MLS PLAYOFFS PREDICTION

SportsBeat!

Written by Aaron Cantin

It’s put up or shut up time in Major League Soccer. The final 2021 MLS playoff bracket is set after Decision Day and the path to the 2021 MLS Cup title is clear.

Here are the basics: A total of 14 teams made the postseason (seven from East, seven from West). The team with the best record hosts every match of the playoffs, and the No. 1 seed in each conference gets a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout. It’s straight single-elimination knockouts from beginning to end. During the playoffs, if there are any ties after 90 minutes of regulation, matches will head to 30 minutes of extra time. A penalty-kick shootout will determine a winner if the deadlock persists at the end of extra time.

Source: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Eastern Conference

The top seven teams made it with the New England Revolution having secured the No. 1 seed a few weeks back. D.C. United and defending champion Columbus Crew SC fell one point shy of the playoff field, as the NY Red Bulls nabbed the seventh and final spot with a draw on the final day.

Team Points Wins Goal Diff.

1. New England (X) 73 22 +24

2. Philadelphia (X) 54 14 +13

3. Nashville SC (X) 54 12 +22

4. NYCFC (X) 51 14 +20

5. Atlanta United (X) 51 13 +8

6. Orlando City (X) 51 13 +2

7. NY Red Bulls (X) 48 13 +6

8. D.C. United (E) 47 14 +2

9. Columbus (E) 47 13 +1

10. CF Montreal (E) 46 12 +2

Western Conference

Real Salt Lake made it with a win on the final day (1-0 on a stoppage-time winner in KC), while both LA teams are out after failing to win their final matches. LAFC lost against top seed Colorado 5-2, while the LA Galaxy could only tie 3-3 at home against No. 5-seed Minnesota. Here's how the top nine spots in the 13-team Western Conference finished:

Team Points Wins Goal Diff.

1. Colorado (X) 61 17 +16

2. Seattle (X) 60 17 +20

3. Sporting KC (X) 58 17 +18

4. Portland (X) 55 17 +4

5. Minnesota (X) 49 13 -2

6. Vancouver (X) 49 12 0

7. Real Salt Lake (X) 48 14 1

8. LA Galaxy (E) 48 13 -4

9. LAFC (E) 45 12 +2

The New England Revolution, which amassed the best record in MLS during the 2021 regular season, is the favourite going into the postseason. The Colorado Rapids (No. 1 in West) and Seattle Sounders (No. 2 in West) have the next lowest odds.

There are some wild disparities in the odds between major sportsbooks, which will all likely revise their numbers as we get closer to the start of the playoffs.

Team DraftKings BetMGM FoxBet

• New England Revolution +225 +300 +333

• Seattle Sounders +700 +525 +600

• Sporting Kansas City +1000 +650 +900

• Colorado Rapids +350 +625 +450

• Nashville SC +1200 +1150 +1000

• Philadelphia Union +1000 +1050 +700

• NYCFC +900 +1250 +1200

• Portland Timbers +2000 +950 +1600

• Atlanta United +3500 +1900 +1600

• Orlando City +2500 +1500 +3300

• Minnesota United +3500 +2200 +2500

• NY Red Bulls +4000 +2500 +4000

• Vancouver Whitecaps +4000 +2800 +2500

• Real Salt Lake +5000 +2200 +5000

Now time for my predictions.

EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND

• Sat, Nov. 20 Philadelphia Union vs. NY Red Bulls | WINNER: Philadelphia Union

• Sun, Nov. 21 NYCFC vs. Atlanta United | WINNER: NYCFC

• Tues, Nov. 23 Nashville SC vs. Orlando City | WINNER: Nashville SC

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

• Sun, Nov. 28 Philadelphia vs. Nashville | WINNER: Philadelphia Union

• Tues, Nov. 30 New England Revolution vs. | NYCFC WINNER: New England Revolution

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

Dec. 4/5 Philadelphia Union vs New England Revolution

WINNER: Philadelphia Union

WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND

• Sat, Nov. 20 Sporting KC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps | WINNER: Sporting KC

• Sun, Nov. 21 Portland Timbers vs. Minnesota United | WINNER: Portland Timbers

• Tues, Nov. 23 Seattle Sounders vs. Real Salt Lake | WINNER: Seattle Sounders

WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

• Thurs, Nov. 25 Colorado vs. Portland Timbers | WINNER: Portland Timbers

• Sun, Nov. 28 Sporting KC vs. Seattle | WINNER: Seattle Sounders

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

Dec. 4/5 Portland Timbers vs Seattle Sounders

WINNER: Seattle Sounders

MLS Cup 2021

Seattle Sounders vs Philadelphia Union

WINNER: Philadelphia Union