I'm thinking the East has played a disproportionate amount of home games though - maybe 6 more than the West? It's also interesting the East's powers have played against the West more often than the weaker teams (NYCFC, NYRB, ORL, ATL have played 24, the rest of the East 28). Meanwhile San Jose, Colorado and RSL, not exactly Western powers this year, have played the East a disproportionate number of times. All this to say that the gap between East and West might be illusory.
I think the East has hosted 29 of the 52 games so, yeah, exactly 6 more than the West. It sure looks like to me that the East has more of the very top teams but the West is pretty even through the middle. If you look at the PPG Shield table the West has 9 of the 16 teams over 1.00 per game. Not a huge difference but as the inter-conference and home games even up the standings may get tighter. It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out.
Week 13 results: TFC 0-1 FCD HOU 3-1 NYC VAN 3-3 NER MIN 2-0` MTL LAX 1-1 DCU SKC 0-0 CLB The West wins the week with 3 wins, 3 draws, and no losses. That makes the East 26-8-24 so far. Standings are W-T-L. Teams are ranked by Points Earned. EAST NYC 6-1-2 ORL 4-0-1 NYR 4-0-1 ATL 4-0-2 NER 3-1-1 CLB 1-2-1 DCU 1-2-2 PHI 1-1-2 MTL 1-0-4 TFC 1-0-4 CHI 0-1-4 WEST HOU 4-1-1 SKC 3-1-2 FCD 3-0-1 MIN 3-0-2 VAN 2-1-1 LAG 2-0-3 COR 2-0-4 RSL 2-0-4 LAX 1-2-1 SEA 1-1-1 POR 1-1-2 SJE 0-1-4 Week 14 fixtures: MTL v. HOU CHI v. SJE
If my calculations are correct, the East has had 2 more home games and has 2 more wins. So much for the "dominant East" that has made headlines recently (eg ESPN). Also note that NYC and Atlanta have played the West more than any other Eastern teams, while Colorado and RSL lead the West in playing the East, along with Houston and KC. All this to say the supposed gap might still be illusory.
The Shield table by PPG is showing a more even distribution of East and West teams just two weeks later. Shield Standings by PPG (5/29/18): 1. ATL 2.08 --------------- 2. NYR 2.00 3. SKC 1.92 4. NYC 1.85 5. POR 1.82 6. FCD 1.82 7. CLB 1.79 8. LAX 1.75 9. HOU 1.64 10. ORL 1.58 11. NER 1.50 12. LAG 1.33 13. RSL 1.33 14. PHI 1.25 15. MIN 1.23 16. VAN 1.21 17. CHI 1.17 18. TFC 0.91 19. DCU 0.90 20. SEA 0.80 21. SJE 0.75 22. COR 0.73 23. MTL 0.69 The East has the top two spots but the West now has 5 of the top 9.
Something I am curious about. GF/GA in games within your own conference vs games against the other conference. Wondering if there are stylistic trends across conferences. West being a little more defensive minded and the East being more offensive minded for example.
OK. Here are the numbers that I find. I don't know how useful this is. I probably should also break it down by home/away. Houston, for example, has scored way more goals against the East than the West but the Dynamo have only played 2 home games against the West while they have played 4 at home against the East. Overall the East is +12 against the West. TeamConferenceGF/GA/GDVs. WestGF/GA/GD ATL614/9/+56 12/7/+5 CHI79/9/+058/12/-4 CLB1015/7/+843/3/+0 DCU56/10/-458/8/+0 MTL89/19/-1055/10/-5 NER713/13/+058/5/+3 NYC46/8/-2920/11/+9 NYR614/8/+6512/4/+8 ORL710/12/-2512/8/+4 PHI87/8/-145/7/-2 TFC69/9/+055/11/-6 TeamConferenceGF/GA/GDVs. EastGF/GA/GD COR55/10/-568/10/-2 FCD712/8/+445/3/+2 HOU59/10/-1617/8/+9 LAG711/12/-155/7/-2 LAX816/8/+848/11/-3 MIN810/16/-656/6/+0 POR712/8/+447/9/-2 RSL68/9/-167/16/-9 SJE712/12/+056/11/-5 SEA75/10/-532/2/+0 SKC717/7/+1067/6/+1 VAN811/18/-748/9/-1
Here are the goals per club per game: East vs. East: 1.51 West vs. West: 1.56 East vs. West scored by East clubs: 1.69 East vs. West scored by West clubs: 1.48 East vs. West for all clubs: 1.59 (this is the average of 1.69 and 1.48) East clubs score more against the West than against each other. West clubs score more against each other than against the East. East vs. West games have more goals than when the clubs are in the same conference. I don't know if the differences are significant.
