We're down to one winner-takes-all match for the MLS crown, so it's time for the staff to go out on that limb...

Clemente Lisi: Houston 1-0 New England

The Houston Dynamo will repeat as MLS champions. No team in the league has a better defense (23 goals against during the regular season), and no other team has been better from set plays. The awesome abilities of Dwayne De Rosario are no match for New England's three-man defense. Look for the Canadian standout to score. The Revs, meanwhile, have Taylor Twellman doing all sorts of tricks and bicycle kicks (like he did in the Eastern Conference final against the Chicago Fire), but he won't be able to penetrate the Dynamo's defense.

Greg Seltzer: New England 2-1 Houston

Enough with the bridesmaid act, it is finally time for the Revs to claim the winners medal. Sure, the defending champs have a stingy defense, but teams from Boston simply can't be stopped in 2007. With Ricardo Clark out suspended, New England's Shalrie Joseph will be the boss in midfield. Look for the St. Louis connection of Taylor Twellman and Steve Ralston to conjure a late winner.

Harris King: New England 2-0 Houston

Taylor Twellman caps off his outstanding season and continues to fuel the USMNT debate with a brace, while Michael Parkhurst lives up to defensive accolades by anchoring the Revolution defense as New England finally get their sought after championship.

Jason Endres: Houston 1-0 New England

In what could be this New England team's last chance with this core of players to win MLS Cup, they travel to RFK Stadium for a rematch against the Houston Dynamo. Both teams are the mark of consistency in MLS as both have kept the majority of their core together from last season's championship game. Each possesses a strong line of defense, but Houston has a more dynamic offense where they can hit with you a direct style of play or through the wings with solid crossing from players like Brad Davis. I think Houston's more dynamic offense is the difference in a tight, physical contest.

Johannes de Jong: New England 1-0 Houston

Last year's final was sheer heartbreak for Steve Nicol and Taylor Twellman, who was forced to watch his industry canceled out by the class of a man picked in his 'earned' place on Bruce Arena's World Cup USMNT squad. The Dynamo spurred along on the motivation of wanting to prove themselves worthy of their new surroundings, to add worth to their new name. With Brian Ching now doubtful and the Dynamo already vindicated, the contest might well be decided by who wants it more. Frankly, I can think of few better that exemplify that virtue than Nicol and Twellman - manager and player steeped in grit, function, and winning mentality.

Neal Thurman: New England 2-1 Houston

This is apparently the year where all you have to do to be successful in sporting endeavor is call Boston home.  Sure, Boston College has fallen off since being elevated to #2 in the college football polls, but the Sox have their second World Series crown in three years already wrapped up, the Patriots are making the NFL their whipping boys and the Celtics are off to an undefeated start.  With the Revs operating just below the radar for most of the year in MLS while just about every other contender spiked and then fell back down things seem to be aligning for the first domestic double (US Open Cup and MLS Cup). We saw this match-up in the finals last year, and frankly, it could have gone either way then and the same is true this year. So, why tilt my prediction in favor of the Revs? The best reason I can give is that this year, being from Boston is enough.

Ryan O'Hanlon: Houston 1-0 New England

The key to the game for Houston will be the play of their wingers, Brad Davis and Brian Mullan. Arguably the best pair of wingers in the league, Mullan and Davis will ultimately win the game for the Dynamo. The 3-5-2 employed by Steve Nicol is especially vulnerable on the outside. The Houston wingers should thrive with the time and space they will be given by the New England defense. The Houston strikers will finish at least one of the many crosses that will be sent in their direction, while the Houston backline should be able to shut down Twellman and the rest of the New England attack, which has only mustered 2 goals in the postseason.