So, where is the upset in MLS playoffs?

I’ve already weighed in a bit on the playoffs in this ESPN.com Soccernet piece. And colleague Jeff Carlisle had two insightful breakdowns here and here. Meanwhile, MLSnet ace Kyle McCarthy broke down the East in this crackerjack piece. So, what’s left?

I’ll tell you what – bold predictions. And I’m feeling bold. I am one turbulent vortex of boldness – and I don't even know what that means!

Anyway, here we go.

In the marquee series, L.A. Galaxy-Chivas USA, I just don’t see the upset here. Chivas wins games by playing things safer than a suburban kid on his first trip to dangerous downtown. They win by letting the other kids make the mistakes. Well, the L.A. Bruce Arenas don’t make ‘em. Outside of two excellent goalkeepers, who cancel each other out, Landon Donovan and David Beckham are the only difference makers in the series. (No, Sasha Kljestan doesn’t count – not the way he’s played this year.) The Galaxy will move on.

In the Chicago-New England series, which will set back soccer by 9.6 years (I’ve carefully run the calculations), Chicago will get past the Revs. Why? Because it seems as though Chicago always beats the Revolution, almost as if by royal decree. Plus, the Fire is about to get two of its terrific defenders back in Wilman Conde and Gonzalo Segares. Meanwhile, the Revs are still as beaten up as my 11-year-old Adidas Gazelles. (They started off deep blue, but have defied logic and science by going some shade of brownish gray. Weird.)

Does the cross-over side have a chance when Real Salt Lake meets Supporters Shield winner Columbus? Nah. I give the men of Utah a smidge of upset potential because Columbus hasn’t had to scrape and crawl for points the way others have lately, and it’s hard to crank up the intensity so quickly. Otherwise, the Crew has been amazingly solid from May on forward. And RSL will surely squander a few good chances while Guillermo Barros Schelotto passes and shoots his way into the second round.

So that leaves Houston-Seattle. And here’s where I’m calling the upset. The Dynamo has gone dull around the edges lately. They aren’t good on artificial turf (2-7-8, minus-9 in goal difference) since moving to Houston before the 2006 season. Ricardo Clark may not be at full speed – and they’ll need him on high rev to deal with Freddie Ljungberg, who has been exceptional lately. And phooey on anyone who says Seattle doesn’t have enough playoff experience, noting how just six players have taken part in the MLS post-season. I’m pretty sure Ljungberg and Kasey Keller, having played in a few big matches elsewhere, won’t exactly be throwing up in the locker room prior to tonight’s kickoff fat Qwest.

It’ll be close, but I see Seattle finding a way through.