Imperial Bowl XVIII Discussion

[Vic Carucci]

GAME OF THE WEEKWest Virginia (10-6-0, PR 88) at Newark (14-2-0, PR 102)Newark is favored by 10 points.51 degrees, 13mph, Rain.

[Vic Carucci]

GAME OF THE WEEK
	AT

West Virginia Beasts (Kozure)

Newark Bulldogs (Matt)

10-6-0 (PR: 88.07)

14-2-0 (PR: 102.48)

WEATHER: Rain. 51 degrees, 13mph. Newark is favored by 10 points.

CURRENT STATISTICS

Deron Markel : 323 for 498, 4720 YDs, 30 TDs, 14 INTs, 104.0 RTG.

Dwight "King" Burger: 252 for 380, 3399 YDs, 30 TDs, 9 INTs, 111.1 RTG.

Brent Henderson: 190 carries for 784 yards, 4.13 ypc, 8 TDs.

Gary "The Situation" Jamison: 334 carries for 1531 yards, 4.58 ypc, 11 TDs.

Bernard Strong: 70 catches for 1113 yards, 15.90 ypc, 10.91 ypt, 7 TDs.

Jose Hoover: 59 catches for 762 yards, 12.92 ypc, 8.56 ypt, 6 TDs.

WLB Michael Cibella: 65 tkl, 25 ast, 10.5 sk, 25 hur, 10 kckdn. RCB Kevin Stanton: 3 int, 7 psdef, 21 ctch, 83.4 PDPct, 24 tkl, 16 ast. SS Harvey Ingle: 2 int, 12 psdef, 41 ctch, 79.3 PDPct, 103 tkl, 27 ast.

RDE Antoine Nece: 10 sk, 26 hur, 13 kckdn, 46 tkl, 9 ast. SS Sean Hitchcock: 4 int, 7 psdef, 15 ctch, 85.8 PDPct, 42 tkl, 30 ast. LDT Dwayne Ayodele: 9.5 sk, 12 hur, 4 kckdn, 32 tkl, 6 ast.

2020 TEAM STATISTICS

When West Virginia has the ball...

#6 SCORING OFFENSE (27.9 ppg)			#4 SCORING DEFENSE (18.6 ppg)
#4 TOTAL OFFENSE (394.3 ypg)			#2 TOTAL DEFENSE (301.2 ypg)
#3 PASSING OFFENSE (295.0 ypg)			#14 PASS DEFENSE (233.6 ypg)
#23 RUSHING OFFENSE (107.9 ypg)			#1 RUSH DEFENSE (88.5 ypg)

When Newark has the ball...

#20 SCORING DEFENSE (22.2 ppg)			#3 SCORING OFFENSE (29.8 ppg)
#19 TOTAL DEFENSE (343.6 ypg)			#2 TOTAL OFFENSE (403.0000 ypg)
#22 PASSING DEFENSE (242.1 ypg)			#17 PASS OFFENSE (231.4 ypg)
#17 RUSHING DEFENSE (114.9 ypg)			#1 RUSH OFFENSE (180.4 ypg)

MATCHUP HISTORY

Deron Markel lifetime vs. NWK: 86 for 154, 1144 YDs, 5 TDs, 7 INTs, 71.5 RTG

Dwight "King" Burger lifetime vs. WVA: 57 for 93, 735 YDs, 6 TDs, 0 INTs, 107.6 RTG

Grant Hernandez lifetime vs. NWK: 14 carries for 72 yards, 5.14 ypc, 0 TDs.

Gary "The Situation" Jamison lifetime vs. WVA: 34 carries for 141 yards, 4.15 ypc, 1 TDs.

Andre Thomason lifetime vs. NWK: 15 catches for 222 yards, 14.80 ypc, 10.09 ypt, 2 TDs.

Casey Lofton lifetime vs. WVA: 13 catches for 175 yards, 13.46 ypc, 10.29 ypt, 1 TDs.

West Virginia leads the series 2-1-0.

YEAR	WEEK	WINNER	SCORE	ATT	BOX	LOG
2011	14		23-20	57,200	BOX	LOG
2012	0		13-10	63,400	BOX	LOG
2015	14		23-20	66,900	BOX	LOG
2019	14		31-20	65,700	BOX	LOG
2020	0		10-7	67,700	BOX	LOG

[Suicane]

West Virginia becomes the first 3 time IFL champion or Newark wins their first crown.

[Matt]

haha!
10 point favorites? I think not!

Really looking forward to this opportunity. I didn't think we were going to make it back here based on how our season started. It's been a thrilling ride so far and I'm really looking forward to playing this game.

Still 4 days away, and i'm getting antsy

[tarcone]

Tough choice. Newark is on fire. But WV can find ways to win any game. I went with Newark. They treated us like Jerry Sandusky treats boys in a shower.

[CyYoung]

Let's go Canada!!!

[Matt]

I picked me!!!

We're on a special run. I hope we can score more than 3 points in this one!

[Matt]

Let's go Canada!!!

beauty eh!!

[Kozure]

This is just a good maychup. No idea how we will do. Depends on my defense I guess. Good luck Matt.

[Trivia Bytes]

PRE SEASON POWER RATINGS

Here was our preseason predicitons ... now to see how we did ...

