On a personal note, the Power Rankings will be a bit sparse of the next few weeks.  Life outside of writing this column will be hectic.  

The Week in Review:

Tuesday

Atlanta @ California - The Silverbacks hot streak died a quick death.

Final: 0-1 California
My Prediction: 3-1 Atlanta

Wednesday

Montreal @ Minnesota - Montreal was definitely livelier in game two.

Final: 1-1
My Prediction: 1-1

Thursday

Vancouver @ Portland - Vancouver took the early lead, but couldn't hold it.

Final: 1-2 Portland
My Prediction: 1-2 Portland

Friday

California @ Puerto Rico - Okay, so despite all the turmoil surrounding the club, the Vics aren't dead yet.

Final: 1-1
My Prediction: 0-3 Puerto Rico

Carolina @ Miami - Miami got it done. Neither team was able to stick it in their own net however.

Final: 1-2 Miami
My Prediction: 2-2

Saturday

Seattle @ Rochester - I guess the Sounders just have Rochester's number.

Final: 3-2 Seattle
My Prediction: 1-1

Portland @ Atlanta - Portland musters for another win.

Final: 1-0 Portland
My Prediction: 1-2 Atlanta

Sunday

Portland @ Charleston - Portland apparently shot their wad in the first two games of the week.

Final: 0-2 Charleston
My Prediction: 1-0 Portland

Carolina @ Puerto Rico - The Islanders apparently solved the puzzle of the RailHawks defense

Final: 1-3 Puerto Rico
My Prediction: 0-1 Puerto Rico

California @ Miami - Cali completes their three game week without a loss.

Final: 1-1
My Prediction: 0-2 Miami

For the week that makes me an uninspired 3-7 with zero correct margins of victory and two perfect scores.  For the season I'm now at 48-62 with 14 correct margins of victory and eleven exact scores.  The random number generator is 37-73.

Rankings:
Rnk(+/-) Team (W-D-L) Notes
1(+1) Seattle (9-4-5) - 2-0-0 in Rochester
2(-1) Portland (11-3-3) - The road loss in Charleston can probably be forgiven
3(+1) Puerto Rico (6-8-4) - Should have won two, but haven't lost since May (11 games)
4(+4) Miami (7-3-10) - Like Puerto Rico, should have beaten the Vics, had won three in a row
5(+4) Montreal (7-7-4) - At least they didn't lose
6(-3) Atlanta (7-4-7) - Not a good weekend to be a 'Backs fan
7(+4) Charleston (6-5-8) - Took advantage of a tired Timbers team
8(+4) California (3-7-10) - Outstanding week on the field for Cali
9(-4) Vancouver (7-6-6) - That's four losses in a row and winless in seven
10(-4) Rochester (7-6-7) - Two losses in a row here and four out of the last five
11(-4) Minnesota (3-6-6) - Unfairly drop because of who won/lost last week
12(-2) Carolina (4-7-7) - Find themselves in range of California and Minnesota, yet to win in July

Predictions:

Thursday

California @ Minnesota - The toilet bowl finale will decide all the marbles (if you count the Open Cup match).  After the last time California came to Minnesota and hopefully with some extra draw for Tony Sanneh coming back to town the crowd should be live.  Somehow, someway, even if he's chained up back at the hotel, Ricardo Sanchez is getting red carded in this game.

My Prediction: 1-3 Minnesota, Cali's on a hot streak, but the Thunder are too.

Atlanta @ Portland - Portland might still be a little worn out from last weekend, but Atlanta sure cooled off in a hurry.  I can't imagine how Atlanta is going to steal even a point in this one on the road.  Bad news for Atlanta, they're in seventh with only three of ten remaining games at home.  Charleston and Miami both have a reasonable shot at catching them.

My Prediction: 0-2 Portland, at least one goal will probably be off of an Andrew Gregor set piece.

Friday

Seattle @ Vancouver - Sebastien Le Toux has to be considered one of the top new players in the league.  He keeps helping the Sounders get point after point.  Vancouver could begetting clost to getting back on track and a rivalry game at home may just be the thing they need to get jump started.

My Prediction: 1-1, a hard fought game, good for the neutrals to watch on FSC, but neither side prevails.

Saturday

Miami @ Carolina - Miami is such an up and down team its almost a better bet to go the opposite of how they did in the prior week.  California is the only team that Carolina has a better scoring record than and teams seem to be finding ways to score on them more of late.

My Prediction: 1-1, when in doubt go for the draw.

Minnesota @ Rochester - Tony Sanneh in tow for at least this game and hopefully having extended their undefeated streak, Minnesota should riding high Saturday night.  On the opposite side will be a Rhinos team that is vulnerable and a bit thin due to injury.

My Prediction: 2-1 Minnesota, sure its a homer pick, but Rochester is REALLY struggling right now.

Puerto Rico @ California - The Islanders had their chance to beat the Victory at home last week and they couldn't get it done.  California is really hard to predict, but overall is trending better.

My Prediction: 0-1 California, more of a gut feeling than anything logical.