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TRIVIA BYTES - CRUNCH WEEK PREVIEW
CRUNCH WEEK -- three games are left, two are played this week.
ON THURSDAY, there will be inter-divisional games --- pure head-to-head trauma that will play elimination music for many.
ON SUNDAY, the age old song of 'which conference has the better football' will be heard through out the land again. Now teams from the other conference can throw monkey wrenches into the tight races for the playoff berths in the other conferences. Won't this be fun!
There have been 48 interconference games so far this year. The score is AC 24 - NC 24.
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There will also be three marquee games played over the course of the week.
:arrow: ON THURSDAY, tune to Houston (9-4) at Murfreesboro (8-5). The Mules are in control of their own destiny as they also play St. Louis in the final week of the regular season. Likewise, Houston is in control of their destiny as they lead the division at the present time.
:arrow: ON SUNDAY, Salt Lake City at St. Louis is going to be a great match-up between two great teams that have impressive winning streaks going into Thursday's games. Salt Lake City has six consecutive wins and the Cardinals have hung seven straight skins on their wall. The game has a little more meaning to St. Louis, who find themselves fighting for a playoff spot despite their 9-4 record. The Stallions should also be concerned about this game if they want to insure a first round bye in the playoffs.
ON SUNDAY, Lawrence at Portland. You may want to bring a six pack because this has all the hype to be a preview of IMPERIAL BOWL VII. The game absolutely needs no introduction. But "Who suits up?" will be of interest. Both teams are assured of a first round bye. The question may be how important is home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
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AC - CRUNCH WEEK PREVIEW
:arrow: AC NORTH ... Two teams, only one will make the playoffs.
Iowa City (8-5) only needs one win to clinch the division title and a playoff berth.
Cleveland (6-7), even if it wins out and ties Iowa City's overall record will lose out because of a poorer division record. So they need for the pig farmers to lose their last three.
:arrow: AC SOUTH ... Three teams, and all are in control of their own destiny, but only if they win out.
Houston (9-4) has the best odds but are the most beat up. The Renegades will need to make decisions on resting players to heal injuries ... and they have to make those decisions this week as they travel to Murfreesboro on Thursday. A huge plus is that Houston holds the tie breaker over St. Louis with their two wins over the Cardinals.
St. Louis (9-4) has a stiff test but are on a roll. They play pesky Louisiana on Thursday but close out with Salt Lake City and Murfreesboro. They need to close the deal on Thursday to have some breathing room. If all teams are tied at the end of the season which very well can happen, the counting of the chits will lie in conference wins.
Murfreesboro (8-5) is on the outside looking in but seem to have total control over their destiny. We believe winning out will guarantee the Mules a playoff berth.
:arrow: AC EAST Two teams, and the possibility of only one dance card when the music stops.
Hartford (10-3) is nicely positioned for a sure playoff berth and eleven wins should assure that. However, the Wicked Witch of FOF left the Grizzlies with some new tests to overcome. The interior line was dealt a double blow with both starting guards being touched by the witch's evil broom. None-the-less the Grizzlies should have their sights on twelve wins despite these injuries. Twelve wins allow them some healing time with a first round bye.
Norfolk (9-4) has found itself in the awkward position of possibly not being invited to the dance party. Eleven wins should do the trick for them but they have ben struggling without Harold Lozier and Finger is not expected back until the post season. To compound the problems, starting RB William Brown is now out for the season. The Vipers can find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow by winning against Boston and Tulsa so that the meeting vs. Hartford is not as crucial at the end of the season.
:arrow: AC WEST One dream team and two teams dreaming.
Portland (12-1). Without any doubt, the Seals are the class of the conference. Two wins or a win and loss by Hartford assure them of home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
California (8-5). The long shot on the race card to get into the playoffs. The formula: first, they need a lot of good teams to stumble and then they need to hold their own versus Anchorage, Newark and Alburquerque.
Anchorage (7-6). If California is the long shot, the Lynx represent a win in the lottery if they get to the playoffs in the condition that their team is in. We just do not think that ten wins will be good enough ... but stranger things have happened.
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NC - CRUNCH WEEK PREVIEW
:arrow: NC NORTH The tale of two cities and two footnotes.
