EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. FC Cincinnati
Current Record: 17-3-6, 57pts
Maximum Points Available: 81
Points Needed to Clinch: 4
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 1.1
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: 26%
Last Game: W 2-1 at Tampa Bay Rowdies
Next Game: 9/1 vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Cincinnati’s four-game winning streak has given it a chance of clinching a playoff spot at some point this weekend, but results elsewhere will determine if a win against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Saturday will be enough. FCC needs either the New York Red Bulls II (vs. Ottawa Fury FC on Friday) and North Carolina FC (vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday) to fail to take victory to drop their maximum available points totals below 60 or have Penn FC either draw or take victory against Bethlehem Steel FC on Sunday to drop Steel FC below its current maximum of 60 points. A win for all three of New York, North Carolina and Bethlehem would see FCC have to wait a fraction longer for its playoff spot, with Steel FC still able to catch Cincinnati in the total wins column, the first tiebreaker.

2. Louisville City FC
Current Record: 24-4-7, 46pts
Maximum Points Available: 76
Points Needed to Clinch: 15
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 2.3
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: 16%
Last Game: W 6-0 at Richmond Kickers
Next Games: 8/28 vs. Toronto FC II, 7 p.m. ET; 8/31 vs. Charleston Battery
Louisville gets a pair of games this week, starting on Tuesday night with its rescheduled contest against Toronto from earlier this season. After sweeping to back-to-back victories in the past week, Louisville will be hoping for more of the same this, even though the Charleston Battery should provide a strong test on Friday night. What Louisville will be hoping for in addition to that, though, is for Pittsburgh to take points off FC Cincinnati on Saturday, which would help pull the defending USL Cup champion within range of its rival in the race for first place in the standings.

3. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Current Record: 12-3-9, 45pts
Maximum Points Available: 75
Points Needed to Clinch: 16
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 3.3
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: 4%
Last Game: D 1-1 vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
Next Games: 8/29 at Indy Eleven, 7 p.m. ET; 9/1 at FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. ET
It’s a big week for Riverhounds SC with two tough road games against Indy Eleven and FC Cincinnati. After back-to-back draws in their last two outings, the Hounds would probably be OK with the same over the course of the next week as well, which would keep the side on solid course for a top-four finish even at the potential expense of dropping further behind the top two overall.

4. Charleston Battery
Current Record: 11-4-11, 44pts
Maximum Points Available: 68
Points Needed to Clinch: 17
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 4.2
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: 3%
Last Game: D 4-4 vs. New York Red Bulls II
Next Game: 8/31 at Louisville City FC, 7 p.m. ET
After Saturday’s draw with the New York Red Bulls II, the Battery’s contest on Friday night on the road against Louisville City FC is going to be a crucial one if Charleston is going to have a chance at a top-two finish at the end of the season. With Louisville coming off short rest thanks to Tuesday’s game against Toronto FC II, the Battery should be fully charged, but will need a win for the first time at Slugger Field if they’re to make up the gap in available points that currently sits at eight between themselves and the defending USL Cup champion.

5. Bethlehem Steel FC
Current Record: 12-10-6, 42pts
Maximum Points Available: 60
Points Needed to Clinch: 19
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 6.5
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: 3%
Last Game: W 2-1 at Nashville SC
Next Game: 9/3 vs. Penn FC, 3 p.m. ET
Bethlehem Steel FC is among the hottest teams in the league currently with six wins in their last seven games, which has put them in a good spot in terms of reaching the playoffs as the side has put a lot of pressure on the teams sitting below them in the standings to match their results. But with only six games left in its regular season, as many as four fewer as some of its fellow contenders, games like this Sunday’s against Penn FC are still must-win contests for Head Coach Brendan Burke’s side.

