2020 MLS Cup Odds Now Favor Sporting Kansas City at +230 Ahead of Conference Semifinals

• Sporting Kansas City have rocketed to the top of the MLS Cup odds following an upset-laden first round
• First-place finishers in the Western Conference standings, Sporting edges out the Seattle Sounders in the odds, with Orlando City enjoying the best odds of any remaining Eastern Conference club
• We’ve got you covered with all the odds as the MLS Cup Playoffs move on to the conference semifinals

Following a pair of huge upsets on the final night of MLS playoff first round action, there has been a major shakeup in the MLS Cup odds, with Sporting Kansas City now leading the way as +230 favorites.

Odds to Win 2020 MLS Cup

Odds taken Nov 25 at FanDuel

Sporting Make Gains Following First Round Upsets

Listed as a lengthy +800 bet entering the postseason after clinching top spot in the Western Conference standings with a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake on Decision Day, Sporting has benefited most from a trio of upsets in the first round.

In addition to the third-seeded Portland Timbers’ loss to FC Dallas on penalties, the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference have also made early playoff exits. Both Toronto FC and the early championship favorite Philadelphia Union fell to defeats in their respective first round matchups on Tuesday night.

MELIA SAVES IT AGAIN!!!! @SPORTINGKC WIN!!!

SKC: ✅✅✅
SJ: ❌❌❌#SKCvSJ // @Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/7lEwkT7Jch

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 23, 2020

Now riding an impressive four-match win streak during which they have outscored opponents by a 10-3 margin, Sporting enjoy a favorable matchup in the upcoming conference semifinals, with the club hosting Minnesota United next Wednesday after outlasting the San Jose Earthquakes with a win on penalties in the first round.

Minnesota have enjoyed an impressive run since the regular season resumed, going undefeated in each of their past nine matches, capped by a 3-0 win over Colorado in the first round. However, Sporting holds a clear edge in head-to-head clashes this year, posting wins in a pair of regular season meetings while suffering a hard-luck loss to the Loons during the group stage of this summer’s MLS is Back tournament.

Defending Champions Stalled at Sportsbooks

But even if Sporting gets past the Loons, they face a tough road, with a potential date with the defending MLS Cup champions awaiting them in the conference final. Fresh off a decisive 3-1 win over highly touted Los Angeles FC in the first round, the Sounders have now emerged as attractive +340 second-favorites to defend their MLS Cup title.

#Instagram @mls_news_
A member of the Seattle Sounders first team has tested positive for COVID-19, ahead of their playoff match against LAFC tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/hyHOro1cqx

— Renato Sosua (@RenatoSosua) November 24, 2020

Seattle struggled down the stretch, posting just two wins in their final seven matches, but opened the postseason trailing only Philadelphia as a +450 bet. However, they have failed to gain momentum despite tallying impressive wins in their past two outings.

Undaunted by their late-season swoon, the Sounders followed up their 4-1 Decision Day win over San Jose with a 3-1 rout of LAFC in first round action. And while they have produced mixed results against FC Dallas, their conference semifinal opponents, earning just two wins in six meetings, history suggests that counting out the Sounders in the playoffs is unwise.

When will they learn? https://t.co/unvCe8W74q

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) November 25, 2020

Despite their failure to finish atop the Western Conference standings, the Sounders have emerged as a consistent playoff threat in recent years, reaching the MLS Cup Final in three of the past four years, and raising the trophy on two occasions. The club’s dominant performance against LAFC has also allayed fears about how they would handle news of one of their players testing positive for COVID-19 prior to Tuesday’s match.

Lions Poised to Take the East

Over in the Eastern Conference, the departure of Philadelphia and Toronto has opened the door for Orlando City, who now lead all Eastern clubs as a +430 wager in the MLS Cup odds, well ahead of the Columbus Crew at +700.

Orlando has enjoyed a breakthrough in their sixth MLS campaign, following up their march to the final at MLS is Back with a fourth-place finish in the East. However, a lack of playoff experience and struggles with inconsistency represent challenges for the Lions, who needed a wild penalty shootout to get past New York City FC in their first-ever MLS playoff match last week.

Orlando are perched as solid +110 favorites in their upcoming conference semifinal clash with the New England Revolution. But, they’ve struggled to produce steady results against the Revolution, who sit as a lengthy +2300 bet after shocking the top-seeded Union with a 2-0 win in the first round.

New England has earned at least a point in five of six league meetings with the Lions, who sport an impressive 6-3-1 win-loss-draw record in their past ten home dates.

While playoff upsets are a fan’s dream, sports bettors are best served by sticking with the sure and steady as this year’s MLS Cup playoffs progress, with the Seattle Sounders standing out as the best value bet heading into the conference semifinals.

The Pick: Seattle Sounders +340