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:!: Week 16 is now done and with its results, there is a little better focus on the playoff picture. There are a few with their positions established but there are still a lot of teams that "want to be in that number."
The final week is upon us. The regular season will be complete this Sunday and the playoff picture will be clear. I will try to make heads or tails of this picture!!
American Conference Observations:
Teams out of the hunt: after meeting the Vermont Juggernaught, Anchorage joins the list of "next years".
Wichita, Iowa City, Louisiana, Houston, St. Louis, Hartford, Fresno and Los Angeles and Anchorage.
:shoot: SPRINT for a BYE: Montreal (13-2), Portland (11-3). At this point I'm pretty confident that both Portland and Montreal have locked up byes. Homefield throughout, I belive, is Montreal's based on their conference and division record. Both of their losses were to NC opponents.
:!: Montreal has won the division, won a bye and has won home field advantage (We are concerned however that the game does not show a dark red dot by the team's name for the division championship.
just messing Chris. I believe that you can relax this Sunday)
:!: Portland defeated a very underrated Lawrence team this weekend, despite resting Jay Caro. Portland has nothing to gain or lose in Week 17. Trivia Bytes believes that Portland's playoff position is locked
:!: Murfreesboro will host a game in the first round of the playoffs, and thus has played their backups in week 16. We believe that to be the case this Sunday also.
:!: Cleveland cannot win their division even if tied with Montreal at the end of the season with identical record of 13-3. We believe that Cleveland has no chance of increasing or decreasing their playoff ranking. Cleveland will be on the road against someone in the first found
oke: The Wild Card SCRUM: Four teams continue to grab and claw in the scrum for any type of leverage for the remaining two playoff slots (the championship of the AC/East and a wild card slot are at stake). West Virginia, Boston and Norfolk.
West Virginia (9-6) West Virginia has its playoff hopes in its own hands. If West Virginia can defeat Hartford for the 2nd time, we believe that they will be in the playoffs. If West Virginia wins, their seeding will be determind by the outcome of their divisionmates games.
Boston (9-6) Boston lost a heartbreaking game in OT against a tough NC playoff team. That said, their week 17 opponent also lost to a tough NC playoff team. Boston holds their destiny in their own hands. A win, and Boston wins the division and will host a playoff game. If they lose, and West Virginia wins, we believe that Boston will not make the playoffs due to a West Virginia's Division record. If they lose and West Virginia loses, Boston will be a road playoff team against Murfreesboro.
Norfolk (9-6) Much like Boston, Norfolk holds it's future in their own hands. Norfolk dropped their game to Tulsa last week ending their 9 game win streak. We still believe that Norfolk is still hot and hold this week's big game at home. Norfolk wins and they're in. A Norfolk loss and West virginia win will put the Vipers at home watching the games from their couch based on divisional records. A Norfolk loss and West Virginia loss gets very interesting. Identical divisional and conference records and split games head to head and also identical record against common opponents. Do we perhaps pull sticks at this point?
National Conference Observations:
Teams out of the hunt: One new team added to the list. Georgia, joins the peanut gallery despite winning for the second straight week. The peanut gallery: Dakota, Lansing, Lawrence, Little Rock, Orlando, Reno, Vancouver, Salt Lake City, Georgia
:shoot: SPRINT for a BYE: Pennsylvania (12-3), Tulsa (12-3) & Newark (12-3) We believe that Oakland does not have a chance at a first round bye. Let's see what the NC bye and homefield looks like.
:!: Newark needs to defeat their archrival to set themselves up for a playoff bye and a chance at homefield throughout. With a Newark win and Pennsylvania loss, Newark will gain homefield throughout. With a Newark win and Pennsylvania win, Newark will settle with a first round bye. With a Newark loss and Tulsa win, Newark will host a wild card game.
:!: Tulsa defeated a tough Norfolk team. Tulsa must win. That is the easiest thing for them. If they win, and Newark loses, they have a bye. Things get very interesting if Tulsa loses and Texas wins. head to head is a PUSH. Divisional record is a PUSH. Conference record is a PUSH. They would also have identical records against common opponents. Perhaps we will be picking straws in this situation also.
