Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com

Will the NBA’s ambitious 22-team restart in the “bubble” of the Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando actually work when that begins later this month in the wake of record-setting coronavirus numbers in Florida? Sports fans may get an answer this week if it’s possible to stage such a sporting event when the MLS is Back Tournament kicks off Wednesday at the same complex.

Already, the challenges facing all sports league in a pandemic have shown up with several players from FC Dallas reportedly testing positive for COVID-19 last week, forcing the entire team into quarantine. What’s worrisome is that the team said no player tested positive before leaving for Florida.

FC Dallas had been scheduled to open the tournament with a group stage match against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Thursday. That has been pushed back. All of the league’s 26 teams are being sequestered in hotels in advance of the tournament and players are tested for the virus every two days.