MLS Cup: Conf. championships set

Eastern Conference Championship
Thursday, November 13
Chicago Fire @ Columbus Crew (7:30pmET  on ESPN2)
It's Blanco versus Schelotto. This is the real MLS Cup. It's too bad that it has to take place in the Eastern Conference championship. Both clubs rolled over their semi-final opponents, but Columbus will enjoy home field advantage. The Fire are just 6-5-4 on the road this season, whereas the Crew are 11-2-2 in the comfy confines of Crew stadium. The Crew and Fire drew both times they faced each other in the regular season, so this match has the makings of an instant classic.

Prediction: Chicago 2-3 Columbus

Western Conference Championship
Sunday, November 16
New York Red Bulls @ Real Salt Lake (TBA)

Who gets to claim underdog status in this one? The team who have been colossal underachievers since they joined the league in 2005 or the perennial choke artists New York, who barely made it into the playoffs before beating the defending Cup champs. Midfield play will figure greatly in this one and unfortunately for New York, RSL have Javier Morales who definitely should be in the conversation for MLS Cup MVP. Can Angel and company pull off another shocker?

Prediction: New York 2-3 Salt Lake (AET)

MLS Cup 2008 - (@ the HDC)

Sunday, November 23
3:30pmET on ABC, TeleFutura