It is finally here, Major League Soccer’s first kick of 2011. The long wait (or short wait if you think the offseason has been rather quick like I do) is over and the games will pick up in a hurry starting tonight. It seems to be a new tradition for MLS, the first kick of the new season begins at Qwest Field for the third straight season as the Seattle Sounders play host to the LA Galaxy.

The Sounders look for revenge against the Galaxy, who knocked them out of the MLS Playoffs a season ago. On the flip side, the Galaxy are hoping to keep their hot streak alive against the Sounders.

The bar has been set high for both clubs going into this season. LA has title hopes and fans in Seattle expect even bigger things for the two-time US Open Cup champions. The Galaxy have beefed up their lineup a bit with guys veterans like Juan Pablo Angel and Frankie Hejduk. Seattle on the other hand made a few moves while keeping most of their 2010 bunch intact.

Tonight will be all about controlling the tempo of the game for these two. LA will want to silence the Qwest Field crowd yet again (last year they dominated Seattle here) by keeping possession and pressuring the Sounder backline that let in their fair share of goals last year. If LA gets off to a quick start it could be a long night for the hosts. The Sounders have to use their speed on the wings (if Steve Zakuani is able to play tonight of course) and find ways in space to get Fredy Montero and Blaise Nkufo involved in the attack.

With JPA, Donovan Ricketts and Omar Gonzalez all likely to miss tonight’s game for LA, it gives Seattle a solid shot of being in this one. Bruce Arena’s club has had Sigi Schmid’s number these last two years but tonight feels like a draw to me. LA will get on the boards in the first half in this one with LA mounting a comeback late.

Player to watch out for: Landon Donovan, the dude just loves the spotlight in games like this.

WVH Prediction: Seattle 1, LA 1

Both clubs know one another very well as rivals in the Eastern conference. It is also a weird #1 v. #8, top seed versus the lowest seed in the bracket. Can the Crew continue their run or will the slipper fit the Red Bulls for another day?

We have plenty of good matchups to look forward to in this one as well.

• GBS v. New York’s defense/midfield: I don’t know who has the advantage here. The one or two unlucky guys for the Red Bulls or the league MVP. I think the edge has to go to GBS and his craftiness.
• Juan Pablo Angel v. Chad Marshall: Both are solid in the air but who will make a larger impact on this game? Angel will have to score for New York to win in my book and I think Marshall is a guy that can keep him from doing that.
• Hesmer v. Cepero: Sure they won’t exactly meet head-to-head but I figure one will have a bigger impact on the game. Cepero’s run has been just as good as his club’s as of late. To think it probably all started with that terrible free kick against the Crew that went in the back of the net for the young keeper.
• Robbie Rogers v. Dane Richards: Now here is a matchup on the wings to watch. Speed v. Speed. I think the edge slightly goes to Rogers though for the quality touch that he brings but don’t rule Richards out for a quick change of pace.

I know there are plenty more matchups here to watch for this game but I will just let you find them out during the game.

It will be hard for some to look at the season series between these two to predict this game. New York won two of the three but let’s face the facts, one was at the very beginning of the year (which you can’t base much on either club then) and the other was at the end when Columbus rested half of their starters and New York was desperate for a playoff spot. Columbus won the middle match when the Red Bulls were trying to figure themselves out in the late summer. It wasn’t much of a game really as the Crew dominated from end-to-end after giving up an early goal. I just recall that game and Robbie Roger’s ridiculous strike to start out the second half.

Both clubs want this one really bad to prove to a lot of people that they belong on this level. New York is trying to become another club that had a terrible regular season and wound up winning it all (a la LA in 2005). Columbus wants to prove the Supporter’s Shield isn’t a curse but just another trophy in the case along side the MLS Cup.

Again, I’ve gone over this one a few thousand times, Columbus and New York in a MLS Cup together. The winner is tough to figure out but I think it will end up being Columbus. I’ve said all year long that they are the hardest team in MLS to beat, they will prove that again tomorrow. New York is on a nice run and they’ve beaten some quality clubs along the way but I just see Columbus putting and end to it.

