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This is a great place in the season where the bye weeks are over and each team has the same number of games under their belt. Here’s our take on what the picture seems to look like as the IFL season turns the corner and heads for the finish line.
Here are the playing conditions for each team’s GM:
:arrow:You have ten games are under your belt.
:arrow:Trading has long past you by and you are stuck with what you got because there is absolutely nothing in the FA pool.
:arrow:There are no more bye weeks to heal an injury or two.
:arrow:You have played four of your six division games.
And now it is Week 12, the time for teams to nut up for the privilege to make a statement in the offseason. With a six game schedule, a team can get hot and on the other hand, can cool down and let another pass it up.
American Conference Observations:
A Good Surprise: After finishing last in their division for the last four years, the “thunder chickens" are no more and are positioning themselves for a second playoff visit in the history of the franchise.
A Death Spiral: From the same division, what in the hell happened to Wichita? After going to the Conference Championship game last year, the Outlaws have reeled off seven straight losses and sit with an embarrassing 3-7 record.
Most Dangerous Team: Hands down, Jay Caro and the Portland Seals can scare the bejusus out of a holy monk. Portland leads the conference in points scored and points allowed.
Projected wins needed to reach the playoffs: 10
Most exciting division: AC East – this division is totally up for grabs. Whichever team plays the best vs. NC North will win the division.
Teams out of the hunt: Wichita, Hartford, Los Angeles, California.
Locks for a playoff spot: Portland (division), Norfolk (division), Cleveland (division or WC)
Bridesmaids looking to get the remaining three dance tickets: Montreal, Iowa City, any of the four teams of the AC East, West Virginia, Boston, Anchorage
TB Prediction (barring any critical injuries):
AC North Champion - the winner of the Montreal – Cleveland game (Week 15)
AC South Champion – the winner of the St. Louis – Murfreesboro game (Week 17)
AC East Champion - Norfolk
AC West Champion - Portland
Wild Card – Anchorage
Wild Card – the loser of the Montreal – Cleveland game (Week 15)
National Conference Observations:
A Good Surprise: How can one player be so dominant week after week, Mr. Singleton? What a season this man is putting together.
A Death Spiral: Lawrence to add another record to its signature banner? In the history of the IFL, there has only been one other team that had a losing record following their Imperial Bowl win. Little Rock followed their win over Norfolk in 2007 with a season record of 5-10-1. The Phantoms need to take four of their next six games in order to avoid a new non-performance record. But if they can sweep their remaining schedule, they join the likes of Madison, Hartford and Vermont, teams that all finished 8-8 after winning the championship which would still leave Little Rock all alone on the wall of shame.
Most Dangerous Team: Texas has been the team to beat all season long. Like Portland in the other conference, the Trojans lead their conference in points scored and points allowed. The team from Texas kills you with precision balance.
Wins needed to reach the playoffs: 9
Most exciting division: NC West – watching this division is like watching the Keystone Cops! Whichever team plays the best vs. AC East will win the division.
Teams out of the hunt: Dakota, Georgia, Vermont, Lawrence.
Locks for a playoff spot: Texas (division), Little Rock(wild card), Newark (division)
Bridesmaids looking to get the remaining three dance tickets: Madison, Lansing, Pittsburgh, Tulsa, Orlando, and the all teams in the NC West.
TB Prediction (barring any critical injuries):
AC North Champion – Madison
AC South Champion - Texas
AC East Champion - Newark
AC West Champion - the winner of the Oakland – Salt Lake City game (Week 17)
Wild Card – Little Rock
Wild Card – the winner of the Lansing – Pittsburgh game (Week 17)
The Hard Luck Kid: In our opinion, Tulsa belongs in the playoffs. It is unfortunate that their schedule included five games against what all consider the top three teams in the league: Texas (2 games), Little Rock (2 games) and Portland (1 game). They have two of these games remaining on their schedule. If they win one or both of them and don't make the playoffs, it would be a shame. Tulsa is an outstanding team.
