Best MLS Consensus Picks
MLS consensus picks can be a great addition to your strategy when it comes to successful betting on soccer.
- Best MLS Consensus Picks
- How MLS consensus picks work
- Public MLS Consensus Picks
- How To Use Consensus Picks To Your Advantage
- Disadvantages of Consensus Picks
- Selecting a Reputable US Sportsbook
Consensus picks is the process of evaluating what other fans are betting on and using that data to inform your own decision. The consensus is sometimes referred to as bet percentage or bet split.
An example: 100 bettors bet on a match between Atlanta and Toronto. 65 choose Atlanta, 30 choose Toronto and 5 go for the draw. The MLS consensus picks in this instance would be Atlanta 65%, Toronto 30%, draw 5%.
Using our MLS consensus picks tool in the table above, you can see who is betting on what and which sportsbook has the best odds.
You can see where all the public money is going on the MLS and soccer games. This should help you with your MLS consensus betting so that you can place those MLS consensus bets!
How MLS consensus picks work
The MLS consensus is the volume of bets placed by bettors with a given sportsbook on a given game. Typically, MLS consensus picks data will be available on the moneyline, over / under or spread markets.
Consensus picks data also give you insight into how the odds have changed over time. For example, if you notice the odds on LA Galaxy beating Houston Dynamo have lengthened and see that 60% of bettors have backed Houston, you will understand why the sportsbook has made the price alteration.
Most commonly consensus picks refers to the activity of the public – other customers using the sportsbook, but it can also refer to tipsters, professional bettors and computer tips.
Public MLS Consensus Picks
Sports news and social media opinion will more often than not favor the most popular team, especially in the playoffs. Fans will often not research or heed the facts or even think about whether the betting odds are good value – much of the time it’s heart over head. This early jumping onto trends provides an excellent opportunity for more calculated and educated bettors to place their bets against the mainstream opinion and potentially find great value.
After the public places their bets, if you start to see the odds line move back in the other direction then you’re now observing the sports betting sharps taking advantage of the great odds presented by the huge sums of money bet by the public.
How To Use Consensus Picks To Your Advantage
Bettors will often look for big splits in the consensus and fade (bet against) the higher percentage, hoping that the majority will be wrong.
Betting with or against the public can help if you can spot early on if the public is misinformed on a matchup helping to move the betting lines.
While most people will be loading their bets for one particular team, to exploit certain angles and record significant winnings, experts will then ‘fade the public’, as mentioned above. When the line moves in the opposite direction, it’s a sure sign of expert bettors placing bets on the other side.
Many fans of consensus picks like to use the method as it often means their selection and the sportsbooks prediction are aligned.
Disadvantages of Consensus Picks
Consensus picks have become an increasingly popular method for sports bettors to make their selections but not everyone’s a fan.
Critics of consensus picks argue that “fading the public” is foolish because you are effectively betting against a group of unknown bettors – there is no way to know how sharp they are, whether they know something you don’t or their appetite for risk.
Instead, consensus picks should be used as part of your process for betting on MLS, along with doing your own research, studying the odds and carefully considering your options.
Selecting a Reputable US Sportsbook
The US Leagues Betting team has done all of the hard work for you, by reviewing the best US online sportsbooks and also compiling MLS live odds comparisons. We deliver easy to understand betting picks that contain all of the relevant information and analysis, backed up with arguments to support our MLS betting picks.
Check-out our odds comparison and top US sports betting operators before you place your next bet, and see our MLS futures page for more ideas too!