Use Last Goal Scorer Bets

These are always good when you have insights on key players who often score late in the game or are likely to be subbed in for fresh legs. If you know a player is in good form and often scores towards the end of matches, this type of bet can give you big winnings.

This bet is pretty self-explanatory: you try to predict which team will score the first goal in a match. Depending on how the match goes, you get to cash in pretty early from teams known for their strong starts, or players that tend to impact games early on. It doesn’t really matter what happens during the rest of the match either, the team could lose and you’d still get your green.

Let’s say the match is between Inter Miami and L.A. Galaxy, and you want to place an $80 bet on the first team to score. Messi and Luis Suarez are expected to play, making Inter Miami the favorites.

Choosing the Team

• Team: Inter Miami
• Odds: -150

What It Means: You win the bet if Inter Miami scores the first goal of the match. If L.A. Galaxy scores first or if there are no goals, you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on Inter Miami to score first.

When to Use First Team to Score Betting on MLS

First Team to Score bets are ideal when you expect a strong start from one team, especially if they have key players who are known for early goals. If you know a team typically starts games aggressively or has key attackers in good form, this type of bet can be profitable.

For instance, whenever Messi and Luis Suarez are expected to play, Inter Miami is likely to score first which could make this bet work in your favor. Plus, consider if Inter Miami tends to dominate early, betting on them to score first could be a smart move.

This is the opposite to the bet we just went over, and it’s also pretty self-explanatory to be honest. A Last Team to Score bet allows you to predict which team will score the final goal in a match, which certainly makes things interesting right until the game ends. It gets even better when the match becomes an exciting back and forth at the end where anything can happen.

Let’s say the match is between Nashville SC and New York City FC, and you want to place an $80 bet on the last team to score. For this example, consider that Sam Surridge, Nashville’s top scorer, is used as a super sub for this match.

• Team: Nashville SC
• Odds: +120

What this Means: You win the bet if Nashville SC scores the last goal of the match. If New York City FC scores last or if there are no goals, you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on Nashville SC to score last.

Basically, it involves predicting that a specific team will score the first goal and also win the match. Since youre combining two outcomes (scoring first and winning the game), it usually offers higher odds due to the added difficulty.

Let’s say the match is between L.A. Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders, and you want to place an $80 bet on this type of bet.

For this example, we’ll choose L.A. Galaxy to score first and win the match.

• Team: L.A. Galaxy
• Odds: +200

What It Means: You win the bet if L.A. Galaxy scores the first goal of the match and goes on to win the game. If any other scenario occurs, you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on L.A. Galaxy to score first and win.

When to Use Team to Score First and Win Bets

These are great when you are confident that one team will start strong, score early, and maintain their lead to win the match. You can also think of this bet when you have insights into both teams’ playstyles and if one has hard countered the other in the past.

Anytime Goal Scorer betting is a type of bet where you predict that a specific player will score a goal at any point during the match. This bet is popular because it offers more flexibility and better chances of winning compared to betting on the first or last goal scorer.

They’re also pretty popular for teams that clearly depend on a player for their goals. If you confidently believe that this player will add to the score, but you just don’t know when, then why not place an Anytime Goal Scorer bet on him?

Example: Inter Miami vs. L.A. Galaxy

Let’s say the match is between Inter Miami and L.A. Galaxy, and you want to place an $80 bet on an anytime goal scorer. Given that Messi and Luis Suarez are playing and Miami are the favorites, we’ll choose Messi as our anytime goal scorer.

• Player: Lionel Messi
• Odds: -110

What It Means: You win the bet if Messi scores a goal at any point during the match. If he doesn’t score, you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on Messi to score anytime.

When to Use Anytime Goal Scorer Bets

These are great whenever you believe a specific player is highly likely to score during the match. Always ask yourself if that key player is in good form, has a strong scoring record, or if the upcoming match favors him.

For instance, if Messi is expected to play and Inter Miami is favored to win, betting on Messi to score anytime is a good idea. On the other hand, hes been so consistent at it that youd probably get lesser odds compared to other MLS goalscorers.

In this bet youre predicting the exact margin by which a team will win a match. It’s a pretty specific outcome you’re trying to nail, so you just know the payout is gonna be good.

Let’s say the match is between Nashville SC and New York City FC, and you want to place an $80 bet on the winning margin. For this example, we’ll choose Nashville SC to win by exactly 2 goals.

