MLS Season Projection

We are now halfway through the 2011 MLS season.  Here is my latest projection of the final standings based on results through week 17:



East
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Philadelphia	34	15	12	7	40	27	13	57
2	New York	34	13	17	4	56	38	18	56
3	Columbus	34	14	10	10	39	33	6	52
4	Kansas City	34	9	18	7	40	37	3	45
5	D.C. United	34	7	17	10	49	57	-8	38
6	Houston	34	6	19	9	38	38	0	37
7	Chicago	34	5	22	7	39	42	-3	37
8	New England	34	3	15	16	29	45	-16	24
9	Toronto FC	34	3	12	19	27	59	-32	21
West
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Los Angeles	34	16	16	2	43	26	17	64
2	Real Salt Lake	34	16	15	3	45	23	22	63
3	Seattle	34	14	16	4	44	31	13	58
4	FC Dallas	34	14	12	8	43	34	9	54
5	Colorado	34	7	20	7	36	39	-3	41
6	Chivas USA	34	7	18	9	43	42	1	39
7	San Jose	34	7	17	10	44	42	2	38
8	Portland	34	8	7	19	39	65	-26	31
9	Vancouver	34	3	15	16	32	48	-16	24

Now projecting Los Angeles and Philadelphia as the conference champs.  RSL dropped two points because they have the toughest remaining schedule.  It includes two matches against New York, Los Angeles on the road and Philadelphia at home.  New York's loss to D.C. United over the weekend cost them some points,  allowing Philadelphia to move ahead of them.  For the MLS Cup I'm now projecting Los Angeles to defeat Philadelphia.