The final regular season MLP will take place in Salt Lake City. Seven teams are in action, and every match will have playoff implications. Taking part in MLP Salt Lake City will be host Utah, and New Jersey, Texas, Orlando, Miami, Chicago, and Atlanta. New Jersey is going to earn the third seed, but for every other team, there is a lot on the line in this event, and important questions will be answered in Salt Lake City.

 

 

The top six teams automatically qualify for the playoff quarterfinals. The next four teams have to play in an extra play-in round in order to make the quarterfinals. Texas has 36 points and is in 7th place. Sixth place LA has 49 points and defeated Texas at MLP Dallas, so Texas needs 14 team points in Salt Lake City to pass LA for sixth place. Texas plays five matches in Salt Lake City, so 15 points are available. They need to go 5-0, with only at most one DreamBreaker victory. It looks difficult, but Texas does not play New Jersey, so every match is quite winnable. Look for Texas to make a run but come up just short.

 

 

New Jersey only needs four points in Salt Lake City to pass Brooklyn and take the third seed. New Jersey has four matches and will be a heavy favorite in each one. Will they rest their starters? New Jersey has two of the best bench players in Premier in Zane Navratil and Mari Humberg. Look for Navratil and Humberg to see some action in Salt Lake City in order to give some undoubtedly welcome rest for their starters.

 

 

Miami currently sits in 10th place, the last playoff spot, with 19 points. Right on their heels is Chicago with 18 points. Miami and Chicago will play each other on Thursday, which is the most important match of MLP Salt Lake City. Miami and Chicago play identical schedules in Salt Lake City, so each team controls its own destiny. Miami does have one small advantage in that they play their last match against Utah after Chicago has finished all of their matches. Miami will know before that Sunday match against Utah exactly what they need to make the playoffs. The Miami vs. Utah match could easily go to a DreamBreaker with Miami needing to win it to make the playoffs. The battle between Miami and Chicago is so close that one single point could well determine the outcome.

 

 

Atlanta has 14 points going into Salt Lake City. But, their new lineup that includes Eric Roddy and Viv David played better the last time out, and they look like an improved team. They have five matches remaining, and if they could score about 10 points, they would have a shot at overtaking both Miami and Chicago. Unfortunately, Atlanta draws the toughest schedule of any team in Salt Lake City, as they have to play New Jersey, Texas, and Orlando. They do have the advantage of playing New Jersey on Sunday, when New Jersey will have nothing to play for. It is pretty unlikely, but Atlanta does have a path to the playoffs and they control their own destiny. A 3-2 record in Salt Lake City might be enough to barely sneak in.

 

 

Orlando is the #8 seed, with a chance to get to #7. They are two points behind Texas, but even if they catch Texas, they still will be in the play-in round. Orlando has a more difficult schedule than Texas, in that Orlando plays New Jersey, but Texas does not. However, the New Jersey vs. Orlando match is the last match on Sunday, so again that could be affected by New Jersey resting their starters. Orlando will face Texas in the last Friday match. That may well determine who finishes seventh.

 

Utah is in the 9th slot and has no shot at moving up. They lead 10th place Miami by four points and that is probably enough that the 9th spot is theirs. Utah mostly has a chance to be a spoiler, as they play Miami, Chicago, and Atlanta. Utah will undoubtedly play hard and well, as they will be in front of their home crowd. Each Utah match will be important, as if Miami or Chicago or Atlanta can win their Utah match, it will give them a big advantage over their rivals for that last playoff spot.

 

 

It has been a great year for MLP. It is fitting that the last playoff spot will come down to the last day of the regular season. Look for New Jersey to easily secure the #3 seed. Texas, Orlando, and Utah will likely stay at #7, #8, and #9. For that 10th spot, I like Chicago to nudge out Miami, but it is going to be very, very close. Tune in to Pickleballtv to see what happens.

 

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