Week 14 results: MTL 1-0 HOU CHI 2-1 SJE The East wins the week with 2 wins and no losses. That makes the East 28-8-24 so far. Standings are W-T-L. Teams are ranked by Points Earned. EAST NYC 6-1-2 ORL 4-0-1 NYR 4-0-1 ATL 4-0-2 NER 3-1-1 MTL 2-0-4 CLB 1-2-1 DCU 1-2-2 PHI 1-1-2 CHI 1-1-4 TFC 1-0-4 WEST HOU 4-1-2 SKC 3-1-2 FCD 3-0-1 MIN 3-0-2 VAN 2-1-1 LAG 2-0-3 COR 2-0-4 RSL 2-0-4 LAX 1-2-1 SEA 1-1-1 POR 1-1-2 SJE 0-1-5 Week 15 fixtures: VAN v. ORL FCD v. MTL SEA v. DCU
Week 15 results: VAN 5-2 ORL FCD 2-0 MTL SEA 2-1 DCU The West sweeps the week with three wins. That makes the East 28-8-27 so far. Standings are W-T-L. Teams are ranked by Points Earned. EAST NYC 6-1-2 ORL 4-0-2 ATL 4-0-2 NYR 4-0-1 NER 3-1-1 MTL 2-0-5 CLB 1-2-1 DCU 1-2-3 PHI 1-1-2 CHI 1-1-4 TFC 1-0-4 WEST HOU 4-1-2 FCD 4-0-1 VAN 3-1-1 SKC 3-1-2 MIN 3-0-2 SEA 2-1-1 LAG 2-0-3 COR 2-0-4 RSL 2-0-4 LAX 1-2-1 POR 1-1-2 SJE 0-1-5 Week 16 fixtures: NYR v. SEA COR v. CHI SJE v. NER
Geez, every time it looks like the East pulls away a little bit, the West gets right back in it! Quite the even season we're having.
While the East could pull away again on Wednesday, I'm thinking the West could actually win it. The East still has a marginal advantage in home games played but notice who in each conference has played the most interconference games and who has played the least. For example, NYC only has 3 games left against the West, while Portland and LAFC have 7 left against the East (as does Seattle, but we'll see if they get healthy or not in time).
Week 16 results: NYR 2-1 SEA COR 2-2 CHI SJE 2-2 NER The East wins the week with a win and two ties. That makes the East 29-10-27 so far. 66 games played means we are exactly halfway through the inter-conference schedule. Standings are W-T-L. Teams are ranked by Points Earned. EAST NYC 6-1-2 NYR 5-0-1 ORL 4-0-2 ATL 4-0-2 NER 3-2-1 MTL 2-0-5 CLB 1-2-1 DCU 1-2-3 CHI 1-2-4 PHI 1-1-2 TFC 1-0-4 WEST HOU 4-1-2 FCD 4-0-1 VAN 3-1-1 SKC 3-1-2 MIN 3-0-2 SEA 2-1-2 COR 2-1-4 LAG 2-0-3 RSL 2-0-4 LAX 1-2-1 POR 1-1-2 SJE 0-2-5 Week 17 fixtures: PHI v. VAN NYR v. FCD SEA v. CHI LAX v. CLB ATL v. POR
Week 17 results: PHI 4-0 VAN NYR 3-0 FCD SEA 1-1 CHI LAX 2-0 CLB ATL 1-1 POR The East wins the week with two wins and two ties against just 1 loss. That makes the East 31-12-28 so far. Standings are W-T-L. Teams are ranked by Points Earned. EAST NYC 6-1-2 NYR 6-0-1 ATL 4-1-2 ORL 4-0-2 NER 3-2-1 PHI 2-1-2 CHI 1-3-4 MTL 2-0-5 CLB 1-2-2 DCU 1-2-3 TFC 1-0-4 WEST HOU 4-1-2 FCD 4-0-2 VAN 3-1-2 SKC 3-1-2 MIN 3-0-2 LAX 2-2-1 SEA 2-2-2 COR 2-1-4 LAG 2-0-3 RSL 2-0-4 POR 1-2-2 SJE 0-2-5 Week 18 fixtures: MTL v. SKC CLB v. RSL LAX v. PHI