Pittsburgh (10-3). A playoff berth assured. Division champonship and possibly a first round bye has yet to be claimed. In the drivers seat as the divisional leader right now but may end up to settle it all on the last weekend of the regular season as they host the Lansing Orgres.
Lansing (9-4). A playoff berth assured. Division champonship and possibly a first round bye has yet to be claimed. Winning out, which includes the final game against Pittsburgh, will assure a division championship as they have already beaten Pittsburgh earlier in the year.
Madison & Dakota -- see footnotes.
:arrow: NC SOUTH. A division champ-to-be and the footnote.
Little Rock (8-5). The Toads need one game to clinch the division. This should not be a problem. They have an outside chance to gain a bye in the first round but that will probably require them to win out.
Columbia & Tulsa -- see footnote.
:arrow: NC EAST . The king for the day and another footnotes.
:arrow: Lawrence (11-2). The class of the the National Conference. Recently dinged up a bit but still seem "good to go". The only issue for the Phantoms is whether they will be playing at home throughout the playoffs.
Newark & Vermont -- see footnotes.
:arrow: NC WEST -- Another division champ-to-be and again some more footnotes.
Salt Lake City (9-4). After a slow start, SLC has reeled off six straight wins. One more win and they claim the division. If they continue their wining ways, they may find themselves with a bye in the first round.
Oakland & Reno -- see footnotes.
FOOTNOTES in the NC
There are eight teams that form a huge cluster-duck in the NC ... all looking to find a way to get the final playoff spot in the NC. There are two teams at 7-6; five teams at 6-7, and one hopeful team at 5-8. We think that the best way to analyze the situation is to throw out all of the records and then start a new season for each of them on Thursday. There should be one that nuts up in this circle jerk ... and after that team gets the final berth, it just might have generated enough momentum to cause some heartache in the playoffs too. Here's the infamous lineup of contestants:
1. Oakland (7-6). The Devils are in the cat bird seat at the present time. They have the best conference record at 7-3 and hold head-to-head tiebreakers against Reno, Columbia and Dakota. Unfortunately they are hurting, hurting, hurting very badly and after facing so-so Vancouver, must do battle with Murfreesboro and Salt Lake City. We just don't think that Oakland can slam the door shut by running the table.
2. Reno (7-6). Reno is looking for that crack in the door. They share the same overall record and hold the second best conference record at 6-4. They also hold tie breakers against Dakota and Madison. The path through that cracked door goes through Salt Lake City, Houston and Vancouver.
3. Newark (6-7). The Bulldogs are already in the hole by being a game out. They also share in the second best conference record as 6-4 and hold tie breakers vs. Tulsa and Madison. If the teams above only win one game each, Newark must win two games just to bring on the tie breakers. TB believes that Newark and all the teams that follow them(below) must run the table in order to get to the promised land. Newark's road to hoe is Lawrence, California, and Vermont.
4. Madison (6-7). The Demons have a 5-5 conference record and just must win out in order to improve their tie breaker chances. They do have tie breakers against Oakland and Dakota ... so there is hope. Their poison is Pittsburgh, Montreal, and Vancouver. If they get by Pitt, they are heavily favored to beat the others and will have a great chance to get back into the Bowl that they played in last year.
5. Tulsa (6-7). Tulsa also has the same 5-5 conference record as Madison and Columbia and hold a tie breaker vs. Madison & Vermont. They have a very difficult schedule: Columbia, Norfolk, and Little Rock. There are no patsies there.
6.Columbia (6-7). The Fire have that a poor 4-6 conference record and hold tie breakers vs. Newark and have a pretty tough dance card with Tulsa, Hartford and Texas. Again, win three or go home.
7. Dakota (6-7). Dakota can only hope that winning against Lansing, Iowa City and Madison will be enough to earn them a berth. They have a poor 4-6 conference record and no tie breakers.
8. Vermont (5-8). The Cinderella of this story is the Mountainers. They have the worst conference record at 3-7 and are two games in the hole behind Oakland and Reno. They do hold tie breakers vs. Columbia and Newark ... so all is not that bleak. They have no choice but to beat Orlando, Anchorage, and Newark ... which is very doable.
