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**Vic Carucci** · 09-01-2010, 08:42 AM

Also see this work done by Trivia Bytes

Originally posted by Trivia Bytes View Post

It looked like the TEN GAME REVIEW kicked some energy into the league. Lots of good action on the board. So if time allows, TB will try to count down the season and report the action in the playoff races.

American Conference Observations:

:loser: Teams out of the hunt: No one has been added since the TEN WEEK REVIEW.
Wichita, Louisiana, Houston, St. Louis, Hartford, Fresno and Los Angeles. These teams may have lost their chance this year but they are taking pleasure in causing some havoc as the season unwinds. :haha: Just ask Reno and Vancouver last week.

:!: Locks for a playoff spot: Montreal (11-0), Cleveland (9-2), Murfreesboro (8-3) and Portland (9-2).
Despite Montreal’s undefeated season, the race is still wide open for playoff seedings, a supposition solely based on the fact that Montreal’s remaining schedule features a playoff caliber team every week. The table seems set for Cleveland to steal the AC North division crown. With this said, playoff byes are still up for grabs for any of these four teams.

The Wild Card SCRUM: Five teams are vying for the remaining two playoff slots (champion of AC- East slot and a wild card) – listed in the order of difficulty of remaining schedule easiest to hardest: Anchorage, Iowa City, West Virginia, Boston, and Norfolk.

Anchorage (6-5) Can the good showing vs. Lawrence last week be repeated this week against very talented Cleveland? A win will most likely catapult the Lynx into a favorite position to claim the remaining wild card as they only have one other playoff caliber team on their remaining schedule. This could be the best game of the week. You can count on Cleveland to be "locked and loaded", hoping for division mate Montreal to have a miscue against Boston.

Iowa City (6-5) Iowa City simply has a MUST game this week vs. West Virgina. Despite the fact that there is only one other playoff hopeful on the IWC remaining schedule, a win over West Virginia has more significant ramifications. It very well might play the role of the important tie breaker at the end of the season between West Virgina for a wild card berth.

West Virginia (7-4) The Beasts find themselves in a three-way slugfest in the AC East -- all trying to lock down a playoff spot by capturing the division crown. Thus there is a competition of its own and it is fierce. As mentioned above, they face Iowa City this week. A lot rests on this game for both teams but there may be a little more pressure on the Beasts as the likes of Tulsa and Norfolk are their opponents in the following two weeks.

Boston (7-4) The Dragons face undefeated Montreal and will try to knock off one of the three playoff teams that are on their remaining schedule. This one is a huge test. A loss here is not the end of the world but it is not good thing either. Montreal will bring their A-game, as a loss here could be the crack in the wall that starts to let Cleveland position itself for a run.

Norfolk (6-5) Norfolk seems to be simply fxxxxed as the Vipers possess the most difficult remaining schedule and like Montreal, each week will be against another team that is either playoff bound or a legitimate want-a-be. This week, the Vipers face the AC South division champion – Murfreesboro. However, all is not dark and cloudy … ever since QB Jon Cavazos returned from last season’s rotator cuff injury in week 7, the Vipers have not lost. In fact they seem like a new team. The six games without Cavazos – 18 points scored per game; 25 points allowed per game. The five games with Cavazos – 25 points scored per game; 11 points allowed per game.

National Conference Observations:

:loser: Teams out of the hunt: Again, no new teams to add this week. Dakota, Lansing, Little Rock, Orlando, Salt Lake City.

:!: Locks for a playoff spot: Pennsylvania (8-3), Tulsa (9-2) & Newark(10-1). Playoff byes remain undetermined at this time. [/b]

The Wild Card SCRUM: This leaves eight teams still in the scrum for a three playoff berths (champion of NC West and two wild cards) -listed in order of weakest schedule to hardest schedule: Reno, Vermont, Georgia, Vancouver, Texas, Oakland, Madison, Lawrence.

Reno (5-6) With the weakest schedule the Wolfpack was given the opportunity to take hold of its own destiny last week. But they lost to Louisiana. They still retain the easiest schedule and face St. Louis in an attempt to rebound. Already two games behind Oakland, they can ill afford another setback.

Vermont (6-5) Wow … the Montainers made a lot of noise last week by handily beating Portand. With this big hurdle gone, their remaining schedule vaults to the second easiest in the National Conference. There is no chance for them to overtake Newark, so the play is for a wild card berth. Next up is Lansing and then Los Angeles – a great opportunity to add a couple of wins and take the a drivers seat to the playoffs.

Georgia (6-5) Very much like Vermont above, the Generals easily handled a very good Boston club. They should not lose pace this week vs. 1-10 Orlando. On the outside and looking in ... but the view they see is a good one.

Vancouver (6-5) The Killer Whales, like Reno, lost an opportunity when they couldn’t come up with the correct combination vs Houston. They play the Spirit this week and this is a must win if they wish to stay in the hunt.

Texas (7-4) The Trojans scratched one team off of their pretty tough schedule in wild one versus WV. They won in OT. Things do not get any easier as they visit Lawrence this week and it will probably will be a very ugly game as Lawrence needs to rebound in a must game for them.