WVH Prediction: Columbus 2, New York 1

Can New York shut down Javier Morales and RSL? (Getty Images)

So it comes down to this, the two most unlikely candidates to play for a chance at a MLS Cup birth tomorrow night. If you had pegged New York against Real Salt Lake a conference semifinal this year then you obviously knew something more than anyone else in the MLS world.

Seriously though, at the start of the year no one would have had this matchup as a conference final one. Hell, not too many people even had it going into last weekend. But nevertheless these two clubs defied the odds and made it here with a chance to move on to face Columbus in the 2008 MLS Cup in LA.

This is an interesting matchup though. These two clubs always play a very interesting and entertaining contest when they face one another. I think the new stadium effect will be a good one for RSL too. New York has been typically inconsistent on the road this year but no one can over-look what they did in Houston a week ago.

You have two defenses that I find a tad bit overrated and two midfields that need more credit than what they are getting around the league. In goal I would put RSL over New York based on experience, while Danny Cepero has been great thus far I have to think Nick Rimando has a slight edge over him. Offensively speaking I think New York has the edge over RSL. Juan Pablo Angel along with Dane Richards have been extremely hot over the past month or two. RSL has been here and there as far as the offense goes. They can give thanks to plenty of late goals that have got them to where they are right now.

At the end of the night I think this one will be just as good as far as an entertainment value as the game last night. It should be fairly wild as both teams will be going after one another and will not be holding anything back. I think the offensive edge to New York makes me want to pick them in the slight upset. I do like RSL at home but I think a hot Angel and Richards are too much for RSL to contend with right now.

RSL will get on the board but I like Angel to put it home for the Red Bulls and set up the first ever all Eastern Conference MLS Cup.

WVH Prediction: New York 3, RSL 2

Crew Stadium will be rocking tonight. (Getty Image)

With the game a mere two hours or so away, I put this preview/prediction off long enough. I must admit, I have no idea who I think will win or even who I’d want to win this game between Chicago and Columbus. Part of me thinks Chicago and the other part of me kind of wants Columbus.

That’s what makes this game have some solid hype to it. Its really what should be this year’s MLS Cup. Not to be rude to Salt Lake or New York fans but really this is a better MLS Cup type matchup than anything that is potentially out there for the actual game.

What makes this matchup great is you have so many good storylines and matchups to follow.

• You have Brian McBride returning to his old grounds. Columbus fans must love that.
• The Blanco-Schelotto matchup in the middle seems more than great. Two MVP candidates in one game is what the playoffs should be about.
• Two really good defenses going head to head.
• Crew Stadium and its rowdy fans in the corner near the stage.
• The few hundred Chicago fans that will be at this game.
• Two of the best midfield units in MLS going at it.
• One of the best home side going up against one of the best road sides.

Yeah it truly should be a great game.

I think Chicago has the MLS Cup-type of club right now with the way they are playing but then again Columbus has shown a lot of hear this year. Both games between the clubs this year left us little to go with as they were both 2-2 draws.

In the end it will be close. I think McBride gets the Fire up early but the Crew come back and win it late. But really this game could go either way.

WVH Prediction: Columbus 2, Chicago 1

You’ve got to love the return leg in a home-and-away series. The home leg is for the higher seed and as we saw last night the higher seed made the most of it as the Chicago Fire dominated the New England Revolution in a 3-0 thrashing. I sort of see the three home seeds doing the same this weekend after each got put into a good position to do so last week in the road leg.

I still don’t like the playoff format with the opening round like this but at least this year I think we will see that it won’t matter that the higher seeds are put on the road first in stead of at home to start the playoffs. There is a reason why the Columbus Crew and Houston Dynamo won their conferences, because of the way they play at home.

So three more games will produce our conference finals next week. I believe the Eastern conference final will be on Thursday and the Western conference final on either Saturday or Sunday (depending on TV I assume). But this weekend we get two tomorrow evening and one on Sunday.

If you have any predictions for this weekend, feel free to post them below.

Kansas City Wizards – at – Columbus Crew: The Crew could have been put into a tough situation going home down 1-0 had Steven Lehnart not scored in extra time last Saturday. The rookie has proved his worth time and time again here and that goal was huge for the Crew. It sent this series back to Columbus, where it started, all tied up.

