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TB's PLAYOFF RACE COVERAGE: Week 17 recap and preview
The final week of the regular season and there is a lot to report. The most exciting is whether West Virginia can pull off an undefeated regular season … quite an accomplishment in this league. We will give a season ending note on each team. Enjoy.
:arrow: AC- North
Montreal – Leads the divisional tie between three teams for the division crown .., so the Firebirds are in control of their own destiny. A loss would most likely eliminate them from the playoff picture because it looks like it will take ten wins to earn a wild card opportunity. Montreal has played good football the past two games (wins against Cleveland and Madison) and there are no new injuries to report.
vs.
Wichita – The Outlaws finally ended a five game losing streak by besting a very well respected Pennsylvania squad last week. A win would lock up the division … a loss and like the Firebirds would not have the projected ten wins needed for a wild card berth. The Outlaws lost their starting DE last week which is in an area that already is not strength on the team.
:!: - The game is at Montreal. Montreal is 5-0 in division play. Everything points to a Montreal division championship.
………………………………..
Cleveland – The Clawz rebounded and reclaimed its distinction to be the hottest team in football – winning seven of the last eight. There are no recent injuries and the defense is in another universe.
Iowa City The Snipe Hunters lost to Dakota last week> They also lost two more starters on an already banged up squad.
:!: - Cleveland has a walk in the park and earns a wild card berth.
__________________________________________________ ______
:arrow:AC-South
Murfreesboro We don’t think that the Mules have anything to play for even if they tie a Portland regular season record of 11-5. They would lose the tie breaker for the #2 seed because of a loss head-to-head. But they are the South Champs and will host a wild card game.
vs.
St. Louis Mathematically, the Cardinals can still claim a wild card. The chances are so remote that we will not belabor visiting the scenario for that to happen.
:!: - St. Louis is playing good football and we see the Cardinal to close out the season with a win.
……………………………………………..
Houston A little late for the Renegades who are also playing good football at the conclusion of the regular season. are also only two games back and have won their last two. They also have a must win against the Mules. One of the premiere games of the week!
vs.
Louisiana “ The #2 Pick -- here we come” … “Oh, wait a minute, we traded that away” Well the current owner of that pick and two other first rounders is no other than the Newark Bulldogs. Jester must be loving that! Anyway, the Voodoo and out voodooed themselves and will need some voodoo magic to salvage an effort next year as well.
:!: - Houston, Houston, Houston.
__________________________________________________ __________________
:arrow:AC-East
West Virginia The Beasts’ will play the big game for the IFL record books - an undefeated regular season … something that has never occurred in IFL history.
vs.
Chicago The Crusaders will be travelling to WV. We’ll see how many of them play hookey and don’t board the plane.
:!: - Go ahead a put in the books so that the ink will have dried by the time the game is played.
……………………………………..
Norfolk The Vipers were in the driver’s seat for a wild card berth last week and even with the loss last week, they still will claim a wild card with a win on Sunday. If they lose, they are out for sure.
vs.
Hartford The Whales are struggling as they have lost the last two weeks. A win would be a moral victory to knock out their division rivals.
:!: - The Vipers’ bite is just too strong for any antidote to be effective.
__________________________________________________ __________
:arrow:AC-West
Portland The Seals have locked up the #2 seed. Starters are sunning in Florida as the backups make the trip to Anchorage this weekend.
vs.
Anchorage The Lynx would like to win and possibly move out of the cellar of the West.
:!: - The Portland back-ups play a good game and doom the Lynx to remain in the cellar.
…………………………………………………..
Los Angeles. Like the Cardinal, the moon needs to align with Jupiter and so on and so forth. Yes, LA is mathematically viable for the postseason but the coroner is in the wings, ready to pronounce.
vs.
Fresno A season to forget.
:!: - Expectations were high for both of these teams at the beginning of the season. This game could be close but we think that the Matadors will take the final bow.
__________________________________________________ _
:arrow:NC-North – Pennsylvania the Lions must win and Vancouver or Lawrence needs to lose in order to claim one of the top two seeds. The Lions fall short on a tie breaker via their head-to-head game earlier in the season against Vancouver but come up roses via their head-to-head game against the Phantoms.
vs.
Lansing The Orgres have been lackluster in the final push for a playoff berth. Six week ago, and we thought they were a lock. A loss and an Orlando win have them watching the playoffs on their TV sets.
:!: - Lansing won the first match … there is a lot riding on this game for both teams … it will be close … Lansing sneaks by to win the second match and secures the wild card. Penn will host a wild card and it just may be against the Orgres for a third game of the season.
………………………………
Madison Madison is on a five game losing streak.
vs.