6. Indy Eleven
Current Record: 11-7-7, 40pts
Maximum Points Available: 67
Points Needed to Clinch: 21
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 5.8
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: 1%
Last Game: D 1-1 at ATL UTD 2
Next Games: 8/29 vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, 7 p.m. ET; 9/1 vs. Richmond Kickers, 7 p.m. ET
Indy will probably feel as though Saturday’s late 1-1 draw with ATL UTD was a defeat, but it didn’t hurt the club’s postseason chances much thanks to both Ottawa and Nashville’s home defeats. Wednesday night’s home clash with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and Saturday’s visit from the Richmond Kickers offers a chance to close the gap on the top four and move closer to claiming a postseason berth.

7. New York Red Bulls II
Current Record: 9-7-10, 37pts
Maximum Points Available: 61
Points Needed to Clinch: 24
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 8.3
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: D 4-4 at Charleston Battery
Next Game: 8/31 vs. Ottawa Fury FC, 7 p.m. ET
The Red Bulls II are sitting just above the playoff line – both in the current standings and in the available points standings – but can’t afford to err much over the final eight games of the season if they’re to make a fourth consecutive playoff visit. A victory this Friday against Ottawa Fury FC in one of this week’s playoff six-pointers would be a solid boost to those efforts.

8. Ottawa Fury FC
Current Record: 10-12-5, 35pts
Maximum Points Available: 56
Points Needed to Clinch: 26
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 9.7
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: L 2-0 vs. Penn FC
Next Game: 8/31 at New York Red Bulls II, 7 p.m. ET
Ottawa’s defeat against Penn FC on home turf was a major blow to its playoff hopes, dropping the side to just eight percent chance of a postseason berth in fivethirtyeight.com’s playoff projections. Getting a win against the New York Red Bulls II on Friday night is going to be essential to raise those hopes again, but Fury FC is also going to need help from elsewhere with only seven games remaining.

9. Nashville SC
Current Record: 9-7-8, 35pts
Maximum Points Available: 65
Points Needed to Clinch: 26
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 6.8
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: L 2-0 vs. Bethlehem Steel FC
Next Games: 8/28 vs. Richmond Kickers, 8:30 p.m. ET; 9/1 at Charlotte Independence, 7:30 p.m. ET
Nashville’s second home defeat of the season this past Saturday certainly wasn’t ideal, but even though the club still sits outside the playoff places it’s still projected to make the field at the end of the regular season with 10 games still to play in its slate. Getting back to winning ways against Richmond on Tuesday night would be a good start, while Saturday’s road game with Charlotte certainly looks winnable as well.

10. North Carolina FC
Current Record: 9-9-7, 34pts
Maximum Points Available: 61
Points Needed to Clinch: 27
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 8.8
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: W 6-2 vs. Charlotte Independence
Next Game: 9/1 vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies, 7 p.m. ET
North Carolina currently sits in the top eight in the Eastern Conference when it comes to available points and will be hoping Saturday’s big win against in-state rival the Charlotte Independence is a portent of things to come down the stretch. The club’s upcoming three games that start with a visit from a desperate Tampa Bay Rowdies side this Saturday and are followed by games against Nashville SC and Penn FC are going to be very important to the club’s playoff hopes.

11. Penn FC
Current Record: 7-8-8, 29pts
Maximum Points Available: 59
Points Needed to Clinch: 32
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 10.3
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: W 2-0 at Ottawa Fury FC
Next Game: 9/2 at Bethlehem Steel FC, 3 p.m. ET
Penn’s victory against Ottawa Fury FC was a major step in the right direction, but it will need much more of the same to pull its way back into the playoff race starting with victory in another six-pointer against fellow contender Bethlehem Steel FC on Sunday.

12. Charlotte Independence
Current Record: 7-11-8, 29pts
Maximum Points Available: 53
Points Needed to Clinch: 32
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 12.1
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: L 6-2 at North Carolina FC
Next Game: 9/1 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Things are not looking good for the Independence, who continued to slide out of contention after its defeat to North Carolina FC this past Saturday. Winless in their last seven games, the only glimmer of hope might be that the Independence took victory against Saturday’s opponent, Nashville SC, when they met on July 11, which currently stands as Charlotte’s most recent win.

