SFPI MLS Power Rankings Week 27

Wow, what a week! As will be discussed later, it could barely have gone better for Portland who find themselves top of the West for the first time since April. In addition, Toronto became the first team to punch their ticket to the *Corporate Sponsor* 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs and have the Supporters Shield all but wrapped up with a 9 point lead over NYC with 6 games left for both teams. The biggest winner this week was New England climbing 5 spots thanks to back to back wins. Montreal and Kansas City are the biggest losers this week, both slipping 4.

COMPONENTS OF SFPI:

PERFORMANCE SCORE: 100% based on performance on the field made up of the following.

PPG Score: Total Points Per Game added to Points Per Game over Last Five with Last Five being given more weight. Single largest component of SFPI

Goal Difference Per Game: Total Goal Difference divided by games played

Home/Away Bonus: Bonus Points added for earning results (W/D) on the road, points subtracted for dropping results (D/L) at home. Accrues over entire season.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE: Average Performance Score of all of a teams opponents to date. Accounts for road games by adding a percentage of a teams Home PPG to the performance score when faced on the road. Weighted at less than 100%

TOTAL SCORE: Performance Score is added to Strength of Schedule to form a teams Total Score. Teams are then ranked in order from highest to lowest.

(all times Pacific *Above Red Line **Clinched playoff berth)

1 **TORONTO FC (59pts 17W-3L-8D) SCORE: 13.603 (+0.6776) PREV: 1 (NC) H1/L10

SCHEDULE: 18 (-2) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 15 (+2) (9 EAST) OVERALL PACE: 71 (+1)

GAMES REMAINING: 6 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS AT #1: 8

LAST WEEK: W 4-0 vs San Jose NEXT WEEK: at (21) Los Angeles Sat 9/16 730pm

2 *NEW YORK CITY FC (50pts 15W-8L-5D) SCORE: 8.3702 (-1.3297) PREV: 2 (NC) H2/L12

SCHEDULE: 9 (+8) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 14 (-4) (8 EAST) OVERALL PACE: 60 (-1)

GAMES REMAINING: 6

LAST WEEK: W 1-0 vs Kansas City, L 1-0 vs Portland

NEXT WEEK: at (22) Colorado Sat 9/16 6pm

3 *PORTLAND TIMBERS (44pts 12W-9L-8D) SCORE: 8.2675 (+0.5654) PREV: 6 (+3) H1/L17

SCHEDULE: 14 (NC) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 19 (-8) (9 WEST) OVERALL PACE: 51 (+2)

GAMES REMAINING: 5

LAST WEEK: W 1-0 at New York City NEXT WEEK: at (13) Salt Lake Sat 9/16 630pm

4 *ATLANTA UNITED (39pts 11W-8L-6D) SCORE: 8.2108 (NC) PREV: 4 (NC) H2/L12

SCHEDULE: 12 (-3) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 17 (+3) (10 EAST) OVERALL PACE: 53 (+2)

GAMES REMAINING: 9

LAST WEEK: W 3-0 vs Dallas.

NEXT WEEK: vs (11) New England Wed 9/13 4pm, vs (17) Orlando Sat 9/16 1pm (Uni)

5 *SEATTLE SOUNDERS (43pts 11W-7L-10D) SCORE: 8.1202 (-0.8735) PREV: 3 (-2) H3/L17

SCHEDULE: 13 (-2) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 21 (NC) (10 WEST) OVERALL PACE: 52 (NC)

GAMES REMAINING: 6

LAST WEEK: D 1-1 vs Los Angeles NEXT WEEK: at (14) Dallas Sat 9/16 5pm

6 *VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (41pts 12W-9L-5D) SCORE: 7.9572 (+0.6237) PREV: 8 (+2) H6/L22

SCHEDULE: 22 (-3) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 10 (+2) (4 WEST) OVERALL PACE: 53 (+2)

GAMES REMAINING: 8

LAST WEEK: W 3-2 vs Salt Lake

NEXT WEEK: vs (20) Minnesota Wed 9/13 7pm, vs (7) Columbus Sat 9/16 4pm

7 *COLUMBUS CREW (43pts 13W-12L-4D) SCORE: 7.7044 (-0.4569) PREV: 7 (NC) H1/L16

SCHEDULE: 3 (+5) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 11 (+3) (7 EAST) OVERALL PACE: 50 (-1)

GAMES REMAINING: 5

LAST WEEK: D 1-1 vs Kansas City NEXT WEEK at (6) Vancouver Sat 9/16 4pm

8 *CHICAGO FIRE (45pts 13W-9L-6D) SCORE: 7.0795 (+0.2302) PREV: 10 (+2) H1.L14

SCHEDULE: 2 (+4) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 20 (-5) (11 EAST) OVERALL PACE: 54 (-1)

GAMES REMAINING: 6

LAST WEEK: D 1-1 vs New York RB NEXT WEEK: vs (19) DC Sat 9/16 530pm

9 *SPORTING KANSAS CITY (41pts 10W-6L-11D) SCORE: 7.0392 (-0.7649) PREV: 5 (-4) H2/L11

SCHEDULE: 19 (+3) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 18 (-9) (8 WEST) OVERALL PACE: 51 (-3)

