After Winning MLS is Back, Portland Timbers’ MLS Cup Odds Shorten to 14-1

• With their win at MLS Is Back, the Portland Timbers have moved to +1400 to win the 2020 MLS Cup
• Losing finalists Orlando City have improved their odds from +6600 to +3000
• The article below explains some of that movement and provides a best bet for this year’s MLS Cup

In addition to providing fans with some meaningful on-field soccer action, the MLS Is Back tournament also shone an entirely new light on some of the teams that had previously been overlooked through preseason and the first two regular-season MLS games.

While there were some brilliant individual performances, such as Diego Rossi’s four-goal salvo for Los Angeles FC against the rival Galaxy, and some surprising team efforts, like Orlando City reaching the final, the MLS team deck has truly been shuffled ahead of the league’s return to regular-season play.

That return will be unlike any regular season in MLS history, with each team playing 18 games, before 18 of the 26 clubs advance to the postseason, culminating with the MLS Cup on December 12. But with a number of surprising teams making deep runs in the MLS Is Back tournament, the 2020 MLS Cup odds are looking very different than they were in the preseason.

2020 MLS Cup Odds

Odds taken August 18

Is Orlando for Real?

Arguably no team did more to raise its stock at MLS Is Back than the de facto tournament host, Orlando City SC. Despite never making the playoffs in their five full MLS seasons, Orlando stormed all the way to the final, dispatching heavyweights such as MLS Cup favorites LAFC along the way.

Although it couldn’t quite finish the job, falling 2-1 to Portland in the final, Orlando has now shown it is more than capable of competing and flourishing in playoff soccer. How it builds on that remains to be seen, but with its MLS Cup odds shortening from +6600 to +3000, and with a league-high 18 teams making this year’s postseason, if the Lions can reach the promised land they will be a tough out.

So much star power. 🌟

The #MLSisBack Tournament Best XI pres. by @DrinkBODYARMOR! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/oAv0m2drBb

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 13, 2020

Former Manchester United standout Nani, in particular, proved that even at 33 there is plenty left in the tank, while youngster Joao Moutinho showed why he was a former first overall draft pick. The 22-year-old defender was part of a backline that conceded just seven goals in the tournament, with the final being the only time that Orlando conceded more than one.

So while the Lions might not explode into life like some of the high-powered offenses in MLS, their quiet efficiency will be what counts come playoff time.

Don’t Sleep On Philly

Alongside Orlando, the Philadelphia Union were arguably the other surprise package of the MLS Is Back tournament, reaching the semi-finals before falling to Portland.

Anchored by the stellar goalkeeping of Andre Blake, who was named to the tournament’s best XI, Philadelphia was definitely a team that built out from the back, ably assisted by the stellar defending of Mark McKenzie.

ANDRE.
BLAKE.
GOLDEN.
GLOVE.

From highlight reel saves to consistently great play, @andreblake29 has been named @MLS' Golden Glove for the #MLSisBack tourney!

Absolutely incredible tournament, Dre 👏👏👏#DOOP pic.twitter.com/Ao3Z8n1MQ6

— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) August 12, 2020

Scoring nine goals in six games, the offense pales in comparison with the likes of LAFC’s 16 in five contests, but it provided just enough offense for that steady rearguard action that Philadelphia thrives on. However, one question mark remains over the future of 19-year-old playmaker Brenden Aaronson, whose play in making the tournament best XI in Florida has put him on the radar of Scottish giants Celtic, as well as a number of Bundesliga clubs.

That ball from Brenden Aaronson …

*chef's kiss* pic.twitter.com/TQTxh3IwZL

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 31, 2020

Hanging on to Aaronson will be key if the Union are to live up to their improved betting odds of +1400, down from +2800, making them joint-third favorites alongside Portland and Seattle.

Will Portland Make It a Double?

With one piece of silverware on the shelf already, as well as a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League, Portland are as well-positioned as any team to lift the MLS Cup and be able to look back on 2020 fondly.

The midfield trio of Sebastian Blanco, Diego Chara and Diego Valeri is as good a midfield as there is anywhere in MLS. Blanco was named player of the tournament, with Chara joining him on the tournament all-star team.

That in itself would give any team confidence, particularly now that they are all freshly steeled in playoff soccer, allied with their run to the MLS Cup final in 2018, where they fell to Atlanta United.

Sebastian Blanco was on another level. 💯 pic.twitter.com/5uQalNZu6H

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 13, 2020

With the ability to score – the Timbers averaged exactly two goals per game in Orlando – and effective defending, only once allowing an opponent to score more than one goal in seven games, Portland seems well placed to make another run at duplicating their MLS Cup exploits of 2015, when it was the last team standing.

Best bet: Portland (+1400)