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Back to Home > News & Features > Power Rankings
Published on 06/21/2007 9:16 am (Last Updated 06/21/2007 10:42 am)
Pacific Northwest Rising
By Jesse Erdmann
The Pacific Northwest teams, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver occupy spots 2-4 in this weeks' Power Rankings. How did that happen? Meanwhile, for the first time ever, Montreal is out of the top half. After getting points in their first eight games of the season, the Impact have now dropped two in a row at home. A crucial swing through Portland and Seattle this weekend could see them pop back up quickly if they can figure out how to convert some of the chances they've been generating. Elsewhere, Charleston plays rivals old and new, hosting Atlanta and heading north to Carolina. Cali heads east to visit Rochester and then Minnesota. Vancouver also leaps back into the fray after a week off with a trip through Miami and Puerto Rico.
Another short week in the Power Rankings as I'm still recuperating. Should be back in full swing next week.
The week in review:
Friday
Charleston @ Montreal
Final: 1-0 Portland
My Prediction: 0-2 Montreal
Seattle @ Carolina
Final: 1-0 Seattle, 6 yellow cards
My Prediction: 0-0, 3 red cards
Saturday
California @ Atlanta
Final: 0-0
My Prediction: 1-2 Atlanta
Miami @ Minnesota
Final: 1-1
My Prediction: 2-3 Minnesota
Sunday
Charleston @ Rochester
Final: 2-5 Rochester
My Prediction: 0-1 Rochester
For the week that makes me 1-4, with zero correct margins of victory and zero perfect scores. For the season I'm now at 27-40 with 11 correct margins of victory and six exact scores. The roll of the dice is catching up at is 22-45.
Rankings:
Rnk(+/-) Team (W-D-L) Notes
1(0) Rochester (6-5-3) - Big win over Charleston
2(0) Vancouver (6-3-2) - Idle
3(0) Portland (4-2-2) - Idle
4(+3) Seattle (5-4-4) - Seven points from three road games in two weeks
5(+1) Puerto Rico (3-5-3) - Idle
6(-2) Carolina (3-5-3) - Slipped up against Seattle
7(-2) Montreal (4-4-2) - From undefeated to home losing streak in two weeks
8(+1) Charleston (4-4-3) - Rhinos loss more indicative of level of play, win in Montreal huge
9(-1) California (1-4-4) - Nice draw in Atlanta
10(0) Miami (4-2-7) - Nice point on the road for them
11(0) Atlanta (3-3-4) - Eek. 0-0 at home with Cali in town
12(0) Minnesota (1-5-6) - Glad I wasn't there to see home winless streak continue
Predictions:
Thursday
Montreal @ Portland - Montreal may have revenge in mind, but they need to focus on themselves after two home losses. Portland and Old Man Gregor keep rolling along.
My Prediction: 0-1 Portland
Friday
California @ Rochester - The Victory's defense has improved considerably in the last few weeks, but Rochester is coming off a five goal effort last week. Rochester will be looking to finish with the full six points from their season series with Cali.
My Prediction: 0-2 Rochester
Atlanta @ Charleston - Atlanta is really struggling this season to fulfill the promise of last campaign. The Battery keep gritting out results and are already up 1-0 in the season series.
My Prediction: 0-1 Charleston
Vancouver @ Miami - Vancouver comes in having lost two of their last four against inferior opponents. Miami is a different team from game to game.
My Prediction: 1-1
Saturday
Charleston @ Carolina - Two gritty, grind it out sort of teams. Really the only thing separating them at this point is Charleston having shown the ability to score a little more regularly.
My Prediction: 0-0
Montreal @ Seattle - The Impact travel north from Portland to take on Seattle. Seattle, like Portland, has been one of the season's bigger surprises (to me, anyway).
My Prediction: 1-1
Sunday
Vancouver @ Puerto Rico - Puerto Rico has gone undefeated in their last four including wins in Minnesota and Miami sandwiching draws in Miami and at home to Rochester.
My Prediction: 2-2
California @ Minnesota - The fight at the bottom of the table. These two will meet again in the Open Cup a 48 hours after this game. That series should really set the tone for who will wind up at the bottom.
My Prediction: 1-2 Minnesota
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