While the World Cup marches on (check out our WC Matchday Two Pick Ems) we still have playoff games, games with playoff implications, and league finals to tell you all about - here are this week’s picks by our staff and guests.

Danielle Gawronski Picks…
- Ballard FC vs Ventura County Fusion - USL League Two, Western Conference Final
  - Friday July 28th - 12:00p PST / 3:00p EST
    from Atwood Stadium
  - USL2 playoffs are coming to a head with conference finals this week. Ballard FC have been rolling through playoffs with two consecutive 3-0 victories. Ballard was first in the Northwest division with 10 wins and 41 goals for. This is what we have come to expect from them. Look at Danny Robles to be a key difference maker. Ventura was 2nd in the Southwest Conference. I expect there to be goals in this game. Then the league semifinals on Sunday.

Ryan Stallings Picks…
- Flint City Bucks vs Des Moines Menace - USL League Two, Central Conference Final
  - Friday July 28th - 4:30p PST / 7:30p EST
    from Atwood Stadium on YouTube
  - The two most storied programs in the league meet, again, for the central conference title, again, in a rematch of 2022’s national elite eight match. It’s the Bucks with a (flint?) chip on their shoulder coming into this game, having been passed over for hosting in the previous rounds despite their better record and better seeding than Des Moines. Couple that slight with their victory Sunday over a Chicago City side that defeated Des Moines twice in the regular season, and it’s very difficult to see this result going any differently than it did in 2022.
    Prediction: FCB 3-1 DMM

Ryan Stallings Picks…
- Lionsbridge FC vs Ocean City Nor’Easters - USL League Two, Eastern Conference Final
  - Friday July 28th - 4:30p PST / 7:30p EST
    from TowneBank Stadium on YouTube
  - Looking at regular season results, Lionsbridge FC and Ocean City Nor’Easters appear to be some of the shakier division winners across the entire postseason field. The losses were few between them, but their divisional paths were tougher going than year’s past and separation from the rivals a bit more narrow. Once the playoffs began however, the pair of light blue and white festooned squads have shown their class, knocking down league favorites and consistent winners in turn. This match could very well preview a national finals competitor.
    Prediction: OCN 2-1 LFC

Dan Creel Picks…
- Forward Madison vs Greenville Triumph - USL League One
  - Saturday July 29th - 5:00p PST / 8:00p EST
    from Breese Stevens Field on ESPN+
  - Both teams are solidly in the playoff hunt but need better second halves to get the home field advantage. Greenville has started to get traction after an injury-filled start and Forward Madison has shown flashes but has been inconsistent

Kaylor Hodges Picks…
- Birmingham Legion vs Charleston Battery - USL Championship
  - Saturday July 29th - 4:30p PST / 7:30p EST
    from Protective Stadium on ESPN+
  - The story line between these two Eastern Conference contenders is simple: Youth. Between Fidel Barajas and Matthew Corcoran, both clubs have a 17 year old super star that has completely taken over the league. In terms of their strengths? They’re both two of the best distributors in the league. Barajas has 5 assists on the season, Corcoran “only” 3, but Corcoran has an xAssist number of 2.78 that dwarfs every other U21 talent in the league. This should be an exciting day for USL fans (and European Clubs, alike).

Harry Austin Picks…
- Rio Grande Valley Toros FC vs El Paso Locomotive FC - USL Championship
  - Saturday July 29th - 5:00p PST / 8:00p EST
    from HEB Park on ESPN+
  - Can the Locomotive get back on track? After going unbeaten in 10 games, they currently are on a 6 game winless streak. Which includes a 1-1 draw in El Paso vs RGV. For RGV, if they are going to make a late season push for the playoffs, it has to start this week. IF El Paso Loses or draws against RGV, they will not be able to win the CopaTejas title. It will be between RGV and SAFC.

