MLS PICK ‘EM 2015: WEEK 27 – RIVALRY WEEK

Last week, the late drama in Portland nearly toppled me at the top of the writers table. I’m hanging on for dear life up here. Luckily, this week there are a lot of points on the table, and I intend to take a few. Russ and Jeff both closed the gap at the top while Nort drew level with John again at the bottom of the table. Here are the updated standings:

This week, we are serving up a huge slate of games from Rivalry Week in MLS. First up, the recently resurgent San Jose Earthquakes take on the mighty LA Galaxy. While just a few weeks ago, this one would have looked lopsided, the ‘Quakes have turned it on of late, and they might be ready to stake their claim in a playoff spot with a win. The Galaxy will be hoping the recent form of their attacking core will hold up to their end of the bargain.

MLS PICK ‘EM 2015: WEEK 27 – RIVALRY WEEK

Next up, the best of the Pacific Northwest meet when Seattle welcomes Portland to town. Seattle is still in the throes of an epic slide and now has to compete on two fronts with league play and the CONCACAF Champions League. Portland have been all over the board this year. They showed heart in their comeback last Friday against Houston and a 2-goal deficit, but their offensive struggles of late are still looming.

Finally, the oldest rivalry on the East Coast, NY and D.C. The Red Bulls had been on another level before dropping a stinker in the Windy City. Their new player acquisitions are still working their way into the lineup, but their normally dependable defense is what really let them down. For D.C., they have lost 2 in a row, and are just barely holding onto the top spot in the East.

Just like last time, we have some bonus points up for grabs this week. If a writer correctly predicts the outcome of all three games this week, they get an extra 3 point, but if a writer picks all three games and scores this week, they are getting a whopping 12 points. That’s enough to make the table mighty interesting heading down the stretch!

So let’s get to it:

Expert	Pick	Comments	Pick	Comments	Pick	Comments
Joseph Goldstein Analyst Do Not Sell My Info Privacy Settings @LastWord_JG	SJ (2-1)	LA is the easy pick here, but SJ has been very impressive, especially defensively the last couple of weeks. Just like the Red Bulls midweek, LA will get taught a lesson in this one.	POR (2-0)	Seattle have been toothless. Even though they are at home, Portland is going to control this one.	NY (3-1)	Unfortunately, this game loomed and the team snoozed in Chicago. Red Bulls clearly conserving their energy midweek for this one. D.C. is not leaving Harrison with a point and the top of the table will be that much closer for the September stretch.
Eric Walcott Staff Writer @ericwalcott	LA (3-2)	LA have been bad on the road for most of the year, but they finally got that monkey off their back earlier this month. Cali Classico’s are always insane, and this one will be no different.	POR (2-1)	Seattle looked really bad against RSL after it seemed like they had turned things around beating Orlando City 4-0. Turns out, Orland is just the worst team in MLS at the moment. Portland will use the momentum of their comeback against Houston to spur them on.	RBNY (3-1)	New York will be angry after their midweek loss to Chicago. D.C. have lost eight of 17 after a good start, including consecutive losses to NYCFC and San Jose. They’re not in a good place, and a visit to Red Bull Arena won’t help things.
Alec Rivera Department Head @LWOSAlec	LA (3-1)	San Jose have seen a rapid rise over the past week, dispatching D.C. United and Sporting Kansas City in emphatic fashion. Simply put, the party won’t last against arguably the strongest team in MLS. With so many weapons, LA will be nearly unstoppable on the road to the playoffs.	SEA (2-1)	As terrible as this summer has been for the Sounders, Portland just can’t seem to get it together on the road. If Seattle are to avoid an embarrassing first–missing the MLS Playoffs–they will need to start at home against their Cascadia rivals. Being a Cascadia match, I am fully prepared to be wrong here.	D.C. (3-1)	Fabian Espindola, arguably the most important player on the field for United, will likely be back after yet another minor injury. The Espindola-Saborio partnership looked like it could possibly catapult D.C. to new heights. Despite taking a hit in the standings with a 2-0 loss to the ascendant Earthquakes, United will hit the field with a vengeance against a tired Red Bulls squad who are coming off an embarrassing loss of their own…who loses to the Fire anymore?
Jeff Krause Editor @DFBJeff	LA (2-1)	San Jose is much improved over the first half of the season, but LA is proving to be too much for anyone to handle. This is their game to lose.	SEA (2-1)	Seattle at home will be motivated. Portland isn’t spooked by playing at the CLink, but no matter. Seattle know they have to find another gear if they’re going to make the playoffs, and a win here could be their turning point.	DRAW (2-2)	D.C. is still the team to beat in the East, but RBNY will want to shake off the memory of losing to Chicago midweek. Being home will help, but D.C. will not roll over and let the Red Bulls take this without a fight.
Russ McKenzie Department Head @Russ_McKenzie	LA (3-1)	San Jose’s recent success is stopped dead in it’s tracks by the juggernaut that is the Galacticos. It won’t even be close.	SEA (2-1)	Portland on the road… what else is there to say?	RBNY (2-1)	Red Bulls are going to prove their mettle after a poor midweek match. I sense a bit of a shake up coming, and maybe the newest faces will start?
John Richan Staff Writer @John_Richan	LA (3-0)	No one can stop the run away train that is LA at the moment. SJ is in for a tough game this weekend and they know it	SEA (1-0)	The Sounders look to be showing some life again after a mid-summer slump. Always a classic MLS matchup but Seattle will have the last laugh this weekend.	DRAW (1-1)	Both teams are in the midst of a log jam of matches right now. Neither team will want to drop the points. Expect a nasty affair but one that might fizzle in the second half when the tired legs set in.
Michael Norton Editor @MichaelNorton95	LA (3-2)	Giovani Dos Santos is proving to be the real deal, and somebody turned the Robbie Keane switch on. Crack open a window, because the Galaxy are continuing their usual second half hot streak.	SEA (2-0)	For the first time in franchise history, the Sounders are in danger of missing the MLS Cup playoffs. Especially with SJ’s recent form. This is a must-win for Deuce and Co.	DRAW (1-1)	The Red Bulls have a win and a draw against United this season, and another three points would make the race at the top a doozy. They’ll control the match, but I don’t see them getting all three points.
Ned Joyce Contributor @nedjoyce	LA (3-1)	The fire power continues and SJ is not equipped to handle it. Wondo probably scores on a pk somewhere along the way	DRAW (2-2)	Game is ugly because both teams are up and down but they still make it exciting.	RBNY (2-1)	Can they both lose? RBNY was embarrassed by Chicago and will want to repent. D.C. is reeling in a late summer swoon.