Odds Shorten on Seattle Sounders & RSL to Win 2019 MLS Cup After Round One Wins

• Seattle Sounders continue their steady climb up the MLS Cup odds, where they are now pegged at +900
• Sounders had dipped as far as +2100 during a mid-summer swoon
• Real remains off the pace at +1600, but have earned at least a point in 15 of 20 league outings

The Seattle Sounders needed extra time to escape with a narrow 4-3 win over Dallas in last week’s first-round playoff action. But the Sounders’ victory has been warmly welcomed in the MLS Cup championship odds, where they have vaulted to +900 ahead of Wednesday’s Western Conference semifinal clash with Real Salt Lake.

Odds to Win MLS Cup

Odds taken on 10/21/19.

Seattle Making Steady Gains in MLS Cup Odds

Seattle made steady gains on the MLS Cup odds over the final six weeks of the regular season despite producing uneven results. The club put the brakes on a four-match winless slide, claiming victory in five of their final eight contests, resurrecting their MLS futures odds, which had tumbled to a season’s worst +2100 during their swoon.

https://twitter.com/Zakuani11/status/1185685586167775233?s=20

The Sounders now prepare to host Real Salt Lake in Wednesday’s matchup at CenturyLink Field perched as strong -145 home favorites. Seattle currently rides a six-match unbeaten streak on home turf, a run that includes four victories, and 16 total goals scored during that stretch. However, the Sounders defense has struggled to shut down opposing attackers, surrendering 24 total goals over the club’s past 13 outings, and allowing three or more goals in five of those contests.

Sounders Struggled in Recent Dates With Real

The club has also struggled in recent dates with Real Salt Lake, scoring just one total goal while falling to defeat in four of five meetings, capped by a 3-0 road loss on August 14. And even if the Sounders are able to get past Real in Thursday’s contest, they face the daunting task of taking on the winner of this year’s other Western Conference semifinal that has the league-leading Los Angeles FC hosting LA Galaxy as heavy -250 chalk.

2-0! LAFC take advantage of a bad Sounders giveaway and worse defense as Atuesta doubles the lead. #LAFCvSEA pic.twitter.com/hJBBHRPsJ8

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 22, 2019

The Sounders are winless in two all-time road meetings with LAFC, getting outscored by an 8-1 margin, and owns a middling 2-2-2 record in six recent dates with the Galaxy.

Real Emerging as Intriguing Dark Horse

While the Sounders aim to produce steady results, Real arrives in Seattle pegged as an intriguing +375 bet to tally a fourth straight victory. Salt Lake also advanced out of the first round by the narrowest of margins, eking out a 2-1 win over Portland. However, that hasn’t prevented the Claret and Cobalt from continuing their steady rise up the MLS Cup odds, vaulting to +1600 after lagging at a distant +2500 at the end of the regular season schedule.

"We wanted to get one on Portland, and we felt like it was the perfect day to do it" pic.twitter.com/o1wnb89L5u

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) October 20, 2019

Although Real have turned in consistent results since overcoming an early-season swoon, picking up at least a point in 15 of their past 20 league matches, the club has struggled badly on the road of late, posting wins in just two of ten outings. Despite those road struggles, Real has continued to play solid defense in contests away from Rio Tinto Stadium, surrendering more than one goal just once in their past eight road matches, which should provide them with an advantage in Wednesday’s contest.

Real has continued to play solid defense in contests away from Rio Tinto Stadium, surrendering more than one goals just once in their past eight road matches, which should provide them with an advantage in Wednesday’s contest

But like the Sounders, it is tough to see Real getting past either Los Angeles squad in a potential Western Conference final matchup. The club has dropped three of four to the Galaxy, including a pair of road defeats, and has defeated LAFC just once in six all-time meetings.

Don’t Sleep on Atlanta United

Indeed, if any squad is to challenge Los Angeles FC for MLS Cup, they will likely come from the Eastern Conference. The most intriguing bet in the East are the defending champion Atlanta United, who sit third in MLS Cup betting at +700.

We don't stop until glory.

Eastern Conference Semifinals up next 😤 pic.twitter.com/a8FKTES0Lk

— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) October 22, 2019

Atlanta enjoys a favorable Eastern Conference semifinal matchup with Philadelphia as -145 home chalk on Thursday, and still must get past the winner of Wednesday’s clash between New York City FC and Toronto FC.

However, Los Angeles needed an own goal from Atlanta to eke out a 4-3 win earlier this season, which marks their only victory in three all-time meetings, and the experience gained from the Five Stripes to last year’s title following an uneven stretch run cannot be underestimated

Pick: Atlanta United to win the MLS Cup (+700)