Wasatch Soccer Sentinel16 of 18 sites published this week, and once again NBC Sports published after I did last week; the Reddit user who had been submitting privately can no longer continue, but in his place the website Four Four Two has started doing Power Rankings. Previous weekly averages have been adjusted accordingly.
I’m also continuing the very brief survey asking opinions on how MLS compares to other leagues on a 1-10 scale (1 easy, 10 hard). Thank you if you can participate!
Now on to the rankings. As always, if you come across a site that I’ve not included please send me their link!
"If two teams played tomorrow, given their current injury concerns, form, and other considerations, who is likely to win on a neutral field? All things being equal, who is the best team going forward, based on what we know now?"
-Richard Farley, NBC Sports ProSoccerTalk. 3/11/14
Sites Used
- Who Scored (whoscored.com)
- Jeff Sagarin’s MLS Rankings (sagarin.com/sports/soccer)
- In On It (inonit.com/mls-playoffs-odds/power-rankings)
- Five Thirty Eight (projects.fivethirtyeight.com/soccer-predictions/mls)
- Sports Illustrated (SI.com/planet-futbol)
- ESPN (ESPNFC.com/major-league-soccer/19/index)
- Soccer America (socceramerica.com)
- MLS Soccer (mlssoccer.com/series/power-rankings)
- MLS Multiplex (mlsmultiplex.com) *No Rank wk 6
- Soccer By Ives (sbisoccer.com)
- Four Four Two (fourfourtwo.com/us/mls)
- Reddit MLS (reddit/r/MLS)
- MLS Fantasy Boss (mlsfantasyboss.com)
- The Score (thescore.com/mls/news)
- Once A Metro (onceametro.com)
- Goal (goal.com/en-us)
- NBC Sports (soccer.nbcsports.com/tag/major-league-soccer) *No Rank wk 6
- MLS Aces (mlsaces.sportsblog.com)
You may notice the list includes several ‘analytic’ sites; the analytic sites function as a counterbalance to the rest which are based more on personal opinions. All the averages use the Olympic method of dropping the highest and lowest scores, and then averaging the rest to remove potential bias.
| Place | Team | Wk 33 | Wk 34 | Wk Best | Wk Worst | Std. Dev | 2022 Avg | 5-yr avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Atlanta United FC | 20.67 | 20.86 | 10 | 25 | 4.46 | 17.6 | 11.0832 |
| 5 | Austin FC | 5.22 | 6.14 | 5 | 17 | 4.02 | 7.2 | 12.992 |
| 23 | Charlotte FC | 20 | 21.71 | 16 | 27 | 3.61 | 22.8 | 14.784 |
| 24 | Chicago Fire | 23.56 | 22.71 | 17 | 24 | 2.17 | 20.7 | 19.678 |
| 10 | Cincinnati (FC) | 11.11 | 9.57 | 7 | 13 | 1.87 | 17.5 | 19.634 |
| 18 | Colorado Rapids | 20.44 | 18.71 | 14 | 22 | 2.65 | 16 | 15.666 |
| 12 | Columbus Crew SC | 8.89 | 12.71 | 4 | 16 | 3.76 | 11.3 | 10.859 |
| 28 | D.C. United | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 24.5 | 17.176 |
| 6 | Dallas (FC) | 5.89 | 6.29 | 4 | 16 | 3.82 | 8.5 | 11.1342 |
| 26 | Houston Dynamo | 24.56 | 25.43 | 24 | 27 | 0.88 | 22 | 17.22 |
| 15 | Inter Miami CF | 14 | 15.14 | 11 | 21 | 3.91 | 21.3 | 17.622 |
| 9 | L.A. Galaxy | 10.33 | 8.57 | 6 | 12 | 2.06 | 9.8 | 11.408 |
| 2 | Los Angeles FC | 1.56 | 1.71 | 1 | 3 | 0.67 | 2 | 5.5268 |
| 11 | Minnesota United FC | 15.22 | 12.14 | 7 | 17 | 2.93 | 11 | 12.076 |
| 3 | Montreal (CF) | 3 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 3.06 | 10.2 | 14.52 |
| 7 | Nashville SC | 8.11 | 6.86 | 4 | 10 | 1.96 | 8.7 | 11.874 |
| 17 | New England Revolution | 20 | 18.29 | 6 | 23 | 4.77 | 14.7 | 12.164 |
| 4 | New York City FC | 6.33 | 4.86 | 3 | 10 | 2.11 | 6.6 | 6.5156 |
| 8 | New York RB | 7.11 | 7.29 | 5 | 10 | 1.58 | 6.4 | 9.5228 |
| 16 | Orlando City SC | 14.11 | 15.86 | 13 | 23 | 3.87 | 13.5 | 13.312 |
| 1 | Philadelphia Union | 1.44 | 1.29 | 1 | 2 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 6.902 |
| 14 | Portland Timbers | 11.67 | 14 | 7 | 16 | 2.79 | 13.8 | 11.134 |
| 13 | Real Salt Lake | 14.44 | 13 | 9 | 15 | 1.79 | 10.8 | 13.31 |
| 25 | San Jose Earthquakes | 25 | 24.43 | 19 | 26 | 2.65 | 23.8 | 18.838 |
| 19 | Seattle Sounders FC | 19.44 | 19.43 | 12 | 23 | 3.91 | 13.9 | 7.384 |
| 22 | Sporting Kansas City | 20.22 | 21.14 | 16 | 26 | 3.14 | 23.5 | 10.9248 |
| 27 | Toronto FC | 25.67 | 26.43 | 20 | 27 | 2.54 | 21.7 | 14.724 |
| 20 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 18.56 | 20.14 | 16 | 25 | 3.49 | 22.6 | 19.364 |
- Highest Standard Deviation: NER 4.22
- Lowest Standard Deviation: FCD 0.83
| Team / Site | AVG | Jeff Sagarin | Five-Thirty-Eight | Massey | ESPN | Soc. Amer | MLS | MLS Fant. Boss | Reddit /r/mls | Mane Land | Philly Soc. Page | MLS Multiplex | Dallas News | Pro Soc. USA | Who Scored | Couch Metrics | AVG | Team / Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta United | 2.258 | -0.108 | -0.998 | -0.078 | -0.568 | 0.332 | -0.318 | -0.568 | -0.198 | 2.072 | -0.198 | 0.012 | -0.158 | -0.698 | 2.282 | -1.218 | 2.258 | Atlanta United |
| Chicago Fire | 17.654 | -1.864 | 0.696 | 0.166 | 0.846 | 0.406 | 1.026 | -0.484 | 0.586 | -0.414 | -0.074 | 0.176 | 0.046 | 1.586 | 0.556 | 0.606 | 17.654 | Chicago Fire |
| Colorado Rapids | 20.757 | -0.847 | 0.303 | -0.317 | 0.713 | -1.567 | 0.333 | 0.003 | 0.423 | 0.543 | -0.047 | -1.427 | -1.257 | -0.517 | 0.203 | 0.373 | 20.757 | Colorado Rapids |
| Columbus Crew | 7.794 | -0.294 | 0.206 | 0.676 | -1.294 | 0.116 | -0.504 | -0.314 | -1.234 | -0.584 | -0.184 | 0.006 | 1.936 | 0.166 | 5.456 | 1.466 | 7.794 | Columbus Crew |
