MLS PowerScore ™ Rankings — Week 25

Another week, another seven dollars, and not much more clarity in either of the playoff races.  The East showed its dominance once again over the West (going 3-1-1) for the week.  The two Eastern Conference teams currently out of the playoffs (KC and Toronto) got points, while Chicago continued its problems by dropping three on the road.  Otherwise, none of the top teams in the East showed major chinks in their armor (though Columbus did make it clear that they might have problems without Schelotto in the lineup).  In the West, LA regained sole possession of last place, but is still only four points out of a playoff spot.  Houston stayed on track to win the conference.  San Jose kept not-losing.  And most importantly, my predictions were pretty much wrong.  Well, on to the rankings.

1.  Columbus (LW = 1) (PS = 7.42)

As long as the “injury” (or desire not to play on an artificial surface) doesn’t extend beyond the Toronto match, the Crew look set possibly to clinch a playoff spot this weekend, if they win on Thursday against the Red Bulls and other games play out right.

2T.  Houston (2) (6.19)

Not losing at San Jose is a victory, believe it or not.  Look for Houston to clinch in a couple of weeks and coast into the playoffs.

2T.  New England (7) (6.19)

A schoolyard beating of Chivas USA makes one think that all is A-OK in Revs-land.

4.  New York (6) (5.56)

I can’t decide if Dave van den Bergh is underrated, or if he should be scoring even more often than he does.

5.  Chicago (3) (5.47)

Where are the fireworks and world-beating that were supposed to commence once McBride joined the Fire?  That being said, I don’t want to face them in the playoffs.

6.  San Jose (4) (5.46)

San Jose stay hot enough to grab a playoff spot in the West.  That’s not saying much, but all of the sudden a San Jose-Houston matchup in the Western Conference finals looks like a real possibility.

7.  Colorado (10) (5.27)

A surprise win against a strong road team in the Fire mixes up the Western conference even more.  I still just don’t see the Rapids closing the deal on a playoff spot (which means you should bet your life savings that the Rapids make the playoffs).

8.  Chivas USA (5) (4.75)

Chivas looked bad against New England … just bad enough to probably still get a playoff spot in the West.

9T.  Kansas City (12) (4.14)

Kansas City… just… won’t… die.  Then again, nothing turns the frown on a team upside down like a visit from the hapless Galaxy.

9T.  DC United (9) (4.14)

A tie at home against FC Dallas is nothing to write home about, but it still keeps them in good position to play Houston in the first round of the playoffs.  Wait, that’s not good.

11.  Real Salt Lake (8) (3.85)

I think that RSL will lose out to San Jose in the Western conference playoff race.  Just call it a hunch.

12T.  Los Angeles (11) (3.27)

How are the Galaxy not last?  Math seems to fail here.

12T.  FC Dallas (13) (3.27)

At least Kenny Cooper scored again.  Still, FC Dallas just don’t seem to have the manpower to pull it together this season.

14.  Toronto (14) (3.00)

Toronto manages only a tie against a somewhat-depleted Columbus team.  They needed more.

Tags: MLS, Power Ranking, PowerScore