Harry Austin Picks…
- Oakland Roots vs Detroit City FC - USL Championship
  - Saturday, July 29th - 7:00p PST / 10:00p EST
    from CSUEB Pioneer Stadium on ESPN+
  - A rematch of the 2020 NISA Fall Championship title between the former NISA clubs. With 10 games or so left in the season, it is time for the USL C playoff push. For Detroit City a win could put them back in the playoff slot, while a loss would put a huge damper on those playoff dreams. For Oakland can they continue to push for the USLC West title? At the very least a home playoff game for the Roots is the desire. Historically the Roots have never defeated Detroit City in three matches

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- Tulsa Athletic vs Crossfire Red - NPSL Playoffs
  - Saturday, July 29th - 5:30p PST / 8:30p EST
    from Soldier Field on ELEVEN
  - Hard not to root for Tulsa in this one, given how their season kicked off with all the drama around their home field, but they should be seen as a favorite here. Got the furthest as an amateur in the Open Cup this year, finished far in the playoffs last season (semifinalists). One problem. They are going up against last year’s NPSL runner-up, Crossfire Redmond. Total crapshoot picking this one, but I’ll be pulling for Tulsa.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Mississippi Blues vs Hattiesburg FC - GCPL Women’s Final
  - Saturday, July 29th - 1:00p PST / 4:00p EST
    from Foley Sports Tourism Championship Field
  - Hattiesburg FC finished atop the Eastern Conference in the Women’s League with 20 points from 8 played - then advanced to the Championship by defeating Shreveport United in their Semifinal. They are set to face Mississippi, winners of the West Conference, who finished with 6 wins and 2 losses from 8 played and a +17 GD. This should be a fairly evenly matched league final. Hopefully the league shares a stream.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Central Texas Lobos vs Southern States SC - GCPL Men’s Final
  - Saturday, July 29th - 4:30p PST / 7:30p EST
    from Foley Sports Tourism Championship Field
  - Southern States SC won their Central Conference with 2.4 ppg and +17 GD - then blew the doors off Gulf Coast United, 4-0, in their League Semifinal. Meanwhile, Central Texas topped the Western Conference with 2.375ppg and +13 GD and defeated Hattiesburg in their respective League Semifinal - these two GCPL powerhouses are set to tear eachother apart on Saturday in the Men’s League Final. Hopefully the league shares a stream.

John Howard-Fusco Picks…
- Los Angeles Force vs Albion San Diego - NISA Regular Season
  - Sunday, July 30th - 6:00p PST / 9:00p EST
    from Championship Stadium, Irvine CA on ELEVEN
  - After a very successful road trip, Albion comes back to the West Coast (still on the road, though) to continue making its case as one of the top clubs in NISA. LA Force have lost three in a row and suddenly don’t look quite as solid in the playoffs as they did a few weeks ago.

Josh Duder Picks…
- SF Vikings vs SF Olympic Club - San Francisco Soccer Football League
  - Sunday, July 30th- 8:30a PST / 11:30a EST
    from Beach Chalet Field Two, in San Francisco, CA
  - Two historic clubs, Viking founded in 1922 and Olympic Club founded in 1860, are 1st and 2nd in the SFSFL, even on games played and even on points. They are only separated by Viking having +2 better goal differential. They are set to battle it out in the penultimate game of the year, early Sunday morning with the cold Pacific Ocean just a couple hundred yards away and potentially the league title in the balance.

Josh Duder Picks…

Josh Duder Picks…
- Lobos FC vs Homeboyz FC - Wisconsin Primary Amateur Soccer League
  - Sunday, July 30th- 1:00p PST / 4:00p EST
    from Simpson Field
  - David Ripplinger earned the WPASL Golden Boot but will be absent from the final because both Lobos FC, who finished 3rd, and Homeboyz FC, who finished 4th knocked out FC Eau Claire and Bateaux FC respectively. Now, in a pleasant surprise, we get two teams we know very little about in the league final! Hopefully the league shares a stream.

Dan Creel Picks…
- Michigan Stars FC vs Maryland Bobcats - NISA Regular Season
  - Tuesday, August 1st - 4:00p PST / 7:00p EST
    from Romeo HS Stadium on ELEVEN
  - It’s always a battle between these two teams. And, while they may not like each other they do respect each other. Both sides are looking to end the season with a first round bye in the playoffs.

by the Protagonist Staff