Here are the playing conditions for each team’s GM:
:arrow:You have ten games are under your belt.
:arrow:Trading has long past you by and you are stuck with what you got because there is absolutely nothing in the FA pool.
:arrow:There are no more bye weeks to heal an injury or two.
:arrow:You have played four of your six division games.
And now it is Week 12, the time for teams to nut up for the privilege to make a statement in the offseason. With a six game schedule, a team can get hot and on the other hand, can cool down and let another pass it up.
American Conference Observations:
A Good Surprise: After finishing last in their division for the last four years, the “thunder chickens" are no more and are positioning themselves for a second playoff visit in the history of the franchise.
A Death Spiral: From the same division, what in the hell happened to Wichita? After going to the Conference Championship game last year, the Outlaws have reeled off seven straight losses and sit with an embarrassing 3-7 record.
Most Dangerous Team: Hands down, Jay Caro and the Portland Seals can scare the bejusus out of a holy monk. Portland leads the conference in points scored and points allowed.
Projected wins needed to reach the playoffs: 10
Most exciting division: AC East – this division is totally up for grabs. Whichever team plays the best vs. NC North will win the division.
Teams out of the hunt: Wichita, Hartford, Los Angeles, California.
Locks for a playoff spot: Portland (division), Norfolk (division), Cleveland (division or WC)
Bridesmaids looking to get the remaining three dance tickets: Montreal, Iowa City, any of the four teams of the AC East, West Virginia, Boston, Anchorage
TB Prediction (barring any critical injuries):
AC North Champion - the winner of the Montreal – Cleveland game (Week 15)
AC South Champion – the winner of the St. Louis – Murfreesboro game (Week 17)
AC East Champion - Norfolk
AC West Champion - Portland
Wild Card – Anchorage
Wild Card – the loser of the Montreal – Cleveland game (Week 15)
National Conference Observations:
A Good Surprise: How can one player be so dominant week after week, Mr. Singleton? What a season this man is putting together.
A Death Spiral: Lawrence to add another record to its signature banner? In the history of the IFL, there has only been one other team that had a losing record following their Imperial Bowl win. Little Rock followed their win over Norfolk in 2007 with a season record of 5-10-1. The Phantoms need to take four of their next six games in order to avoid a new non-performance record. But if they can sweep their remaining schedule, they join the likes of Madison, Hartford and Vermont, teams that all finished 8-8 after winning the championship which would still leave Little Rock all alone on the wall of shame.
Most Dangerous Team: Texas has been the team to beat all season long. Like Portland in the other conference, the Trojans lead their conference in points scored and points allowed. The team from Texas kills you with precision balance.
Wins needed to reach the playoffs: 9
Most exciting division: NC West – watching this division is like watching the Keystone Cops! Whichever team plays the best vs. AC East will win the division.
Teams out of the hunt: Dakota, Georgia, Vermont, Lawrence.
Locks for a playoff spot: Texas (division), Little Rock(wild card), Newark (division)
Bridesmaids looking to get the remaining three dance tickets: Madison, Lansing, Pittsburgh, Tulsa, Orlando, and the all teams in the NC West.
TB Prediction (barring any critical injuries):
AC North Champion – Madison
AC South Champion - Texas
AC East Champion - Newark
AC West Champion - the winner of the Oakland – Salt Lake City game (Week 17)
Wild Card – Little Rock
Wild Card – the winner of the Lansing – Pittsburgh game (Week 17)
The Hard Luck Kid: In our opinion, Tulsa belongs in the playoffs. It is unfortunate that their schedule included five games against what all consider the top three teams in the league: Texas (2 games), Little Rock (2 games) and Portland (1 game). They have two of these games remaining on their schedule. If they win one or both of them and don't make the playoffs, it would be a shame. Tulsa is an outstanding team.
) this was yet another great TB post!
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