Choosing the Winning Margin

• Team: Nashville SC
• Winning Margin: 2 goals
• Odds: +400

Reading the odds: You win the bet if Nashville SC wins the match by exactly 2 goals. If they win by any other margin, if New York City FC wins, or if the match ends in a draw, you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on Nashville SC to win by 2 goals.

When to Use Winning Margin Bets

Go for them when you believe one team is significantly stronger and will win by a specific margin. For example, if you expect Nashville SC to dominate the game and win comfortably, you might predict they will win by exactly 2 goals or even more.

As the name says, Total Team Goals is a type of bet where you predict the number of goals that a specific team will score in a match. It doesn’t matter what the final score is or who wins the match; you’re only interested in the total amount of goals scored by the team you choose.

Some gamblers like to specialize in following a team’s stats and performances, and they tend to take these bets with a certain level of confidence. They can roughly estimate how the team is going and how good their scorers are for the season, so they can choose when to take these bets on good odds.

Let’s say the match is between L.A. Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders, and you want to place an $80 bet on the total team goals for L.A. Galaxy.

Team: L.A. Galaxy

• Total Goals Line: Over 1.5 goals
• Odds: +150

What It Means: You win the bet if L.A. Galaxy scores 2 or more goals during the match. If they score 1 or no goals, you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on L.A. Galaxy to score over 1.5 goals.

When to Use Total Team Goals Bets

These are good for when you believe a specific team is likely to score a certain number of goals, regardless of the final outcome of the match. This type of bet is useful when you expect a high-scoring performance from one team due to strong offensive form, key player availability, or a weak opposing defense. For example, if you think L.A. Galaxy will have a strong attacking game, betting on them to score over 1.5 goals is a good idea.

The First Half/Over Under Bets combine two bets we’ve already seen. You basically predict whether the total number of goals scored in the first half of a match will be over or under a specified number set by the bookie. These lines differ from platform to platform, so you might catch better odds on different websites or bookmakers too.

Final result doesn’t matter either, you’re just trying to get the first half score right. You get to cash in early on, and then continue watching the game if you have other bets running.

Example: Nashville SC vs. New York City FC

Let’s say the match is between Nashville SC and New York City FC, and you want to place an $80 bet on the first half over/under goals. For this example, the bookmaker sets the line at 1.5 goals.

• Line: Over 1.5 goals in the first half
• Odds: +120

What It Means: You win the bet if the total goals scored by both teams in the first half is 2 or more. If the total goals are 0 or 1, you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on Over 1.5 goals in the first half.

When to Use First Half Over/Under Bets

First Half Over/Under bets are ideal when you expect a fast-paced start to the game, with both teams likely to score early goals. For instance, if Nashville SC and New York City FC both have strong attacking records in the first half, betting on over 1.5 goals in the first half would make sense.

This is the second-half version of the bet we just went over. Second Half Over/Under bets get you to predict whether the total number of goals scored in the second half of a match will be over or under a specified number set by the bookmaker.

Keep in mind that you’re only betting on the goals scored in the second half, not the actual result. You could just as easily place a First Half Over/Under bet in one platform, shop for better lines and do a Second Half Over/Under bet on a different one. You’d be placing two bets that keep you glued to the screen for all of the game and get a couple of juicy payouts to boot. If you get the predictions right, that is.

Let’s say the match is between Inter Miami and L.A. Galaxy, and you want to place an $80 bet on the second half over/under goals.

For this example, the bookmaker sets the line at 1.5 goals for the second half.

• Line: Over 1.5 goals in the second half
• Odds: +110

What It Means: You win the bet if the total goals scored by both teams in the second half is 2 or more. If the total goals are 0 or 1, you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on Over 1.5 goals in the second half.

When to Use Second Half Over/Under Bets

Second Half Over/Under bets are ideal when you expect a lot of action and goals in the latter part of the game. Make sure to keep an eye for those who tend to score or concede late in matches. For example, if Inter Miami, with Messi and Luis Suarez, are expected to push hard in the second half, betting on over 1.5 goals in the second half could be a solid bet.

By now, you’re probably noticing a pattern in how two individual bets get rolled into one. This one takes the Anytime Goal Scorer and a standard moneyline and combines it into one. You’ll want this player to score a goal at any point during the match, and that the team wins the match. You’re trying to predict two outcomes, so the stakes are higher but so are the payouts.

Example: Inter Miami vs. L.A. Galaxy

Let’s say the match is between Inter Miami and L.A. Galaxy, and you want to place an $80 bet on Luis Suarez to score and Inter Miami to win. Given that Suarez is expected to play and Miami are the favorites, this could be an exciting bet.

