Odds to win MLS Cup: Predictions for Major League Soccer title, Supporters' Shield, and Golden Boot in 2023

The 2023 season of Major League Soccer sees the league welcome a new expansion club in St. Louis City, embark on a new broadcast rights deal with Apple TV, and race toward a new playoff format at the end of the campaign.

LAFC will hope to defend its title on two fronts, after last season becoming the first MLS side in six years to win both the Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup in the same season.

They will face significant challenges from last year's finalists Philadelphia Union, plus rivals LA Galaxy, if the oddsmakers are to be believed. There are also teams like Seattle Sounders and Atlanta United who are expected to improve significantly on last year's finishes.

Last year's top goal scorer Hany Mukhtar of Nashville SC will hope to continue banging them in as 2023 begins, having finished last year's regular season with 11 goals in his last 10 games. He is expected to have plenty of competition on the goalscoring charts, though, as new Atlanta United striker Georgios Giakoumakis, LA Galaxy veteran Chicharito Hernandez, and many others should challenge for that crown.

MORE: How to watch MLS in 2023 via the Apple TV Season Pass

2023 MLS Cup odds

With LAFC hoping to defend their double from last year, it's no surprise that they emerge from hibernation for the 2023 campaign as significant favorites for this year's crown. Last year's finalists Philadelphia Union are also considered top challengers again, the only other team given under 10/1 odds in the U.S.

The most improved sides are expected to be Seattle Sounders and Atlanta United, and both cases are easy to make. The Sounders seemed to struggle last year after their energy-sapping CONCACAF Champions League title run, and now this year they will have the opportunity to focus on league play. Atlanta United had plenty of off-field issues in 2022, but they shuffled the deck up front and have the feel of a fresh start.

FC Dallas and FC Cincinnati, meanwhile, are not expected to repeat their conference semifinals appearances from last year, if the oddsmakers are to be believed, while Inter Miami, Minnesota United, and Orlando City are also expected to drop off the table.

MLS CUP PREDICTION: LA Galaxy (+1200)

The Riqui Puig affect is real, and it's here for a full season. Last year, when Puig arrived and was stuck into the Galaxy side, they were just flat out a different team. Ultimately, they ran into the LAFC buzzsaw, but if they finish top four in the West again, which is easily doable, they can topple some stronger clubs in the postseason. They'll need Chicharito to remain healthy for the full season, however, which isn't always a given.

BEST VALUE/DARK HORSE: Orlando City SC (+4000)

While Orlando City aren't exactly the strongest collective side this year, they have loads of young attacking talent and should surprise many. The long odds here are a bit of a surprise, given the presence of Facundo Torres up front and the depth in the rest of the squad.

Nobody seems to be able to figure out this side, as proven by their MLS season preview where experts predict they'll finish anywhere from 2nd to 12th in the table. If they make the playoffs, which surely they should, this team can catch teams by surprise if they're in a good run of form, which seems to matter most in the postseason.

MORE: Best young players in MLS for 2023 season

2023 Supporters' Shield odds

While the MLS Cup title is the most coveted piece of silverware in a given MLS season, the Supporters' Shield is also a major title, given to the overall regular season champions, and it is believed by many to be a truer reflection of the strongest team in the league.

The list of teams atop the Supporters' Shield charts looks similar to those expected to win the MLS Cup title, except with a few wrinkles.

While there's still hesitation around Atlanta United's reset this season when it comes to playoff success, they are fourth-favorites to win the Supporters' Shield, as fans and bookmakers believe they can put in a great regular season campaign.

Interestingly, despite Orlando City's wealth of attacking talent, they are not expected to have a positive season, given long odds for both regular season and playoff titles.

SUPPORTERS' SHIELD PREDICTION: Philadelphia Union (+600)

Last year, LAFC were clearly the best team, and proved it both across the regular season and the playoffs. That rarely happens, however, and defending those crowns will also prove challenging. The Philadelphia Union remain one of the strongest contenders, and they came agonizingly close to both pieces of silverware in 2022.

They should find a way through to a Supporters' Shield this year, as long as Jim Curtin remains head coach and isn't lured away by the U.S. National Team.

BEST VALUE/DARK HORSE: Austin FC (+1700)

Austin FC's Sebastian Driussi is a goalscoring machine, and led the way in many critical matches last year. The Verde have the strength to push through adversity, coming from behind to secure points on multiple occasions. Look for them to finish among the leaders in a weak top-half of the Western Conference, where LAFC remain the only truly dominant side.

MORE: How many teams in MLS in 2023?

* Defending Supporters' Shield Champions

2023 MLS top goal scorer odds

Last year's top goal scorer Hany Mukhtar, who collected 23 league goals in 33 games to top the charts, is not everyone's favorite to repeat in 2023.

Instead, there's lots of hype around new Atlanta United signing Georgios Giakoumakis, while Austin FC striker Sebastian Driussi is right on both of their heels as well. Driussi finished just one goal behind Mukhtar last season, and he scored three more in the playoffs to mark his importance for the team.

The 28-year-old Giakoumakis arrives from Celtic, hoping to replace Josef Martinez, who departed for Inter Miami after an acrimonious finish to his prolific Atlanta United career.

MLS TOP SCORER PREDICTION: Carlos Vela (+1200)

Carlos Vela, on a dominant LAFC side now without Cristian Arango and Gareth Bale to steal goals. And he's available at these odds? Yes, yes please. If he stays healthy, he should be in the table's top five, and at that point, it's all down to a bit of luck to end up top.

BEST VALUE/DARK HORSE: Jesus Ferreira (+2500)

Jesus Ferreira is the clear leader up front for a quality FC Dallas side. Working against him is the club's preference towards a more defensive structure, but they still have their attacking outbursts, and Ferreira is involved in those.

The U.S. international continues to develop and improve, and after his struggles at the end of 2022 with the U.S. national team, he should be back to working his way up the top scorers' list this year.