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USL Championship Race to the Playoffs – Oct. 12

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 10/11/22, 6:58PM EDT

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Tampa Bay Rowdies
October 12 | 7:30 p.m. ET
Al Lang Stadium
El Paso Locomotive FC

Tampa Bay could use a win to have hopes of reaching the No. 2 seed, but El Paso is really in a desperate situation heading into its season finale. Anything short of a victory really stacks the odds against Locomotive FC, but a win at Al Lang Stadium won’t be easy. If El Paso manages it and New Mexico loses later in the evening to LA Galaxy II, El Paso will clinch a playoff berth.


Birmingham Legion FC
October 12 | 8:00 p.m. ET
Protective Stadium
Indy Eleven

Birmingham can assure itself a home playoff game with a victory over the Indy Eleven in its regular season finale on Wednesday night. If Legion FC drops points, it’ll have to sweat out Saturday results to learn where its Eastern Conference Quarterfinal will be played. Pittsburgh, Detroit and Miami will be watching this match closely.


FC Tulsa
October 12 | 8:30 p.m. ET
ONEOK Field
Monteray Bay F.C.

Monterey Bay F.C. must win this game to keep its extremely slim postseason hopes alive. The current playoff cutoff is 46 points. Monterey Bay can reach 46 points by winning out, but it would still need a ton of help.


New Mexico United
October 12 | 9:00 p.m. ET
Isotopes Park
LA Galaxy II

El Paso’s match against Tampa Bay will be reaching its final minutes when New Mexico kicks this match off. If El Paso is losing, New Mexico will know it can clinch a playoff berth with a win.


Standings

WESTERN CONFERENCE

2. San Antonio FC
1. San Antonio FC
Record: 24-5-4, 76 pts
Playoff Odds: Clinched
Projected Finish: 1st (100%)
Max. Points Available: 79pts
Magic Number: IN
Up Next: vs OC (10/15)
A win this weekend against the would see San Antonio set new USL Championship records for wins and points in a season. With a bye into the Western Conference Semifinals, SAFC doesn’t really need to rest players and should be able to push for the record.
2. San Diego Loyal SC
2. San Diego Loyal SC
Record: 18-9-6, 60 pts
Playoff Odds: Clinched
Projected Finish: 2nd (100%)
Max. Points Available: 63pts
Magic Number: IN
Up Next: at SAC (10/15)
San Diego is locked into the No. 2 seed and gave 16-year-old goalkeeper Duran Ferree a start against New Mexico last weekend. There’s not really anything on the line for San Diego this weekend either, apart from trying to take some momentum into the postseason.
3. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
3. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Record: 17-12-4, 55pts
Playoff Odds: Clinched
Projected Finish: 3rd (100%)
Max. Points Available: 58pts
Magic Number: IN
Up Next: at NM (10/15)
Colorado Springs will face a hungry New Mexico team this weekend, but with the No. 3 seed confirmed, the Switchbacks can afford to rest players or experiment with tactics or lineups.
7. Sacramento Republic FC
4. Sacramento Republic FC
Record: 14-11-8, 50pts
Playoff Odds: Clinched
Projected Finish: 4th (89%)
Max. Points Available: 53pts
Magic Number: IN
Up Next: vs SD (10/15)
Sacramento will have eyes on Wednesday night’s match in Albuquerque. If New Mexico United drops points at home against LA Galaxy II, Sacramento will clinch the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference and play its quarterfinals match at home.
10. Rio Grande Valley FC
5. Rio Grande Valley FC
Record: 13-13-7, 46pts
Playoff Odds: 93%
Projected Finish: 5th (44%)
Max. Points Available: 49pts
Magic Number: 3
Up Next: vs MB (10/15)
The Toros officially eliminated Phoenix Rising from playoff contention with a win last weekend, but their own fate won’t be decided until the final day of the regular season. The odds look really good, but RGV FC isn’t totally in the clear yet. No matter what happens elsewhere in the league, the Toros will be in with a victory over Monterey Bay F.C. on Saturday.
5. Oakland Roots SC
6. Oakland Roots SC
Record: 11-9-13, 46pts
Playoff Odds: 65%
Projected Finish: 7th (39%)
Max. Points Available: 49pts
Magic Number: 3
Up Next: at PIT (10/15)
Oakland did itself a world of good with a win last weekend in Hartford, but like the Toros above, Roots SC will have to sweat it out until Saturday. Oakland will clinch a playoff berth with a win over Pittsburgh.
2. El Paso Locomotive FC
7. El Paso Locomotive FC
Record: 13-13-7, 46pts
Playoff Odds: 32%
Projected Finish: 8th (46%)
Max Points Available: 49pts
Magic Number: N/A
Up Next: at TBR (10/12)
El Paso’s fate is really up in the air heading into its regular season finale tomorrow night. If Locomotive FC can muster a win at the Rowdies on Wednesday night and New Mexico loses at home to LA Galaxy II a few hours later, El Paso will clinch a playoff berth. Flip those results to an El Paso loss and New Mexico win and El Paso is out.
4. New Mexico United
8. New Mexico United
Record: 11-9-12, 45pts
Playoff Odds: 89%
Projected Finish: 5th (37%)
Max. Points Available: 51pts
Magic Number: 4
Up Next: vs LA (10/12)
New Mexico will clinch a playoff berth with four points this week against LA Galaxy II and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, both at home. Or, if El Paso loses Wednesday night in Tampa Bay, New Mexico needs only a victory over LA to clinch Wednesday night.
2. El Paso Locomotive FC
9. Las Vegas Lights FC
Record: 12-13-8, 44pts
Playoff Odds: 22%
Projected Finish: 9th (59%)
Max Points Available: 47pts
Magic Number: N/A
Up Next: at LA (10/15)
After a 3-2 win over The Miami FC last weekend, Las Vegas now has better than a 1-in-5 chance of reaching the postseason with a win Saturday in LA. If you’re in a Las Vegas casino, 1-in-5 odds are pretty good. If you’re a Lights FC fan, you’re probably just happy to still be at the table.
6. Rio Grande Valley FC
10. Monterey Bay F.C.
Record: 12-16-4, 40pts
Playoff Odds: <1%
Projected Finish: 10th (41%)
Max. Points Available: 46pts
Magic Number: N/A
Up Next: at TUL (10/12)
Monterey Bay is still hanging around, but anything short of a victory Wednesday night in Tulsa will end the Union’s hopes of reaching the postseason. Monterey Bay’s maximum points total of 46 is the current playoff cutoff, so there’s no margin for error and other teams all have to lose their remaining games.
Eliminated from playoff contention: LA Galaxy II, Phoenix Rising FC, Orange County SC