| D.C. United | 17.043 | -2.663 | 0.667 | -2.303 | 0.957 | 0.617 | -0.193 | 1.547 | 0.247 | 0.317 | -0.883 | 0.957 | 1.857 | -0.643 | 0.497 | 1.437 | 17.043 | D.C. United |
| FC Dallas | 7.068 | 0.522 | -0.478 | -0.778 | 1.342 | -0.818 | -0.098 | -0.068 | 0.022 | 1.052 | 1.222 | -0.168 | 0.402 | -0.988 | -1.608 | -3.718 | 7.068 | FC Dallas |
| Houston Dynamo | 12.253 | -2.043 | 1.157 | 1.867 | -0.533 | -0.693 | 0.217 | 0.467 | -0.253 | -1.403 | 2.457 | 0.177 | 0.017 | 1.587 | -2.253 | 1.047 | 12.253 | Houston Dynamo |
| Los Angeles FC | 5.945 | 2.315 | -0.125 | -1.505 | 0.055 | -0.285 | 0.235 | -0.355 | -0.155 | 0.815 | -2.335 | 0.255 | 0.425 | 0.535 | -2.085 | -0.685 | 5.945 | Los Angeles FC |
| L.A. Galaxy | 12.029 | 1.321 | -0.819 | -0.649 | -0.029 | -1.059 | -0.789 | 4.381 | -0.819 | -0.849 | 4.551 | 0.471 | -1.129 | -0.269 | -0.779 | -1.419 | 12.029 | L.A. Galaxy |
| Minnesota United | 18.385 | 1.525 | 1.145 | 0.465 | -1.005 | -0.545 | 0.325 | 1.615 | -0.945 | 1.135 | 0.775 | -0.785 | -1.055 | -0.425 | 1.475 | -1.515 | 18.385 | Minnesota United |
| Montreal Impact | 16.1 | 0.25 | 0.75 | -0.45 | 0.18 | 0.06 | -1.04 | 1.45 | 0.05 | -1.58 | 0.51 | 0.93 | -0.8 | -1.78 | -0.67 | 0.38 | 16.1 | Montreal Impact |
| N.E. Revolution | 13.431 | -1.431 | 0.629 | -0.871 | 0.909 | -1.741 | 1.159 | -0.121 | 0.809 | 1.089 | -0.491 | -0.361 | -0.831 | 0.529 | -1.141 | -0.521 | 13.431 | N.E. Revolution |
| New York FC | 4.348 | -1.138 | -0.998 | -0.228 | 0.492 | 0.372 | 1.182 | -1.108 | 0.062 | 0.502 | 0.842 | 0.982 | -0.578 | 1.452 | 0.192 | 0.002 | 4.348 | New York FC |
| New York RB | 3.259 | -0.639 | -0.199 | 0.771 | -0.449 | 1.051 | -0.319 | -0.599 | -0.169 | -0.259 | -0.159 | -0.229 | -0.659 | -0.379 | -1.439 | -0.169 | 3.259 | New York RB |
| Orlando SC | 17.946 | 1.904 | 0.874 | 1.644 | -0.816 | -0.356 | -0.296 | 2.504 | -0.536 | -0.526 | 0.444 | -1.476 | 0.184 | -1.666 | 0.014 | -0.816 | 17.946 | Orlando SC |
| Philadelphia Union | 13.69 | 1.16 | -0.6 | 0.52 | 0.34 | -0.16 | -0.84 | 0.59 | -0.75 | 0.4 | -0.56 | 0.58 | 2.04 | -0.05 | 0.24 | 0.57 | 13.69 | Philadelphia Union |
| Portland Timbers | 9.195 | -0.875 | -1.845 | -0.635 | 0.555 | -0.505 | 0.065 | -0.785 | 1.715 | -0.135 | -1.805 | 0.435 | -1.865 | 0.925 | -0.055 | -2.715 | 9.195 | Portland Timbers |
| Real Salt Lake | 13.448 | 3.112 | -0.828 | -1.038 | 0.022 | -0.638 | 0.372 | -0.068 | 0.142 | 3.002 | -1.128 | -0.518 | 1.722 | 0.152 | -2.158 | -1.798 | 13.448 | Real Salt Lake |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 20.143 | -0.553 | 2.147 | 0.507 | -0.203 | 0.107 | 0.037 | 0.577 | -0.583 | -0.993 | 1.337 | -0.173 | 0.887 | 0.817 | -5.893 | 2.597 | 20.143 | San Jose Earthquakes |
