Its matchday 2 in the MLS so very much early days and the table has not yet taken shape. The impact of the draft players will not be easy to assess until after the first few fixtures. There has been the recruitment of the best college players, coaching changes, signings, and retirements. The structure of the MLS makes winning back-to-back titles difficult and New York City are the current champions. They beat Portland in the MLS Cup at Providence Park last December.
The Cup, which is the league decider, was first played in 1996. Only three teams have won the league in successive seasons since that year. La Galaxy are the most recent winners to successfully defend the title and they won the MLS Cup in 2011 and 2012. There have been 9 different winners over the last 10 years and Seattle Sounders are the only multiple champions. They have won two from four finals since 2016. This historical information has helped with our MLS picks.
New England Revolution vs FC Dallas – 1.30 pm, Saturday
| Bet | Odds |
| New England | -195 |
| Draw | +325 |
| Dallas | +525 |
MLS Pick – New England to beat Dallas at (-195) with Pointsbet
Despite some changes in personnel, we can’t ignore New England. You don’t become Conference winners without having some depth to the squad. New England lost on penalties in the last eight at home to New York so were not far off being the best team in the league.
Dallas’s only MLS Cup appearance was in 2010, when they lost to Colorado on penalties. They finished 11th in the Western Conference, winning 40 points less than New England. Home advantage and that gulf in class last season, means New England must be backed despite the odds.
Sporting Kansas Timbers vs Houston Dynamos – 3.30 pm, Saturday
| Bet | MLS Cup Odds |
| Kansas | -120 |
| Draw | +270 |
| Houston | +320 |
MLS Pick – Kansas to beat Houston at (-120) with Pointsbet
We are going for another odds-on home favourite in this fixture because Kansas City were in a different parish to Houston in 2021. There are always changing dynamics from one season to the next but nothing to suggest Houston can avoid defeat in Kansas on Saturday.
Kansas finished 28 points and 10 places above their opponents this weekend in the Western Conference. The MLS is a franchise league with no promotions and relegation but Houston finished bottom in their Conference while Kansas reached the last eight in the playoffs.
FC Cincinnati vs DC United – 6 pm, Saturday
| Bet | Odds |
| Cincinnati | +240 |
| Draw | +260 |
| DC United | +105 |
MLS Pick – DC United to beat FC Cincinnati at (+105) with Pointsbet
At this early stage of the season, there is very little current form. New additions are more about potential than proven form for a new club at this level. Cincinnati finished bottom of the Western Conference, winning eight points and less than any other team in MLS.
DC United finished six places and 27 points ahead of their hosts in the 2021 regular season. That’s a big gap to bridge, even with home advantage. For what it’s worth Cincinnati were the biggest losers on matchday 1 and DC United were the joint biggest winners so they are tipped for a road win.