CRUNCH WEEK -- three games are left, two are played this week.
ON THURSDAY, there will be inter-divisional games --- pure head-to-head trauma that will play elimination music for many.
ON SUNDAY, the age old song of 'which conference has the better football' will be heard through out the land again. Now teams from the other conference can throw monkey wrenches into the tight races for the playoff berths in the other conferences. Won't this be fun!
There have been 48 interconference games so far this year. The score is AC 24 - NC 24. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There will also be three marquee games played over the course of the week.
:arrow: ON THURSDAY, tune to Houston (9-4) at Murfreesboro (8-5). The Mules are in control of their own destiny as they also play St. Louis in the final week of the regular season. Likewise, Houston is in control of their destiny as they lead the division at the present time.
:arrow: ON SUNDAY, Salt Lake City at St. Louis is going to be a great match-up between two great teams that have impressive winning streaks going into Thursday's games. Salt Lake City has six consecutive wins and the Cardinals have hung seven straight skins on their wall. The game has a little more meaning to St. Louis, who find themselves fighting for a playoff spot despite their 9-4 record. The Stallions should also be concerned about this game if they want to insure a first round bye in the playoffs.
ON SUNDAY, Lawrence at Portland. You may want to bring a six pack because this has all the hype to be a preview of IMPERIAL BOWL VII. The game absolutely needs no introduction. But "Who suits up?" will be of interest. Both teams are assured of a first round bye. The question may be how important is home field advantage throughout the playoffs.-----------------------------------------------------------------
AC - CRUNCH WEEK PREVIEW
:arrow: AC NORTH ... Two teams, only one will make the playoffs.
Iowa City (8-5) only needs one win to clinch the division title and a playoff berth.
Cleveland (6-7), even if it wins out and ties Iowa City's overall record will lose out because of a poorer division record. So they need for the pig farmers to lose their last three.
:arrow: AC SOUTH ... Three teams, and all are in control of their own destiny, but only if they win out.
Houston (9-4) has the best odds but are the most beat up. The Renegades will need to make decisions on resting players to heal injuries ... and they have to make those decisions this week as they travel to Murfreesboro on Thursday. A huge plus is that Houston holds the tie breaker over St. Louis with their two wins over the Cardinals.
St. Louis (9-4) has a stiff test but are on a roll. They play pesky Louisiana on Thursday but close out with Salt Lake City and Murfreesboro. They need to close the deal on Thursday to have some breathing room. If all teams are tied at the end of the season which very well can happen, the counting of the chits will lie in conference wins.
Murfreesboro (8-5) is on the outside looking in but seem to have total control over their destiny. We believe winning out will guarantee the Mules a playoff berth.
:arrow: AC EAST Two teams, and the possibility of only one dance card when the music stops.
Hartford (10-3) is nicely positioned for a sure playoff berth and eleven wins should assure that. However, the Wicked Witch of FOF left the Grizzlies with some new tests to overcome. The interior line was dealt a double blow with both starting guards being touched by the witch's evil broom. None-the-less the Grizzlies should have their sights on twelve wins despite these injuries. Twelve wins allow them some healing time with a first round bye.
Norfolk (9-4) has found itself in the awkward position of possibly not being invited to the dance party. Eleven wins should do the trick for them but they have ben struggling without Harold Lozier and Finger is not expected back until the post season. To compound the problems, starting RB William Brown is now out for the season. The Vipers can find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow by winning against Boston and Tulsa so that the meeting vs. Hartford is not as crucial at the end of the season.
:arrow: AC WEST One dream team and two teams dreaming.
Portland (12-1). Without any doubt, the Seals are the class of the conference. Two wins or a win and loss by Hartford assure them of home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
California (8-5). The long shot on the race card to get into the playoffs. The formula: first, they need a lot of good teams to stumble and then they need to hold their own versus Anchorage, Newark and Alburquerque.
Anchorage (7-6). If California is the long shot, the Lynx represent a win in the lottery if they get to the playoffs in the condition that their team is in. We just do not think that ten wins will be good enough ... but stranger things have happened.
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NC - CRUNCH WEEK PREVIEW
:arrow: NC NORTH The tale of two cities and two footnotes.