13. Tampa Bay Rowdies
Current Record: 7-11-7, 28pts
Maximum Points Available: 55
Points Needed to Clinch: 33
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 12.0
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: L 2-1 vs. FC Cincinnati
Next Game: 9/1 at North Carolina FC, 7 p.m. ET
It’s getting to be win or go home time for the Rowdies this Saturday against North Carolina FC, where a victory would provide a boost to both Tampa Bay’s hopes while simultaneously opening up doors for others to step through.

14. Richmond Kickers
Current Record: 6-16-3, 21pts
Maximum Points Available: 48
Points Needed to Clinch: 40
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 14.3
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: L 6-0 vs. Louisville City FC
Next Games: 8/28 at Nashville SC, 8:30 p.m. ET; 9/1 at Indy Eleven, 7 p.m. ET
The Kickers are all-but eliminated officially from playoff contention after Saturday’s defeat to Louisville, and all that’s left is to try and play spoiler for teams like Nashville and Indy that the side visits this week.

15. ATL UTD 2
Current Record: 3-13-8, 17pts
Maximum Points Available: 47
Points Needed to Clinch: 44
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 14.6
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: D 1-1 vs. Indy Eleven
Next Game: 8/31 at Toronto FC II, 8 p.m. ET
ATL UTD 2 showed the sort of impact a team off the pace in the playoff race can have with its last draw against Indy Eleven on Saturday, a result that should give the side a mental boost as it heads to face Toronto on Friday night.

16. Toronto FC II
Current Record: 2-18-3, 9pts
Maximum Points Available: 42
Points Needed to Clinch: 52
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 16.0
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: L 3-2 at Indy Eleven
Next Game: 8/31 vs. ATL UTD 2, 8 p.m. ET
Toronto has started to give some of the sides above it in the Eastern Conference a scare and will hope to pick up another home win when it hosts ATL UTD 2 this Friday night.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Real Monarchs SLC
Current Record: 17-6-2, 53pts
Maximum Points Available: 80
Points Needed to Clinch: 9
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 1.2
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: 13%
Last Game: W 4-0 vs. LA Galaxy II
Next Games: 8/29 at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 9 p.m. ET; 9/3 vs. San Antonio FC, 9 p.m. ET
The Monarchs have a long bridge to cross to get there in the next week, but a playoff place is attainable with San Antonio – which currently sits in ninth place in available points – the visitor to Zions Bank Stadium next Monday night. With a win against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Wednesday, the Monarchs would move to 59 points with a win against SAFC, which would also drop their visitors’ maximum to 58 points and put Real clear of the bottom nine teams in the conference.

2. Phoenix Rising FC
Current Record: 15-6-5, 50pts
Maximum Points Available: 74
Points Needed to Clinch: 12
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 2.3
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: 17%
Last Game: W 4-0 vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Next Game: 9/5 vs. Rio Grande Valley FC, 10 p.m. ET
Phoenix has this week off before its midweek clash with Rio Grande Valley FC next Wednesday night, but should be rooting for the sides around it to fare well to reduce its number needed to clinch a second consecutive place in the playoffs.

3. Orange County SC
Current Record: 15-7-5, 50pts
Maximum Points Available: 71
Points Needed to Clinch: 12
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 2.9
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: 7%
Last Game: L 2-0 vs. Rio Grande Valley FC
Next Game: 9/2 at Seattle Sounders FC 2, 4:30 p.m. ET
Orange County’s surprise loss to Rio Grande Valley FC dropped the side into third spot both in the current standings and the projected ones. Getting back in the win column to keep up pressure on Real Monarchs SLC this Sunday in a visit to Seattle Sounders FC 2 would be a solid response, and keep the side well on course for a top-four finish.

4. Sacramento Republic FC
Current Record: 13-7-7, 46pts
Maximum Points Available: 67
Points Needed to Clinch: 16
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 4.1
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: 2%
Last Game: W 2-1 at Reno 1868 FC
Next Game: 9/8 at Seattle Sounders FC 2, 10:30 p.m. ET
Republic FC’s victory against regional rival Reno 1868 FC helped solidify the club’s top-four position, and while Reno can still put a claim into that spot with three games in hand on Sacramento it would now need to win all three of those contests to surpass Republic FC in the West at this point.

