We're nearing the end of our predictions contest, which means we're also nearing the date that AMT and I will likely be sharing some decent liquor with our pal Chest. All precincts haven't reported yet, but he's certainly the projected winner. When will this liquor exchange/celebration take place? Stay tuned for details.
Week 28: Martin 5, Chest 5, Readers 5, AMT 4
Overall: Chest 121, AMT 112, Readers 109, Martin 103
Wednesday September 28, 8:30 PM: Sporting Kansas City vs. Columbus Crew
Martin: Tie. Chest: KC. AMT: KC.
I wonder whether the spirit of Lamar Hunt just lost all of its mojo at the same time, or if there's some other explanation for why both Dallas and Columbus started falling apart at around the same time. I mean, it's probably the latter, but you can't prove that it's not Hunt's ghost, can you? (AMT)
Wednesday September 28, 9:00 PM: Real Salt Lake vs. Chicago Fire
Martin: RSL. Chest: RSL. AMT: RSL.
Jason Kreis is usually right, but his decision to send out the reserves at RFK was as much bizarre as it was a mistake. No one likes to lose 4-1, so I'm thinking the real Real will make things right against a Fire team that might be missing Sebastian Grazzini. (Chest)
Thursday September 29, 8:00 PM: Philadelphia Union vs. DC United, ESPN2
Martin: DC. Chest: Tie. AMT: DC.
We'll have much more on this over the next few days, but this is the biggest week of United's season. Two road games against two Eastern Conference playoff contenders. This is when we find out what this team is really made of. Oh yeah, and its also DCU vs. ADU, which should just be fun. (Martin)
Martin: Tie. Chest: Hou. AMT: Hou.
Two teams on relative hot streaks. The Fire enter this week (not counting the trip to Salt Lake) having won 4 of 5, and Houston even won a road game last week! That said, it's a lot of travel for a not-particularly-deep Chicago side to fly from Illinois to Utah to Texas in a seven-day span. I expect the fatigue to take its toll against the unlikely East leaders. (AMT)
Saturday October 1, 7:30 PM: Toronto FC vs. New York Red Bulls, Fox Soccer
Martin: NY. Chest: Tie. AMT: Tie.
That explosion you heard coming from the bowels of BMO Field? It was Rafa Marquez setting off a cherry bomb in one of the visitor locker room toilets. I figure he's got to find a way to send the message he wants out of New York whether he's playing or not, and that's what will come to him this weekend. (AMT)
Saturday October 1, 7:30 PM: New England Revolution vs. Seattle Sounders
Martin: Sea. Chest: Sea. AMT: Sea.
Unlike Kreis last week, Sigi Schmid could roll out the reserves and still win this one. The Revs are MLS's worst team right now. How did we drop 6 points to them?!?!?!?!?! (Chest)
Saturday October 1, 9:00 PM: Colorado Rapids vs. FC Dallas
Martin: Tie. Chest: Dal. AMT: Tie.
I'm not feeling good about picking either of these teams to win at present. I'd pick against Colorado given Gary Smith's ridiculous and Backean decision not to join the team for their CCL roadie this week, but they have the whole "altitude" and "home field" things on their side. And Dallas are stuck in some serious Black Eyed Peas level funk right now. So we'll call it a draw, for lack of a desirable pick. (AMT)
Saturday October 1, 10:30 PM: Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake
Martin: LA. Chest: Tie. AMT: Tie.
We went into this season expecting these to be the best two teams in the league. Well we were right about one of them. Its the one that doesn't occasionally decide to send out a weak lineup and then complain that someone who is totally eligible to play comes out and destroys them. Guess what, you deserved what you got. (Martin)
Saturday October 1, 10:30 PM: San Jose Earthquakes vs. Sporting Kansas City
Martin: KC. Chest: Tie. AMT: Tie.
Frank Yallop was complaining about bad luck after his Quakes gave away a lead in Colorado. Funny, I don't recall the definition of "bad luck" including "assembling a bad roster full of ill-fitting parts and numerous injury-prone players." (Chest)
Sunday October 2, 4:00 PM: Columbus Crew vs. D.C. United, CSN+
Martin: DC. Chest: Tie. AMT: Tie.
I fully expect Columbus to park the (C)bus (sorry!) in front of the goal for this one and look to score on the break. They're struggling, and they'll just be looking to grind out any kind of result to make the playoffs. United have had a lot of success on the counter of late, but we're still not great at unlocking defenses once they have time to set up. (AMT)
Sunday October 2, 4:30 PM: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Portland Timbers
Martin: Tie. Chest: Van. AMT: Van.
Tom Soehn owes us something after leading DC to two straight last-day playoff misses in 2008 and 2009. He can help out here by hurting a rival for a wild card spot. (Chest)
Sunday October 2, 8:00 PM: Chivas USA vs. Philadelphia Union
Martin: Chv. Chest: Tie. AMT: Tie.
You know how I said this is the biggest week of United's season? It might be the biggest week of Philly's season also. This trip to LA will be difficult for them. Or maybe it won't. Its pretty darn hard to tell with Chivas. But one team will be coming off over a week's rest, and the other team just played a game three days prior to flying across the country. (Martin)
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