I love the Crew at home too, they know how to win and will build off that late goal in the process. KC on the road this year hasn’t been anything to brag about either. They do have the heart and hustle to go through over the Crew but the talent that the Crew has is just going to be too much to overcome on the road. KC has a tough time stopping the wings and Columbus has some of the best wing play in the league.

Look for Robbie Rogers and guys like that to have a solid game with an early goal. KC could keep it close with the way Claudio Lopez is playing (finally like a DP should) but it won’t be enough. KC spoiled a top seed last year, that won’t happen this time around. Big difference between this year and last year for the Wizards, the club KC beat out last year (Chivas) was unhealthy and this year’s Crew are fully fit for this one. Big difference.

WVH Prediction: Columbus 2, KC 1 (Columbus wins series 3-2 on goals)

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Real Salt Lake – at – Chivas USA: If there was a lower seed to advance to next week’s conference finals it would have to be Real. Not because of the one-goal advantage going into this game but because they have spoiler written all over them here.

This game should be a fun one to watch really. Both clubs really don’t like one another and that will go to a whole new level tomorrow night in Carson. Real will want to be physical throughout this game to not allow Chivas to get back in this series but we all know one goal can change a whole lot here. I think that will happen.

I think Chivas gets back into this series with a late goal to tie things up at one apiece. Then this one will shift into extra time and then penalties. It’s anyone’s guess at that point. I will still take the home team though in that event.

WVH Prediction: Chivas 1, RSL 0 (Chivas wins 5-3 on PK to advance)

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New York Red Bulls – at – Houston Dynamo: This may be the safest bet all weekend. New York on the road is terrible and Houston at home is something else. Dominate may be the right word for Houston at home. Anyways, I just don’t like the Red Bulls chances on the road, in a place that nearly no one wins at in the fall.

Houston could have been down 1-0 and I would still think they would have a shot at winning this series. They did that the last two years, get in an early hole and then come back at Robertson Stadium to win the series big. They are already ahead of the curve this year with a one-goal tie in the series. Look for them to jump on a weak Red Bulls defense early and never let up.

New York’s playoff run will be short as usual, I just don’t see any miracles of them advancing in Houston.

WVH Prediction: Houston 3, New York 0 (Houston wins series 4-1 on goals)

Nonetheless, the Chicago Fire host the New England Revolution tonight in the second leg of the opening round of the playoffs. The series is tied up a zero goals each. Its a winner take all kind of game really.

Chicago is trying to avoid the same end to their season that they have endured over the last three years, losing in the playoffs to the Revs. New England has had their number each of the last three years in the post season in some fashion and are looking to make it four in a row. They will have to do so without a couple big time players like Steve Raltson (injured), Taylor Twellman (injured), Adam Cristman (injuried) and Khano Smith (suspension).

The Fire are in a great spot to move on after getting a 0-0 tie on the road last week in a dud of a game in New England. No goals either way ment they were put into a prime postion to move on at home and actually knock out the Revs this year. This should be the year that it happens too as the Fire will pour on the pressure in this one from the start.

I look for the Revs to go extremely defensive in this one. They know their offense is a little bit done for here and will hope they can catch the Fire napping on a counter attack or even just hold out until penalty kicks if they can keep it tied again. That’s the Revs best bet to win this one if they can do one of those two things.

It just won’t happen though. The Fire want this game badly and will get a great crowd tonight for it up in Chicago. I think the Blanco-McBride connection will be too much for the Revs to overcome here and the Fire will move on thanks to the speed on the wings of guys like Chris Rolfe and Justin Mapp.

WVH Prediction: Chicago 2, New England 0

Well the playoffs now move to Saturday as the other three series kickoff. Three matchs with the lower seed hosting in the opening leg of each series. After last night’s game I figure we will see a very defensive style of play this weekend out of some road clubs, while teams like Kansas City and Real Salt Lake will hope to use their home field to their advantage.

Houston Dynamo – at – New York Red Bulls: Everyone’s least favorite match-up of the post season.  Houston hasn’t done well in New York in recent years but you can expect Dominic Kinnear to have a fairly rested club for this game. New York will rely heavily on Juan Pablo Angel.