Pittsburgh (10-3). A playoff berth assured. Division champonship and possibly a first round bye has yet to be claimed. In the drivers seat as the divisional leader right now but may end up to settle it all on the last weekend of the regular season as they host the Lansing Orgres.
Lansing (9-4). A playoff berth assured. Division champonship and possibly a first round bye has yet to be claimed. Winning out, which includes the final game against Pittsburgh, will assure a division championship as they have already beaten Pittsburgh earlier in the year.
Madison & Dakota -- see footnotes.
:arrow: NC SOUTH. A division champ-to-be and the footnote.
Little Rock (8-5). The Toads need one game to clinch the division. This should not be a problem. They have an outside chance to gain a bye in the first round but that will probably require them to win out.
Columbia & Tulsa -- see footnote.
:arrow: NC EAST . The king for the day and another footnotes.
:arrow: Lawrence (11-2). The class of the the National Conference. Recently dinged up a bit but still seem "good to go". The only issue for the Phantoms is whether they will be playing at home throughout the playoffs.
Newark & Vermont -- see footnotes.
:arrow: NC WEST -- Another division champ-to-be and again some more footnotes.
Salt Lake City (9-4). After a slow start, SLC has reeled off six straight wins. One more win and they claim the division. If they continue their wining ways, they may find themselves with a bye in the first round.
Oakland & Reno -- see footnotes.
FOOTNOTES in the NC
There are eight teams that form a huge cluster-duck in the NC ... all looking to find a way to get the final playoff spot in the NC. There are two teams at 7-6; five teams at 6-7, and one hopeful team at 5-8. We think that the best way to analyze the situation is to throw out all of the records and then start a new season for each of them on Thursday. There should be one that nuts up in this circle jerk ... and after that team gets the final berth, it just might have generated enough momentum to cause some heartache in the playoffs too. Here's the infamous lineup of contestants:
1. Oakland (7-6). The Devils are in the cat bird seat at the present time. They have the best conference record at 7-3 and hold head-to-head tiebreakers against Reno, Columbia and Dakota. Unfortunately they are hurting, hurting, hurting very badly and after facing so-so Vancouver, must do battle with Murfreesboro and Salt Lake City. We just don't think that Oakland can slam the door shut by running the table.
2. Reno (7-6). Reno is looking for that crack in the door. They share the same overall record and hold the second best conference record at 6-4. They also hold tie breakers against Dakota and Madison. The path through that cracked door goes through Salt Lake City, Houston and Vancouver.
3. Newark (6-7). The Bulldogs are already in the hole by being a game out. They also share in the second best conference record as 6-4 and hold tie breakers vs. Tulsa and Madison. If the teams above only win one game each, Newark must win two games just to bring on the tie breakers. TB believes that Newark and all the teams that follow them(below) must run the table in order to get to the promised land. Newark's road to hoe is Lawrence, California, and Vermont.
4. Madison (6-7). The Demons have a 5-5 conference record and just must win out in order to improve their tie breaker chances. They do have tie breakers against Oakland and Dakota ... so there is hope. Their poison is Pittsburgh, Montreal, and Vancouver. If they get by Pitt, they are heavily favored to beat the others and will have a great chance to get back into the Bowl that they played in last year.
5. Tulsa (6-7). Tulsa also has the same 5-5 conference record as Madison and Columbia and hold a tie breaker vs. Madison & Vermont. They have a very difficult schedule: Columbia, Norfolk, and Little Rock. There are no patsies there.
6.Columbia (6-7). The Fire have that a poor 4-6 conference record and hold tie breakers vs. Newark and have a pretty tough dance card with Tulsa, Hartford and Texas. Again, win three or go home.
7. Dakota (6-7). Dakota can only hope that winning against Lansing, Iowa City and Madison will be enough to earn them a berth. They have a poor 4-6 conference record and no tie breakers.
8. Vermont (5-8). The Cinderella of this story is the Mountainers. They have the worst conference record at 3-7 and are two games in the hole behind Oakland and Reno. They do hold tie breakers vs. Columbia and Newark ... so all is not that bleak. They have no choice but to beat Orlando, Anchorage, and Newark ... which is very doable.
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