Choosing the Player and Team

• Player: Luis Suarez
• Team: Inter Miami
• Odds: +250

What It Means: You win the bet if Luis Suarez scores a goal at any point during the match and Inter Miami wins the match. If either Suarez doesn’t score or Miami doesn’t win (including if the match ends in a draw), you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on Luis Suarez to score and Inter Miami to win.

When to Use Player to Score and Team to Win Bets

These bets are great for when you are confident that a specific player will score and that their team will win the match. For example, if you believe Luis Suarez is in good form and that Inter Miami is likely to win, this bet can be quite rewarding. For other teams it’s always good to stay up to date with team high performers (players are known to deliver in crucial matches) since this is a solid data point for bet such as this.

If you’re familiar with Prop Bets in Sports Betting, then you’ll probably think this is one. Total Corner bets focuses on predicting the total number of corner kicks that a match will have. Again, we’re not really trying to guess the final result (unless you have a separate bet riding money on that), we just want to predict how many corners both teams will have by the end of the game.

Example: L.A. Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders

Let’s say the match is between L.A. Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders, and you want to place an $80 bet on the total corners in the match. The bookmaker sets the line at 9.5 corners.

• Line: Over 9.5 corners
• Odds: +110

What It Means: You win the bet if the total number of corner kicks taken by both teams combined is 10 or more. If there are 9 or fewer corners, you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on Over 9.5 corners.

When to Go for Total Corners Betting on MLS

Total Corners bets are ideal when you have insights into the attacking and defensive styles of both teams. This type of bet is useful when you expect a match to have lots of attacking plays that result in corners, or when both teams are known for their corner-taking frequency. For example, if L.A. Galaxy and Seattle Sounders both play aggressively and often force corners, betting on over 9.5 corners can be a good idea.

Total Cards betting is a type of bet where you predict the total number of yellow and red cards that will be issued during a match. Total Cards bets are a favorite amongst gamblers when a Derby or long-time rivals face each other on the MLS. This bet tries to predict the total number of yellow and red cards that the referee will dish out.

The league has only recently become more mainstream, but these rivalries do exist. Not long ago, many Inter Miami fans found out that Orlando City SC got some beef going, and these are bound to see an uptick in disciplinary actions.

Anyways, let’s look at a practical example. Let’s say the match is between Nashville SC and New York City FC, and you want to place an $80 bet on the total number of cards in the match.

The bookmaker sets the line at 4.5 cards.

• Line: Over 4.5 cards
• Odds: +120

What It Means: You win the bet if the total number of yellow and red cards issued to both teams combined is 5 or more. If there are 4 or fewer cards, you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on Over 4.5 cards.

When to Go for Total Cards Betting on MLS

Go for these when you have insights into the playing style and disciplinary records of both teams. This type of bet is useful when you expect a match to be particularly physical or tense, leading to more fouls and cards.

It doesn’t hurt to keep an eyer for any trash-talking going on between players ahead of a match. For instance, if Nashville SC and New York City FC have a history of heated encounters or if the match is crucial for standings, betting on over 4.5 cards can be a good idea.

Well, as the name state Time of First Goal bets are all about predicting the time frame within which the first goal of the match will be scored. The bookmaker usually offers different time intervals for you to choose from, such as 0-15 minutes, 16-30 minutes, etc.

Example: Inter Miami vs. L.A. Galaxy

Let’s say the match is between Inter Miami and L.A. Galaxy, and you want to place an $80 bet on the time of the first goal. Given that Messi and Luis Suarez are playing and Miami are the favorites, this could be an interesting bet.

Choosing the Time Interval

• Time Interval: 0-15 minutes
• Odds: +300

What It Means: You win the bet if the first goal of the match is scored within the first 15 minutes. If the first goal is scored after 15 minutes or there are no goals, you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on the first goal to be scored within 0-15 minutes.

When to Go for Time of First Goal Betting on MLS

This type of bet is useful when you expect a fast-paced start, especially with key players like Messi and Suarez known for their attacking prowess. Knowing if any of these guys will be called by their National Teams after a match can work in your favor as they’ll probably would like to put Inter on the lead early on ahead of being subbed.

In that case, betting on the first goal to be scored within the first 15 minutes is a smart move. You could even combine it with a Player to Score bet too, but that’s up to you, since combining these bets is definitely part of the fun.

