MLS Pick’Em – Week 2 « Avoiding the Drop

MLS Pick’Em – Week 2

March 23, 2011 by Kevin

Week 1 of the 2011 Major League Soccer season is now in the books. Ten games played and only two draws in the bunch. This week’s winner with seven correct picks was candle. Congratulations to you! There were a handful of players with six correct nipping at candle’s heels though. But perhaps the most exciting news is that week one gave us our largest Pick’Em week to date. NINETEEN players this week! Woohoo! Thanks to everyone who played. You’re the reason we do what we do here and we’re glad to see you participate. Read on after the jump to find out how your picks fared and to make your picks for Week 2. And remember you can join the Pick’Em anytime.

As a brief refresher, I will post the Weekly winner’s table here each week, followed by the Overall winner’s table. The cumulative table for the entire season is always available here. As an added feature this year, I will be experimenting with a “Collective Wisdom” number to see how well we do as a group with our overall picks, picks per team, and other categories. So without further ado, here are the standings:

WEEK 1 and OVERALL

Player	Totals	Winning %
candle	7	70%
Fuse	6	60%
Kevin	6	60%
melanie	6	60%
Magnakai	6	60%
Green Eggs	5	50%
Ellis	5	50%
alcatrazzledazzle	5	50%
jjf3	4	40%
Martin	4	40%
Willis	4	40%
Adam	4	40%
Andrew	3	30%
KC Gunner	3	30%
Ryan	3	30%
Bluesfan	3	30%
Sculptor	3	30%
UKhanDoIt	3	30%
Dylan	2	20%

This week’s “Collective Wisdom” has our group accurately predicting games 43.16% of the time. However, with a sampling size of one week, this may or may not be a true reflection of our “wisdom”. We’ll see how it develops.

WEEK 2 SCHEDULE

This week all teams have only one game scheduled. Games begin on Friday and finish on Saturday. Two games are televised (three if you live in the Great White North, eh.) For those who may be interested, Match Day Live for your computer, iPod, or iPad costs just under $40 until March 31, then jumps to $60. Video quality on both an iPad and a laptop over our home wireless network was actually quite good this past weekend.

FRIDAY, MARCH 25
	Time	Television
Houston Dynamo @ Seattle Sounders FC	10:00pm	FSC
SATURDAY, MARCH 25
Portland Timbers FC @ Toronto FC	2:00pm	TSN
New York Red Bulls @ Columbus Crew	4:00pm	Direct Kick/Match Day Live
Vancouver Whitecaps @ Philadelphia Union	4:00pm	Direct Kick/Match Day Live
Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago Fire	4:00pm	Telefutura
D.C. United @ New England Revolution	4:30pm	Direct Kick/Match Day Live
San Jose Earthquakes @ FC Dallas	9:00pm	Direct Kick/Match Day Live
Los Angeles Galaxy @ Real Salt Lake	9:00pm	Direct Kick/Match Day Live
Colorado Rapids @ Chivas USA	10:30pm	Direct Kick/Match Day Live

Here’s your copy/paste help:

Houston Dynamo @ Seattle Sounders FC
Portland Timbers FC @ Toronto FC
New York Red Bulls @ Columbus Crew
Vancouver Whitecaps @ Philadelphia Union
Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago Fire
D.C. United @ New England Revolution
San Jose Earthquakes @ FC Dallas
Los Angeles Galaxy @ Real Salt Lake
Colorado Rapids @ Chivas USA

And here’s hoping we can get to more than 20 players for the rest of the season. Then we can have relegation and promotion to USL-Pro or NASL Pick’Em for next year!

Until next week, pick well and enjoy your Major League Soccer.

Posted in MLS Pick'em, Wild Ass Guesses | Tagged Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Los Angeles Galaxy, Match Day Live, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC, Sporting Kansas City, Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps | 19 Comments

19 Responses

on March 23, 2011 at 10:37 am | Reply Magnakai Haaskivi

Way to really get your sport covered, MLS. One game on actual broadcast TV, and because FSC sucks it’ll look like a high school swim meet video on YouTube. Fantastic.

Houston Dynamo @ Seattle Sounders FC – HOUSTON
Portland Timbers FC @ Toronto FC – DRAW
New York Red Bulls @ Columbus Crew – NEW YORK
Vancouver Whitecaps @ Philadelphia Union – DRAW
Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago Fire – SKC
D.C. United @ New England Revolution – DC
San Jose Earthquakes @ FC Dallas – DALLAS
Los Angeles Galaxy @ Real Salt Lake – RSL
Colorado Rapids @ Chivas USA – COLORADO
- on March 24, 2011 at 8:09 pm | Reply Green Eggs
  
  I’ll have you know that Telefutura is broadcast TV – in fact, when I was going through my cable-free period during the summer, Telefutura was the only way I could watch any MLS action – their HD looks quite nice as well.
  
  But yeah, point taken. I’m just glad I have the option of watching SKC this weekend.
on March 23, 2011 at 10:56 am | Reply Andrew

Right back to my old 30% rate.