5. Portland Timbers 2
Current Record: 13-11-3, 42pts
Maximum Points Available: 63
Points Needed to Clinch: 20
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 6.3
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: L 3-2 vs. Orange County SC
Next Game: 9/1 vs. Saint Louis FC, 10 p.m. ET
Portland’s loss last Wednesday night didn’t hurt its playoff chances too much, but with only seven games to go a victory on Saturday night against Saint Louis FC would make that position that much more secure.

6. Reno 1868 FC
Current Record: 10-6-8, 38pts
Maximum Points Available: 68
Points Needed to Clinch: 24
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 5.9
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: 3%
Last Game: L 2-1 vs. Sacramento Republic FC
Next Games: 8/28 vs. Las Vegas Lights FC, 10:30 p.m. ET; 9/1 at Fresno FC, 10 p.m. ET
There’s still a path to the top four for Reno after Saturday’s setback against Sacramento Republic FC, but it means there’s little margin for error left for Head Coach Ian Russell’s side if it wants to open the postseason at home. Two big games await this week, starting with Tuesday night’s Silver State Cup clash with Las Vegas Lights FC and then a visit to a Fresno FC side that will be desperate for victory to boost its own playoff hopes.

7. Saint Louis FC
Current Record: 10-7-8, 38pts
Maximum Points Available: 65
Points Needed to Clinch: 24
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 7.1
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: W 3-2 Tulsa Roughnecks FC
Next Games: 8/29 at Seattle Sounders FC 2, 10 p.m. ET; 9/1 at Portland Timbers 2, 10 p.m. ET
Getting back in the win column this Saturday was a big plus for Saint Louis’ playoff hopes, and San Antonio and Fresno dropping points didn’t hurt either. A trip to Cascadia is up next for the side, which will look to complete a season sweep of Seattle Sounders FC 2 on Wednesday night before squaring off with fellow playoff contender the Portland Timbers 2 on Saturday.

8. Swope Park Rangers
Current Record: 10-9-7, 37pts
Maximum Points Available: 61
Points Needed to Clinch: 25
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 7.3
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: W 2-1 at San Antonio FC
Next Games: 8/29 vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC, 8:30 p.m. ET; 9/2 vs. OKC Energy FC, 5 p.m. ET
Swope Park couldn’t have snapped its eight-game winless streak at a better time as its victory against San Antonio put it into position for the eighth and final playoff spot despite SAFC still holding a game in hand. Putting additional space between itself and the chasing pack is going to be important on Wednesday against Tulsa Roughnecks FC, though, especially with the blazing hot OKC Energy FC arriving on Sunday in one of the week’s biggest games.

9. OKC Energy FC
Current Record: 10-12-5, 35pts
Maximum Points Available: 56
Points Needed to Clinch: 27
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 10.7
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: W 3-0 vs. Seattle Sounders FC 2
Next Game: 9/2 at Swope Park Rangers, 5 p.m. ET
Tell me if you’ve heard this one before? A side that struggles through the first two-thirds of the season makes a miracle run to reach the playoffs with a string of remarkable victories before reaching the Conference Final. Yes, OKC Energy FC is trying to pull off the same feat as it did a season ago with four consecutive wins keeping it in the race for the playoffs. As it was a season ago when Energy FC went 9-3-2 down the stretch, it’s going to take a lot, but victory on Sunday against the eighth-place Swope Park Rangers would be a big step forward.

10. San Antonio FC
Current Record: 9-9-7, 34pts
Maximum Points Available: 61
Points Needed to Clinch: 28
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 8.9
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: L 2-1 vs. Swope Park Rangers
Next Games: 8/29 at Rio Grande Valley FC, 8 p.m. ET; 9/3 at Real Monarchs SLC, 9 p.m. ET
The four-game winning streak that put San Antonio into the playoff positions is long-forgotten now as a four-game losing streak that continued on Saturday against the Swope Park Rangers has put SAFC’s playoff hopes in serious peril. This week doesn’t offer much respite, either, with Rio Grande Valley FC coming in off a big road victory and Real Monarchs SLC on a long home winning streak the opposition.

