The final week of the United Soccer League regular season is here and when the dust settles on Saturday night, the road to the 2016 USL Cup will be set for the best eight teams in the Western Conference. One point separates the top three. Two points separate the next four. And five teams are fighting for the last remaining playoff berth. SportingKC.com's weekly "USL Playoff Math" series sets the stage for a suspenseful finale.
PLAYOFFS 101
For starters, there are 15 teams in the USL's Western Conference. The top eight make the playoffs and positioning is pivotal for home field advantage.