Power Rankings Overview: RSL drops to third, SJ closes in on top spot, Portland stuck at bottom

Power Rankings Overview: RSL drops to third, SJ closes in on top spot, Portland stuck at bottom

Editor's Note: Kreg is back once again with a look at the power rankings. Houston jumped ahead of us after our loss to Colorado, which is disappointing, but once again, we remain in the top spot through the season. Can we keep it? I suppose we'll find out, won't we? Give this guy a hand for keeping all this information and sharing it, will you?

Power Ranking Averages for week 20.

The sites used are:
*Soccer America (socceramerica.com)
*Major League Soccer (MLSSoccer.com)
*Goal (Goal.com)
*Soccer by Ives (soccerbyives.net)
*ESPN (espn.go.com/sports/soccer)
*SB Nation (sbnation.com)
*NBC Sports (prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com)
*Sports Illustrated (sportsillustrated.cnn.com)
*Bleacher Report (bleacherreport.com) - stopped after wk 11.

Weekly Average Power Ranking

W20 - W19  -  Team        - Ave   - High - Low
1   -  1   -  San Jose    - 1.25  -  1   - 2
2   -  3   -  Houston     - 1.75  -  1   - 2
3   -  2   -  Salt Lake   - 3.25  -  3   - 4
4   -  5   -  DC United   - 5.25  -  3   - 7
4   -  5   -  Kansas City - 5.25  -  4   - 7
6   -  4   -  New York    - 5.5   -  4   - 7
7   -  8   -  Seattle     - 6.13  -  3   - 8
8   -  9   -  Chicago     - 7.75  -  6   - 9
9   -  7   -  LA Galaxy   - 9.13  -  8   - 10
10  -  10  -  Vancouver   - 9.75  -  8   - 11
11  -  11  -  Columbus    - 11.13 - 10   - 12
12  -  14  -  Montreal    - 12.63 - 11   - 15
13  -  13  -  Chivas      - 13.25 - 12   - 14
14  -  12  -  Philadelphia- 13.5  - 12   - 16
15  -  15  -  New England - 15.63 - 13   - 18
16  -  18  -  Colorado    - 16.25 - 15   - 18
17  -  16  -  Dallas      - 16.38 - 14   - 17
18  -  17  -  Toronto     - 17    - 14   - 18
19  -  19  -  Portland    - 19    - 19   - 19

Seven teams remained static in the rankings: San Jose in 1st, Kansas City at 5th, Vancouver at 10th, Columbus at 11th, Chivas at 13th, New England at 15th, and Portland in 19th; Portland was the only team to receive a unanimous ranking.  D.C. / Kansas City tied at 4th place for the 2nd week in a row with an average of 5.25.  Two teams had a variance of 5 positions (Seattle, New England), and five teams with a variance of 4 (D.C., L.A., Montreal, Philadelphia, Toronto).

The most consistent rankings were Soccer America, MLS, Soccer by Ives, ESPN, and SI each of which had only 1 team move 3 positions from the previous week.  There were two inconsistent sites this week, Goal.com and NBC both of which had 1 team moving 5 places and 1 team 3; This is the 3rd week Goal.com has been the most inconsistent.

Firsts and Lasts

SJE have now been ranked #1 for 9 weeks, with RSL at 6, and SKC for 5 weeks.
TFC was in 19th for a total of 10 weeks, Portland has now held it for 4 weeks, Montreal, Dallas and Philly held last for 2 weeks each, Chivas for 1 week.

Movers

Jets: Montreal (14th to 12th), Colorado (18th to 16th)
Bricks: NY (4th to 6th), LA (7th to 9th), Philadelphia (12th to 14th)
Glaciers: SJ, Vancouver, Columbus, Chivas, NE, Portland (no change)

Season Average Power Ranking

W20   -  W19   -  Team
2.44  -  2.4   -  Salt Lake
3.45  -  3.57  -  San Jose
3.56  -  3.48  -  Kansas City
5.38  -  5.34  -  Seattle
5.93  -  5.95  -  New York
6.53  -  6.78  -  Houston
7.04  -  7.13  -  DC United
7.44  -  7.32  -  Vancouver
9.08  -  9.14  -  Chicago
9.72  -  9.75  -  LA Galaxy
11.07 -  10.8  -  Colorado
12.62 -  12.69 -  Columbus
13.31 -  13.15 -  Dallas
13.94 -  13.85 -  New England
14.41 -  14.47 -  Chivas
15.24 -  15.38 -  Montreal
15.51 -  15.32 -  Portland
15.67 -  15.79 -  Philadelphia
17.61 -  17.64 -  Toronto

There were three position changes on the table this week.  San Jose finally took 2nd place from Kansas City; Columbus passed Dallas for 12th, and Montreal jumped over Portland for 16th.

New York moved the least at +.02 points, with Toronto and LA close behind moving a mere +.03 points.  Colorado again moved the most at -.27 in spite of their win over RSL.  The smallest gap in the season average is .11 between San Jose and Kansas City, with Portland and Philly close behind at .16 points.  The widest gulf lies between Philly and Toronto at 1.94 points, with the gap between Kansas City and Seattle next at 1.82; four other gaps of over 1 point also exist.

Firsts and Lasts:

*RSL has held the top spot on the season table for a total of 18 weeks (with week 7 tied with SKC).  SKC held #1 for 3 weeks (again with W7 tied with RSL).
*Toronto has been in 19th place for 13 weeks, with Montreal at 7 weeks.

Trends to watch:

If Seattle can continue their improved form they'll hold off NY, otherwise the Bulls will pass them.  The Sounders are in control of this position.

The Quakes are slowly closing on RSL, but if Real remains in the weekly top 3 they'll retain first.

Chicago is closing on Vancouver, if current form continues the Fire will take over 8th in a few more weeks.

Chivas and New England are also closing on Dallas and both stand to pass in a few weeks if current trends continue.