11. Fresno FC
Current Record: 8-9-10, 34pts
Maximum Points Available: 55
Points Needed to Clinch: 28
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 10.5
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: D 2-2 at Las Vegas Lights FC
Next Game: 9/1 vs. Reno 1868 FC, 10 p.m. ET
Saturday’s result against Las Vegas Lights FC might have felt like a point salvaged on the road thanks to Renato Bustamante’s stoppage-time equalizer while down to 10 men, but it put added pressure on the Foxes to get all three points from this Saturday’s game with Reno to try and stay in touch with the top eight in the Western Conference standings.

12. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Current Record: 9-14-4, 31pts
Maximum Points Available: 52
Points Needed to Clinch: 31
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 12.2
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: L 4-0 at Phoenix Rising FC
Next Game: 8/29 vs. Real Monarchs SLC, 9 p.m. ET
The Switchbacks’ fourth defeat in their last five outings this past Saturday put the side well off the pace in the Western Conference with only seven games to go in the regular season. Colorado Springs is going to need to get hot, starting on Wednesday night as Rocky Mountains rival Real Monarchs SLC comes to visit, if it’s to make a return to the postseason this year.

13. LA Galaxy II
Current Record: 7-13-6, 27pts
Maximum Points Available: 51
Points Needed to Clinch: 35
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 13.4
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: L 4-0 at Real Monarchs SLC
Next Game: 9/1 vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 10:30 p.m. ET
Los Dos’ three-game undefeated streak fell at the hands of Real Monarchs SLC on Saturday, so the side will get back to trying to play spoiler this Saturday night when it hosts Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.

14. Las Vegas Lights FC
Current Record: 7-12-6, 27pts
Maximum Points Available: 51
Points Needed to Clinch: 35
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 13.1
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: D 2-2 vs. Fresno FC
Next Game: 8/28 at Reno 1868 FC, 10:30 p.m. ET
Lights FC was on the verge of a big win for its playoff hopes until Fresno notched its stoppage-time equalizer on Saturday night, which only lengthened the gap Las Vegas will have to traverse to reach the playoffs in its first season. Victory against Reno 1868 FC is now a must to make sure the gap doesn’t get any wider to the top eight.

15. Rio Grande Valley FC
Current Record: 4-9-12, 24pts
Maximum Points Available: 51
Points Needed to Clinch: 38
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 14.5
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: W 2-0 at Orange County SC
Next Game: 8/29 vs. San Antonio FC, 8 p.m. ET
The Toros showed what sort of spoilers they could be with Saturday’s victory against Orange County SC, and would love to do the same on Wednesday night when South Texas Derby rival San Antonio FC comes to H-E-B Park with its playoff chances in the balance.

16. Seattle Sounders FC 2
Current Record: 5-16-2, 17pts
Maximum Points Available: 50
Points Needed to Clinch: 45
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 15.9
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: L 3-0 at OKC Energy FC
Next Game: 8/29 vs. Saint Louis FC, 10 p.m. ET; 9/2 vs. Orange County SC, 4:30 p.m. ET
Even with 11 games to go, S2’s playoff hopes are long gone, but that means this week it gets to try and help out others as it faces a Saint Louis side looking to solidify its playoff position and an Orange County squad looking to bounce back into contention for top spot overall.

17. Tulsa Roughnecks FC
Current Record: 2-12-10, 16pts
Maximum Points Available: 46
Points Needed to Clinch: 46
SportsClubStats.com Avg. Finishing Position: 16.6
FiveThirtyEight.com USL Cup Odds: <1%
Last Game: L 3-2 at Saint Louis FC
Next Game: 8/29 at Swope Park Rangers, 8:30 p.m. ET
The playoffs may be gone, but the Roughnecks are still battling, as evidenced in Saturday’s near-comeback against Saint Louis. Tulsa will certainly have a good number of sides cheering for it as it visits Swope Park on Wednesday night.