Predicting pretty much anything is a tall task, much less a whole sports season like the 2019 MLS regular season.
That said, predictions are fun and so is looking back at the results. Several MLSsoccer.com pundits predicted the full standings for the 2019 season that's now in the books, and here's how they shook out.
Preseason predictions in Eastern Conference
Baer |
Carr |
Davies |
Doyle |
Warshaw |
Wiebe |
Actual |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NYCFC |
7th |
6th |
7th |
8th |
8th |
5th |
1st |
Atlanta United |
1st |
2nd |
1st |
2nd |
1st |
1st |
2nd |
Philadelphia Union |
4th |
3rd |
3rd |
5th |
4th |
7th |
3rd |
Toronto FC |
6th |
8th |
5th |
9th |
6th |
9th |
4th |
D.C. United |
5th |
4th |
4th |
3rd |
2nd |
3rd |
5th |
New York Red Bulls |
3rd |
1st |
2nd |
1st |
3rd |
2nd |
6th |
New England Revolution |
11th |
11th |
6th |
10th |
12th |
10th |
7th |
Chicago Fire |
8th |
10th |
11th |
6th |
5th |
8th |
8th |
Montreal Impact |
10th |
9th |
10th |
4th |
9th |
4th |
9th |
Columbus Crew SC |
2nd |
5th |
8th |
7th |
7th |
6th |
10th |
Orlando City SC |
9th |
12th |
9th |
12th |
11th |
11th |
11th |
FC Cincinnati |
12th |
7th |
12th |
11th |
10th |
12th |
12th |
Preseason predictions in Western Conference
Baer |
Carr |
Davies |
Doyle |
Warshaw |
Wiebe |
Actual |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LAFC |
3rd |
2nd |
3rd |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
1st |
Seattle Sounders |
1st |
4th |
1st |
3rd |
5th |
2nd |
2nd |
Real Salt Lake |
6th |
9th |
5th |
6th |
8th |
6th |
3rd |
Minnesota United |
7th |
7th |
8th |
10th |
6th |
9th |
4th |
LA Galaxy |
2nd |
3rd |
6th |
2nd |
4th |
4th |
5th |
Portland Timbers |
5th |
1st |
7th |
7th |
9th |
5th |
6th |
FC Dallas |
10th |
8th |
9th |
5th |
3rd |
8th |
7th |
San Jose Earthquakes |
11th |
12th |
12th |
11th |
10th |
12th |
8th |
Colorado Rapids |
9th |
10th |
4th |
12th |
7th |
10th |
9th |
Houston Dynamo |
8th |
6th |
11th |
8th |
11th |
7th |
10th |
Sporting KC |
4th |
5th |
2nd |
4th |
1st |
1st |
11th |
Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
12th |
11th |
10th |
9th |
12th |
11th |
12th |
How did the pundits do? Steve Fenn, a data visualization expert and FC Dallas fan, made a handy table on Twitter comparing the preseason predictions with the results from the season to see who was most accurate across a panel of national experts from multiple outlets. The big winners? MLSsoccer.com's Ben Baer and Charlie Davies tied for most accurate in that group.
