Liga MX Betting – Best Picks, Odds, Predictions
With the combination of quality play and popularity throughout the Americas, Liga MX betting is one of the more popular forms of soccer betting in the United States.
By the end of this guide to Liga MX betting, you’ll find out how to bet on Liga MX. We’ll go over everything you need to know about betting on the Mexican top flight, including what teams to keep an eye on and how the betting odds work in this league.
By reading this guide, you’ll become a better Liga MX bettor, and will learn some strategies that can make you money in any sport.
Best Sportsbooks to Bet on Liga MX
While the attention of many soccer bettors will be on the top leagues in Europe, all major sportsbooks also have odds available on Liga MX betting. Here, you’ll find a list of sportsbooks offering betting on Liga MX. That way, you can peruse the options at your disposal and start the process of deciding which site you want to use when you start betting on this league.
Liga MX Previous Season Recap
Liga MX’s championship structure is different from what you’d usually see in European soccer. Instead of crowning a champion with the most points at the end of a full season, Liga MX plays two tournaments at the end of the first and second halves of the season, resulting in two champions per campaign.
The first half of last season in Liga MX was all about the run of León, who ran through the league during the regular season and the championship tournament at the end of the opening half of the year.
León weren’t Liga MX betting favorites, but finished at the top of the standings by eight points in the early portion of the season, earning a spot in the quarterfinals of the championship tournament at the end of the season. León then won their three tournament matchups to win the Liga MX title.
The eventual champions lost just one match during the 17-game season that decided where the seedings would land for the playoff at the end of the campaign. Their goal difference during that portion of the season was just +13, as they played some tight matches en route to their top seed. But León scored multiple goals in all three tournament matches to clinch the title.
In the second half of the season, it was Cruz Azul that had the best campaign en route to their ninth Liga MX title. Cruz Azul finished the 17-game seeding portion of the season on 41 points with just two losses to their name on the year. They survived a tough quarterfinal match against Toluca, winning that match 4-3, before outscoring their final two opponents 3-1 en route to the championship.
Cruz Azul’s opponent in that final was Santos Laguna, who had an impressive playoff tournament to make it to the final. They were seeded fifth ahead of the tournament, but beat fourth seed Monterrey and third seed Puebla en route to the final.
Summer 2021 Transfer Window Recap
Every year, the transfer window is capable of completely shifting the Liga MX betting odds heading into the season. This year was no exception, as there were some significant moves heading into the first half of the Liga MX campaign. These players in particular have the ability to shift the balance of power both in the table and in the Liga MX betting odds.
The biggest story in the transfer window heading into the Liga MX season was the window that Monterrey had. They made a couple of notable signings ahead of the Apertura (the nickname for the first half of the season), headlined by Mexican Érick Aguirre from Pachuca. Aguirre has built a reputation in his home country by helping the Mexican Olympic team qualify for that tournament, and he’s expected to have a bright future ahead of him.
Monterrey also picked up a quality piece in Joel Campbell, who was with León a season ago. Campbell has a ton of high-profile club experience under his belt, along with some memorable play in World Cups past. His experience could help a team like Monterrey have an elite-level season, as Monterrey appears to have made a real commitment to winning this year, which paid off with a seventh-place Apertura season and a quarterfinal appearance.
Winter 2022 Transfer Window Recap
The winter transfer window in Liga MX came and went in January into February, and it was a quiet one for the bulk of the league. While the league did not see many moves take place during this time frame, there were several impactful signings that were made. It was a case of quality over quantity for the teams of Liga MX this winter.
Jonathan dos Santos was the biggest name moved in the transfer window, as he went from the LA Galaxy to Club America. Dos Santos started over 20 matches for the Galaxy a season ago and still has some gas left in the tank as he heads to Mexico to play for one of the biggest clubs in North America. In a competitive Liga MX setting, veteran presences like dos Santos will be incredibly valuable.
Carlos Salcedo is on his way out of Liga MX, as the experienced defender is going from UANL to Toronto FC. This was one of many moves Toronto FC has made to improve their squad, with this particular move coming at the expense of a Liga MX side. How UANL’s defense responds to losing such a tenured player remains to be seen, but the outcome typically is not positive after an outgoing transfer like this one.
Who are Favorites to Win Liga MX this Season?
