MLS Playoffs Prediction Thread 2018

[mgarbowski]

Let's have a contest. Winner gets the traditional, proverbial, and possibly real, mug of ale.
Rules and Scoring: Pick all rounds except the Knockout. Entries must be posted before the first Knockout game kicks off.

Points:
Conf Semi - 1 point per team (4 possible)
Conf Final - 2 Points per team (4 possible)
Final - 5 points (5 possible)
A perfect score is 13 points.
Also predict the score of the final, and goal scorers.

Revised rules:
Pick each round one at a time. Late picks, or edits to your picks after kickoff for the first game of each round will disqualify you.

Scoring:
Knockout - 1 point per winner (4 possible)
Conf Semi - 2 points per winner (8 possible)
Conf Final - 4 Points per team (8 possible)
Final - 5 points for team; 3 points for MVP (8 possible)
A perfect score is 28 points.

Individual round winners get a congratulatory GIF.

Note: there will probably be a lot of ties in individual rounds and no tiebreakers.



Tiebreakers will be the same as Gotham Gator's PickEm contest after the first:
(1) closest to the actual score
(2) correctly naming the most goalscorers
(3) correct goalscoring order (by team)

ETA - feel free to call the Red Bulls NJ, or RBNJ, or Pink Cows, or anything as long as it is clear.

 

[mgarbowski]

I will go first:

Conf Semi:
NYCFC
RBNY
SKC
SEA
Conf Final:
RBNY
SKC
MLS Cup Final:
RBNY (sucks but likely)
2-0 Royer, Gamarra (Kaku)

For the record, I picked NYCFC in the MLS contest, because I have no desire to be an official league winner picking the Red Bulls, or anyone but us for that matter. But if everyone picks NYC in this contest it's kind of pointless.

Opening Knockout Round
NYCFC
Dallas
Columbus
LAFC

 

[adam]

Why not the knockouts too?

 

[mgarbowski]

Why not the knockouts too?

Because I'll be grading manually and this makes it easier.

 

[adam]

wild card round:

NYC
DC
POR
LAFC

 

[LionNYC]

I'd also like to draw attention to the Bracket Challenge: http://nycfcforums.com/index.php?threads/audi-2018-mls-cup-playoffs-bracket-challenge.6412/

Join the Forums league: https://bracket.mlssoccer.com/#league/standings/1034?code=XZN9LNAW

 

[Gotham Gator]

wrong thread.

 

[SoupInNYC]

Before decision day had started and the seeds were locked in, I had some weird gut feeling that we would make the Conference Finals and lose there. Completely based on nothing but just a weird gut feeling. Now I'm a bit more pissed on the Shield results as my gut feeling would have us beating Atlanta and losing to NJ. Had it been beating NJ and losing to Atlanta, I would be much more satisfied (and I think a lot of others here would as well).

Conf Semi:
NYCFC
NJ
SKC
LAFC
Conf Final:
NJ
LAFC
MLS Cup Final:
LAFC
3-2 BWP, Vela, Rossi, BWP, Will Ferrell (Vela)

 

[Shwafta]

K/O:
NYCFC
DC
LAFC
Portland

 

[sbrylski]

C/S
Atlanta United
New York Red Bulls
Sporting KC
Los Angeles FC

C/F
Atlanta United
Los Angeles FC

M/F
Atlanta United / Almiron, Martinez (2) / Vela (1)

 

[LionNYC]

Conference Semifinals
DC
NYCFC
Seattle
Kansas City

Conference Finals
NYCFC
Kansas City

MLS Cup
NYCFC
Villa, Medina, Russell

 

[LeeNYCFC]

Knockout round

NYCFC
Columbus
LAFC
Dallas

 

[Gotham Gator]

Because I'll be grading manually and this makes it easier.

This is fair, and you have taken the initiative and get the discretion that goes with it.

The downside is the setup penalizes those who want to pick an upset in the conference semifinals. If, for example, I think Sporting KC is likely to be upset, I not only have to get that pick correct to benefit, but the prior round as well.

Anyway, I hate being the guy who nitpicks the person who took the initiative, but I thought it was worth pointing out.

 

[mgarbowski]

This is fair, and you have taken the initiative and get the discretion that goes with it.

The downside is the setup penalizes those who want to pick an upset in the conference semifinals. If, for example, I think Sporting KC is likely to be upset, I not only have to get that pick correct to benefit, but the prior round as well.

Anyway, I hate being the guy who nitpicks the person who took the initiative, but I thought it was worth pointing out.

I'm already thinking it might be better to go round by round and not make everyone pick the final before it starts. This would better separate this contest from the official league one. But people have picks in so I'm not going to switch things up. But next year there could be changes.

 

[adam]

I'm already thinking it might be better to go round by round and not make everyone pick the final before it starts. This would better separate this contest from the official league one. But people have picks in so I'm not going to switch things up. But next year there could be changes.

There’s 6 picks in by regular posters. Change it up. We all can edit.

 

[mgarbowski]

All right. You've got roughly 36 hours give or take.
SoupInNYC Shwafta
S sbrylski LionNYC
LeeNYCFC

New rules. Pick first round winners before first knockout game. Pick semi-final winners before first game in that round, etc.
Scoring:
Knockout - 1 point per winner (4 possible)
Conf Semi - 2 points per winner (8 possible)
Conf Final - 4 Points per team (8 possible)
Final - 5 points for team; 3 points for MVP (8 possible)
A perfect score is 28 points.

Individual round winners get a congratulatory GIF. (note: there will probably be a lot of ties in individual rounds and no tiebreakers)

 

[sbrylski]

So I pick just first round winners right now?

W/C
New York City FC
DC United
Los Angeles FC
Portland Timbers

 

[mgarbowski]

So I pick just first round winners right now?

W/C
New York City FC
DC United
Los Angeles FC
Portland Timbers

correct.

 

[SoupInNYC]

W/C
New York City FC
Columbus Crew
Los Angeles FC
Portland Timbers

 

[Shwafta]

You could make the tiebreaker by doing a guess the score/scorers tiebreaker that way it'll ensure less ties?