This series will obviously come down to defense more than offense, and in that case go with Houston. They continue to have the league’s best defense for a reason and will show it in this series. Don’t be shocked if they do what the Fire did last night here in this one and hold the Red Bulls on their turf to a low scoring game if not a 0-0 game. I like Houston in this series but I think this leg of the series will be a scoreless draw. Houston will dominate New York next week at home to advance.

WVH Prediction: New York 0, Houston 0

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Chivas USA – at – Real Salt Lake: Ah, this series should be a good one. Look for RSL to really come out of the gate in this one and try to use their new stadium to their advantage. It will be loud and crazy at Rio Tinto for this one. I figure now that Chivas is healthy that they will go for the road draw in this one like most of the higher seeds. Don’t count on it though. I like RSL at home in this one but overall in the series I think Chivas will have enough defense to win the series. Plus, its playoff time so that means look for Ante Razov to come alive, he will keep it close for Chivas in this one. Chivas will stumble by a goal in this one but win the series back home next week.

WVH Prediction: RSL 2, Chivas 1

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Columbus Crew – at – Kansas City Wizards: The series I am looking forward to the most is this one. Both are red hot going into the playoffs but one thing is clear KC will need some offense power to win this one. Defensively I don’t like their chances to beat Columbus after reviewing how their season series went this year with the Crew. They have to stop MVP candidate Guillermo Barros Schelotto and I don’t think the midfield for the Wizards will be able to do that.

KC will keep it interesting though as they will hope to repeat the opening round upset that they did last year against Chivas. This game will be all over the place but I think Columbus is just too good on offense and their defense is going to be able to pack things in on the Wizards now that Josh Wolff is out with an injury. Keep an eye out for Herculez Gomez though, he could be a difference maker for the Wizards. I still like Columbus in this one and in the series.

WVH Prediction: Columbus 2, KC 1

It’s just what we’ve been waiting for, playoff soccer. For the next two weeks we get a Thursday night contest with two of the league’s best with Chicgo and New England squaring off in the first round of the playoffs. This rivalry has been one of the best in the past few years as these two have met several times since 2000 in the playoffs.

The Fire were totally dominate in this series between these two clubs. Three games three wins and nine goals to the Revs one. But New England does own history on their side in the playoffs against the Fire. Thing is they will need more than history tonight as they will be without Taylor Twellman (concussion related injury), Gabriel Badilla and Khano Smith (both serving suspensions).

It will be a big task for some young guys from New England to step up tonight. They’ve been virtually cold on the pitch since early August. Not the best time to go cold either as they look for the forth-straight MLS Cup apparence.

I like what I saw out of Chicago last week against New York and I think that will carry over on the road against the Revs. Chicago is one of the few (Columbus probably being the other) clubs that isn’t scared to face the Revs in the post season. I look for Blanco and Chris Rolfe to have big games. Rolfe is Mr. October anyways so look for him to have a good game.

Revs battle to a close one here but the Fire pull away and head home with a nice advantage for next week’s return leg.

WVH Prediction: Chicago 2, New England 0

Just one final weekend stands between four MLS clubs and playoff glory. Thing is only two of those clubs will be able to enjoy that glory. The old “Just Win Baby” slogan will ring true to those four clubs.

One club did catch a break last night as Kansas City punched their ticket to the dance thanks to a New York blowout loss to the Fire in Chicago. The Wizards will either play Columbus or Houston in the first round of the playoffs (all depends on DC’s result this weekend).

Week 31 has six games on the menu for us all to enjoy, two with major implications for the post season. As always feel free to post your predictions below.

Kansas City Wizards – at – New England Revolution: Looks like the Revs will not go into the post season with any sort of positive momentum while the Wizards look good heading into the playoffs. With the Wizards in the playoffs it takes a little steam out of this game. Look for this one to be a pretty evenly played game. Both will want to get momentum going forward for the playoffs but each will want to probably rest some key players. KC on the road this year hasn’t been anything to brag about which leads me to take the Revs in this one. I think New England is a bit more desperate to  get back on track here, especially since the Wizards won’t be pushing hard to get in the playoffs now that they have clinched.