Houston Dynamo @ Seattle Sounders FC – DRAW
Portland Timbers FC @ Toronto FC – PORTLAND
New York Red Bulls @ Columbus Crew – NYRB
Vancouver Whitecaps @ Philadelphia Union – UNION
Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago Fire – SKSCKSC
D.C. United @ New England Revolution – DCU
San Jose Earthquakes @ FC Dallas – DRAW
Los Angeles Galaxy @ Real Salt Lake – RSL
Colorado Rapids @ Chivas USA – COLORADO
on March 23, 2011 at 11:30 am | Reply Fuse

Take a good luck at my current position in the table- it’ll never be this good again!

Houston Dynamo @ Seattle Sounders FC…DRAW
Portland Timbers FC @ Toronto FC…TIMBERS!!!
New York Red Bulls @ Columbus Crew…NYRB
Vancouver Whitecaps @ Philadelphia Union…DRAW
Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago Fire…SKC
D.C. United @ New England Revolution…DRAW
San Jose Earthquakes @ FC Dallas…FCD
Los Angeles Galaxy @ Real Salt Lake…DRAW
Colorado Rapids @ Chivas USA…RAPIDS
on March 23, 2011 at 11:50 am | Reply Willis

Nothing wrong with swim meets on youtube as it allows me watch Jason Lezak’s amazing anchor leg from 2008 — can never get enough of that race. Onto the soccer:

Houston Dynamo @ Seattle Sounders FC — Seattle
Portland Timbers FC @ Toronto FC — Toronto
New York Red Bulls @ Columbus Crew — New York
Vancouver Whitecaps @ Philadelphia Union — Philadelphia
Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago Fire — Draw
D.C. United @ New England Revolution — Draw
San Jose Earthquakes @ FC Dallas — Dallas
Los Angeles Galaxy @ Real Salt Lake — Salt Lake
Colorado Rapids @ Chivas USA — Colorado
on March 23, 2011 at 1:11 pm | Reply Mike B.

What the heck, I’ll give it a whirl.

Houston Dynamo @ Seattle Sounders FC — Draw
Portland Timbers FC @ Toronto FC — Toronto
New York Red Bulls @ Columbus Crew — Red Bulls
Vancouver Whitecaps @ Philadelphia Union — Philly
Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago Fire — SKC
D.C. United @ New England Revolution — DC
San Jose Earthquakes @ FC Dallas — Draw
Los Angeles Galaxy @ Real Salt Lake — Salt Lake
Colorado Rapids @ Chivas USA — Colorado
on March 23, 2011 at 1:52 pm | Reply KC Gunner

Fallen off the pace of last season a bit. Here’s hoping for Week 2 improvement.

Houston Dynamo @ Seattle Sounders FC – Draw
Portland Timbers FC @ Toronto FC – Draw
New York Red Bulls @ Columbus Crew – NY
Vancouver Whitecaps @ Philadelphia Union – Philly
Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago Fire – SKC
D.C. United @ New England Revolution – Draw
San Jose Earthquakes @ FC Dallas – Dallas
Los Angeles Galaxy @ Real Salt Lake – RSL
Colorado Rapids @ Chivas USA – Colorado
on March 23, 2011 at 4:23 pm | Reply Murphy

Houston Dynamo @ Seattle Sounders FC – SSFC
Portland Timbers FC @ Toronto FC – Draw
New York Red Bulls @ Columbus Crew – NYRB
Vancouver Whitecaps @ Philadelphia Union – Draw
Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago Fire – SKC
D.C. United @ New England Revolution – DCU
San Jose Earthquakes @ FC Dallas – Draw
Los Angeles Galaxy @ Real Salt Lake – Draw
Colorado Rapids @ Chivas USA – Rapids
on March 23, 2011 at 5:00 pm | Reply Sculptor

Ooh, stellar performance, that See if I can’t improve slightly this week…

Houston Dynamo @ Seattle Sounders FC: Draw
Portland Timbers FC @ Toronto FC : PT
New York Red Bulls @ Columbus Crew: NYRB
Vancouver Whitecaps @ Philadelphia Union: VW
Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago Fire: SKC
D.C. United @ New England Revolution: Draw
San Jose Earthquakes @ FC Dallas: Draw
Los Angeles Galaxy @ Real Salt Lake : LAG
Colorado Rapids @ Chivas USA: CR
on March 23, 2011 at 8:30 pm | Reply Kevin

Houston Dynamo @ Seattle Sounders FC – Dynamo
Portland Timbers FC @ Toronto FC – Draw
New York Red Bulls @ Columbus Crew – Red Bulls
Vancouver Whitecaps @ Philadelphia Union – Union
Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago Fire – KC
D.C. United @ New England Revolution – United
San Jose Earthquakes @ FC Dallas – Draw
Los Angeles Galaxy @ Real Salt Lake – RSL
Colorado Rapids @ Chivas USA – Rapids
on March 23, 2011 at 8:54 pm | Reply Ryan

Houston Dynamo @ Seattle Sounders FC – Draw
Portland Timbers FC @ Toronto FC – Draw
New York Red Bulls @ Columbus Crew – NYRB
Vancouver Whitecaps @ Philadelphia Union – Union
Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago Fire – Kansas City
D.C. United @ New England Revolution – Draw
San Jose Earthquakes @ FC Dallas – Dallas
Los Angeles Galaxy @ Real Salt Lake – Draw
Colorado Rapids @ Chivas USA – Colorado
on March 23, 2011 at 10:45 pm | Reply candle

Even got my name in lights. I’ll be propping up the table soon, never fear.