GAMES REMAINING: 7

LAST WEEK: L 1-0 at New York City, D 1-1 at Columbus

NEXT WEEK: vs (11) New England Sat 9/16 530pm

10 *NEW YORK RED BULLS (41pts 12W-10L-5D) SCORE: 6.9242 (+0.3309) PREV: 11 (+1) H2/L12

SCHEDULE: 16 (-3) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 5 (+1) (4 EAST) OVERALL PACE: 51 (-1)

GAMES REMAINING: 7

LAST WEEK: D 1-1 at Chicago NEXT WEEK: vs (18) Philadelphia Sun 9/17 10am (ESPN)

11 NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (35pts 10W-12L-5D) SCORE: 6.0736 (+0.9008) PREV: 16 (+5) H5/L18

SCHEDULE: 7 (NC) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 1 (NC) (1 EAST) OVERALL PACE: 44 (+3)

GAMES REMAINING: 7

LAST WEEK: W 1-0 vs Montreal

NEXT WEEK: at (4) Atlanta Wed 9/13 4pm, at (9) Kansas City Sat 9/16 530pm

12 *HOUSTON DYNAMO (38pts 10W-9L-8D) SCORE: 5.9362 (-1.0048) PREV: 9 (-3) H4/L17

SCHEDULE: 21 (-3) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 13 (+6) (6 WEST) OVERALL PACE: 47 (-2)

GAMES REMAINING: 7

LAST WEEK: L 1-0 vs Colorado NEXT WEEK: at (15) San Jose Sat 9/16 730pm

13 REAL SALT LAKE (35pts 10W-14L-5D) SCORE: 5.5849 (-0.3562) PREV: 13 (NC) H13/L22

SCHEDULE: 20 (NC) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 16 (NC) (7 WEST) OVERALL PACE: 41 (-1)

GAMES REMAINING: 5

LAST WEEK: L 3-2 at Vancouver NEXT WEEK: vs (3) Portland Sat 9/16 630pm

14 *FC DALLAS (37pts 9W-8L-10D) SCORE: 5.1006 (-0.5616) PREV: 15 (+1) H1/L15

SCHEDULE: 4 (-2) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 22 (NC) (11 WEST) OVERALL PACE: 46 (-2)

GAMES REMAINING: 7

LAST WEEK: L 3-0 at Atlanta NEXT WEEK: vs (5) Seattle Sat 9/16 5pm

15 SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (36pts 10W-12L-6D) SCORE: 5.0159 (-0.8562) PREV: 14 (-1) H5/L17

SCHEDULE: 15 (+6) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 12 (-7) (5 WEST) OVERALL PACE: 43 (-2)

GAMES REMAINING: 6

LAST WEEK: L 4-0 at Toronto NEXT WEEK vs (12) Houston Sat 9/16 730pm

16 MONTREAL IMPACT (36pts 10W-11L-6D) SCORE: 4.9436 (-1.0464) PREV: 12 (-4) H6/L17

SCHEDULE: 10 (NC) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 2 (+1) (2 EAST) OVERALL PACE: 45 (-2)

GAMES REMAINING: 7

LAST WEEK: L 1-0 at New England NEXT WEEK: vs (20) Minnesota Sat 9/16 430pm

17 ORLANDO CITY SC (34pts 9W-12L-7D) SCORE: 4.3457 (+1.3174) PREV: 19 (+2) H2/L19

SCHEDULE: 1 (NC) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 7 (+6) (5 EAST) OVERALL PACE: 41 (+2)

GAMES REMAINING: 6

LAST WEEK: W 2-1 at DC NEXT WEEK: at (4) Atlanta Sat 91/6 1pm (Uni)

18 PHILADELPHIA UNION (32pts 8W-12L-8D) SCORE: 3.475 (-0.6228) PREV: 18 (NC) H6/L22

SCHEDULE: 8 (-5) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 8 (+10) (6 EAST) OVERALL PACE: 39 (NC)

GAMES REMAINING: 6

LAST WEEK: D 1-1 at Minnesota NEXT WEEK: at (10) New York RB Sun 9/17 10am (ESPN)

19 DC UNITED (28pts 8W-16L-4D) SCORE: 3.4425 (-0.9467) PREV: 17 (-2) H8/L22

SCHEDULE: 5 (NC) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 3 (+4) (3 EAST) OVERALL PACE: 34 (-1)

GAMES REMAINING: 6

LAST WEEK: L 2-1 vs Orlando NEXT WEEK: at (8) Chicago Sat 9/16 530pm

20 MINNESOTA UNITED (26pts 7W-14L-5D) SCORE: 2.5239 (+0.056) PREV: 20 (NC) H19/L22

SCHEDULE: 6 (-1) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 9 (-1) (3 WEST) OVERALL PACE: 34 (NC)