Week 18 results: MTL 2-0 SKC CLB 2-1 RSL LAX 4-1 PHI The East wins the week with two wins and just 1 loss. That makes the East 33-12-29 so far. Standings are W-T-L. Teams are ranked by Points Earned. EAST NYC 6-1-2 NYR 6-0-1 ATL 4-1-2 ORL 4-0-2 NER 3-2-1 MTL 3-0-5 CLB 2-2-2 PHI 2-1-3 CHI 1-3-4 DCU 1-2-3 TFC 1-0-4 WEST HOU 4-1-2 FCD 4-0-2 LAX 3-2-1 VAN 3-1-2 SKC 3-1-3 MIN 3-0-2 SEA 2-2-2 COR 2-1-4 LAG 2-0-3 RSL 2-0-5 POR 1-2-2 SJE 0-2-5 Week 19 fixtures: MIN v. TFC FCD v. ATL LAG v. DCU LAX v. ORL MTL v. COR NER v. SEA SKC v. TFC LAG v. CLB VAN v. CHI
Week 19 results: MIN 4-3 TFC FCD 3-2 ATL LAG 2-2 DCU LAX 4-1 ORL MTL 2-1 COR NER 0-0 SEA SKC 2-2 TFC LAG 4-0 CLB VAN 3-2 CHI The West wins the week with 5 wins and 3 draws against only 1 loss. That makes the East 34-15-34 so far. We are dead even after 83 of 132 games. Standings are W-T-L. Teams are ranked by Points Earned. EAST NYC 6-1-2 NYR 6-0-1 ATL 4-1-3 ORL 4-0-3 MTL 4-0-5 NER 3-3-1 CLB 2-2-3 PHI 2-1-3 DCU 1-3-3 CHI 1-3-5 TFC 1-1-5 WEST FCD 5-0-2 LAX 4-2-1 HOU 4-1-2 VAN 4-1-2 MIN 4-0-2 SKC 3-2-3 LAG 3-1-3 SEA 2-3-2 COR 2-1-5 RSL 2-0-5 POR 1-2-2 SJE 0-2-5 Week 20 fixtures: NYR v. SKC MTL v. SJE NER v. LAG DCU v. VAN FCD v. CHI ATL v. SEA
Week 20 results: NYR 3-2 SKC MTL 2-0 SJE NER 2-3 LAG DCU 3-1 VAN FCD 3-1 CHI ATL 1-1 SEA The East wins the week with 3 wins and 1 draw against 2 losses. That makes the East 37-16-36 so far. The East retakes the lead by 1 game. Standings are W-T-L. Teams are ranked by Points Earned. EAST NYR 7-0-1 NYC 6-1-2 MTL 5-0-5 ATL 4-2-3 ORL 4-0-3 NER 3-3-2 DCU 2-3-3 CLB 2-2-3 PHI 2-1-3 CHI 1-3-6 TFC 1-1-5 WEST FCD 6-0-2 LAX 4-2-1 HOU 4-1-2 VAN 4-1-3 LAG 4-1-3 MIN 4-0-2 SKC 3-2-4 SEA 2-4-2 COR 2-1-5 RSL 2-0-5 POR 1-2-2 SJE 0-2-6 Week 21 fixtures: MIN v. NER PHI v. LAG POR v. MTL
Week 21 results: MIN 2-1 NER PHI 1-3 LAG POR 2-2 MTL The West wins the week with 2 wins and 1 draw. That makes the East 37-17-38 so far. The West takes the overall lead. Each conference has hosted 46 games. There are 40 games left. Standings are W-T-L. Teams are ranked by Points Earned. EAST NYR 7-0-1 NYC 6-1-2 MTL 5-1-5 ATL 4-2-3 ORL 4-0-3 NER 3-3-3 DCU 2-3-3 CLB 2-2-3 PHI 2-1-4 CHI 1-3-6 TFC 1-1-5 WEST FCD 6-0-2 LAG 5-1-3 MIN 5-0-2 LAX 4-2-1 HOU 4-1-2 VAN 4-1-3 SKC 3-2-4 SEA 2-4-2 COR 2-1-5 POR 1-3-2 RSL 2-0-5 SJE 0-2-6 Week 22 fixtures: HOU v. PHI DCU v. COR SEA v. NYC LAG v. ORL