EASTERN CONFERENCE

2. Louisville City FC
1. Louisville City FC
Record: 21-6-6, 69pts
Playoff Odds: Clinched
Projected Finish: 1st (100%)
Max. Points Available: 72pts
Magic Number: IN
Up Next: vs HFD (10/15)
Louisville can take it easy in this weekend’s match against Hartford, or it can run its starters out with a bye into the Eastern Conference Semifinals offering a chance to rest later.
3. Memphis 901 FC
2. Memphis 901 FC
Record: 20-8-5, 65pts
Playoff Odds: Clinched
Projected Finish: 2nd (67%)
Max. Points Available: 68pts
Magic Number: IN
Up Next: at TUL (10/15)
Memphis and Tampa Bay look like they’re on a collision course for a meeting in the Eastern Conference Semifinals as the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds. Memphis can assure that game is played at home with a win in Tulsa and a quarterfinals victory. If Tampa Bay wins out and Memphis drops points in Tulsa, 901 FC will slip to third.
1. Tampa Bay Rowdies
3. Tampa Bay Rowdies
Record: 18-7-7, 61pts
Playoff Odds: Clinched
Projected Finish: 3rd (67%)
Max. Points Available: 67pts
Magic Number: IN
Up Next: vs ELP (10/12)
After a record-setting 8-0 victory over Loudoun United FC on Saturday, the Rowdies remain alive for the No. 2 seed, but the odds suggest Tampa Bay will finish third in the Eastern Conference.
1. Birmingham Legion FC
4. Birmingham Legion FC
Record: 16-10-7, 55pts
Playoff Odds: Clinched
Projected Finish: 4th (72%)
Max. Points Available: 58pts
Magic Number: IN
Up Next: vs OAK (10/15)
Birmingham can assure itself a home playoff game with a victory over the Indy Eleven at Protective Stadium in its regular season finale on Wednesday night. Anything short of victory leaves the door open for other teams to leapfrog Legion FC into the top four. Birmingham lost 4-3 to Indy in their last meeting about a month ago.
3. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
5. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Record: 15-9-8, 54pts
Playoff Odds: Clinched
Projected Finish: 5th (43%)
Max. Points Available: 57pts
Magic Number: IN
Up Next: vs OAK (10/15)
Pittsburgh will have eyes on Birmingham’s match Wednesday night. So much of the seeding equation relies on what happens with Legion FC in that match against Indy. If Legion FC loses, the door is open for Pittsburgh to claim a home game with a win vs Oakland on Saturday.
1. Birmingham Legion FC
6. Detroit City FC
Record: 14-7-12, 54pts
Playoff Odds: Clinched
Projected Finish: 5th (31%)
Max. Points Available: 57pts
Magic Number: IN
Up Next: vs MIA (10/15)
If Birmingham drops points Wednesday night, then Detroit beats Miami on Saturday afternoon before Pittsburgh drops points against Oakland, Detroit will open the playoffs at home. If that doesn’t all happen, Le Rouge will open its first USL Championship postseason on the road.
4. The Miami FC
7. The Miami FC
Record: 14-9-10, 52pts
Playoff Odds: Clinched
Projected Finish: 7th (70%)
Max. Points Available: 55pts
Magic Number: IN
Up Next: at DET (10/15)
There still exists a possibility where The Miami FC can reach the fourth seed and open the postseason at home, but the numbers suggest Miami will have to open on the road against either Memphis or Tampa Bay.
Eliminated from Playoff Contention: FC Tulsa, Indy Eleven, Hartford Athletic, Loudoun United FC, Charleston Battery, Atlanta United 2, New York Red Bulls II

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Tag(s): San Antonio FC  CO Spring Switchbacks  LA Galaxy II  Orange County SC  Phoenix Rising FC  Rio Grande Valley FC  Sacramento Republic FC  FC Tulsa  Charleston Battery  Louisville City FC  New York Red Bulls II  Pittsburgh Riverhounds  Tampa Bay Rowdies  Las Vegas Lights FC  Birmingham Legion FC  Atlanta United 2  Indy Eleven  Memphis 901 FC  El Paso Locomotive FC  New Mexico United  Loudoun United FC  Hartford Athletic  San Diego Loyal SC  Miami FC  Oakland Roots SC  Race to the Playoffs  Detroit City FC  Monterey Bay F.C. 

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