The Seattle Sounders may have won their first leg of the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Semifinals by the largest margin, but that does not make them the favorites to lift the postseason's grand prize in December.
Not according to ESPN, anyway.
ESPN's Soccer Power Index was updated following the first round of conference semifinals matches on Sunday, and Toronto FC were projected as favorites to win the 2016 crown with a 25 percentage total. TFC's chances of reaching the MLS Cup Final on Dec. 10 were also the highest of the eight teams remaining, as they stood at 45 percent after the club's 2-0 home win over New York City FC.
Toronto did not have the highest total in terms the likelihood of reaching the conference finals. That nod went to the Sounders, whose stunning 3-0 victory against FC Dallas gave Seattle an 88 percent chance of making it to the next round. Dallas, conversely, have the lowest odds of winning it all with a projected two percent chance of claiming the title and six percent chance of surviving this round.
The second legs of the conferences semifinals will be played on Sunday between the LA Galaxy and Colorado Rapids (2 pm ET, ESPN and TSN), the New York Red Bulls and Montreal Impact (4 pm ET, ESPN and TSN), New York City FC and Toronto FC (6:30 pm ET, FS1 and TSN), and FC Dallas and the Seattle Sounders (9 pm ET, FS1 and TSN).
