Totals betting in MLS revolves around the combined number of goals scored by both teams in a match, with the standard line typically set at 2.5. Bettors decide whether the final combined score will go over or under that number. Unlike NFL totals, where high-scoring affairs create wide lines with multiple possible outcomes, MLS totals exist in a much tighter range — most matches land between one and four total goals — which means the difference between a sharp and a soft line is razor-thin. This compressed scoring environment makes even small edges in probability highly valuable.
The totals market in MLS becomes especially exploitable when bettors dig into team-specific trends: rotation patterns during congested fixture schedules, altitude and weather conditions at venues like Colorado's Dick's Sporting Goods Park, and how teams adjust tactically when missing key attacking or defensive players. Vig on MLS totals tends to run slightly higher than on moneylines and spreads, largely because books face thinner handle on these markets compared to major leagues like the NFL or NBA. Comparing vig across sportsbooks is particularly worthwhile here, as the juice differential between the sharpest and softest books can represent meaningful long-term value on a bet type where margins are already slim.
Analysis updated September 13, 2026. Odds data above refreshes hourly.
Totals Vig Rankings
| # | Sportsbook | Vig | Grade | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BetAnything | 4.21% | B | 15 |
| 2 | Pinnacle | 4.26% | B | 15 |
| 3 | Bovada | 4.67% | B | 15 |
| 4 | LowVig.ag | 6.47% | C | 14 |
| 5 | BetOnline.ag | 6.49% | C | 14 |
| 6 | BetRivers | 6.53% | C | 15 |
| 7 | BetUS | 6.54% | C | 1 |
| 8 | betPARX | 6.54% | C | 15 |
| 9 | Bally Bet | 6.54% | C | 15 |
| 10 | MyBookie.ag | 7.99% | D | 15 |
| 11 | BetMGM | 8.76% | D- | 15 |
Upcoming Totals Lines
| Matchup | Time | betPARX | Bally Bet | BetRivers | MyBookie.ag | Pinnacle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Red Bulls @ New York City FC | Sep 18, 11:30 PM | O/U 3.5 (+100) | O/U 3.5 (+100) | O/U 3.5 (+100) | O/U 3.5 (+116) | O/U 3.25 (-105) |
| Columbus Crew SC @ CF Montreal | Sep 19, 11:30 PM | O/U 2.5 (-182) | O/U 2.5 (-182) | O/U 2.5 (-182) | O/U 3.5 (+131) | O/U 3 (-108) |
| Charlotte FC @ D.C. United | Sep 19, 11:30 PM | O/U 2.5 (-186) | O/U 2.5 (-186) | O/U 3.5 (+138) | O/U 3.5 (+130) | O/U 3 (-112) |
| Los Angeles FC @ San Jose Earthquakes | Sep 19, 11:30 PM | O/U 3.5 (+116) | O/U 3.5 (+116) | O/U 3.5 (+116) | O/U 3.5 (+119) | O/U 3.25 (+103) |
| Orlando City SC @ New England Revolution | Sep 19, 11:30 PM | O/U 3.5 (-106) | O/U 3.5 (-106) | O/U 3.5 (-106) | O/U 3.5 (+102) | O/U 3.25 (-115) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a totals (over/under) bet?
A totals bet is a wager on whether the combined score of both teams will be over or under a number set by the sportsbook. For example, an NFL total of 47.5 means you're betting whether the final combined score will be 48+ (over) or 47 or fewer (under).
How does totals vig compare to other markets?
Totals vig varies by sport but is generally moderate — between moneyline and spread vig. Totals attract less volume than spreads but more than most prop markets, putting them in a middle ground for vig. Weather and injury news can cause totals to move significantly, sometimes affecting vig.
When is MLS season?
Major League Soccer runs from late February through October, with the MLS Cup playoffs extending into November or December. The All-Star Game is typically in July. MLS follows a spring-to-fall schedule unlike European leagues.
How does MLS vig compare to European soccer?
MLS typically has higher vig than top European leagues like the EPL or La Liga because it attracts less global betting volume. European books price MLS less efficiently than their domestic leagues, resulting in wider margins.
What is vig (vigorish) in sports betting?
Vig — short for vigorish, also called juice or overround — is the margin a sportsbook builds into its odds. It's the difference between the true probability of an outcome and what the odds imply. Lower vig means you keep more of your winnings on every bet. For example, a standard -110/-110 line has about 4.76% vig.
How often is this data updated?
We pull fresh odds from The Odds API every hour, on the hour (UTC). Each snapshot captures the latest lines from every sportsbook that has posted odds. The timestamp at the top of the page shows the most recent refresh.
How is the vig grade calculated?
Each sportsbook is graded on average vig: A+ (under 2%) is exchange-level pricing, A (2–3%) very competitive, B+ (3–4%) above average, B (4–5%) the industry standard, C+ (5–6%) slightly below average, C (6–7%) below average, D (7–8%) high vig, D− (8–10%) very high, F (10%+) predatory.
Why does lower vig matter for bettors?
Lower vig directly impacts your long-term returns. A bettor placing $1,000 per week at a book with 4% vig loses roughly $40/week to the house edge. At 2% vig, that drops to $20/week — a $1,040 difference over a year. For serious bettors, shopping for lower vig is one of the most reliable ways to improve profitability.
What sportsbooks do you track?
We track both regulated US sportsbooks (DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars) and offshore books (Bovada, BetOnline, MyBookie, BetUS, LowVig.ag, BetAnything). Data comes from The Odds API, which aggregates real-time lines from licensed sources.
How We Calculate These Numbers
- Data Source
- All odds on this page come from The Odds API, which aggregates real-time lines from licensed US and offshore sportsbooks. We track moneyline, spread, and totals markets across every sport with active betting lines.
- Update Frequency
- We pull a fresh snapshot of every tracked market every hour, on the hour (UTC). Each snapshot captures the latest lines from every sportsbook that has posted odds for a given event. The timestamp at the top of each page tells you exactly when the data was last refreshed.
- Vig Calculation
- Vig (short for vigorish, also called juice or overround) measures the margin a sportsbook builds into its odds. We calculate it by converting the odds on each side of a market to implied probabilities, summing those probabilities, and subtracting 100%. For example, a market priced at -110/-110 implies 52.38% on each side — a total of 104.76%, meaning a vig of 4.76%. Lower vig means better value for bettors because you keep more of your winnings.
- Per-Market Breakdown
- We compute vig separately for each market type: moneyline (h2h), point spreads, and totals (over/under). The "average vig" shown for each sportsbook is the mean across all market types weighted by the number of events sampled in each market.
- Grading Scale
- Every sportsbook receives a letter grade based on its average vig: A+ (under 2%) is exchange-level pricing. A (2–3%) is very competitive. B+ (3–4%) is above average. B (4–5%) is the industry standard — a -110/-110 line is 4.76%. C+ (5–6%) is slightly below average. C (6–7%) is below average. D (7–8%) is high vig. D− (8–10%) is very high vig. F (10%+) is predatory pricing. See the full Vig Index Methodology for formulas, worked examples, and known limitations.
- Trend Tracking
- We store daily snapshots for 30 days, allowing us to show 24-hour and 7-day vig trends. A downward trend (improving) means sportsbooks are tightening their lines — often in response to increased competition or higher betting volume as a season heats up.