1. Monterrey Flash "Monterrey Flash at the top" you say. Why yes, and here is why I think so. The Flash have won the division with ease, and the two teams that the Flash might face to advance on to the final four from the Southern Division are teams that they have beat before, Dallas and Oxford. They will also face which ever team advances at home, which gives them an advantage. In the semifinals they will face a Pacific Division team, either San Diego, Las Vegas, or Ontario. Monterrey has both beaten and lost to the Sockers and the Legends in the past, and played a close one against the Fury. They have a very good chance to make it to the semis, but from there anything can happen.
2. Baltimore Blast Baltimore has the number of both Syracuse and Rochester this season, and should be able to advance out of the division. They will face the winner of the Central Division in the semifinals which could be either Chicago, Milwaukee, or Missouri, which will be no easy task for the Blast, but they have proven that they can beat the Mustangs and Wave at home. The match up that everyone wants to see though is with the Comets, which I do hope happens, but who knows?
3. Missouri Comets Missouri is carrying the baggage of being undefeated into the postseason, which isn't easy, plus they team that they will face is either the Wave, who have been battling injuries, or Chicago, who are on a losing streak at exactly the wrong time. The fact that both the Mustangs and Wave are wounded animals that many have counted out makes them even more dangerous. It will be a tough battle out of the Central and then a tough battle with most likely the Baltimore Blast.
4. San Diego Sockers Getting out of the Pacific will be difficult for the Sockers. If they face Las Vegas they will be playing a team that always steps it up against San Diego. Las Vegas have beaten the Sockers in San Diego, they have beaten San Diego to move on to the semifinals, and they just got done beating the Sockers in the regular season. If Las Vegas makes it San Diego they will be riding a six game winning streak which gives them the momentum that makes them even more dangerous. If San Diego faces Ontario it will also be dangerous, and here is my reasoning. Ontario has never beaten San Diego, so eventually they have to win right? If you are playing craps and rolling hot, hitting your numbers over and over again, feeling high and making money, things are great right, but eventually you will throw a seven, the fun will stop, and you will see that you have left a ton of money on the table that now belongs to the house. Eventually the Sockers are going to roll a 7 with the Fury, but when.
5. Las Vegas Legends They made it to the Finals last year, and they are hot right now. They can and have gone into Ontario and won. The thing that really seems to help the Legends is their new Talisman from Detroit, Dominic Scicluna.
6. Syracuse Silver Knights The Silver Knights are my Dark Horse in this whole thing. If they can get past the Lancers to face the Blast then they might be able to pull off the upset of the year and beat the Blast and move on to the semifinals. I know from listening to Kick This that Syracuse want to get a shot at Baltimore and make it count.
7. MKE Wave The Wave are quality. Getting out of the division will be a challenge, but if they do they will be rolling with a head of steam making them tough to stop. The think that hurts them is their keeper situation right now, but if they figure it out then watch out.
8. Oxford City F.C. They have some good pieces on the roster, and if they can get hot they can do some damage. Their fate depends upon whether or not Juan Gamboa starts standing on his head at the right time. If Gamboa gets hot it will carry them far into the tournament. They can beat Dallas, and they can hang with the Flash, but if they make it to the semifinals then I think it ends there.
9. Ontario Fury They Fury are a damn good team, but they have yet to find their true success. I am not sure if they can make it out of their first game with the Legends, but if they do they will be no push over for the Sockers. Ontario has improved drastically from last year, and I don't think that this year is quite their time, but next year I expect the Fury to be not only a powerhouse in the division, but in the entire league.
10. Rochester Lancers I feel the same way about the Lancers as Soccer Sam does on his Kick This radio broadcast, that the Lancers are just a few pieces away from being a true contender. They have some great players and a talented team, but something just is missing that, when they find it, will make the whole difference. Maybe it is the Mohican Warrior not playing a full season, not enough players are rocking the Hoxie mustache, or maybe the team is eating too much good Italian food from Salvatore's. Who knows, but I hope they figure it out.
11. Dallas Sidekicks I watched the Sidekicks' last game against Monterrey, and it wasn't pretty. Dallas has had a number of struggles all season that have set them back, but to their credit they have fought hard and dealt with the blows as they have come. It will be a difficult battle for them this post season, and the fact they they have yet to win a playoff game since joining the league doesn't help. Maybe they are better suited for the under dog position.
12. Chicago Mustangs The wheels came off at home against Syracuse, then they went careening off the road in Syracuse, finally they slammed into a wall in Baltimore. It doesn't look good for the Mustangs.
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