The betting favorite to win the 2023 MLS Cup is FC Cincinnati. And on Sunday, Cincinnati gets their postseason underway against the New York Red Bulls as they try to win the Aldi Cup Playoffs for the first time in their history. Cincinnati (+100) goes into the match as the betting favorite. But as you are about to discover in our latest MLS betting picks, the Red Bulls are red hot at the moment and will believe they can gain revenge for last year’s playoff defeat.
Twelve months ago these two teams met at the same stage of the MLS Playoffs. Back then it was one match. Cincinnati won it 2-1, coming from behind to stun the Red Bulls with two late strikes from Luciano Acosta and Brandon Vázquez. Cincinnati’s run came to an end in the next round, when they lost 1-0 to Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
This year is a different story. Cincinnati is now the team to beat. Chris Albright’s team topped the Eastern Conference with 69 points from 34 matches. They finished six points clear of their closest rivals, Orlando City. The New York Red Bulls finished in eighth place on 43 points, a full 26 behind Cincinnati. On paper, it sounds like a bit of a mismatch. But as we all know, sport isn’t like that, and the New York Red Bulls will be looking to upset Cincinnati when their first-round one match kicks off on Sunday evening.
Before we get into the match betting, let’s first take a look at the betting to win the 2023 MLS Cup.
FC Cincinnati has been the most consistent team in the MLS in the 2023 season. As a result, the best MLS betting sites make Cincinnati the +333 betting favorite to win the MLS Cup.
Their closest betting rivals are the 2022 winners, Los Angeles FC. The defending champions are +600 to go back-to-back and lift the cup again this year. Winners of the Western Conference, St. Louis City are third favorite at +650, with Orlando City at +1000.
Cincinnati’s record was superior to all the betting favorites to win the 2023 MLS Cup. But as we all know, knockout soccer can be unpredictable, and all these teams can beat each other on any given day. But with the opening round played over the best of three matches, the chances of the better teams making it to the next stage are vastly improved.
In the opening match, FC Cincinnati is the betting favorite at +100 to win on the money line. The draw is +275, and a win for the New York Red Bulls is +250.
Given the gap between the two sides in the Eastern Conference, these odds are closer than most might have expected.
Full-match betting is available below on our odds table. You can read more information about the sites our odds are taken from on our best online sportsbook reviews page.
| FC Cincinnati vs. New York Red Bulls |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| FC Cincinnati | +100 | +100 | +100 |
| New York Red Bulls | +250 | +250 | +250 |
| Draw | +275 | +275 | +275 |
Cincinnati didn’t end the season as they started it. They started the season like a house on fire, winning five and drawing two of their first seven.
In their last ten MLS matches since their US Super Cup exit to Inter Miami, the Orange and Blue are 5-3-2. More recently, in their last five fixtures, they have won three, drawn one, and lost one.
Was the one defeat significant? Maybe. It was a 2-1 loss at home to the Red Bulls at the start of the month. On that occasion, Frankie Amaya and Elias Manoei scored the goals.
That win for the Red Bulls was the start of their current four-match winning streak. The 2-1 win was followed by a 3-0 win over Toronto and the 1-0 win away to Nashville on Decision Day that secured their Wild Card place.
The Red Bulls then sealed their place in the playoffs by thrashing Charlotte in the opening Wild Card match on Wednesday night. Elias Manoel was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick in New York’s 5-2 win. Last-gasp penalty hero against Nashville, John Tolkin chipped in with one and Tom Barlow also found the back of the net.
Cincinnati clinched their playoff berth some weeks ago, and the dropoff in their form at the end of the regular season may have something to do with that. We don’t see this affecting them too much in the playoffs. And it may have done us a favor as the best soccer betting sites are offering good odds on a Cincinnati win.
The Red Bulls are flying high, and as a result, we can see both sides scoring at TQL Arena on Sunday night.
Goalscoring has been the Red Bulls’ biggest problem throughout the season, and they seem to have corrected that issue in recent weeks, with 11 goals in their last four matches.
But one good run of form doesn’t make a season, meaning we have to go with FC Cincinnati to win the match for our betting pick. They have been the strongest side all year. And we feel they will have too much for the New York Red Bulls.
Check below for our list of the top sportsbooks where you can wager online:
About the Author
Over the last 10 years, Dean has sharpened his expertise in crafting and revising content for his soccer and cricket betting platforms. Driven by his passion for sports betting and writing, he embarked on a journey of writing about sports wagering. Although Dean's preferred areas of focus are the English Premier League and cricket, his extensive sports knowledge enables him to tackle nearly any sport. Gone are the days of traveling the world to witness events like FIFA World Cups and Ashes cricket, as Dean now prefers the comfort of his own home while enjoying sports.
Read Dean's ProfileAsk Dean about this guide:
