Photo by David Bernal/ISIphotos.com
When it comes to MLS playoff predictions, there's one thing that the SBI staff can agree on — the 2011 MLS Cup winner will come from the Western Conference.
Which team ends up getting the job done is another story.
After sampling six SBI MLS writers, the Los Angeles Galaxy, Seattle Sounders and Real Salt Lake are the three prime candidates to lift the MLS Cup trophy at the Home Depot Center on Nov. 20. The Galaxy received the most votes to win it all (three), followed by the Sounders (two) and RSL (one). Four writers picked Sporting Kansas City to finish as the other finalist, while Houston and Philadelphia received single nods apiece to reach the final.
So how will the rest of the playoff bracket unfold? Here's how we see the conference semifinals, finals, and MLS Cup final playing out:
SBI STAFF MLS PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS
IVES GALARCEP
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Sporting Kansas City over Colorado
Houston over Philadelphia
Los Angeles over New York
Real Salt Lake over Seattle
CONFERENCE FINALS
Sporting KC over Houston
Los Angeles over RSL
MLS CUP
Los Angeles over Sporting KC
AVI CREDITOR
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Sporting KC over Colorado
Houston over Philadelphia
Los Angeles over New York
Real Salt Lake over Seattle
CONFERENCE FINALS
Houston over Sporting KC
Real Salt Lake over Los Angeles
MLS CUP
Real Salt Lake over Houston
JOSE ROMERO
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Sporting KC over Colorado
Houston over Philadelphia
Los Angeles over New York
Seattle over Real Salt Lake
CONFERENCE FINALS
Sporting KC over Houston
Seattle over Los Angeles
MLS CUP
Seattle over Sporting KC
THOMAS FLOYD
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Sporting KC over Colorado
Philadelphia over Houston
Los Angeles over New York
Seattle over Real Salt Lake
CONFERENCE FINALS
Sporting KC over Philadelphia
Los Angeles over Seattle
MLS CUP
Los Angeles over Sporting KC
MIKE NASTRI
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Sporting KC over Colorado
Philadelphia over Houston
New York over Los Angeles
Seattle over Real Salt Lake
CONFERENCE FINALS
Sporting KC over Philadelphia
Seattle over New York
MLS CUP
Seattle over Sporting KC
ADAM SERRANO
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Colorado over Sporting Kansas City
Philadelphia over Houston
Los Angeles over New York
Seattle over Real Salt Lake
CONFERENCE FINALS
Philadelphia over Colorado
Los Angeles over Seattle
MLS CUP
Los Angeles over Philadelphia
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How do you see the playoff bracket unfolding? Who do you see winning it all?
Share your thoughts and predictions below.