One televised game? Way to go MLS, well played. Let’s not make the game seem important or anything…

Houston Dynamo @ Seattle Sounders FC – SEA
Portland Timbers FC @ Toronto FC – Draw
New York Red Bulls @ Columbus Crew – Crew
Vancouver Whitecaps @ Philadelphia Union – Union
Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago Fire – SKC
D.C. United @ New England Revolution – Revs
San Jose Earthquakes @ FC Dallas – Draw
Los Angeles Galaxy @ Real Salt Lake – RSL
Colorado Rapids @ Chivas USA – Colorado
on March 23, 2011 at 10:54 pm | Reply jjf3

Houston Dynamo @ Seattle Sounders FC – Draw
Portland Timbers FC @ Toronto FC – TFC
New York Red Bulls @ Columbus Crew – Crew
Vancouver Whitecaps @ Philadelphia Union – Philly
Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago Fire – SKC
D.C. United @ New England Revolution – DCU
San Jose Earthquakes @ FC Dallas – FCD
Los Angeles Galaxy @ Real Salt Lake – Draw
Colorado Rapids @ Chivas USA – Draw
on March 24, 2011 at 12:48 am | Reply Martin

Wait, wait, where’s EPI?? He didn’t come back to defend his title against Mags?? Or is he just giving us all a week or two head start?

Going for that robust 45% that gave me 3rd or 4th last year, my memory is shot, being elderly and all. I mean, I actually attended an L.A Aztec game.

Houston vs Seattle– Seattle

Portland Timbers FC @ Toronto FC– Toronto

New York Red Bulls @ Columbus Crew– NYRB

Vancouver Whitecaps @ Philadelphia Union– Philly

Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago Fire– Fire Fire!!

D.C. United @ New England Revolution– Revo

San Jose Earthquakes @ FC Dallas– Quakes

Los Angeles Galaxy @ Real Salt Lake– RSL

Colorado Rapids @ Chivas USA– Colorado
on March 24, 2011 at 3:05 pm | Reply weeszel

Houston Dynamo @ Seattle Sounders FC / seattle
Portland Timbers FC @ Toronto FC / toronto
New York Red Bulls @ Columbus Crew / crew
Vancouver Whitecaps @ Philadelphia Union / union
Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago Fire / draw
D.C. United @ New England Revolution / rev
San Jose Earthquakes @ FC Dallas / dallas
Los Angeles Galaxy @ Real Salt Lake / rsl
Colorado Rapids @ Chivas USA / rapids
on March 24, 2011 at 8:06 pm | Reply Green Eggs

Houston v Seattle:  Seattle
Portland v Toronto: Toronto
New York v Columbus:  Columbus
Vancouver v Philadelphia: Philadelphia
Kansas City v Chicago:  Draw
D.C. United v New England:  Draw
San Jose v Dallas:  Dallas
LA Galaxy v Real Salt Lake:  Real Salt Lake
Colorado v Chivas USA: Draw
on March 25, 2011 at 10:27 am | Reply alcatrazzledazzle

Houston Dynamo @ Seattle Sounders FC | Seattle
Portland Timbers FC @ Toronto FC | Toronto
New York Red Bulls @ Columbus Crew | Columbus
Vancouver Whitecaps @ Philadelphia Union | Vancouver
Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago Fire | Sporks
D.C. United @ New England Revolution | D.C.
San Jose Earthquakes @ FC Dallas | Dallas
Los Angeles Galaxy @ Real Salt Lake | RSL
Colorado Rapids @ Chivas USA | Colorado
on March 25, 2011 at 11:30 am | Reply Bluesfan

Well that was a disappointing start. Let’s see if it can get any worse!

Houston v Seattle:  Seattle
Portland v Toronto: Toronto
New York v Columbus:  NY
Vancouver v Philadelphia: Philly
Kansas City v Chicago:  Chicago
D.C. United v New England:  DC
San Jose v Dallas:  Draw
LA Galaxy v Real Salt Lake:  RSL
Colorado v Chivas USA: Colorado
on March 25, 2011 at 10:25 pm | Reply Adam

Houston Dynamo @ Seattle Sounders FC-draw
Portland Timbers FC @ Toronto FC-Portland
New York Red Bulls @ Columbus Crew-NYRB
Vancouver Whitecaps @ Philadelphia Union-Whitecaps
Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago Fire-KC
D.C. United @ New England Revolution-Revs
San Jose Earthquakes @ FC Dallas-Draw
Los Angeles Galaxy @ Real Salt Lake-RSL
Colorado Rapids @ Chivas USA-Rapids