Dwayne De Rosario (14) and Houston can make MLS history, but Logan Pause and the Fire may have something to say about that. Thomas B. Shea/MLS via Getty Images Luis Bueno's Mailbag Submit a comment or question for Luis. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND

Although eight teams have eight different challenges to overcome on the road to the MLS Cup, only one has the chance to make history and stake its claim as the best franchise in the 13-year history of Major League Soccer.

The Houston Dynamo won MLS Cup titles in 2006 and '07 and are favored to bring home the Phillip F. Anschutz Trophy at the Home Depot Center on Nov. 23. Add that to the two titles the club won as the old San Jose Earthquakes, and another trophy would make an unprecedented fifth for the organization.

"That's what we're going for," Houston's Dwayne De Rosario said. "That's the goal and obviously that's the consensus going around the league and throughout the media. We've just got to stay focused ... and don't put nothing past any of these teams we're about to play."

Who stands in Houston's way on its quest for a third-consecutive MLS Cup title? It's a lengthy list -- more than half the league's on it.

Favorites: Columbus, Houston

In a perfect world, Columbus would play Houston in MLS Cup '08. These clubs could do no wrong during the regular season, as Columbus walked away with the Supporters' Shield and Houston boasted the league's stingiest defense. However, MLS and its playoff system aren't perfect. The league rewards the respective conference champions with a first match away from home against a club that had a less successful year. History is against these two teams even reaching the MLS Cup, as a conference champion hasn't played in the final since '05. Worse, only D.C. United in '06 even survived the first round during that span.

Still, each side looks like an MLS Cup champion. Columbus is the league's most dangerous team on set pieces. With likely Most Valuable Player Guillermo Barros Schelotto leading the charge, the Crew offense is efficient, precise and always in the game.

Houston, on the other hand, has had plenty of success in the postseason. It dropped its first game in each of its playoff series over the last two seasons, but returned home each time to post a convincing victory and advance to the conference championship. Perhaps the only noteworthy difference this season is that the Dynamo won the Western Conference. THey picked up the pieces after top-seeded Chivas USA in '07 and FC Dallas in '06 dropped the ball and crashed out in the first round of the playoffs. Now, with a No. 1 seed comes increased pressure.

Notch Below: Chicago, Chivas USA

Finishing as conference runners-up is actually a good thing for both Chicago and Chivas USA. Three of the last four MLS Cup winners were conference runners-up.

Chicago and Chivas USA are solid No. 2 seeds. In Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Brian McBride, Chicago has unparalleled leadership. A year ago, Blanco's midseason arrival resulted in an instant resurgence, but this year his presence set the tone from the start. Additionally, the path to the MLS Cup sets up very favorably.

The Fire dominated their first-round foes in the regular season, beating New England three times by a combined score of 9-1. Should they play Columbus in the conference final, the road match would suit the Fire as Chicago, along with the Crew, was the best road team during the regular season. Both sides posted 6-5-4 road records.

Chivas USA resembled an infirmary throughout much of the season, as nearly every player on the squad missed time to injury. But the club has slowly regained its health. While Chivas will be without some key players for the playoffs -- Maykel Galindo, Lawson Vaughn and Raphaël Wicky -- those who have returned in full health are capable of playoff success. Alecko Eskandarian and Ante Razov make a formidable forward pairing, while Atiba Harris and Sacha Kljestan boost the duo from the midfield.

Dark Horse: Kansas City

At the beginning of September, Kansas City was on the outside looking in and needed something drastic to help turn things around. The club responded with five wins in its last seven games and are perhaps the hottest team entering the playoffs. While the Wizards were strong at home throughout the season, posting a 9-2-4 record, they struggled on the road. Thus, their dismantling of New England in Gillette Stadium in the season finale should have Columbus worried.

Although both teams had already clinched prior to their meeting, Kansas City picked apart New England. To play well and win on the road signifies a team coming together. Additionally, Kansas City showed a year ago it could pull off a first-round upset. If the Wizards can surprise Columbus in the opener, an ugly return leg in Columbus would follow and the Wizards might be the ones advancing to the conference final.

Thanks for participating: New England, Real Salt Lake

The Revolution won't get the chance to become the MLS version of the Buffalo Bills, who lost four consecutive Super Bowls. New England has put together a dubious run of losing in the title game three years in a row, but it has far too much to overcome in order to reach a fourth consecutive MLS Cup.

Injuries have ravaged a team that already had been struggling to regain its early-season form. The Revs lost Steve Ralston for the season when he broke his leg in an Oct. 11 match and Taylor Twellman was ruled out this week with post-concussion symptoms. While the club still has capable players in Shalrie Joseph and Matt Reis, the obstacles in New England's path are massive.

Real Salt Lake, however, is in the postseason for the first time. With Rio Tinto Stadium already boosting fans' excitement, the club's playoff opener will likely be played in a frenzied environment. But when reality sets in, RSL will realize that, while making the playoffs is one thing, having a realistic chance of making the title game is quite another. RSL is no longer an expansion team, but there are some harsh postseason lessons to learn before a team can make a run to the title game.

In The End: Chicago over Houston

An MLS team has never won three consecutive MLS Cups. The Dynamo have the tools to do it -- but the Fire will be at the Home Depot Center to ensure it doesn't happen. Chicago surprised then two-time champs D.C. United in MLS Cup '98 at the Rose Bowl, and 10 years later the Fire will return to Southern California to triumph over another two-time champ.