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3 predictions for MLS Decision Day

The 2016 MLS regular season wraps up Sunday with one final round of action dubbed as "Decision Day." All 20 teams are set to kick off simultaneously at 4:00 p.m. ET to resolve everything from playoff fates to season stat rankings.

Here are three predictions for MLS Decision Day:

MLS Supporters' Shield Winner

The MLS Supporters' Shield race has been whittled down to just two teams as FC Dallas and the Colorado Rapids fight to secure three more points to finish atop the cumulative table. Here's how we stand going into Decision Day:

Team Points W-L-D GD
FC Dallas 59 17-8-8 +10
Colorado Rapids 57 15-6-12 +7

Since the first tiebreaker is overall wins, an FC Dallas draw is enough to secure the Shield, so the only way the Rapids can claim the title is with a win over the Houston Dynamo and an LA Galaxy victory over Dallas.

It's a scenario that's actually quite possible, if not probable; the LA Galaxy will want to turn around a 1-0 loss suffered at Dallas' hands to start October, while the Dynamo provide easy three-point fodder for the Rapids. Dallas surged to the top but the Rapids have been slow and steady all season long - we all know how that kind of race usually turns out.

Prediction: Colorado Rapids win MLS Supporters' Shield

Golden Boot Winner

Going into this final matchday, there are just two - well, three - players likely to claim the 2016 Golden Boot, given to the league's top overall goal-scorer. New York Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips (23 goals) holds a slim lead over crosstown rival David Villa (22 goals) of New York City FC.

The Red Bulls face the Philadelphia Union, who have conceded 53 goals this year (10 goals in last five matches), while NYCFC takes on a hapless Columbus Crew who have conceded 54 (five in last five matches), so there's not much separating these two opposition backlines aside, of course from current form.

It's why Wright-Phillips should have an easier time claiming the trophy than Villa, at least on paper. Then there's Sebastian Giovinco, who has 16 goals this season but could theoretically score seven against a woeful Chicago Fire ... you never know!

Prediction: Bradley Wright-Phillips claims MLS Golden Boot (24 goals)

Who's clinching playoff spots?

In the Eastern Conference, this answer is pretty simple; the sixth and final playoff spot is going to the Union, since the New England Revolution need to win and then make up a 12 goal differential.

In the Western Conference, things get a little more tricky:

Team Points W-L-D GD
Real Salt Lake 46 12-11-10 -1
Seattle Sounders 45 13-14-6 0
Sporting Kansas City 44 12-13-8 -1
RED LINE
Portland Timbers 44 12-13-8 -2

The Portland Timbers could theoretically knock the Seattle Sounders out of postseason contention on the final matchday with a win over the Vancouver Whitecaps and have Sporting Kansas City lose to the San Jose Earthquakes. Real Salt Lake is the last team vying for a spot, and take on Seattle.

We could theoretically have a three-way tie at 47 points between RSL, Sporting KC and Portland when this is all done and dusted, and while Seattle has been in good form recently, Decision Day needs a touch of drama, so we predict the Sounders to be the odd team out when 2016 comes to a close.

Prediction: Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference; Real Salt Lake, Sporting Kansas City, and the Portland Timbers in the Western Conference.

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