For the first time as members of the league, the Asheville City men’s team has a chance to make the USL League Two playoffs.

As one of the largest and most top-heavy divisions in the league, the South Central Division was given two playoff spots for the Southern Conference Playoffs.

One Knoxville SC leads the pack with a 9-1-1 record this season and 31 points on the season. As of Wednesday, July 6 Knoxville has clinched their spot in the playoffs. 

ACSC, the only club to have beaten Knoxville this season, are grouped with South Georgia Tormenta 2 and SCU Bantams in fighting for the final playoff spot. If the season ended at the time of this posting, the Blues would be awarded the final playoff nod.

An Asheville City win against SCU Bantams on Wednesday, July 9 will eliminate the Bantams from the playoff conversation. The result would also give ACSC a three point edge over Tormenta 2 going into the weekend.

If the Blues beat the Bantams, there are two scenarios that would secure postseason play for Asheville by the weekend.

1. The Bantams defeating Tormenta 2 on Friday, July 8. This would secure the playoffs for ACSC as Tormenta 2 will only have one game remaining and ACSC owning the tiebreaker between the two clubs via head-to-head results.
2. ACSC winning just one of any of the remaining two and a half games. The earliest opportunity coming on Saturday, July 9's home tilt against Tennessee SC.

As the regular season continues to creep to a close, the numbers and scenarios will change should ACSC draw or fall to the visiting Bantams.

The remaining schedule for the Blues is as follows:

• July 6, vs. SCU Bantams.
• July 9, vs. Tennessee SC.
• July 12, vs. Tri-Cities Otters. Game was suspended at halftime with ACSC leading 1-0.
• July 16, @ SCU Bantams.

As it currently stands, the magic number to clinch the playoffs is six more points for 29 total. Two wins at any time or one win over SCU and drawing the remaining three games, will give the Blues enough points to clinch at least the division's final playoff spot as neither SCU or Tormenta 2 would be able to top ACSC.

However, depending on what results One Knoxville finishes within its final two matches, the division championship is still in Asheville’s reach. 

The effort for a spot in playoffs begins on Wednesday, July 6 when the Blues play SCU Bantams at home with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. 

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