With the field set for the Conference Semifinal round of the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs, attention turns to projecting the winners.
ESPN, whose Soccer Power Index has been figuring out the percentages for MLS as well as many other soccer competitions around the world for years, has released the projections for the next round, which kicks off with four games on Sunday, and beyond.
Of note, these latest projections tip two lower seeds, Western Conference No. 3 LA Galaxy, and Eastern Conference No. 3 Toronto FC, to win their respective series, upsetting the No. 2 seeds in each conference (Colorado Rapids for the West, New York City FC for the East, respectively).
While the Galaxy have the recent track record in the playoffs, winning three MLS Cups in the last five seasons, Toronto FC are coming off their first-ever MLS Cup Playoffs win in their 10-year history. Of course, their opponents, NYCFC, are only in the playoffs for the first time in their two-year history.
You can check out the full Conference Semifinal first leg slate on Sunday, beginning with the Montreal Impact hosting the New York Red Bulls (3 pm ET, ESPN | RDS1, TSNGO in Canada), followed by the Galaxy hosting the Rapids (5 pm ET, ESPN | TSN1/4 in Canada), then TFC against NYCFC (7 pm ET, FS1 | TSN1/4 in Canada) and wrapping up with the Seattle Sounders hosting FC Dallas (9:30 pm ET, FS1 | TSN2 in Canada).
