Ahead of Friday’s season opener, we bring you the official BGN predictions for the 2020 USL Championship season.

Another USL Championship season is upon us. With new clubs joining, name changes, and new stadiums, this should be an excellent year of soccer in the second division. Like the league we cover, new writers and new podcasts have come on board this offseason.

Before the first ball kicks off on Friday, your favorite podcasters and writers at the Beautiful Game Network made predictions on the season.

Last season’s USL Championship predictions

Eastern Conference Regular Season Champions: Nashville SC

Western Conference Regular Season Champions: Phoenix Rising FC

USL Cup Champions: Phoenix Rising FC

MVP: Cameron Lancaster

2020 Eastern Conference Regular Season Champions

1. Louisville City FC (46%)

2. Indy Eleven (21%)

3. Tampa Bay Rowdies (18%)

Others receiving votes: Miami FC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

2020 Western Conference Regular Season Champions

1. Phoenix Rising FC (64%)

T-2. New Mexico United (11%)

T-2. Orange County SC (11%)

Others receiving votes: Reno 1868 FC, San Diego Loyal SC, Sacramento Republic FC

2020 USL Cup Champions

T-1. Louisville City FC (25%)

T-1. Phoenix Rising FC (25%)

T-3. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (11%)

T-3. Tampa Bay Rowdies (11%)

Others receiving votes: El Paso Locomotive FC, Indy Eleven, New Mexico United, Orange County SC, San Antonio FC

2020 Golden Boot Winner

T-1. Cameron Lancaster (21%)

T-1. Solomon Asante (21%)

3. Thomas Enevoldsen (14%)

Others receiving votes: Tyler Blackwood, Junior Flemmings, Corey Hertzog, Cameron Iwasa, Abdou Thiam, Romario Williams

2020 USL Championship Most Valuable Player

1. Solomon Asante (39%)

2. Cameron Lancaster (11%)

T-3. Thomas Enevoldsen (7%)

T-3. Kenardo Forbes (7%)

Others receiving votes: Alexy Bosetti, Rodrigo da Costa, Corey Hertzog, Darwin Jones, Santi Moar, Tyler Pasher, Kalen Ryden, Juan Tejada, Chris Wehan, Romario Williams

2020 Surprise Team (Better than Expected)

T-1. Birmingham Legion FC (14%)

T-1. Hartford Athletic (14%)

T-3. Charlotte Independence FC (11%)

T-3. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (11%)

T-3. FC Tulsa (11%)

Others receiving votes: El Paso Locomotive FC, Loudoun United FC, Miami FC, Orange County SC, San Antonio FC, Saint Louis FC, Tacoma Defiance

2020 Bonus: Away Trip You’d Most Like to Make

1. Louisville City FC

2. San Diego Loyal SC

T-3. Las Vegas Lights FC

T-3. Phoenix Rising FC

Others receiving votes: Loudoun United, Miami FC, New Mexico United, New York Red Bulls II, North Carolina FC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Tampa Bay Rowdies, USL Cup Final