USL Western Conference Elo Ratings - Week 23

In a week where only three games where the Western Conference team with the higher Elo rating take a victory, a lot of movement happened throughout the table. This is especially true near the playoff bubble area, as we saw Orange County drop out of the top eight to be replaced by Phoenix. Meanwhile, the top four teams continue to show why they are the top four. All that is left to be decided at that part of the standings is who takes home what seed.

1 (Last Week – 1) Real Monarchs SLC (1170)

Last Week: Defeated Rio Grande Valley Toros (2-1)

Next Week: vs #3 San Antonio FC (1148)

2 (2) Reno 1868 FC (1151)

Last Week: Defeated Swope Park Rangers (1-0)

Next Week: at #9 Orange County SC (1095)

3 (3) San Antonio FC (1148)

Last Week: Defeated Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (1-0), Portland Timbers 2 (postponed)

Next Week: at #1 Real Monarchs SLC (1170)

4 (4) Swope Park Rangers (1131)

Last Week: Drew Sacramento Republic (2-2), Lost to Reno 1868 FC (0-1)

Next Week: vs #7 Oklahoma City Energy (1105)

5 (5) Tulsa Roughnecks (1114)

Last Week: Lost to Saint Louis FC (1-2)

Next Week: at #12 Seattle Sounders 2 (1074), at #15 Portland Timbers 2 (1020)

6 (6) Sacramento Republic (1111)

Last Week: Drew Swope Park Rangers (2-2), Lost to Phoenix Rising (1-3)

Next Week: vs #10 Colorado Springs Switchbacks (1087)

7 (8) Oklahoma City Energy (1105)

Last Week: Defeated Orange County SC (2-1)

Next Week: at #4 Swope Park Rangers (1131)

8 (9) Phoenix Rising (1103)

Last Week: Defeated Sacramento Republic (3-1)

Next Week: vs #12 Seattle Sounders 2 (1074)

9 (7) Orange County SC (1095)

Last Week: Lost to Oklahoma City Energy (1-2)

Next Week: vs #2 Reno 1868 FC (1151)

10 (10) Colorado Springs Switchbacks (1087)

Last Week: Bye Week

Next Week: at #6 Sacramento Republic (1111)

11 (11) Rio Grande Valley (1082)

Last Week: Lost to Real Monarchs SLC (1-2)

Next Week: vs #15 Portland Timbers 2 (1020), at #13 Los Angeles Galaxy II (1067)

12 (12) Seattle Sounders 2 (1074)

Last Week: Bye Week

Next Week: vs #5 Tulsa Roughnecks (1114), at #8 Phoenix Rising (1103)

13 (13) Los Angeles Galaxy II (1067)

Last Week: Lost to Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (1-2)

Next Week: vs #11 Rio Grande Valley Toros (1082)

14 (14) Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (1060)

Last Week: Lost to San Antonio FC (0-1), Defeated Los Angeles Galaxy II (2-1)

Next Week: Bye Week

15 (15) Portland Timbers 2 (1020)

Last Week: San Antonio FC (postponed)

Next Week: at #11 Rio Grande Valley Toros (1082), vs #5 Tulsa Roughnecks (1114)

Thoughts:

While the battle for hosting a first round playoff game is all but over, the battle for the playoffs is heating up as multiple teams are still in the conversation moving forward. Based off Elo rankings, Tulsa and Sacramento still maintain the inside track as we wind down the final weeks of the USL season, but anything can happen.

Will Orange County reclaim a top eight place? Will Oklahoma City and Phoenix hold off the challengers? Will either Tulsa or Sacramento squander a lead? Let us know in the comments below!