The favorite to win the Clausura (second half) season in Liga MX is a team that’s regularly the Liga MX betting favorite in Club América. They’re the team that finished at the top of the Liga MX standings during the 2021-2022 Apertura portion of the season. While they fell in the quarterfinals of the Apertura, América will be expected to do big things in the second half of the year as they chase down yet another title.
Another team that will be expected to finish among the top sides in this league according to Liga MX betting odds is León, who finished in the top-three of the regular season standings in the Apertura. Now, they will be expected to have a strong Clausura campaign, as they look for their third top-four finish during the seeding portion of the season in the last two full years.
Of course, what makes the outright Liga MX betting markets a challenge from a betting perspective is that they only cover a small sample size in each half of the year. There are 17 matches to seed the teams, and teams must finish in the Top 12 in order to have a chance at the title. Even the teams that finish in first place are just one bad match away from being eliminated in the playoff portion of each half-season.
Who is in Danger of Relegation?
Relegation has been an interesting topic of conversation in the world of Liga MX betting and the league as a whole. Relegation had been a small part of Liga MX at one point, as the team with the worst club coefficient over a multi-year sample size would be relegated and swapped out for a team in the second division. However, that’s no longer the case, as Liga MX has opted to remove relegation from its structure for at least the next few years.
There’s been a restructuring in Liga MX in its lower divisions, as the former second division in Ascenso MX has been removed in favor of Liga de Expansión MX.
As of now, there aren’t plans to include some sort of promotion/relegation between Liga MX and this new second division, making Liga MX similar to MLS in that there’s no relegation.
This doesn’t impact Liga MX betting on individual matches, but it does change the mentality of teams who aren’t in contention to win the league title. Without a threat beneath them to motivate teams to save their spot in Liga MX, there’s no incentive for teams to give their best effort once they’ve been eliminated. How much of an impact that has on the quality of Liga MX remains to be seen.
In the United States, the lack of promotion and relegation has been a huge point of criticism over the years. There are fewer clubs with the infrastructure to fit into the top flight in Mexico when compared to all of the teams in USL in the United States. But with the passion that there is for soccer in Mexico, there’s been a mixed reaction to this move.
Outright Predictions for Liga MX 2021/22
As far as outright Liga MX betting predictions are concerned, Club América is the team that’s considered the most likely to win the Clausura portion of the Liga MX season. They finished in first place in the Apertura regular season earlier this season, and on the short list of teams that could finish at the top of the standings again in the second half of the year. With no guarantees in a league with this unique format, América has a great shot to once again contend for a trophy.
Beyond Club América, Monterrey is another squad that has a real chance to win the Clausura and help bettors in Liga MX betting. They’ve made some legitimately impactful moves in an attempt to rise up the table, and had a good start in the Apertura portion of the year. The second half of the season could absolutely be theirs as they’re trending in the right direction.
Cruz Azul and Tigres are also more than capable of winning the Clausura, with Cruz Azul having just won the league during this portion of the season a year ago.
There are more teams that can win the title in Liga MX than in most European soccer leagues, especially with the small sample size and single elimination finale. If you had to select a few teams to have the best chance, though, these four squads would be the best when doing Liga MX betting on outrights.
Players to Keep an Eye on in Liga MX this Season
The scoring in Liga MX can be much more balanced than in the more top-heavy leagues in Europe, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some impact players ready to go in Liga MX. These players can turn matches in Liga MX on their heads, impacting Liga MX betting markets just by appearing in significant matches.
One of the top players to watch in Liga MX during the Clausura is Rogelio Funes Mori of Monterrey. Funes Mori has been one of the biggest threats for this generation of Mexican national team action. With Monterrey, he’s a part of a team that could very well win the title in the second half of the 2021-2022 campaign and his performance in league play could improve further.
Argentina’s Rubens Sambueza is going to be a player to watch during the Clausura as well. He’s led the league in assists over the last two halves of Liga MX play, and will need to put his teammates in positions to score easy goals if his new team, Atlético San Luis, is going to have any chance at success. San Luis was the team that would’ve been relegated last season had relegation not been done away with, and Sambueza will try and change their fortunes.
How do we Provide our Expert Picks for Liga MX?
When it comes to how we provide our Liga MX betting picks, the biggest key is to avoid becoming a prisoner of the moment. The small sample size of each half of the Liga MX season can make a team that had one great run look a lot better than they actually are. We make sure not to let one good half of the year distort our view of any team, so as not to give you picks that are tainted with recency bias.
