Clausura Champion 2021 Prediction, Odds & Picks

• America currently leads the pack of favorites
• Keep an eye on a long list of underdogs that could make things interesting
• In a tournament where most teams qualify for the playoffs, do the longshots have a chance?

Odds taken from DraftKings Sportsbook, updated on March 31, 2021.

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Clausura Champion Predictions and Picks

This is a tough one. America will be a solid playoff contender with Solari at the helm, Monterrey have enough star power to push through towards a title, and as for Cruz Azul, this could be the season in which they prove to exorcise the demons.

Despite all that, you should set your sights on Tigres. If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s manager Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti reinvigorating his marquee players during a playoff run. Plus, star striker Andre-Pierre Gignac will be hungry to win something after coming just short in the Club World Cup.

Pick:

Tigres as the winners of the 2021 Clausura.

How to Watch Liga MX’s 2021 Clausura

One can always expect the unexpected in Liga MX.

With two seasons per year and a playoff structure that now involves more than 65% of teams in the league, the chase for a Mexican first division title is always up for grabs. Recent history is in favor of this as well. Since 2015, seven different teams have shared 11 Liga MX championships.

There’s a reliable amount of parity in Liga MX, but that said, there are always a handful of favorites and underdogs that should still be highlighted. Looking ahead to the end of the current 2021 Clausura season, who leads the race? Almost as importantly, who might step in as a surprise candidate?

There are few heavy hitters, a long list of intriguing alternate options — and then at the bottom — the longshots. In a league where upsets are the norm most weekends, let’s take a deeper dive into the candidates for the 2021 Clausura championship.

Club America Lead The Favorites

No surprises here. With a new and talented manager like Santiago Solari at the helm, America have been outstanding in early 2021. There’s a well-balanced approach to their system, and after trouncing rivals Chivas in the Clasico Nacional, America should have a stable end to the Clausura.

Cruz Azul are also easily worth highlighting and have been one of the top teams weeks in and week out. That said, the problem with the Mexico City side is that they are synonymous with bad luck. In fact, there would be nothing more “Cruz Azul” than a complete meltdown in the playoffs.

Elsewhere, Monterrey and Tigres are both strong contenders that have the most talented rosters in the league. Although Tigres didn’t have the most ideal start to their season, they typically always step up once the playoffs roll around. Also, keep in mind, they have four titles since 2015 and almost held Bayern Munich scoreless in the recent Club World Cup final.

And finally, there’s Santos. They aren’t traditional heavy hitters, but outside of Tigres, no clubs have surpassed their two-title tally in the last six years. It’s tempting to say that they are at a level closer to that of a dark horse, but Santos’ constant playoff presence keeps them in the top bracket.

Speaking of underdog candidates to keep an eye on…

Dark Horses Still Have A Good Chance

Let’s start with Leon. They’ve already suffered more defeats than their last two seasons combined, and yet, there’s no way of overlooking the current Liga MX champions. On their day and when they’re at their best, few teams could stop their overwhelming attacking efforts. Problem is, we haven’t seen enough of that on a consistent basis.

Atlas are worth keeping an eye on. Although their attack needs serious work, their defense, on the other hand, could make them a menace to teams in the playoffs. Toluca are a bit of a wildcard these days, and depending on the weekend, they could be losing or winning against any opponent by high margins.

Up next are Chivas who continue to be punching severely below their weight. Given a bit of a wake-up call near the end of the season, their young and promising roster could finally begin to live up to expectations.

Things get a bit most interesting with Puebla and Tijuana, and if we’re being realistic, they’re probably a bit lucky to be included in the “dark horses” section. Nevertheless, they each have a handful of game-changing individuals that have stolen three points from more daunting Liga MX opponents. Once in the playoffs, anything could happen.

Longshots Have Plenty To Prove

If Puebla and Tijuana are a bit lucky to be in the “dark horses” section, then Pachuca and Pumas are probably a bit unlucky to be grouped at the very bottom. Both have rosters that should be pushing for a top spot, and yet, both can also go for very, very long periods of time without much success.

Queretaro and Mazatlan earn the occasional win, but like many others near the bottom of this article, they suffer with gaining consistent points for extended weeks at a time.

But what about San Luis, Juarez or Necaxa? If anything is possible in an unpredictable Liga MX, surely even some of these minnows could gain speed and surprise a number of teams, right? Let’s just say that even these candidates might be too far of a stretch. Look elsewhere.