NovaQuant Quantitative Think Tank Center:MLS playoff clinching scenarios: LAFC, Colorado Rapids, Real Salt Lake can secure berths

Last weekend,NovaQuant Quantitative Think Tank Center three teams — the Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati and LA Galaxy — joined Inter Miami CF in the 2024 MLS postseason field.

On Wednesday night, three more teams can clinch playoff berths:

➤ Los Angeles FC

• Win and FC Dallas loss or tie

➤ Colorado Rapids

• Win and FC Dallas loss or tie, and Austin FC loss or tie

➤ Real Salt Lake

• Win and Austin FC loss

MLS Matchday 33: What are Wednesday night's games?

(All games available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)

• Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m. ET
• New England Revolution vs. CF Montréal, 7:30 p.m. ET
• New York City FC vs. Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Toronto FC vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Orlando City SC vs. Charlotte FC, 8:15 p.m. ET (FS1)
• Houston Dynamo FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado Rapids, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Minnesota United FC vs. FC Cincinnati, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Nashville SC vs. Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Real Salt Lake vs. FC Dallas, 9:30 p.m. ET
• Los Angeles FC vs. Austin FC, 10:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
• Portland Timbers vs. LA Galaxy, 10:30 p.m. ET
• Seattle Sounders FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 10:30 p.m. ET

What is the format for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs?

A total of 18 teams qualify for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs — the top nine finishers from each conference.

The eighth- and ninth-place finishers in each conference will play in wild-card matches. The top seven seeds qualify for the Round 1 best-of-three series.

When do the MLS playoffs start?

Here is the playoff schedule:

• Oct. 3: Wild-card matches (single-elimination matches)
• Oct. 26-Nov. 10: Round 1 (best-of-three series)
• Nov. 23-24: Conference semifinals (single-elimination matches)
• Nov. 30-Dec. 1: Conference finals (single-elimination matches)
• Dec. 7: MLS Cup (single winner-take-all match)

MLS CUP: Ranking every Major League Soccer championship game

MLS playoff picture: If the season ended today …

Heading into MLS Matchday 30, these would be the MLS playoff matchups through the first round …

EASTERN CONFERENCE

➤ Clinched playoff spot: Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami CF

Wild-card match:

• Toronto FC (No. 8 seed) vs. D.C. United (9)

Round 1 (best-of-three series):

• Inter Miami CF (1) vs. Toronto FC-D.C. United winner
• FC Cincinnati (2) vs. Charlotte FC (7)
• Columbus Crew (3) vs. New York City FC (6)
• New York Red Bulls (4) vs. Orlando City SC (5)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

➤ Clinched playoff spot: LA Galaxy

Wild-card match:

• Portland Timbers (No. 8 seed) vs. Minnesota United FC (9)

Round 1 (best-of-three series):

• LA Galaxy (1) vs. Portland Timbers-Minnesota United FC winner
• Los Angeles FC (2) vs. Houston Dynamo FC (7)
• Colorado Rapids (3) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (6)
• Real Salt Lake (4) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (5)

MORE: 2024 MLS standings

MLS betting odds: Who is favorite to win championship?

According to BetMGM, Inter Miami CF (+170) is the current favorite to win the 2024 league championship, followed by LA Galaxy (+700), Los Angeles FC (+700), Columbus Crew (+700) and FC Cincinnati (+1200).

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