MLS Cup 2018 Betting Tips & Picks: DC United a Sleeper

Quick Tips:

• Bet Sporting KC to win the MLS Cup at +1100 with 888Sport.
• Bet DC United to win the MLS Cup at +3300 with SugarHouse.
• Bet LAFC to win Western Conference top seed at +250 with 888Sport.
• Bet Atlanta to win Eastern Conference top seed at -125 with 888Sport.

The Major League Soccer regular season wraps up on October 28 before the playoffs get underway. There are only 12 clubs advancing to the postseason, but 15 teams are still alive for a spot.

Before the league gets to the October 31 knockout round of the playoffs, here was soccer betting fans should consider about contending teams to win the MLS Cup in 2018.

MLS Eastern Conference Tips

There are four teams in the Eastern Conference who have already clinched playoff berths -- Atlanta, the NY Red Bulls, NYCFC and Philadelphia. Two spots still need to be filled, and three teams are in the fight for those positions.

New England was eliminated this past weekend with DC United’s win over Dallas. Columbus, DC United and Montreal are vying for the fifth and sixth positions.

DC United has a game in hand over Columbus and Montreal. with three remaining games left to play in the regular season to their two. The Rooney effect has certainly had its impact in the nation's capital, as well as the return of goalkeeper Bill Hamid. Since Rooney joined DC United, the team has propelled themselves from the bottom of the conference into the playoff picture.

The line setters at 888Sport have posted odds on who will take the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta is listed at -125 to take the 1 seed in the East, while the Red Bulls trail behind at -110.

Atlanta plays Chicago and Toronto to finish out its regular-season schedule, and both have been eliminated from a chance at the playoffs.

Atlanta and the Red Bulls are listed as the two favorites to win the MLS Cup, but we know that the Red Bulls don't have much success in the postseason. New York has constantly failed in big matches when it matters most.

Out of 18 postseason appearances in 22 MLS seasons, the Red Bulls have failed to advance past the quarterfinals in 14 of those efforts, the last two years included.

Atlanta will win the Eastern Conference this year, so despite the marginal juice at -125, it is the play to make.

MLS Western Conference Tips

The Western Conference playoff picture has been unpredictable for weeks, as eight teams are still in contention for a playoff bid. Three teams are still fighting to be top banana in the conference, which will give it home field throughout the conference playoffs.

Either Atlanta or the Red Bulls will earn the Supporters Shield out of the East this season, so the Western Conference winner may end up playing the MLS Cup Finals on the road. That is, of course, barring some major upsets along the way, in which case the team with the best record would host the game.

Dallas, LAFC and Sporting KC have secured their postseason berths, but the three teams are all separated by four points, with two remaining games to play. Sporting has a game in hand, as they will play Vancouver this coming Wednesday in a huge midweek clash.

Dallas has certainly been an impressive defensive team this season, but their inability to score will eventually be what eliminates it from the playoffs.

The Whitecaps, Galaxy and Real Salt Lake are separated by three points as they fight for the sixth position in the West standings Only one of them will be advancing to the postseason, as Portland and Seattle have likely done enough to secure the fourth and fifth spots in the conference.

LAFC has been the best road team in the Western Conference all season long, and we know that road goals will be huge in the playoffs. Sporting KC will host LAFC on the final day of the regular season, which could possibly decide who takes home the one-seed in the conference.

With a semi-bold prediction to take the top spot in the West, LAFC will overtake Dallas on the final day of the regular season. Bet them at +250 at 888sport, as the new arrivals to MLS will be your Western Conference winner.

MLS Cup 2018 Best Bet

You can call it a longshot if you like, but Sporting KC is listed at +1100 to take the MLS title in 2018. We will see exactly what they are made of down the stretch, when they play Vancouver, Dallas and LAFC to finish out the regular season.

That should provide the momentum they'll need to end up earning their third MLS title. The play here is Sporting KC to win MLS Cup at +1100 with 888Sport

MLS Cup 2018 Sleeper Bet

DC United, listed at +3300 with SugarHouse could be a huge surprise in the MLS playoffs this season. The second half of the season has been filled with wins and points for the club, and a run to the finals could surely happen, so they may be worth considering if you are betting on the MLS.

Despite having only one win away from home this season, it will only take one or two big results in the postseason to erase all of that. Back DC United at +3300 with SugarHouse.