Week 22 results: HOU 1-3 PHI DCU 2-1 COR SEA 3-1 NYC LAG 4-3 ORL The week is a split with two wins each way. That makes the East 39-17-40 so far. Standings are W-T-L. Teams are ranked by Points Earned. EAST NYR 7-0-1 NYC 6-1-3 MTL 5-1-5 ATL 4-2-3 ORL 4-0-4 NER 3-3-3 DCU 3-3-3 PHI 3-1-4 CLB 2-2-3 CHI 1-3-6 TFC 1-1-5 WEST LAG 6-1-3 FCD 6-0-2 MIN 5-0-2 LAX 4-2-1 HOU 4-1-3 VAN 4-1-3 SEA 3-4-2 SKC 3-2-4 COR 2-1-6 POR 1-3-2 RSL 2-0-5 SJE 0-2-6 Week 23 fixtures: NYC v. VAN RSL v. CHI POR v. PHI NYR v. LAG
Week 23 results: NYC 2-2 VAN RSL 2-1 CHI POR 3-0 PHI NYR 2-1 LAX The West wins the week with two wins and a tie against one loss. That makes the East 40-18-42 so far. Standings are W-T-L. Teams are ranked by Points Earned. EAST NYR 8-0-1 NYC 6-2-3 MTL 5-1-5 ATL 4-2-3 ORL 4-0-4 NER 3-3-3 DCU 3-3-3 PHI 3-1-5 CLB 2-2-3 CHI 1-3-7 TFC 1-1-5 WEST LAG 6-1-3 FCD 6-0-2 MIN 5-0-2 LAX 4-2-2 VAN 4-2-3 HOU 4-1-3 SEA 3-4-2 SKC 3-2-4 POR 2-3-2 RSL 3-0-5 COR 2-1-6 SJE 0-2-6 Week 24 fixtures: CLB v. HOU RSL v. MTL
Do you know what the best record against the other conference was? The Red Bulls have won 8 out of 9 against the West and are done playing the West clubs currently in playoff position. They host Houston and have to go to Vancouver and last place San Jose, who is winless against the East.
Do you mean ever? Here are the teams with the best records (most points) each year since 2011: 2017 - TFC 7-3-1 (2.18 PPG) 2016- NYC 6-2-2 and FCD 6-2-2 (2.00 PPG) 2015 - FCD 7-1-2 (2.2 PPG) 2014 - RSL 6-4-0 (2.2 PPG) 2013 - VAN 7-1-2 (2.2 PPG) 2012 - SKC 6-2-1 (2.22 PPG) 2011 - SEA 10-4-4 (1.88 PPG) In 2011, LAG had fewer losses but less points at 8-8-2. That is as far back as we've run this annual thread. When RSL went undefeated in 2014 people tried to find an earlier team with zero inter-conference losses but none was found. Kansas City has the most PPG on this list. The Red Bulls are on pace to set the PPG record but they can't top RSL's undefeated season. They have a good shot at equaling Seattle's 10 wins even with playing 6 fewer games.
The Red Bulls need only 3 points from 3 games against Western clubs not in playoff position to get to 2.25 and break the record since 2011. Wikipedia has the results on one page for 2008 through 2010 so I can check that by hand, but they don't have the results on one page for 2006 or 2007 so I didn't check farther back.