| Seattle Sounders | 12.061 | -0.181 | -1.971 | -0.771 | 0.069 | 2.319 | 0.259 | -4.371 | 1.349 | -1.761 | -2.771 | 2.139 | -0.891 | 0.539 | 2.689 | 1.419 | 12.061 | Seattle Sounders |
| Sporting Kansas City | 5.142 | -0.382 | -0.492 | 0.858 | 0.518 | 0.828 | -0.262 | 0.648 | -0.262 | -0.472 | 2.018 | -0.772 | -0.112 | -0.702 | -3.782 | 0.338 | 5.142 | Sporting Kansas City |
| Toronto FC | 12.716 | -0.926 | -0.536 | 2.524 | -0.156 | 3.784 | -1.566 | -4.236 | 1.464 | -1.836 | -3.776 | -0.286 | -0.446 | -0.356 | 3.494 | 4.984 | 12.716 | Toronto FC |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 13.016 | 2.134 | 1.924 | -0.016 | -1.546 | -1.296 | 1.334 | -0.426 | -1.106 | 0.194 | 0.594 | -0.816 | 0.584 | 0.464 | 4.914 | -0.316 | 13.016 | Vancouver Whitecaps |
| Most Bias VS | (+) | 3.112 | 2.147 | 2.524 | 1.342 | 3.784 | 1.334 | 4.381 | 1.715 | 3.002 | 4.551 | 2.139 | 2.04 | 1.587 | 5.456 | 4.984 | (+) | Most Bias VS |
| Most Bias FOR | (-) | -2.663 | -1.971 | -2.303 | -1.546 | -1.741 | -1.566 | -4.371 | -1.234 | -1.836 | -3.776 | -1.476 | -1.865 | -1.78 | -5.893 | -3.718 | (-) | Most Bias FOR |
- Site with highest season bias For: In On It with LAG ranked 8.32 better than avg.
- Site with highest season bias Against: Who Scored with FCD 7.47 worse than average.
- Site with least season bias For: Soccer By Ives with VAN 0.02 better than avg.
- Site with least season bias Against: Soccer America with COL 0.04 worse than avg.
| Team / Site | AVG | Jeff Sagarin | Five-Thirty-Eight | Massey | ESPN | Soc. Amer | MLS | MLS Fant. Boss | Reddit /r/mls | Mane Land | Philly Soc. Page | MLS Multiplex | Dallas News | Pro Soc. USA | Who Scored | Couch Metrics | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta United | 2.258 | 2.15 | 1.26 | 2.18 | 1.69 | 2.59 | 1.94 | 1.69 | 2.06 | 4.33 | 2.06 | 2.27 | 2.1 | 1.56 | 4.54 | 1.04 | 2.258 |
| Chicago Fire | 17.654 | 15.79 | 18.35 | 17.82 | 18.5 | 18.06 | 18.68 | 17.17 | 18.24 | 17.24 | 17.58 | 17.83 | 17.7 | 19.24 | 18.21 | 18.26 | 17.654 |
| Colorado Rapids | 20.757 | 19.91 | 21.06 | 20.44 | 21.47 | 19.19 | 21.09 | 20.76 | 21.18 | 21.3 | 20.71 | 19.33 | 19.5 | 20.24 | 20.96 | 21.13 | 20.757 |
| Columbus Crew | 7.794 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.47 | 6.5 | 7.91 | 7.29 | 7.48 | 6.56 | 7.21 | 7.61 | 7.8 | 9.73 | 7.96 | 13.25 | 9.26 | 7.794 |
| D.C. United | 17.043 | 14.38 | 17.71 | 14.74 | 18 | 17.66 | 16.85 | 18.59 | 17.29 | 17.36 | 16.16 | 18 | 18.9 | 16.4 | 17.54 | 18.48 | 17.043 |
| FC Dallas | 7.068 | 7.59 | 6.59 | 6.29 | 8.41 | 6.25 | 6.97 | 7 | 7.09 | 8.12 | 8.29 | 6.9 | 7.47 | 6.08 | 5.46 | 3.35 | 7.068 |
