What matters on Decision Day?

Well, our guys in Verde like Georgia turf better than Cascadia turf. It’s honestly amazing that we got a 0-0 draw in Seattle last season since we have not won any points in our last 5 trips to the Pacific Northwest. Thankfully, there will be no playoff games on artificial surfaces this season.

Speaking of playoffs, y’all are coming here to find out what matters on Decision Day.

CCL:

It’s pretty simple here. We need to beat or draw Colorado to clinch the backdoor CCL spot. If we lose at home to Colorado, we don’t deserve to go to CCL without winning the MLS Cup. Then again, if Atlanta United gets a win or draw at home against NYCFC, we could clinch the backdoor CCL spot before kicking off at McKalla.

A reminder is that the backdoor CCL spot only comes open if Philly, LAFC, Montreal, or Orlando win the MLS Cup. Orlando still hasn’t qualified for the playoffs and if they lose to Miami in the rescheduled Florida Derby on Wednesday night, they could be in danger of missing the playoffs. Then again, if Orlando wins at Miami and Columbus loses to Charlotte in the bizarre 74 minute match on Wednesday night, Orlando can clinch a playoff spot before Decision Day.

Western Conference:

Friend of the blog, Seth Rau, created this massive spreadsheet detailing all of the possibilities for seeds in the Western conference playoffs. In this blog, we are going to keep it simple and focus on the 7 seed options. We honestly don’t care about anyone else until we beat the 7 seed. We’ll go from simple to complicated:

If Vancouver beats Minnesota, Vancouver is the 7 seed and comes to Austin.

If Minnesota and Vancouver draw, Minnesota is the 7 seed and comes to Austin.

If Minnesota beats Vancouver, chaos emerges.

Austin plays Minnesota if the Galaxy, Portland, and Nashville all win.

Austin plays Real Salt Lake if RSL wins and Minnesota wins

Austin plays Portland if Minnesota wins and Timbers draw

Austin plays the LA Galaxy if Portland and Minnesota both win, and the Galaxy draw or lose and get a worse result than Nashville (i.e. the Galaxy lose and Nashville draws or wins or the Galaxy draw and Nashville wins)

Austin plays Nashville if Nashville draws or loses, Portland and Minnesota both win and the Galaxy get the same or better result than Nashville (i.e. the Galaxy win or draw and Nashville draws or loses)

I am pretty sure I am going to stay home and watch 3 screens (our match, which may be Adrian and Mike last call together), RSL-Portland on ESPN2, and Minnesota-Vancouver on ESPN+. Should be a wild set of matches kicking off at 4:18 PM on Sunday.