MLS Week 31 Picks

OK, I know I dropped the ball on my week 30 picks, but I was only taking a test that could very well determine the course of the rest of my life, so sue me if my mind was on other things (at which time I'll promptly countersue).

Rather than making picks last night, I spent more time at the bar than I probably should have, so here are my picks in abbreviated form for this weekend

Chicago Fire: Columbus Crew
Toyota Park, Bridgeview, IL
My Pick: No way the Fire drop this one. 3-1 Fire.

DC United: New England Revolution
RFK Stadium, Washington, DC
My Pick: Tie. United's the better team, but New Eng-er-land is playing better as of late.

Colorado Rapids: Red Bull New York
Invesco Field, Denver, CO
My Pick: Probably the most intensity we'll see out of all the matches as both teams have their playoff hopes on the line, I like Red Bull.

FC Dallas: Los Angeles Galaxy
Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, TX
My Pick: In a bizzarre scheduling quirk, the Hoops haven't seen LA at home all season, but will see them twice at home in the last 8 days of the league campaign. In this game, I'll take Los Angeles, if only to keep their scant playoff hopes alive heading into the final weekend of the league campaign.

Kansas City Wizards: Club Deportivo Chivas USA
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
My Pick: Chivas can clinch their first ever MLS Cup playoff berth with a win. Kansas City is decidedly average at home this season (6-4-5). I'll take Chivas.

Real Salt Lake: Houston Dynamo
Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT
My Pick: Hopefully in the last game on the astro-carpet this season. Real needs to cling to this game like sweet precious life, as they're well within striking distance of the playoffs, but are on the outside looking in. Houston could conceivably leapfrog Dallas and take the top spot in the West. I like RSL in this game though.

My current record, 3-1-3 (2-1-3 for MLS games)