Survivor Pro: Picking a winner by default

After a month-long hiatus, we're back ... and shocked to discover that Spaniards are now ruling the world.

First the Spanish national team dominates Germany in the Euro 2008 championship to win the country's first European title in 44 years.

Then Rafael Nadal survives an incredible 5-set match against Roger Federer to capture his first Wimbledon title and end Darth Federer's reign on English turf. 

Pau Gasol even made it to the NBA Finals with the Los Angeles Lakers (only to lose to the Boston Celtics in six games).

What's next? The Tour de France? (Possible.) Beijing 2008? (Probably not, but don't count 'em out, especially in soccer or hoops where they have recently won titles.) Spain hasn't seen this kind of world domination since Christopher Columbus set sail with the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria in 1492.

If there was a Spanish-born player in MLS, you bet that's whose team we'd pick to win this week for Survivor Pro. But there is not and we had to take a deeper look into this week's slate of matches. 

Of the 10 teams who are playing this week, we found more reasons not to choose a team than we did in picking a sure-fire winner. Damn you, SuperLiga and U.S. Open Cup for taking D.C. United -- the league's hottest team (5-0-1) -- out of action for nearly a month. 

That said, we're only going to give you one Top Choice this week along with our reasons for eliminating all of the other competitors.

Teams NOT to pick this week:

1. New York Red Bulls (at Kansas City, Thursday): This is an easy team not to pick. The Red Bulls have one win on the road this season (May 10 at L.A.) and they are on the road this week to face the Kansas City Wizards. While the Wizards can't score, has been just as bad of late (last win came June 5 vs. Chivas USA), especially in last week's 4-0 thumping at the hands of the Colorado Rapids. Not even Ronaldinho could help this team.
2. Kansas City Wizards (vs. New York, Thursday): Yeah, this match is a dog. Don't touch either team. The Wizards are OK at home (3-2-1) but their offense is pathetic. Twelve goals in 14 league matches?! Are you kidding me??! San Jose is worse, but they get a pass because they are an expansion team. Maybe Josh Wolff will cure what ails K.C.'s lack of attack, but he won't be available for another week at least. The Wizards have scored more than one goal only twice this season -- in the first two games. The Red Bulls' defense is not great, but that doesn't mean the flood gates will open for K.C.
3. San Jose Earthquakes (vs. Colorado, Saturday): At 3-9-3, the expansion Quakes are the worst team in the league. Enough said.
4. Toronto FC (at Chicago, Saturday): The Red Menace have dominated on their home turf (5-0-3), but have only one win on the road this season (April 13 at L.A.) in six trips. This will be TFC's first match against the Fire, with whom they are tied in the standings (6-5-3), this season. That’s even more of a reason not to pick the road team.
5. Real Salt Lake (vs. Columbus, Saturday): Here's where things get a bit tougher. We're still stunned to find RSL in the hunt, much less unbeaten at home (4-0-5). As you already know, though, those five draws would translate to five losses in Survivor Pro. That fact coupled with Real's anemic offense (three goals in the last six league games) give us reason enough to stay away.
6. Colorado Rapids (at San Jose, Saturday): Always pick against the expansion team, right? Not if you've measured Colorado's play over the last month. You can look at the Rapids in two ways after last week's 4-0 beating of the Red Bulls: Colorado's offense has found its stride or this game is an anomaly. We're leaning on the latter seeing as the Rapids went 1-3-1 prior to last week's win.
7. Chicago Fire (vs. Toronto, Saturday): If you picked this team, we can't entirely blame you, except for the fact that the Fire only have two wins at home (2-3-1) and their last win came on May 25 at New York (0-3-2 in league games since). The Fire have stumbled a bit of late and they are playing red-hot D.C. United on Tuesday in the U.S. Open Cup. That's not a good combination.
8. Columbus Crew (at Real Salt Lake, Saturday):  The Crew are the second-best team in the league (8-4-3, 27 pts.). They met RSL in the U.S. Open Cup and beat them 2-0. And they are facing a team that lacks any punch on offense. This a definite win for Columbus, right? Not necessarily. The Crew only have two wins in their last eight league matches and they are facing a team that is (shockingly) unbeaten at home.
9. Chivas USA (at Los Angeles, Thursday): The Super Clasico resumes Thursday night on ESPN2 at The Home Depot Center. Chivas is coming off a 1-0 win vs. San Jose and the team is 2-2-1 in the last month. But over that time, the Goats have only scored four goals. We've warned in the past about picking teams in rivalry matches (which this certainly qualifies), but we're going to buck the trend this week for ...
   

This week's Top Choice -- Los Angeles Galaxy (vs. Chivas USA, Thursday): The Gals waxed Chivas 5-2 in the first meeting between the two teams this season on April 26. L.A. is coming off two consecutive losses to D.C United and the New England Revolution, respectively, but they should have a healthy Landon Donovan back in the lineup against Chivas USA. That should free up Edson Buddle, who has recently come on strong, and, more importantly, David Beckham, who was nearly suffocated by double-teaming defenders last week against the Revs. The Galaxy defense is porous to say the least (30 goals allowed), but the offense is tops in the league. Top Choice: Los Angeles Galaxy

The first half of the Survivor Pro season is coming to a close in a couple weeks, so there is still time to put in a few good picks. Stay tuned for updates on the game for the second half of the season which will start after the MLS All-Star Game on July 24.