Oakland (8-3) By all right Oakland should be in our "thank God, we made-it" list. But ... we still want to see another week of Mr. Mann even though the Devils, with Mann at the helm, added St Louis to their W column. We are just playing it safe, even though deep in our hearts we think this last win was enough to guarantee them a slot in the playoffs, either as division champ or a wild card. Our misgivings are Mr. Mann and the fact that the Devils play four teams that also want to make the playoffs … so it will not be as easy pickings. Madison is next up.

Madison (6-5)The Demons lost to a good team in Iowa City. Unfortunately, there is more competition from where that came from. Next up is Oakland and then there is Cleveland, Montreal and Pennsylvania. Need I say more .

Lawrence (6-5) In the National Conference, the Phantoms are the team that looks to be simply fxxxed. Not only do they have the hardest schedule, but this last week, they lost wide-out “Shake” Greene for the season. Like a wounded animal, they face Texas this week. Texas should beware -- animals usually become more fierce and dangerous wen wounded.

Here are some great games that include a playoff hopeful on each side of the field:

Boston at Montreal … Montreal gets the edge, call it the “Wile-Cote” advantage

Newark at Pennsylvania … the Lions have not lost at home this year, including a win vs. Tulsa. Newark gets upset.

Cleveland at Anchorage … both teams have been playing pretty good, a toss up

Madison at Oakland … Madison lost DE Simmons last week, Oakland should prevail.

Murfreesboro at Norfolk … Four game winning streak vs a six game winning streak . Norfolk wins thanks to their home field advantage.

Texas at Lawrence … Texas lost starting LT, Lawrence lost all-world Greene. When the whistle blows Lawrence bounces back and wins a close one - defensive struggle.

West Virginia at Iowa City … West Virginia is just too good today and wins easily.

**Jave** · 09-01-2010, 09:06 AM

MARQUEE MATCHUPMadison (6-5-0, PR 75) at Oakland (8-3-0, PR 84)Oakland is favored by 8 points.62 degrees, 0mph, Fair.

This is going to be a monster matchup. I'm not fooled by Madison's record, I know he's better then his record. If we want to be a playoff team this is a MUST WIN.

**tarcone** · 09-01-2010, 09:35 AM

I cant wait to watch the Newark/Pennsylvania matchup. It really affects my playoff seed. Not sure who to root for.
A loss by the Lions will go a long way to getting me the #2 seed.
A loss by the Bulldogs still leaves me in the same boat. 1/2 game behind Newark (they beat us) and a 1/2 game ahead of the Lions (They beat us).

**tarcone** · 09-01-2010, 09:40 AM

How the Stallions have fallen. They were our toughest game in the playoffs last season. We just could not get going against them, statistically they chewed us up.

Looks to be a different squad this season.

GL Vito.

**Matt** · 09-01-2010, 11:02 AM

We've shown a tendancy to win big games this year. I hope that we can get some redemption against dem Lions.

**Jave** · 09-01-2010, 11:21 AM

WOW, definitively gonna watch the GOTW. That one looks good!

**Matt** · 09-01-2010, 11:51 AM

gonna be a few fireworks in PEN on sunday that's for sure. That Gene Hamilton is gonna get some revenge from the playoffs last year. We had set ourselves up by earning a victory against them in the reg season and thus ensuring a bye and atleast 1 home game. Then we lose. ugh!!! haven't forgetten.

**Beeznik** · 09-02-2010, 04:24 PM

We get Orlando. They are 1-10 but we have been pretty bad on the road. Hopefully we win this one.

**CyYoung** · 09-03-2010, 10:34 AM

Originally posted by Matt View Post

gonna be a few fireworks in PEN on sunday that's for sure. That Gene Hamilton is gonna get some revenge from the playoffs last year. We had set ourselves up by earning a victory against them in the reg season and thus ensuring a bye and atleast 1 home game. Then we lose. ugh!!! haven't forgetten.

We need to rebound from that damn loss last week. It's gonna be a tough one.

GL Matt

**JesterBlaze** · 09-03-2010, 12:39 PM

Just got back from a quick trip to Boston. Will try to get a focused gameplan in for this week but I fear it'll be a last minute quickie.

**Matt** · 09-03-2010, 01:01 PM

a quick trip to Boston?
from Albuquerque?

is that possible?

**Pirates** · 09-03-2010, 06:17 PM

Originally posted by Beeznik View Post

We get Orlando. They are 1-10 but we have been pretty bad on the road. Hopefully we win this one.

Hey if you are bad on the road then how do you think we are at 1-10?

**JesterBlaze** · 09-03-2010, 08:19 PM

Originally posted by Matt View Post

a quick trip to Boston?
from Albuquerque?

is that possible?

Only a 3.5 hour flight if straight through. Mine took more like 8-9 hours each way due to layover in Phoenix. Phoenix!!! They don't even have an IFL team!

**Chris Rex** · 09-05-2010, 12:24 AM

This is really disturbing...

The F-Birds find a Boston spy, sneaking a peak at the upcoming gameplan...

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