Total Shots on Target bets require you to predict the total number of shots on target that will be taken during a match. Many newbies think that a shot that misses the goalpost counts as a shot on target, and completely miss the mark with this bet. A shot on target is any shot that require the goalkeeper to make a save, hit the goalposts, or result in a goal,

Sometimes you’ll see a shot that narrowly misses the goalpost, but required no real intervention from the goalkeeper. Many think that should count as a shot on target, but that’s not how it works. Please keep that in mind before you place your bets.

Let’s say the match is between Nashville SC and New York City FC, and you want to place an $80 bet on the total shots on target in the match.

The bookmaker sets the line at 10.5 shots on target.

• Line: Over 10.5 shots on target
• Odds: +150

What It Means: You win the bet if the total number of shots on target taken by both teams combined is 11 or more. If there are 10 or fewer shots on target, you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on Over 10.5 shots on target.

When to go for Total Shots on Target Betting on MLS

Total Shots on Target bets are ideal when you expect an attacking game with many scoring opportunities. This type of bet is useful when you have insights into both teams’ playing styles, particularly if they are known for taking many shots on goal.

For example, if Nashville SC and New York City FC are both aggressive teams with high shot counts, betting on over 10.5 shots on target is probably a good option.

For this bet you basically predict the total number of saves a specific goalkeeper will make during a match. A save is recorded when the goalkeeper stops a shot that would otherwise have gone into the goal.

Let’s say the match is between L.A. Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders, and you want to place an $80 bet on the total number of saves by the L.A. Galaxy goalkeeper.

The bookmaker sets the line at 4.5 saves.

• Line: Over 4.5 saves
• Odds: +140

What It Means: You win the bet if the L.A. Galaxy goalkeeper makes 5 or more saves during the match. If the goalkeeper makes 4 or fewer saves, you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on Over 4.5 saves.

When to Use Total Saves by Goalkeeper Bets

These are ideal when you expect a lot of action near the goalkeeper’s net, especially if the opposing team is known for taking many shots on goal. You can think of this bet as the opposite or a counter bet to Total Shots on Target bets. For instance, if you expect the Seattle Sounders to be very aggressive and take many shots, betting on the L.A. Galaxy goalkeeper to make over 4.5 saves can be a smart move.

Ok so this type of bet relies heavily on player roles and contributions to the team. Player Performance betting is a type of bet where you predict specific outcomes for individual players during a match. This can include metrics like goals, assists, shots on target, tackles, passing accuracy, key passes, and more. It focuses on the performance of a particular player rather than the overall match result.

This is definitely one of the more high-end bets in terms of entry barrier and required knowledge. Most gamblers that take on these bets are already fans of a specific team and have deep knowledge of players statistics, otherwise they avoid them. These deal on a very granular level, so keep that in mind before placing your bets.

Let’s say the match is between Inter Miami and L.A. Galaxy, and you want to place an $80 bet on Sergio Busquets, who is known for his high passing accuracy and key passes.

The bookmaker might offer different lines for various player performance metrics.

• Player: Sergio Busquets
• Metric: Over 90% passing accuracy
• Odds: +110

What It Means: You win the bet if Busquets achieves a passing accuracy of over 90% during the match. If his passing accuracy is 90% or lower, you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on Busquets to have over 90% passing accuracy.

When to Use Player Performance Bets

When you have insights into a player’s form, role, and recent statistics you can make the most out of player performance bets. Go for this one when you expect a player to perform well in specific areas due to their skills and the match conditions.

For instance, if Busquets is known for his high passing accuracy and is expected to play a significant role in Inter Miami’s midfield, betting on him to achieve over 90% passing accuracy is a smart move.

Another Example: Bet on Key Passes

You could also bet on Busquets to make a certain number of key passes:

Choosing the Bet & Player

• Player: Sergio Busquets
• Metric: Over 2.5 key passes
• Odds: +150

What It Means: You win the bet if Busquets makes 3 or more key passes during the match. If he makes 2 or fewer, you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on Busquets to make over 2.5 key passes.

MVP betting in MLS involves placing a wager on who you think will be named the Most Valuable Player at the end of the season. This type of bet is usually made before or during the season and involves predicting which player will have the best performance overall.

This is quite difficult to predict, so unless you got a superstar playing on the league (like Messi does now), this bet requires substantial faith on a talented player to break the mold. Many gamblers like to bet big on a star that recently switched teams, because they believe this new team will take them to new heights.

Personally, I think that’s not a good way to bet, since there’s literally no indication that the player will indeed perform at a higher level. Plus, they have to adapt to the new team, so it’s not an easy prediction by any means.

How MVP Betting Works

When you place an MVP bet, you’re betting on a specific player to be recognized as the best player in the league for that season. Bookies offer odds on various players based on their perceived chances of winning the award.

