City of champions has a nice ring, or rings, to it
Championships are the only currency that matters to Los Angeles sports fans. It’s a city without pity when it comes to disappointment.
Expectations are often greater than they should be in L.A., where reality and fandom don’t mix well. For example, even as the Lakers missed the playoffs the last six seasons many die-hards still began each year with championship aspirations. When your team has won 16 titles it’s understandable to think anyone wearing purple and gold can somehow find a way to win, even if the starting lineup includes Wayne Ellington, Ryan Kelly and Tarik Black.
However, for the first time in a while, the championship expectations of sports fans here align with the oddsmakers in Las Vegas. Six L.A. teams are among the top four betting favorites in their sport. So you’re not going out on a limb if you’re putting your money on Los Angeles celebrating a championship or two over the next year.
Here’s a look at the current odds for each team at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook and my take on how they’ll finish:
Dodgers (odds: 5-2)
The Dodgers have the best record in baseball and are either the favorite or second to the Houston Astros to win the World Series at most sports books. This is familiar territory for the Dodgers, who have advanced to the Series the last two seasons but haven’t won since 1988.
Prediction: We will see a rematch of the 2017 World Series, but this time Walker Buehler will be on the mound instead of Yu Darvish. The Dodgers will claim their first championship in 31 years with Cody Bellinger winning MVP.
Sparks (odds: 9-2) The last championship team from Los Angeles is the Sparks and they look ready to claim their second title since 2016. The Sparks are behind the Washington Mystics, Connecticut Sun and the Las Vegas Aces in the eyes of oddsmakers, but they had won five in a row and 11 of 13 before losing to the Dallas Wings on Wednesday.
Prediction: The Sparks will defeat the Mystics in the WNBA Finals, with Nneka Ogwumike winning MVP. Derek Fisher will join Michael Cooper as former Lakers champions to lead the Sparks to a title.
LAFC (odds: 3-2)
Coming off a recordsetting inaugural season, LAFC has the best record in the league and has been a heavy favorite to win the MLS Cup for most of the year, thanks in large part to Carlos Vela, who leads the league in goals. LAFC is undefeated at Banc of California Stadium, and if it sustains its current pace and wins a title, it will go down as one of the best MLS teams ever.
Prediction: LAFC will win the MLS Cup with a victory over Atlanta United FC on a late, game-winning goal from Vela, who will claim MVP honors.
Galaxy (odds: 16-1)
The Galaxy have been right behind their El Trafico rivals with the second-best odds for most of the season but have dipped to seventh after losing three straight before defeating Dallas on Wednesday.
Prediction: Zlatan Ibrahimovic will lead the Galaxy to the conference semifinals before they fall to LAFC for the first time. (Despite its success the last two seasons, LAFC has yet to beat the Galaxy.)
Rams (odds: 12-1)
After losing to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII, the Rams opened as co-favorites with the Patriots to win Super Bowl LIV. They have since dipped behind the Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints in the eyes of oddsmakers because of questions about Todd Gurley’s health.
Prediction: The Rams defeat the Chiefs in an epic rematch of their “Monday Night Football” game at the Coliseum last year. Aaron Donald is the MVP as L.A. celebrates its first Super Bowl since the Raiders won in 1984.
Chargers (odds: 14-1)
Though overshadowed by the Rams, the Chargers’ record since Oct. 2, 2017, is 23-9 compared with 22-8 for the Rams. The Chargers were tied for the best record in the AFC last year at 12-4 and will field one of the most talented teams in the league. That’s why the Chargers’ odds may be the best value on the board.
Prediction: Melvin Gordon’s holdout bleeds into the season and the Chargers finish behind the Chiefs in the AFC West and lose to them in the AFC divisional round.
Lakers (odds: 4-1)
The Lakers are either the favorite or right behind the Clippers in the eyes of oddsmakers after adding Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins and Danny Green to round out a potential starting lineup with LeBron James and Kyle Kuzma.
Prediction: After a slow start, the Lakers return to the playoffs for the first time since 2013 and win their first title since 2010. James wins MVP as the Lakers down the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals.
Clippers (odds: 7-2)
For the first time in franchise history, the Clippers are favorites to win the NBA championship at many sports books, having added Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to the nucleus of Lou Williams, Patrick Beverley, Montrezl Harrell and Landry Shamet that won 48 games last season.
Prediction: The Clippers finish with the best record in the West, but their homecourt advantage at Staples Center won’t help them much in their first trip to the conference finals as the Lakers take the first postseason Hallway Series.