2024 MLS Cup Playoffs: Best Bets, Picks and Predictions

The Major League Soccer regular season has come to a close and the MLS Cup Playoff get underway this week.

The first game takes place on Tuesday as CF Montreal and Atlanta United meet in the Eastern Conference play-in round, with the winner earning a shot at Supporters’ Shield winners Inter Miami in round one.

On Wednesday, the Western Conference play-in game sees Vancouver Whitecaps host Portland Timbers and the winner of that tie faces a clash with Los Angeles FC, the top seeds in the West.

We’ve picked out our best outright tip, an potential outsider for overall glory and two contenders to reach the final.

2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Outright Tips

MLS Cup Outright Best Bet: Inter Miami (+150)

Inter Miami are the market leaders for overall MLS glory and for good reason.

The Herons finished the season with a league-best 74 points from 34 games, eight more than their closest rivals. They have plenty of star names within their squad, and the big names delivered throughout the regular season.

Veteran forwards Lionel Mess and Luis Suarez weighed in with 20 goals each in the league this season, the former reaching that total in just 19 games, while they have quality players throughout their team with Sergio Busquets anchoring the midfielder and Jordi Alba in defense.

Those four are the clear stars of this Inter team, but it is worth noting that Gerardo Martino’s side continued to impress while Messi was away on Copa America duty and during a stint he spent on the sidelines following that tournament.

So they aren’t solely reliant on the 37-year-old superstar and they look the best bet to go all the way and claim a maiden MLS title in just their fifth season since formation.

MLS Cup To Reach The Final Best Bet: Seattle Sounders (+800)

We’ve backed Inter Miami to go all the way from the East, so our best to reach the final bet has to be a team from the West. As slight outsiders, Seattle Sounders FC look an interesting option.

The Sounders have won the championship twice since their 2007 inception, lifting the Cup in 2016 and 2019, and they last reached the MLS Cup final in 2020.

While Miami are very much the new kids on the block here, at least in terms of the club itself rather than its players. The Sounders are an experienced outfit that know how to get the job done.

Seattle made a slow start to the season with just three wins in their opening 19 games, but in the second half of the season they’ve been immense.

The Sounders won 11 of their final 15 games, with two draws and two losses, to land fourth seed in the West. They are one of the form teams going into the MLS Playoffs.

Head coach Brian Schmetzer has two MLS Cups and two further appearances in the final since taking charge in Seattle, so he knows exactly what is required at this stage of the season.

The Sounders perhaps don’t have the big names a few of their key rivals have, but as a team they are greater than the sum of their parts and they could come through a tough Western Conference to reach the finale. 

If you think Seattle could go all the way and claim a third title under Schmetzer, they are +1600 to win the 2024 MLS Cup outright.

MLS Cup Outright Outsider Pick: FC Cincinnati (+2000)

With Miami clear favorites for overall glory, there are a few outsiders in the East who are quality outfits and FC Cincinnati are a team that could pull off an upset.

Cincy won the Supporters’ Shield last season and made a flying start to the current campaign before their form dipped towards the end of the season.

Admittedly, form is key going into the playoffs, but they may have consciously eased off a bit after all-but locking their postseason spot in. A 2-1 win at a strong Philadelphia Union outfit in the final round of games suggests they could be ready to go again in the playoffs.

As the East's third seed, Cincinnati have a very winnable tie against New York City FC in the first round and they won’t have to face Miami until the Conference Finals.

Key man Luciano Acosta comes into the postseason in good form with three goals and an assist in his last five games and, with each-way betting available in the outright market, Cincinnati represent a good value pick despite the presence of Miami in the East.

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.