The MLS has once again loaded up with a ton of talent this season, and this could end up being the season this sport takes off past hockey as the fourth major in the United States. Though all of that is good for the health of the league, we're far more concerned over where the value is on the betting lines with the 2016 season set to kick off this weekend.
2016 MLS ODDS AT BOOKMAKER.EU
LA Galaxy +450
New York Red Bulls +450
Portland Timbers +650
Columbus Crew +700
FC Dallas +1200
Seattle Sounders +1200
Vancouver Whitecaps +1400
Toronto FC +1700
Sporting Kansas City +1800
DC United +2000
Montreal Impact +2200
New England Revolution +2200
New York City FC +2200
Orlando City +2800
Real Salt Lake +3300
San Jose Earthquakes +4000
Chicago Fire +5000
Houston Dynamo +5000
Philadelphia Union +6600
Colorado Rapids +8000
As it happens to be, there's potentially a lot of value floating around on the futures odds to win the MLS Cup in 2016. The oddsmakers have basically copied the odds from last year based on the final standings and where the teams were perceived to be at the end of last year without really acknowledging the fact that there were a number of changes abound.
Sure, the LA Galaxy have a ton of European firepower. Steven Gerrard is set to play his first full season in the MLS, and he'll have Nigel de Jong, Ashley Cole and Emmanuel Boateng joining him, but as we saw last season when things fell apart a little bit at the tail end of the year, experience in Europe doesn't necessarily equate to winning in America any longer.
The New York Red Bulls should be tempting as well. They won the Supporters Shield last year and were unlucky not to reach the MLS Cup Final. They've largely got the same front six, but their back four, which was so good last season, was gutted with Roy Miller and Matt Miazga leaving the team.
Instead, we suggest you take up some of these teams as potential dark horses for the 2016 MLS Cup.
Vancouver Whitecaps ( +1400 ) – The Whitecaps had some problems offensively in the playoffs last season, and they bowed out against Portland as a result. However, they've got a lot of talent, particularly at the back with Kendall Watson, and adding Blas Perez is going to inject more finishing in the center of the pitch to go with all of the speed they've got coming out of the midfield. This might end up being the most talented team in the West, something you wouldn't think with as far off as Vancouver is from the likes of LA, Portland and Seattle, though it should be noted that this conference is a nightmare to try to navigate.
Toronto FC ( +1700 ) – TFC made some appreciable gains last year, and with another year of Michael Bradley and Sebastian Giovinvo, there could be a lot of big goals to come. At the back though, there were a lot of problems, and that showed in the playoffs in a big time way. Clint Irwin will come over from Colorado to man the pipes, while Will Johnson and Drew Moor were picked up via big time trades to rework the back line. New York might be the favorite, but Toronto is the team to watch, especially if clubs like Montreal and Columbus take a step back this year.
Orlando City ( +2800 ) – No one wants to go to the Citrus Bowl to play a game. Orlando City didn't do a heck of a lot in terms of shuffling its roster, but Cyler Larin might already be one of the best five strikers in the MLS even though he's only been around for one season, and having that veteran presence of Kaka and the new playmaking ability of Antonio Nocerino will only make this team more dangerous now that it has its footing about it in the MLS. If the Lions qualify for the postseason and reach the home-and-home stage, they're going to be insanely tough outs.
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