GAMES REMAINING: 8

LAST WEEK: D 1-1 vs Philadelphia

NEXT WEEK: at (6) Vancouver Wed 9/13 7pm at (16) Montreal Sat 9/13 430pm

21 LOS ANGELES GALAXY (27pts 7W-14L-6D) SCORE: 2.5214 (+0.4463) PREV: 21 (NC) H3/L21

SCHEDULE: 17 (-2) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 4 (-2) (1 WEST) OVERALL PACE: 34 (NC)

GAMES REMAINING: 7

LAST WEEK: D 1-1 at Seattle NEXT WEEK: vs (1) Toronto Sat 9/16 730pm

22 COLORADO RAPIDS (25pts 7W-16L-4D) SCORE: 1.9426 (+1.2462) PREV: 22 (NC) H17/L22

SCHEDULE: 11 (+1) REMAINING SCHEDULE: 6 (-2) (2 WEST) OVERALL PACE: 31 (+3)

GAMES REMAINING: 7

LAST WEEK: W 1-0 at Houston NEXT WEEK: vs (2) New York City

PREDICTIONS

Last week the SFPI went 5-7 (41.67%) For its first sub .500 week in a month brining the season total to 110-138 (44.35%) but considering most of the results that were wrong ended up being good for The Timbers I won't complain too loudly.

New England at Atlanta: ATLANTA

Minnesota at Vancouver: VANCOUVER

Orlando at Atlanta: ATLANTA

Columbus at Vancouver: VANCOUVER

Minnesota at Montreal: MONTREAL

Seattle at Dallas: SEATTLE

DC at Chicago: CHICAGO

New England at Kansas City: KANSAS CITY

NYCFC at Colorado: NEW YORK

Portland at Salt Lake: DRAW

Toronto at Los Angeles: TORONTO

Houston at San Jose: DRAW

Philadelphia at NYRB: NEW YORK

PLAYOFF PICTURE

If predictions are 100% how will the tables look?

(*Clinched playoff #Eliminated) (Max points possible)

EAST

1 *TORONTO 62 (77)

2 NEW YORK CITY 53 (68)

3 CHICAGO 48 (63)

4 ATLANTA 45 (66)

5 NEW YORK RB 44 (62)

6 COLUMBUS 43 (55)

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7 MONTREAL 39 (57)

8 NEW ENGLAND 35 (50)

9 ORLANDO 34 (49)

10 PHILADELPHIA 32 (47)

11 DC 28 (43) (Mathmatically still alive due to potential tiebreakers but would need to overcome a 23 goal deficit in goal difference)

WEST

1 VANCOUVER 47 (65)

2 SEATTLE 46 (61)

3 PORTLAND 45 (57)

4 KANSAS CITY 44 (62)

5 HOUSTON 39 (57)

6 SALT LAKE 36 (GOAL DIFFERENCE) (48)

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7 SAN JOSE 36 (TOTAL WINS) (51)

8 DALLAS 36 (54)

9 LOS ANGELES 27 (45)

10 MINNESOTA 26 (44)

11 COLORADO 25 (43)

TIMBERS ROOTING INTEREST:

Assuming a Timbers win, what games should we watch and how should we root?

Last week could hardly have gone better for Portland. Heading into the week there were 7 teams (8 if you count SKC twice for having two games) that Portland needed to drop points, and all of them except Vancouver obliged (Those Poutine Loving Hosers!). In fact out of 7 possible points (for the 7 games) The week got 5.5 points (78.5% good)

As we near the end of the season, and for as long as Portland remains atop the West, I am now gonna start looking towards the East as well. The reasoning for this is to see who would host MLS cup (assuming Toronto somehow chokes in the playoffs) or who would get the Champions League Berth if either the USOC champion or one of the Canadian teams wins MLS Cup, as due to format changes Conference Winners do not receive CCL berths this or next season (in the event a team that is either ineligble for a US CCL spot or has already qualified via other means wins a US berth, that spot will be awarded to the eligible team with the highest regular season point total). Although games with Western Conference teams remain more important, so eastern games will only be worth half a point when rating how good the week was.

New England at Atlanta: NEW ENGLAND

Minnesota at Vancouver: MINNESOTA

Orlando at Atlanta: ORLANDO

Columbus at Vancouver: COLUMBUS

Seattle at Dallas: DRAW

DC at Chicago: DC

New England at Kansas City: NEW ENGLAND

NYCFC at Colorado: COLORADO

Toronto at Los Angeles: LOS ANGELES

Houston at San Jose: DRAW

Philadelphia at NYRB: PHILADELPHIA

How the table would look with a 100% week for the Timbers

WEST (*Clinched playoff) (Max Points Possible)

1 PORTLAND 47 (59)

2 SEATTLE 44 (59)

3 VANCOUVER 41 (TOTAL WINS) (59)

4 KANSAS CITY 41 (59)

5 HOUSTON 39 (57)

6 DALLAS 38 (56)

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7 SAN JOSE 37 (52)

8 SALT LAKE 35 (47)

9 LOS ANGELES 30 (48)

10 MINNESOTA 29 (47)

11 COLORADO 28 (46)

This would also put Portland 3rd in the Supporters Shield, only 3 points back of New York City and still mathematically in reach of Toronto (already at 59pts but they would need to overcome a 33-4 goal difference deficit)