Los Angeles FC Are Odds-on Favorites to Win the MLS Western Conference

• Los Angeles FC has emerged as a strong favorite to finish atop the MLS Western Conference this season
• LAFC is on the rebound after battling key injuries in 2020 and is expected to face a stiff challenge from the Seattle Sounders
• We’ve got you covered with all the odds and trends as the MLS season gets underway later this week

Los Angeles FC endured a disappointing campaign in 2020, finishing seventh in the Western Conference standings before making an early exit from the MLS Cup playoffs. But the club is expected to rebound this time around, as they get set to kick off the 2021 MLS season as strong -106 favorites to finish atop the MLS Western Conference for the second time in three years.

The Black and Gold are expected to see their biggest challenge in the race for the top of the conference come from the Seattle Sounders. The perennial MLS Cup contenders are pegged as a +190 bet in what is largely expected to be a two-way race for the Western Conference crown.

Here’s a look at all the odds and trends as the countdown to this week’s start to the 2021 MLS regular season continues.

Odds to Win MLS Western Conference

Odds as of Apr 14 

LAFC on the Rebound

Hobbled by bad timing and key injuries, LAFC struggled throughout 2020. With leading scorer Carlos Vela opting out of last summer’s MLS is Back tournament to be at the side of his pregnant wife, the club made a speedy exit in the quarterfinals. A knee injury ultimately limited Vela to just eight appearances once the regular season continued after the tournament.

The 13th four-goal performance in MLS history…

Diego Rossi had himself a night. #LAFC pic.twitter.com/opLhr14FdO

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 19, 2020

Diego Rossi picked up the goalscoring slack in Vela’s absence, locking up MLS is Back Golden Boot honors with an impressive four-goal performance in a 6-2 rout of the LA Galaxy, and closing out the season with 16 total markers. However, Rossi was also eventually hit by the injury bug, leaving him unavailable for the club’s 3-1 loss to Seattle in first-round playoff action.

Vela, Rossi Set to Fill the Net

Even with their superstar strikers battling injury, LAFC still emerged as the highest-scoring club in MLS last season, averaging 2.14 goals per game. And with both Vela and Rossi set to open the campaign in good health, the sky is the limit for the Black and Gold. The duo sits perched atop the odds to be the league’s top goalscorer this season, with Vela leading the way at +375 chalk, closely followed by Rossi at +450. Those high expectations have also lifted LAFC to the top of the MLS Cup odds as +400 chalk.

Live look at LAFC's defense pic.twitter.com/o9Hrtw52UG

— Tony Snider (@tony_snider) July 14, 2020

Improvement on defense will also be key to LAFC’s hopes. The club struggled at times to contain opposing shooters, particularly on the road, where they allowed a worrisome 2.44 goals per match over their final nine contests.

Never Sleep on the Sounders

Sports bettors who fade the Sounders do so at their own peril. MLS Cup finalists in four of the past five years, the Sounders have demonstrated their ability to rise to the occasion even under difficult circumstances. That was the case again last season, when expectations dropped following the club’s early departure from MLS is Back with a 4-1 loss to LAFC in the round of 16.

Seattle Sounders FC: @MLS Team of the Decade

2010 – U.S. Open Cup 🏆
2011 – U.S. Open Cup 🏆
2014 – U.S. Open Cup, Supporters' Shield 🏆🏆
2016 – Western Conference & MLS Cup Champ 🏆🏆
2017 – Western Conference Champ 🏆
2019 – Western Conference & MLS Cup Champ 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/NHKqvVHfoX

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) December 13, 2019

However, the Sounders steadily swung into form as the season progressed, and closing out their schedule deadlocked with Sporting KC atop the conference standings with 39 points. Like Los Angeles, the Sounders return to action in good health, with the exception of Jordan Morris, who could miss the season after undergoing knee surgery last month.

A key to success for Seattle will be a strong start to the season. The Sounders face stiff tests early on, including a pair of dates with LAFC over their first six outings, which could have serious playoff implications this fall. That has been reflected in the opening odds to win the MLS Cup, where the Sounders trailed only LAFC as a +500 bet.

Dallas, Portland Among Western Dark Horses

There is no shortage of dark horse candidates set to challenge for the Western Conference title. FC Dallas looks poised to return to contention after being one of the clubs hardest hit by COVID-19 last season. Dallas trails the favorites as a +800 bet, just ahead of the Portland Timbers, who are pegged at +900 in the wake of last summer’s MLS is Back tournament win.

However, given their history of success, and demonstrated ability to win big games, the best betting value lies with Seattle to return to the top of the conference standings.

The Pick: Seattle Sounders (+190)