2020 PRE-SEASON POWER RATINGS – ELITE STATUS (the 2020 playoff teams)

:!: 1. Portland (181)… clearly the team to beat (and maybe that is why they are the current IFL champs and why they surprised everyone last year). Jeff is seasoned game planner and makes use of the tons of talent on the team. We do not see any weaknesses. The Seals should win the AC West and represent the AC in the IFL Bowl and are a favorite to repeat. Portland had a midseason hiccup for several games but found a renewed footing and played strong in the playoffs, going but losing in the conference title game against West Virginia.

:!: 2. Newark (175)… Matt fields another juggernaut that is very comparable to the strengths of Portland. The strength of their division could be problematic however. Regardless, the Bulldogs should win the NC East and should find itself in a rematch with the Seals in the Bowl. Well, we got this one right on the money

:!: 3. Lawrence (172)… Lawrence’s starters are just a step behind division rival Newark. The team’s hidden strength is in its bench and with Jester at the controls, one can expect some Phantom magic. Wild card from NC East but the second best team in the National Conference. Got this right too, but Lawrence proved not to be the second best team in NC, as predicted

:!: 4. Norfolk (169)… Norfolk always puts a competitive team on the table and makes the playoffs every year. But recently, they have been one and out and r00k seems frustrated. The Vipers were very active in FA and also put together a solid draft. The Vipers should win the AC East and play Portland for the conference championship. Won the division as predicted but lost to West VIrginia in first round

:!: 5. Cleveland (163)… Cleveland also fields a competitive team in recent years and when they make the playoffs, they have made a statement. The Clawz play in one of the IFL’s most competitive divisions. Mike has made his mark in a relatively short time in the IFL. The Clawz win the AC North. Won division as predicted

:!: 6. Murfreesboro (160)… Murfreesboro has dominated the AC South for years … the Mules have only missed the playoffs two out of the last ten years and when their ticket is punched each year, they seem to take whatever talent is there to make a lot of noise once the playoffs begin. David will take his team there again by winning the AC South. Won division as predicted

:!: 7. West Virginia (156)… A dominant team with a great GM, but Kozure finds that the Beast’s s talent has eroded just a little, plus there is little potential in the bench to improve that situation. Still there seems to enough talent and GM skill to make the Beasts a dangerous team. West Virginia will earn a Wild Card from AC East. Wild card as predicted and MORE!! ALL THE WAY TO IMPERIAL BOWL!!

:!: 8. Pennsylvania (155)… Another great team but with an even stronger talent erosion than WV and also little in the tank to improve. The Lions’ strength lies in the fact that it plays in a division that doesn’t have another team coming forward to challenge the declining super power. With that said, Cy Young will again maneuver his team to the NC North crown. Blew this one as Lancaster takes the division.

:!: 9. Vancouver (154)… Yes, you heard it right … Vancouver makes the elite list. We see a sleeper that will not only challenge Oakland but should find the muster to better them in the regular season. Not to discount the incredible Assassins’ starters, but the team simply does not have the depth to withstand the injury onslaught that Oakland annually endures. Mark’s Whales are for real … and they have been quietly been building a stable of horses that should take them to the AC West crown this year. Won division as predicted, a surprise prediction to most that bore out true

:!: 10. Georgia (153)… another team that has been quietly waiting for its chance to pounce. Well, ol’ man time has finally caught up with the TigerHawks roster especially since all the draft cards were previously played in the “win-now” strategies of Tulsa’s front office. All the while, Beeznik has been hanging around and has built a team just strong enough to displace the TigerHawks this year for the NC South title. Blew this one as Tulsa repeats as champ in the division. However, Georgia does win a wild card berth.

:!: 11. Oakland (149)– The Assassins have some incredible scary talent at some positions and quite a few holes at others. Jave’s goal will be to make the playoffs where that incredible talent can make a statement in a short four game season. The Assassins should get that opportunity as a Wild Card team from the NC West. Blew this one completely as Oakland falls apart and GM resigns.

:!: 12. Fresno (145)– The only team never to make the playoffs is predicted to slide into a Wild Card slot from the AC West. The team had an off year in its development last year but we see that not happening again this year. Kobeck seasoned leadership should take advantage of the changing dynamics in the AC West where we see Anchorage not up to its usual game this year. Blew this one as well as Montreal gains the wild card berth.


Honorable mention (possible spoilers): Montreal, Iowa City (American Conference), Tulsa (National Conference) In the study, we did acknowledge Tulsa and Montreal scores could act as spoilers to the study's conclusions and they proved that correct. Lancaster was the only team that did not receive credit in the study.

Overall, we think that the results were quite amazingly true to form (predicted nine of the twelve playoff teams), considering this was done pre-season before the first regular season game.

With all that said, TB predicts a Newark win in the Imperial Bowl ... but good luck to both teams!

:thewave:

[Matt]

I hope TB is right on this one!!!!!!!!!!!


Loving this opportunity tonight. I think we are pretty rock solid. Only question mark will be Burger. He's playing in this one despite the injury. It could very well be his last game ever

[Matt]

With all that said, TB predicts a Newark win in the Imperial Bowl ... but good luck to both teams!

:thewave:

hmmm

http://www.imperialfl.us/forums/poll...lts&pollid=156

TB playing both sides of the fence!

[Hoosier]

I went with the Bulldogs.....I like their nickname and colors better....

[Trivia Bytes]

TB really thought its vote was made for Newark, but it was late, late last night ... tired after writing the article and must have hit wrong button (or ballot had a dangling chad).

With that said, TB is not a fence sitter ... its vote is with Newark and is made with no disrespect to West Virginia .

[r00k]

Two great teams managed by two outstanding GM's. Looking forward to the game tonight. Good luck to both teams; I give the edge to the Bulldogs.