Dakota Dakota has won three of the last four.
:!: - Dakota is playing better, will win this game, but will remain ½ game behind Madison for the cellar position.
___________________________________________
:arrow:NC-South
Georgia Currently on top of the division at 7-8 and tied in record with Little Rock and Tulsa. Only one moves forward to the playoffs as the South Champ.
vs.
Texas Texas won last week and will not go winless for the 2021 season. Whew. Their next goal is that #1 draft pick – that should not be too hard. It just requires another loss.
:!: - The pressure is now off and Texas can go back to business, as usual. Meet the 2021 South Champs Georgia Generals. We have to go back to 2012 when Tulsa was not the division champ – this ends eight years in a row … wow! We are not sure, but we think that is a record … too lazy to look it up but we know that Tarcone will not fail to set the record straight.
……………………………………………….
Little Rock A little too late for the Toads.
vs.
Tulsa Also, a little too late for the TigerHawks
:!: - TigerHawks end an era on a good note.
______________________________________________
:arrow:NC-East
Lawrence The Phantoms win - #1 seed. The Phantoms lose and Penn wins - #2.
vs.
Orlando Orlando wins and Lansing loses – wildcard.
:!: - Orlando thrashed Lawrence earlier in the season 34-7. We think they will sneak past again but will come ½ game short of gaining a playoff spot as we think that Lansing will upset Penn. But what do we know … the Pirates better play all out because our projections are just wild hunches on our part.
………………………………………..
Newark the Bulldogs will host a wild card game.
vs.
Vermont Not the best of seasons for the Mountaineers.
:!: - Despite the resting of key players, the Bulldogs still have too much for the Mountaineers.
___________________________________________
:arrow:NC-West
Vancouver The Killer Whales will lock up the #2 seed with a win. If they lose, they will need for the Lions to also stumble so that they can still claim that slot.
Vs.
Reno Argot: “Now what could I have done different to get that #1 pick?”
:!: The Killer Whales will rest on the first week of the playoffs.
.................................................. ....
Salt Lake City The Stallions were up and sown all season.
vs.
Oakland The Assassins have seemed to find something here at the end of the season.
:!: - This game looks to be a free-for-all and your guess is as good as ours. Perhaps the league will see its second tie of the season.
Well that ends our coverage of the regular season. Good luck to those that travel on to the next stage and better luck to those that don't (for next season).
The final week of the regular season and there is a lot to report. The most exciting is whether West Virginia can pull off an undefeated regular season … quite an accomplishment in this league. We will give a season ending note on each team. Enjoy.
:arrow: AC- North
Montreal – Leads the divisional tie between three teams for the division crown .., so the Firebirds are in control of their own destiny. A loss would most likely eliminate them from the playoff picture because it looks like it will take ten wins to earn a wild card opportunity. Montreal has played good football the past two games (wins against Cleveland and Madison) and there are no new injuries to report.
vs.
Wichita – The Outlaws finally ended a five game losing streak by besting a very well respected Pennsylvania squad last week. A win would lock up the division … a loss and like the Firebirds would not have the projected ten wins needed for a wild card berth. The Outlaws lost their starting DE last week which is in an area that already is not strength on the team.
:!: - The game is at Montreal. Montreal is 5-0 in division play. Everything points to a Montreal division championship.
………………………………..
Cleveland – The Clawz rebounded and reclaimed its distinction to be the hottest team in football – winning seven of the last eight. There are no recent injuries and the defense is in another universe.
Iowa City The Snipe Hunters lost to Dakota last week> They also lost two more starters on an already banged up squad.
:!: - Cleveland has a walk in the park and earns a wild card berth.
__________________________________________________ ______
:arrow:AC-South
Murfreesboro We don’t think that the Mules have anything to play for even if they tie a Portland regular season record of 11-5. They would lose the tie breaker for the #2 seed because of a loss head-to-head. But they are the South Champs and will host a wild card game.
vs.
St. Louis Mathematically, the Cardinals can still claim a wild card. The chances are so remote that we will not belabor visiting the scenario for that to happen.
:!: - St. Louis is playing good football and we see the Cardinal to close out the season with a win.
……………………………………………..
Houston A little late for the Renegades who are also playing good football at the conclusion of the regular season. are also only two games back and have won their last two. They also have a must win against the Mules. One of the premiere games of the week!
vs.
Louisiana “ The #2 Pick -- here we come” … “Oh, wait a minute, we traded that away” Well the current owner of that pick and two other first rounders is no other than the Newark Bulldogs. Jester must be loving that! Anyway, the Voodoo and out voodooed themselves and will need some voodoo magic to salvage an effort next year as well.
