The second installment of MFUSA's MLS Cup odds after another week of action. A couple of teams improved their chances drastically, while a few others fell off. Last week's favorite, Chicago, saw a sure home win turn into a disappointing draw and loses their top spot. Longest shot on the board (my imaginary one), FC Dallas, put in an impressive home performance against TFC and has catapulted themselves from the ignominious longest odds position. All the flux and parity leads to two new teams occupying the Long and the Short this week.

WEEK 5 LONG SHOT
LA Galaxy
I realize that L.A. got a road draw against San Jose this weekend, but with FC Dallas' impressive performance, someone has to take the long shot spot. L.A. has managed three points in five, a record which has them tied with Columbus (whom I can't in good conscious put in this spot) at the bottom of the league. While L.A. has a better goal differential, Columbus receives the benefit of the doubt as defending MLS Cup champs. Donovan and the ten dwarves have holes all over the field, the impending revival of the Beckham saga, and a head coach that always appears as though he'd like to be elsewhere. Those ingredients don't make for a good MLS Cup bet, so longest shot the Galaxy become. Unlike last week, when I told you that a longshot bet on Dallas might actually be worthwhile, I can't see the same value in the Galaxy.

MFUSA ODDS: 150-1

RUNNER UP
FC Dallas 85-1


WEEK 5 ODDS ON FAVORITE
Chivas USA
Top of the table and havin' a laugh, Chivas USA is clearly Major League Soccer's top team five weeks into the season. The Goats have found several different ways to win games, and are leaning on a stingy defense that has given up a league best two goals. All of that despite being shorthanded; attacking players Maykel Galindo and Ante Razov have yet to return to the lineup, as well as defensive contributors Claudio Suarez and Ante Jazic. Chivas has been notoriously streaky in the past however, so their status as favorites is hardly solidified. A poor run of form could bring them straight back to the pack. While Chivas is clearly the choice for shortest odds on the board, Chicago is so close that I'm tempted to make this a tie. Chicago's defensive collapse against Kansas City drops them just below Chivas, at least for the time being.

MFUSA ODDS: 10-1

RUNNER UP
Chicago Fire 12-1