Our Liga MX betting experts are also sure to use the statistics from each team over larger sample sizes to project the scores of each Liga MX match. It’s a great way to eliminate skewed perception, as we look at clubs over enough of a sample size to get a better idea as to how they should play relative to expectations. That opens up chances to get good value in the Liga MX betting markets.
Speaking of value, one way we find strong value is to bet on Liga MX matches early after odds are posted. In soccer, teams don’t play as often as they do each week in basketball or baseball. That means the odds are often posted several days ahead of a match, allowing us to jump on Liga MX betting markets early to catch the best prices before they move.
Best Sportsbooks that Cover Liga MX Games
Draftkings Sportsbook
The best sportsbook that offers Liga MX betting may be Draftkings Sportsbook. They offer regular promotions that Liga MX bettors can use on this competition or on other sports and leagues if they so choose. While many bookmakers’ promos are aimed at more mainstream contests, Draftkings consistently offers at least one generalized promotion that can be used in Mexican club soccer.
Betway
Another site that does a great job of offering Liga MX betting is Betway. Betway is one of many betting sites that serves as a sponsor for club soccer teams around the world, including some name-brand teams. They’ve backed up those sponsorships with a quality soccer betting platform that hits all of the right notes in terms of the markets they offer.
Sportsbook Promo Codes and Best Bonuses for Liga MX
Every major Liga MX betting site offers some sort of welcome bonus to attract new players who have yet to try out their sportsbook. Not all sportsbook bonuses are created equally, though, as some sites have better offers available than others. These sportsbooks have particularly compelling bonuses up for grabs, as you can get some strong added value from them.
FanDuel Sportsbook is offering you a risk-free bet worth up to $1,000 to be used on Liga MX betting or elsewhere. Here, you’re able to place your first wager at FanDuel and keep the profits if that bet wins. If the bet loses, you’ll receive the amount you risked back in free bets, with a max amount of free bets totaling $1,000.
Another strong welcome bonus that can be used for this league is the 100% deposit bonus at BetRivers. They’re offering a dollar-for-dollar match on your first deposit with their site, with a max bonus amount of $250. With that promo, a $250 first deposit would yield a balance of $500 before your first bet is even settled.
All You Need to Know About Liga MX Betting
There’s a lot to know about Liga MX betting, beyond just the on-field components of the competition. You need to have an understanding of how Liga MX betting odds work, which betting markets are the most popular, and how those betting markets work to have a chance to win at them.
Fortunately, we’re here to break those things down for you.
Liga MX Odds and Betting Lines
Liga MX betting odds are the numbers that you’ll see next to each team and betting market when you look for betting options in this league. Every potential bet comes with its own betting odds which signifies the amount of money that has to be risked in order to win a specified amount on each wager. Those numbers can start with either a plus or minus sign.
Odds that begin with a plus sign equal the amount that would be won if you put $100 on that bet. Odds that begin with a minus sign equal the amount that would need to be risked in order to win $100. For example, -120 odds mean that you would need to risk $120 to win $100, while +120 odds mean that a $100 bet would yield $120 in profit.
Compare Odds for Liga MX
In Liga MX betting, and in all types of sports betting, comparing odds from one sportsbook to the next is one of the most important things you can do as a bettor. The reason for this is the same as the reason for shopping around when buying goods or services. If you can save money by going with the best price, you’ll have more money in your account in the long run.
For example, let’s say that a team is a -120 favorite in an upcoming Liga MX match at one sportsbook and at -105 for the same match at another sportsbook. At -120 odds, you’d need to bet $120 to win $100 on that team, while at -105 odds it’d only take a $105 bet to win $100. That savings of $15 if your bet were to lose may not seem like a lot, but those savings happening regularly would mean a significant difference in your Liga MX betting bankroll.
How do we Generate our Liga MX Odds?
Our Liga MX betting odds are generated by rigorously comparing them across as many sportsbooks as possible. As we said, comparing odds is the best way to maximize profits in sports betting, and we don’t neglect this step when we recommend Liga MX picks to you.
