MLS Cup Playoffs 2011: Championship Odds for Each Playoff Team

Here in North America, we are coming down to the wire in the Major League Soccer season, with the Philip J. Anschutz Trophy on everyone's mind.

With the Columbus Crew and FC Dallas eliminated in the wild-card round of the MLS Cup Playoffs, only eight teams remain in the hunt, including the defending cup holders, the Colorado Rapids.

Let's take a look at the teams that are still alive and gauge their chances of lifting the MLS Cup at the Home Depot Center in November.

Red Bull New York

Manager: Hans Backe

Conference: MLS Eastern Conference

Conference Finish: Fifth

Record: 10-8-16

Points: 46

The New York Red Bulls, in spite of a harrowing year, are peaking at the right time. On paper, this is the strongest side in the field, and they have a variety of producers: Thierry Henry (14 goals), Luke Rodgers (nine goals), Dane Richards (seven goals, seven assists), Joel Lindpere (seven goals, seven assists) and Juan Agudelo (six goals).

New York knows how to score, and they score at will. But a good offense requires a good defense, and the Red Bulls have been giving up goals left and right. New York have surrendered 44 goals this season, and a stronger defensive performance will be needed when they take on Los Angeles in the conference semifinal.

Odds of winning: 7-1

If you like a team that isn't that big of a longshot but isn't that much of a favorite to take it all, the Red Bulls are for you. If Backe's men can put it together on defense, the road to redemption may lead to a return trip to Carson.

Colorado Rapids

Manager: Gary Smith

Conference: MLS Western Conference

Conference Finish: Fifth

Record: 12-9-13

Points: 49

Colorado have not been up to form this season, with a number of injuries keeping their production at bay. A victory over the Columbus Crew will still keep the Rapids in the hunt for a successful MLS Cup defense, but it may be a tough ask.

Still, Colorado can count on producers like Jeff Larentowicz (seven goals), Omar Cummings (six assists), Caleb Folan (six goals) and Sanna Nyassi (five goals, five assists) to deliver at the right time when they face Sporting Kansas City.

Odds: 14-1

Colorado will go into the playoffs as a longshot to win the MLS Cup, but the impossible can be made possible if there is a little magic in the air in Commerce City.

Philadelphia Union

Manager: Peter Nowak

Conference: MLS Eastern Conference

Conference Finish: Third

Record: 11-8-15

Points: 48

Doop, doop, doop. That's all that the second-year Philadelphia Union have been doing this year, reaching the playoffs thanks to the reliable foot of Sebastien Le Toux (11 goals, nine assists).  Jurgen Klinsmann, you may want to consider calling Le Toux up to the National Team for a future friendly because France hasn't called him up yet and he has a green card.

Aside from Le Toux, the Union have other key contributors in Danny Mwanga (five goals, four assists) and Justin Mapp (three goals, four assists).

Odds: 7-1

Like New York, Philadelphia is a dark-horse bet. They can either get hot, or they can fizzle out. Le Toux's playmaking ability will be put to the test when Philly take on the Houston Dynamo

Houston Dynamo

Manager: Dominic Kinnear

Conference: MLS Eastern Conference

Conference Finish: Second

Record: 12-9-13

Points: 49

The skill of MLS's top provider, Mr. Brad Davis (16 assists), is the reason why the Houston Dynamo are in the playoffs. If his deliveries are neutralized, chances are that the Men in Orange are going to be in a world of hurt. Davis has a number of options to go to, namely Geoff Cameron, Brian Ching, Will Bruin and Bobby Boswell, who all have five goals to their credit. Davis can also score, too, as seen in his four goals recorded this year.

Odds: 9-1

The objective for Houston is to prove that they are not a one-man show. Sure, Davis has carried the team on his back, but he can't do it alone. Other players need to step up and balance the Dynamo's attack, or they could be facing a tough playoff exit at the hands of the Philadelphia Union.

Sporting Kansas City

Manager: Peter Vermes

Conference: MLS Eastern Conference

Conference Finish: First

Record: 13-9-12

Points: 51

Scenario: worst team in Eastern Conference. Insert new stadium. Result: best team in Eastern Conference. And you start to wonder: what has science done?