| Houston Dynamo | 12.253 | 10.21 | 13.41 | 14.12 | 11.72 | 11.56 | 12.47 | 12.72 | 12 | 10.85 | 14.71 | 12.43 | 12.27 | 13.84 | 10 | 13.3 | 12.253 |
| Los Angeles FC | 5.945 | 8.26 | 5.82 | 4.44 | 6 | 5.66 | 6.18 | 5.59 | 5.79 | 6.76 | 3.61 | 6.2 | 6.37 | 6.48 | 3.86 | 5.26 | 5.945 |
| L.A. Galaxy | 12.029 | 13.35 | 11.21 | 11.38 | 12 | 10.97 | 11.24 | 16.41 | 11.21 | 11.18 | 16.58 | 12.5 | 10.9 | 11.76 | 11.25 | 10.61 | 12.029 |
| Minnesota United | 18.385 | 19.91 | 19.53 | 18.85 | 17.38 | 17.84 | 18.71 | 20 | 17.44 | 19.52 | 19.16 | 17.6 | 17.33 | 17.96 | 19.86 | 16.87 | 18.385 |
| Montreal Impact | 16.1 | 16.35 | 16.85 | 15.65 | 16.28 | 16.16 | 15.06 | 17.55 | 16.15 | 14.52 | 16.61 | 17.03 | 15.3 | 14.32 | 15.43 | 16.48 | 16.1 |
| N.E. Revolution | 13.431 | 12 | 14.06 | 12.56 | 14.34 | 11.69 | 14.59 | 13.31 | 14.24 | 14.52 | 12.94 | 13.07 | 12.6 | 13.96 | 12.29 | 12.91 | 13.431 |
| New York FC | 4.348 | 3.21 | 3.35 | 4.12 | 4.84 | 4.72 | 5.53 | 3.24 | 4.41 | 4.85 | 5.19 | 5.33 | 3.77 | 5.8 | 4.54 | 4.35 | 4.348 |
| New York RB | 3.259 | 2.62 | 3.06 | 4.03 | 2.81 | 4.31 | 2.94 | 2.66 | 3.09 | 3 | 3.1 | 3.03 | 2.6 | 2.88 | 1.82 | 3.09 | 3.259 |
| Orlando SC | 17.946 | 19.85 | 18.82 | 19.59 | 17.13 | 17.59 | 17.65 | 20.45 | 17.41 | 17.42 | 18.39 | 16.47 | 18.13 | 16.28 | 17.96 | 17.13 | 17.946 |
| Philadelphia Union | 13.69 | 14.85 | 13.09 | 14.21 | 14.03 | 13.53 | 12.85 | 14.28 | 12.94 | 14.09 | 13.13 | 14.27 | 15.73 | 13.64 | 13.93 | 14.26 | 13.69 |
| Portland Timbers | 9.195 | 8.32 | 7.35 | 8.56 | 9.75 | 8.69 | 9.26 | 8.41 | 10.91 | 9.06 | 7.39 | 9.63 | 7.33 | 10.12 | 9.14 | 6.48 | 9.195 |
| Real Salt Lake | 13.448 | 16.56 | 12.62 | 12.41 | 13.47 | 12.81 | 13.82 | 13.38 | 13.59 | 16.45 | 12.32 | 12.93 | 15.17 | 13.6 | 11.29 | 11.65 | 13.448 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 20.143 | 19.59 | 22.29 | 20.65 | 19.94 | 20.25 | 20.18 | 20.72 | 19.56 | 19.15 | 21.48 | 19.97 | 21.03 | 20.96 | 14.25 | 22.74 | 20.143 |
| Seattle Sounders | 12.061 | 11.88 | 10.09 | 11.29 | 12.13 | 14.38 | 12.32 | 7.69 | 13.41 | 10.3 | 9.29 | 14.2 | 11.17 | 12.6 | 14.75 | 13.48 | 12.061 |
| Sporting Kansas City | 5.142 | 4.76 | 4.65 | 6 | 5.66 | 5.97 | 4.88 | 5.79 | 4.88 | 4.67 | 7.16 | 4.37 | 5.03 | 4.44 | 1.36 | 5.48 | 5.142 |
| Toronto FC | 12.716 | 11.79 | 12.18 | 15.24 | 12.56 | 16.5 | 11.15 | 8.48 | 14.18 | 10.88 | 8.94 | 12.43 | 12.27 | 12.36 | 16.21 | 17.7 | 12.716 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 13.016 | 15.15 | 14.94 | 13 | 11.47 | 11.72 | 14.35 | 12.59 | 11.91 | 13.21 | 13.61 | 12.2 | 13.6 | 13.48 | 17.93 | 12.7 | 13.016 |