:!: - Houston, Houston, Houston.
__________________________________________________ __________________
:arrow:AC-East
West Virginia The Beasts’ will play the big game for the IFL record books - an undefeated regular season … something that has never occurred in IFL history.
vs.
Chicago The Crusaders will be travelling to WV. We’ll see how many of them play hookey and don’t board the plane.
:!: - Go ahead a put in the books so that the ink will have dried by the time the game is played.
……………………………………..
Norfolk The Vipers were in the driver’s seat for a wild card berth last week and even with the loss last week, they still will claim a wild card with a win on Sunday. If they lose, they are out for sure.
vs.
Hartford The Whales are struggling as they have lost the last two weeks. A win would be a moral victory to knock out their division rivals.
:!: - The Vipers’ bite is just too strong for any antidote to be effective.
__________________________________________________ __________
:arrow:AC-West
Portland The Seals have locked up the #2 seed. Starters are sunning in Florida as the backups make the trip to Anchorage this weekend.
vs.
Anchorage The Lynx would like to win and possibly move out of the cellar of the West.
:!: - The Portland back-ups play a good game and doom the Lynx to remain in the cellar.
…………………………………………………..
Los Angeles. Like the Cardinal, the moon needs to align with Jupiter and so on and so forth. Yes, LA is mathematically viable for the postseason but the coroner is in the wings, ready to pronounce.
vs.
Fresno A season to forget.
:!: - Expectations were high for both of these teams at the beginning of the season. This game could be close but we think that the Matadors will take the final bow.
__________________________________________________ _
:arrow:NC-North – Pennsylvania the Lions must win and Vancouver or Lawrence needs to lose in order to claim one of the top two seeds. The Lions fall short on a tie breaker via their head-to-head game earlier in the season against Vancouver but come up roses via their head-to-head game against the Phantoms.
vs.
Lansing The Orgres have been lackluster in the final push for a playoff berth. Six week ago, and we thought they were a lock. A loss and an Orlando win have them watching the playoffs on their TV sets.
:!: - Lansing won the first match … there is a lot riding on this game for both teams … it will be close … Lansing sneaks by to win the second match and secures the wild card. Penn will host a wild card and it just may be against the Orgres for a third game of the season.
………………………………
Madison Madison is on a five game losing streak.
vs.
Dakota Dakota has won three of the last four.
:!: - Dakota is playing better, will win this game, but will remain ½ game behind Madison for the cellar position.
___________________________________________
:arrow:NC-South
Georgia Currently on top of the division at 7-8 and tied in record with Little Rock and Tulsa. Only one moves forward to the playoffs as the South Champ.
vs.
Texas Texas won last week and will not go winless for the 2021 season. Whew. Their next goal is that #1 draft pick – that should not be too hard. It just requires another loss.
:!: - The pressure is now off and Texas can go back to business, as usual. Meet the 2021 South Champs Georgia Generals. We have to go back to 2012 when Tulsa was not the division champ – this ends eight years in a row … wow! We are not sure, but we think that is a record … too lazy to look it up but we know that Tarcone will not fail to set the record straight.
……………………………………………….
Little Rock A little too late for the Toads.
vs.
Tulsa Also, a little too late for the TigerHawks
:!: - TigerHawks end an era on a good note.
______________________________________________
:arrow:NC-East
Lawrence The Phantoms win - #1 seed. The Phantoms lose and Penn wins - #2.
vs.
Orlando Orlando wins and Lansing loses – wildcard.
:!: - Orlando thrashed Lawrence earlier in the season 34-7. We think they will sneak past again but will come ½ game short of gaining a playoff spot as we think that Lansing will upset Penn. But what do we know … the Pirates better play all out because our projections are just wild hunches on our part.
………………………………………..
Newark the Bulldogs will host a wild card game.
vs.
Vermont Not the best of seasons for the Mountaineers.
:!: - Despite the resting of key players, the Bulldogs still have too much for the Mountaineers.
___________________________________________
:arrow:NC-West
Vancouver The Killer Whales will lock up the #2 seed with a win. If they lose, they will need for the Lions to also stumble so that they can still claim that slot.
Vs.
Reno Argot: “Now what could I have done different to get that #1 pick?”
:!: The Killer Whales will rest on the first week of the playoffs.
.................................................. ....
Salt Lake City The Stallions were up and sown all season.
vs.
Oakland The Assassins have seemed to find something here at the end of the season.
:!: - This game looks to be a free-for-all and your guess is as good as ours. Perhaps the league will see its second tie of the season.
Well that ends our coverage of the regular season. Good luck to those that travel on to the next stage and better luck to those that don't (for next season).
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