All right, there is no scientific conspiracy behind Sporting Kansas City's turnaround. But ever since they got the new stadium, Sporting have been playing some pretty impressive football and are a team to be feared.

Omar Bravo, Kei Kamara and Teal Bunbury lead the charge with nine goals apiece. Graham Zusi (seven assists) and C.J. Sapong (five assists) are Sporting's top providers.

Odds: 5-1

Sporting aren't the East's best team for nothing. Once upon a time, the former Kansas City Wizards lost their magic and were dead in the water. Now they have a shot at completing a fairytale turnaround with an MLS Cup. But they must beat the defending cup holders, the Colorado Rapids, first.

Real Salt Lake

Manager: Jason Kreis

Conference: MLS Western Conference

Conference Finish: Third

Record: 15-11-8

Points: 53

Things have gone south in a hurry for Real Salt Lake, who went winless in their last five matches to stumble into the playoffs drunk as skunks. Hey, I though Utah didn't allow alcohol into their premises.

Still, they are here, they are here now, and they can turn the tide around. And with Kyle Beckerman returning to the captaincy, a sense of morale must be restored in the RSL camp.

Real Salt Lake's top two goalscorers, Alvaro Saborio (11 goals) and Fabian Espindola (10 goals), lead the charge. Beckerman's nine assists have proven invaluable to the cause, and he will need to keep his head cool this time around.

Odds: 6-1

Real Salt Lake is a good choice for bookies if you don't want to take the high road, but don't want to take the low road, either. And if RSL should falter, they can hope for a CONCACAF Champions League return if the LA Galaxy advance to the conference final.

Seattle Sounders FC

Manager: Sigi Schmid

Conference: MLS Western Conference

Conference Finish: Second

Record: 18-7-9

Points: 63

The Seattle Sounders have a golden opportunity to do what D.C. United did in 1996, the Chicago Fire did in 1998 and the Los Angeles Galaxy did in 2005: win the U.S. Open Cup and the MLS Cup in the same calendar year.

And they have the firepower to do it in Fredy Montero (18 goals in all competitions) and Alvaro Fernandez (11 goals in all competitions). What better way to send goalkeeper Kasey Keller into sweet retirement than with an MLS Cup?

Assists-wise, Mauro Rosales' injury could leave him sidelined. Rosales leads the team with 14 assists, but Montero is second with 11, making the latter's role even more important should Rosales not be available for action in the playoffs.

Odds: 3-1

If you're not an LA fan, Seattle would be your best bet to take the MLS Cup. They have a lot of momentum after reeling off three straight US Open Cups, so they will be a tough opponent for anyone that stands before them.

Los Angeles Galaxy

Manager: Bruce Arena

Conference: MLS Western Conference

Conference Finish: First

Record: 19-5-10

Points: 67

No matter what happens in the MLS Cup Playoffs, also known as the North American Carling Cup by this Featured Columnist, the LA Galaxy are Major League Soccer's best team, delivering results left and right while defending the home of this year's MLS Cup, the Home Depot Center.

Landon Donovan's 12 goals and David Beckham's 15 assists are impressive, yes, but what's more impressive in the defense; namely, the play of goalkeeper Josh Saunders and defender Omar Gonzalez. The skills both players bring to the pitch have resulted in shutout viictories and the lowest amount of defeats among all 18 teams in the competition with five.

Odds: 2-1

As the defending Supporters' Shield winners, Los Angeles gets the best odds to lift the MLS Cup. But it will not be an easy journey. The Galaxy have to deal one of the few opponents to have not lost to LA in the New York Red Bulls. If LA prevails, then they have to face either Real Salt Lake or the Seattle Sounders, and a victory in the conference final will see them paired off with an opponent from the East, perhaps Sporting Kansas City, that is no pushover.

Los Angeles's road to glory can either be long or short. Whatever the distance, this road will be the toughest of any team in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Then again, champions walk tough paths as if it's just a regular, straight piece of sidewalk to cruise over. Are the Los Angeles Galaxy one of them?