WVH Prediction: New England 2, KC 1

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Real Salt Lake – at – Colorado Rapids: I said it a month or so ago, it would all come down to this game for these two. One would move on while the other would end up wondering what could have been. Each have been hot and cold over the last month or so too. Colorado kicked it into gear last week to push it to this game while RSL made sure they didn’t drop any more points at home this year. This Mountain Cup game should be one of the best since it has so much on the line. RSL doesn’t score a lot on the road while Colorado doesn’t give up a lot at home this year. The Rapids need the full three points so expect RSL to sit back and go for the draw in this one. I think a late surge by Conor Casey will do it though for the Rapids and upset RSL here.

WVH Prediction: Colorado 1, RSL

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Toronto FC – at – San Jose Earthquakes: Two clubs that are already wondering what could have been this year and where things went wrong square off. Definitely not the sexiest of matchups this weekend for clubs that have no playoff hopes left. Toronto will go into a full rebuild mode after this game while the Quakes will be left to figure out what kind of offense they can add next year to help boost that attack. For this one I like the home side simply because of Darren Huckerby. His play should be more than enough to lift the Quakes over the visiting Reds.

WVH Prediction: San Jose 1, Toronto 0

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Houston Dynamo -  at – Chivas USA: Could this be the western conference final preview? Maybe. Just depends on what both managers want to put out there on the field this weekend. Of all the games this one may have the littlest of meaning as both pretty much know where they will be in the first round of the playoffs. Chivas does have a chance to score three points at home and possibly move up into contention to play in SuperLiga next year but I doubt that is a major concern right now for them. I really could care less about this one so I will stay with the home side for the mild upset because of guys like Sasha Kljestan.

WVH Prediction: Chivas 1, Houston 0

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FC Dallas – at – LA Galaxy: Very interesting matchup of two eliminated clubs. Who will win the Golden Boot? Landon Donovan or Kenny Cooper? This game will determine that. A bigger question (that won’t be answered right away) is will this be the final MLS game for Cooper and Donovan? Look for this game to be a bit crazy too. Both times these clubs met this year it was a blowout and then a coach got fired a day later. While I doubt Schellas Hyndman or Bruce Arena have any worry of getting fired this time around but look for some goals between these two. I think it will end up as a crazy draw and be one of the more entertaining games of the year. Cooper and Donovan will go out in style if that is the case.

WVH Prediction: LA 3, Dallas 3

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DC United – at – Columbus Crew: I would imagine the Crew to continue to rest a few players but still start some key guys here and there so they aren’t too rusty going into the playoffs. Last week they rested a bunch of players but I see Sigi Schmid only resting a couple this time around. They host a desperate DC club that was just given a gift of life by the Red Bulls. Thing is they have to get three points against a club that has absolutely owned them this year. DC has also been terrible on the road this year while the Crew have been one of the better home sides this year. I think Columbus will get on the board early and sit on the lead then to only allow DC a game-tying goal. Yup, a draw is what I figure here with DC failing to reach the post season in the process.

WVH Prediction: Columbus 1, DC 1

On the other side of the ball you have the Fire who are looking to clinch some home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs (which they would receive if they and New England end up tied with points on the year).

I look for the Fire to sure up some of their defensive issues against a playoff hungry team like New York. Chicago will need every bit of momentum going into the playoffs against New England that they can get. A win tonight against Chicago would certainly help that cause out.

This should be a very entertaining game between two clubs that really don’t like one another. Its not a rivalry game but the physical nature of the game should feel like one tonight even though the Fire are already in the playoffs. Look for them to not make it easy on the Red Bulls, who have been largely terrible away from New Jersey this year (they haven’t won on the road since May).

I think Chicago gets an early goal and then camps on it for the rest of the game. They’ve owned New York’s defense all year and without Jeff Parke and Jon Conway right now I don’t think the Red Bulls will be able to slow down Brian McBride up top.

New York won’t be eliminated with the loss but they will make things very interesting for the rest of the weekend for everyone else still in contention.

WVH Prediction: Chicago 2, New York 1