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Liga MX Apertura Odds, Season Preview & Week 1 Picks

Gary Gowers

by Gary Gowers in Soccer News

Updated Jul 1, 2022 · 6:00 AM PDT

Santos Laguna vs Cruz Azul
Cruz Azul's Pablo Aguilar celebrates after beating 1-0 Pachuca during a Mexican soccer league semifinal second leg match at Azteca stadium in Mexico City, Saturday, May 22, 2021. Cruz Azul won 1-0 on aggregate and will play the final. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
  • The Liga MX Apertura 2022 starts this weekend with Nexaca vs Toluca on Friday, July 1 at 8:00pm ET
  • Atlas won the Liga MX  Clausura 2021 and are among the favorites for the Apertura 2022
  • We look at the odds and favorites for the new season, and also at any potential outsiders

The Liga MX Apertura 2022 starts this weekend – the first of two tournaments that make up the Mexican domestic season. The last competition – the Liga MX Clausura – was recently won by Atlas, who defeated Pachuca 3-2 on aggregate in the final.

As Atlas also won the Apertura in 2021, they automatically became the 2022 Campeón de Campeones. Unsurprisingly, as a result, Atlas is among the favorites for the Liga MX Apertura 2022, but it’s Club America who start as outright favorites.

We look to see which other teams are contenders for the title, who has significantly improved in the offseason and if there are any longshots worth betting on.

Liga MX Apertura Odds

Team Odds
Club America +450
Atlas +550
Pachuca +550
Tigres UNAL +600
Monterrey +600
Cruz Azul +900
Guadalajara +1400
Puebla +1400
Leon +1400
Santos Laguna +2000
Puma UNAM +2500
Toluca +2500
Atletico San Luis +4000
Necaxa +5000
Mazatlan +5000
Juarez +8000
Tijuana +8000
Queretaro +8000

Check out these odds at Caesars Sportsbook

If you’re new to betting on soccer, why not take a look at our Futures & Outrights page for a more in-depth look at the different types of bet available.

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Atlas the Two-Time Champions Second Favorites Behind Club America

Club America (+450) finished the Clausura with seven wins from their last 11 games and so are the in-form team and, as a result, have been listed as favorites. A good start to the Apertura 2022 and Club America will be well set to go all the way this time around, especially after making some astute summer signings, including Mexican international Nestor Araujo and Uruguayan midfielder Jonathan Rodríguez.

Atlas (+550), after winning the last two titles, are attempting to be the first team to win three in a row since the new format began in 1996. They continue to rely heavily on Camilo Vargas in goal and their strike pairing of Julio Furch and Julian Andres Quinones, but the signing of DC United’s Peru international Edison Flores could be a big plus.

Pachuca Fancied but Guadalajara Worth a Shot?

Pachuca are also +550 to win the title, but look an arguably better bet than Atlas. They made it to the Clausura final in June and have managed to keep that squad together and have added Spanish winger Paulino de la Fuente. While they came up short against Atlas, they look to be in a good place and are well worth keeping an eye on. Tigres UNAL (+600) are also worth watching after finishing second in the Clausura regular season last time out and look capable of going a long way.

Worth noting when betting on Liga MX is that 12 out of the 18 teams will qualify for the knockout stage, so there is always a chance of an underdog going deep into the tournament. Given that Guadalaraja finished the Clausura regular season well, narrowly lost out to Atlas in the quarterfinals of the playoffs, and have added Alan Mozo to their squad, the +1400 on offer looks a decent bet.

Pick: Club America (+450)

Outsiders: Guadalaraja (+1400)

Liga MX Apertura Week 1 Picks

It all kicks off on Friday night with Nexaca vs Toluca (July 1 at 8:00 pm ET) and concludes with Pachuca vs Queretaro on Monday (July 4 at 10:00 pm ET). We list the games and the odds and offer three picks below.

Apertura Week 1 Odds

Matchup Home Draw Away
Necaxa vs Toluca +113 +230 +235
Mazatlan vs Puebla +145 +215 +190
Guadalaraja vs Juarez -155 +250 +470
Tigres UNAL vs Cruz Azul -112 +235 +310
Club America vs Atlas -126 +230 +370
Puma UNAM vs Tijuana -122 +250 +325
Atletico San Luis vs Leon +145 +215 +190
Santos Laguna vs Monterrey +185 +210 +150
Pachuca vs Queretaro -155 +255 +450

All odds as of June 30 at Caesars Sportsbook.

Club America vs Atlas Pick

The big game of the weekend sees the two favorites for the title meeting in Mexico City. Club have strengthened over the summer break and looked well placed for a title charge this time around and will be looking to get off to a flying start, while Atlas’s confidence will be sky high after winning two consecutive titles. Club’s extra quality, helped by their summer signings, could be the decisive factor here.

Pick: Club America to win (-136)

Tigres UANL vs Cruz Azul Pick

Tigres finished second in the regular season Clausura before narrowly losing out to this weekend’s opponents in the quarterfinal. Both teams won the away leg of the tie 1-0 (Tigres went through due to being the higher seeded team in the classification table), so these two are really well matched. On that basis, the value here looks to be with Cruz, recent winners of the Mexican Super Cup, who are pitched at a tempting +310.

Pick: Cruz Azul to win (+310)

 

Mazatlan vs Puebla Pick

Mazatlan’s disappointing 12th-place finish in the Clausura meant they missed out on the playoffs, and they are again ranked among the outsiders, but they have been busy over the summer, bringing in four new faces to freshen up their squad, Puebla, by contrast, did make the playoffs thanks to a fifth-place finish but crashed out in the quarterfinals to Club America. With Puebla still in plus money, they hold the value.

Pick: Puebla to win (+190)

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