Example Bet: $80 on an MVP Candidate

Let’s say you’re betting on Christian Benteke from D.C. United (given his insane form throughout the season), to win the MVP award.

• Player: Christian Benteke
• Odds: +500

What It Means: You win the bet if Christian Benteke is named the MVP of the MLS season. If any other player wins the MVP award, you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on Christian Benteke to win the MVP.

When to Use MVP Bets

MVP bets are ideal when you have a strong belief in a player’s performance over the course of the season. This type of bet is useful when you follow the league closely and can analyze players’ form, impact on their team, and overall contribution to their success. Of course, make sure that players team is capitalizing on his form (it really makes them less of a candidate when their team aren’t runner ups for the title or the MLS Cup)

The Golden Boot is awarded to the players with the most goals at the end of the season, and this bet focuses on predicting who that player will be.

This is another “future” type of bet that requires considerable analysis, but also a substantial drop of luck. Your prediction could be on-point until somewhere down the line the player gets injured and has to drop out, or maybe the player feeding him those assists fights the coach and gets benched.

All sorts of things can happen during a season, just keep that in mind.

How Golden Boot Betting Works

As always, bookmakers and all sorts of online platforms will offer odds on various players based on how likely they are to get the award. You’ll want to shop for these lines and see which one offers the best bang for your buck.

Let’s try what’s probably one of the most popular bets for the year. Let’s say you want to bet on Lionel Messi from Inter Miami to win the Golden Boot.

• Player: Lionel Messi
• Odds: +300

What It Means: You win the bet if Lionel Messi scores the most goals in the MLS season. If any other player scores more goals than Messi, you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on Lionel Messi to be the top scorer.

When to Use Golden Boot Bets

Golden Boot bets are ideal when you have strong confidence in a player’s ability to consistently score throughout the season. This type of bet is useful when you closely follow the league and have insights into a player’s form, fitness, and scoring potential. Leo is a clear choice for this year, followed by Luis Suarez who perfectly complements his playing style and understands what kind of crazy assists he can come up with.

Alright so Coach of the Year betting involves placing a wager on who you think will be named the MLS Coach of the Year at the end of the season. This award goes to the coach who is considered to have done the best job leading their team, often factoring in team performance, improvement over previous seasons, and overcoming challenges.

Just an Example Bet: $80 on Pat Noonan

The thing about coaches recognition is that its always contingent on their teams achievements, there’s a lot of silent work being done on an everyday basis by the staff that isn’t really noticed so Coach of the Year bets are pretty much linked to Team of the Year bets. My only advice here would be to never bet on Pochettino, but he’s not in the MLS.

Let’s say you’re betting on Pat Noonan from FC Cincinnati to win the Coach of the Year award, given his team’s excellent performance so far.

• Coach: Pat Noonan
• Odds: +400

What It Means: You win the bet if Pat Noonan is named the MLS Coach of the Year. If any other coach wins the award, you lose the bet.

Your Bet: You bet $80 on Pat Noonan to win Coach of the Year.

When to Use Coach of the Year Bets

Paired up with a team’s performance, if you have strong confidence in a coach’s ability to lead their team to an exceptional season. This type of bet is obviously useful when you follow the league closely and have insights into the team’s performance, the coach’s strategies, and their ability to overcome tough matches throughout the season, and even make some heroic comebacks along the way.

What types of bets are popular in MLS?

Popular MLS bets include moneyline, point spreads, over/under (total goals), both teams to score, and futures like MVP and Golden Boot.

Where Can I Find The Latest MLS Odds?

You can find the latest MLS odds on major sports betting websites, such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars Sportsbook.

How To Bet On The MLS

To bet on MLS, sign up with a reputable sportsbook, deposit funds, select your desired bets, and place your wager.

How do I read MLS betting lines?

MLS betting lines show the odds for various outcomes. A negative number indicates a favorite, while a positive number indicates an underdog.

What factors should I consider when betting on MLS?

Consider team form, player injuries, head-to-head records, home/away performance, and weather conditions.

Can I use the same strategies for MLS as for other soccer leagues?

Yes, many strategies for betting on other soccer leagues can also be applied to MLS, though always consider league-specific nuances.

Popular MLS Bets & Markets

Popular bets include moneyline, over/under, both teams to score, first goal scorer, and player performance bets.

MLS Futures & Playoffs Explained

MLS futures involve betting on long-term outcomes like the MLS Cup winner, MVP, or Golden Boot. Playoffs betting includes wagering on knockout stage matches.