Comparing sports betting odds can be a time consuming process, though our knowledge on how to navigate each sportsbook can cut down on the time spent doing so. Either way, you’ll not have to put in that time when doing your Liga MX betting, as we do that work for you to provide the best odds in as efficient a way as possible for your benefit.
Moneyline Liga MX Odds
The moneyline betting market is the most common Liga MX betting market, as every bettor can understand what it consists of without much trouble. If you still don’t get it by the end of this guide, you may just want to pack it in and call it a day.
Your assignment in the moneyline market is to predict which team will win each match in Mexico’s top flight. You have three choices to bet on when betting the moneyline: either team to win the match, or for the match to end in a draw.
Unlike most sports, the draw is an option that makes moneyline betting in soccer so unique. While there are overtime periods to break ties in sports like football and basketball, matches in most soccer leagues are capable of ending in a draw (except during the playoff round).
The draw option isn’t always popular among bettors, but if you can identify situations where two teams are evenly matched, there’s money to be made there. During the 2021-22 Apertura, 53 of 153 regular season matches ended in a draw, more than a third of all matches.
Liga MX Over/Under Odds
Another commonly used Liga MX betting market is the over/under, where you can bet on how much scoring both teams will do. Here, you’ll see a predetermined number of goals a sportsbook puts up as the total for each game. You’re then asked to bet on whether you think the game will see over or under that number of goals.
For example, you may see a total of three goals set for a match in Liga MX. You would then be asked to bet on whether you think there’ll be over or under that amount. If there were two or fewer goals, the under would win, while four or more goals would mean an over and exactly three goals would result in a push.
How Does Liga MX Work?
Liga MX has two halves to its season, with two separate championships awarded. The 18 teams in the league play against the rest of the league to determine which teams move into the eight-team tournament at the end of each campaign to determine the winner. That tournament is single-elimination, with one loss being enough to knock out any team that falls short in a match.
Teams and Venues
There are currently 18 teams in Liga MX at this point in time, each looking to make a run to this season’s titles. Here’s a look at those teams, along with the stadiums that they occupy.
| Team | Home Venue |
|---|---|
| Club América | Estadio Azteca |
| Atlas | Jalisco |
| Atlético San Luis | Alfonso Lastras |
| Cruz Azul | Azteca |
| Guadalajara | Akron |
| Juarez | Olímpico Benito Juárez |
| León | León |
| Mazatlán | Mazatlán |
| Monterrey | BBVA |
| Necaxa | Victoria |
| Pachuca | Hidalgo |
| Puebla | Cuauhtémoc |
| Querétaro | Corregidora |
| Santos Laguna | Corona |
| Tijuana | Caliente |
| Toluca | Nemesio Diez |
| UANL Tigres | Universitario |
| UNAM | Olímpico Universitario |
Liga MX Trophy
The First Division Trophy is given to the winners of Liga MX each season. This trophy has the logos of the member clubs of Liga MX on the base, with a top that does not have any handles and has a large soccer ball on the top. The runners-up in each Liga MX playoff tournament receives a miniature version of the trophy for finishing in second place in the league.
COVID-19 Status
COVID-19 is one of the more unpredictable components of sports at the moment, and it could have an impact on Liga MX play and Liga MX betting as well.
For now, there aren’t any plans to change the structure of the season or postpone any games. But COVID-19 was cited as one of the original reasons to scrap relegation, so it’s possible that COVID has already made its changes to the league. We’ll have to wait and see just how long that impact holds.
Interesting Facts About Liga MX
Liga MX has been around since 1943, and has seen more than 70 years of Mexican club soccer action. Before then, there was loosely organized amateur soccer in Mexico, but Liga MX formed out of the first professional league, then called Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación (F.M.F.). Prior to the 2012-13 season, F.M.F. rebranded to Liga MX following a change in the organizing body.
League play used to function the way more traditional soccer leagues are structured before going to the current two-halves system with two different playoff tournaments in the late 1960s. Club América is the winningest team in the history of Liga MX with 13 league titles.
América and Guadelajara lead the field with 103 consecutive seasons of league play. Atlas trails right behind with 100 seasons overall, but only 66 of them are consecutive.
Liga MX Conclusion
Liga MX is right up there with MLS in terms of quality North American club soccer leagues. As a result, Liga MX betting is popular throughout both halves of the Mexican soccer season.
With our Liga MX picks and the betting strategies mentioned above, you could turn a hefty profit betting on this league.