Major League Soccer Week 31 Power Rankings: Columbus Crew favorites to win MLS Cup

The Major League Soccer Power Rankings for Week 31 are here with not many changes at the top. The Columbus Crew, Los Angeles Galaxy, Houston Dynamo, and Chivas USA are in the top four spots. The Seattle Sounders are close by and have clinched their playoff spot in their initial season. The rest of the rankings are very close as there are a number of playoff spots left going into the last week of matches.

The one thing about MLS is that any team at any team can upset another. This being said, the seedings heading into the play-offs don’t make much difference as its a very balanced league with upsets possible.

Here are the latest Major League Soccer Power Rankings for Week 31 through Wednesday, October 21, 2009.

1. Columbus Crew – Columbus is a balanced club that are the favorites to repeat as MLS Cup champions. A +11 goal differential leads the league.
2. Los Angeles Galaxy – The Galaxy finally are in the playoffs and have Landon Donovan in great form. Can they advance to the MLS Cup final which would be a storybook ending for Beckham?
3. Chivas USA – Preki and this club goes under the radar most of the year but they are as dangerous as any club.
4. Houston Dynamo – The Dynamo are in the playoffs and can focus on their midweek Champions League match. Stuart Holden could use the playoffs to audition for clubs in Europe as its time for him to go overseas.
5. Seattle Sounders FC – The Sounders clinched a spot with a win on Saturday at KC. Freddie Ljungberg has arguably been one of the best designated players signed in the history of MLS.
6. Chicago Fire – The Fire could be in the playoffs even with a loss but need a result to get some momentum.
7. Toronto FC – Toronto have a great home win on Saturday and needs to do win on the road. They
8. DC United – DC had a clutch win last weekend and needs one more to keep their hopes alive. They have a Champions League match in the midweek in which they will likely use mostly reserves to focus on the weekend match.
9. FC Dallas – Dallas has been on fire the last month and had another win against Colorado on Saturday. This is the club that no one wants to play if they make the playoffs.
10. New England Revolution – The loss of Taylor Twellman for most of the season has been felt with only 32 goals scored this season. If they can squeak into the playoffs, they could be this years NY Red Bulls.
11. Colorado Rapids – The Rapids lost a chance to clinch a spot last week and need a result in their final match to make the playoffs.
12. Real Salt Lake – A much needed win last Wednesday against NY but a disappointing loss at Toronto on Saturday. A win in their final match will probably not be enough.
13. San Jose Earthquakes – A team that had potential but never found their form in the 2009 season.
14. Kansas City Wizards – The Wizards lost at home to the Sounders on Saturday. The club has the second fewest goals scored in the 2009 season, just ahead of the Red Bulls.
15. New York Red Bulls – The Red Bulls have played better since firing Osorio but never could produce enough offense. Who will they have as manager for next season?