Can the Chicago Fire Win the MLS Cup This Season?
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The Chicago Fire is one of the most successful franchises in MLS history, winning the
MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup in 1998 and U.S. Open Cups in 2000, 2003, and 2006, but it has been some time since the Fire were atop the MLS pedestal.
Can the Chicago Fire defy the odds and win the MLS Cup in 2023?
The hope is that former Liverpool player Xherdan Shaqiri, top assist man Brian Gutierrez, and young goaltender Chris Brady can help carry this team and make some noise in the MLS playoffs.
Let's take a look at the odds for the MLS Cup this season according to many sportsbooks as per NJ bet.
Odds To Win 2023 MLS Cup
FC Cincinnati 21/4 (+425)
Los Angeles FC 5/1
Inter Miami FC 9/1
Philadelphia Union 9/1
St. Louis City SC 10/1
New England Revolution 12/1
Atlanta United 14/1
Nashville SC 14/1
Seattle Sounders 14/1
Columbus Crew 22/1
Real Salt Lake 25/1
Austin FC 28/1
Orlando City SC 28/1
FC Dallas 40/1
San Jose Earthquakes 50/1
Houston Dynamo 66/1
Los Angeles Galaxy 80/1
Minnesota United 80/1
New York City FC 80/1
Vancouver Whitecaps 80/1
Charlotte FC 100/1
D.C. United 100/1
New York Red Bulls 100/1
Sporting Kansas City 100/1
CF Montreal 125/1
Chicago Fire 125/1
Portland Timbers 125/1
Colorado Rapids 500/1
Toronto FC 750/1
Breakdown: The Chicago Fire are currently doing better than their 125/1 odds shot would show here. They are currently in a playoff spot as the MLS takes a break for the League Cup.
However, Chicago does not have it easy and will have to be better in the second half
to make the playoffs. They have been very inconsistent scoring as many goals as they have given up on the season. I would likely pass on them at +10000, even though they are currently a MLS Wild Card team.
The Pick: My choice would be one of Chicago's rivals, which is playing in their expansion season, St. Louis City FC. Over the years we have seen a grab bag of results from these new expansion clubs with teams like Atlanta charging out the gates and establishing themselves as a force in the league from day one. Other teams like Nashville and Charlotte are taking more time in this league and are trying to pull themselves out of the cellar and establish themselves with more prominence. Saint Louis is definitely more like Atlanta and came out the gate to be top of the Western Conference when the league stopped for the Leagues Cup. With a goalie like former Dortmund player Roman Burki and forward Nicholas Gioacchini, you can expect St. Louis City SC to continue its fine form, and to be able to get them at +1000 is good value for a team that is currently sitting at the top of the standings with the best goal differential in the MLS.
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