After Defeating League Leaders LAFC, Los Angeles Galaxy Still Offering 12-1 Odds to Win MLS Cup
- The Los Angeles Galaxy defeated MLS-leading Los Angeles FC 3-2 in their first meeting of the season last week
- They sit second behind LAFC in the MLS Western Conference standings
- Despite this success, the Galaxy are at average odds of +1200 to win the 2019 MLS Cup
For the first time during the MLS season, the Los Angeles Galaxy and Los Angeles FC collided, and the Galaxy won the day.
Second in the MLS Western Conference, the Galaxy (12-8-1) toppled conference and league-leading LAFC (14-3-4) 3-2.
The sportsbooks, though, seem summarily unimpressed by this result. A cross-section of the leading online sports betting houses show the Galaxy average out at +1200 in the 2019 MLS Cup odds.
Oddsmakers list them as their fourth betting choice, also at odds of +1200.
2019 MLS Cup Odds
| Team | 2019 MLS Cup Odds |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles FC | +240 |
| New York City FC | +550 |
| Atlanta United | +650 |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | +1200 |
| DC United | +1400 |
| Philadelphia Union | +1600 |
| Seattle Sounders | +1600 |
| New York Red Bulls | +1600 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | +1800 |
| Portland Timbers | +2000 |
*Odds taken on 07/22/19.
The Galaxy have won a record five MSL Cup titles and also hold the record for MLS Cup final appearances with nine.
A One-Man Show?
Zlatan Ibrahimovic took over the match against LAFC, firing home a hat-trick. He’s now scored 16 goals in 17 games, but the Galaxy’s average title odds have drifted from +830 on July 2 to their current status.
Going the international superstar route hasn’t paid off all that often in MLS history. But no one needs to explain this fact of life to the Galaxy. English legend David Beckham played for them from 2007-12 but it wasn’t until back-to-back MLS Cup wins in 2011-12 that his presense helped provide results in terms of titles.
French star Thierry Henry played for the New York Red Bulls from 2010-14 and they never reached a single MLS Cup final. Spanish World Cup winner David Villa suited up for New York City FC from 2015-18, again without a single MLS Cup final appearance resulting from his presense.
LA Showdown
Forget what the Clippers and Lakers might do next season, the battle for Western Conference supremacy between LAFC and the Galaxy is just as compelling.
Zlatan telling an LAFC coach to 'Go home, you little bitch' after scoring a hat-trick in a 3-2 win 🐐🐐🐐 https://t.co/QmY9OUIIfC
— Sean Kearns (@SeanPaulKearns) July 20, 2019
There’s bad blood between the two sides, as Ibrahimovic’s post-season confrontation with a member of the LAFC coaching staff displayed. Ibrahimovic proclaimed himself the best player in the MLS, and also talked smack about LAFC star Carlos Vela.
League leaders on and off the field ✊ #LAFC pic.twitter.com/osv6oVsEMI
— LAFC (@LAFC) July 21, 2019
But the numbers still add up in LAFC’s favor. To go with the league’s best record, they’ve scored the most goals (55) and allowed the fewest (20). All three of LAFC’s losses this season have come on the road.
A Far Off Galaxy
They might be second in the West, but the Galaxy are in fact closer to being out of the playoffs (eight points) than they are to top spot (nine points).
They rely heavily on Ibrahimovic’s magic touch. Otherwise, their gameplan appears to be cross the ball into the box a lot and hope something happens.
This week: Zlatan says he is the best player in MLS "by far."
Pregame: Zlatan doubles down in an interview
Friday: Zlatan delivers a hat trick vs. the team atop the MLS standings 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zYA1BybQIm
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 20, 2019
One-trick ponies don’t win championships. Don’t throw your money away wagering on the Galaxy.
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