:!: Pennsylvania has been rolling all year long. However their playoff seeding comes against their arch rivals, who have also been very hot. A win gives them homefield throughout the playoffs. A loss combined with a Newark and Tulsa win will find the Lions hosting a wildcard game. A loss with either a Newark or Tulsa loss puts the Lions back in a first round bye situation.
:!: Oakland we believe has nothing to gain in playoff seeding. Oakland will be hosting a wildcard playoff game. The only thing they can hope for is their QB Horace Donovan to get healthy for this game.
oke:The Wild Card SCRUM: This is where things get interesting....
Vermont (10-5) Vermont has the chance to be an 11-5 non playoff team. If the season ended today, Vermont would lose out to Madison for the last playoff spot. If Vermont wins and Madison loses, Vermont will travel somewhere for a wildcard game. If Vermont wins and Madison wins, we believe Madison gets the final spot based on what the in game is showing us.
Texas (11-4) Texas is hot, hot, hot. See Tulsa's write up to see Texas's opportunity. We believe that Texas is in no matter what. The interesting thing here is that if Texas wins and Tulsa, Newark, and Pennsylvania lose, Texas was the one NC playoff team to defeat Pennsylvania. We believe that if Texas wins the best they can do is host a wild card game.
Madison (10-5) The Demons just will not die. The Demons, defeated the Firebirds 2nd's in week 16 to set themselves up for a big matchup against their divisional rival. A Madison win will find them in the playoffs and travelling somewhere for a wildcard game. A Madison loss and Vermont win will put the Demons out of playoff contention.
TB picked had a down week picking only 3 of 5 games correct. Overall, TB has picked 16 games correct out of 21 so far. TB will pick all key games for this weekend.
Boston vs. Norfolk It all comes down to this. Throw everything out the window. The playoffs start here for both of these teams. With all things being equal, we believe that the 80,000 people in Norfolk's stadium wll give them the advantage. Norfolk wins in a closely contested matchup.
Madison vs. Pennsylvania This will be another close game. Again, TB is going with the safe bet and going with the home team. TB predicts a 4th qtr game winning drive by Gene Hamilton.
Newark vs. Lawrence These great rivals clash in a meaningless game.....but that does not matter. Lawrence has the opportunity to play spoiler and are at home. Early lines have the Bulldogs as 6pt favorites. TB believes that this game will be much closer than that. Lawrence has lost 5 straight games to close out the season. Very unPhantom like. TB thinks the Bulldogs eek out a close game against what appears to be a Lawrence team that's packed it in. Would Tobias Stanfield have allowed this late season collapse.
other winners......
Hartford in the upset over West Virginia. Look for WV turnovers to Haunt them
Tulsa over Georgia - tune up game for the Tigerhawks
Vermont over Orlando - Vermont to get into the playoffs
Texas over Little Rock - Texas is hot. Look out for these guys in the playoffs.
TB's projected Playoff seedings
AC
Montreal Firebirds
Portland Seals
Murfreesoboro Mules
Norfok Vipers
Cleveland Clawz
Boston Dragons
NC
Pennsylvania Lions
Newark Bulldogs
Tulsa TigerHawks
Oakland DevilDogs
Texas Trojans
Vermont Mountaineers
Good luck to all
disclaimer
TB does not guarantee any of the information above. This is for amusment only. The playoff tiebreakers and scenario's are far too complicated for one person to comprehend
:withstupid:
The final week is upon us. The regular season will be complete this Sunday and the playoff picture will be clear. I will try to make heads or tails of this picture!!American Conference Observations:
Teams out of the hunt: after meeting the Vermont Juggernaught, Anchorage joins the list of "next years". Wichita, Iowa City, Louisiana, Houston, St. Louis, Hartford, Fresno and Los Angeles and Anchorage.
:shoot: SPRINT for a BYE: Montreal (13-2), Portland (11-3). At this point I'm pretty confident that both Portland and Montreal have locked up byes. Homefield throughout, I belive, is Montreal's based on their conference and division record. Both of their losses were to NC opponents.
:!: Montreal has won the division, won a bye and has won home field advantage (We are concerned however that the game does not show a dark red dot by the team's name for the division championship.
just messing Chris. I believe that you can relax this Sunday) :!: Portland defeated a very underrated Lawrence team this weekend, despite resting Jay Caro. Portland has nothing to gain or lose in Week 17. Trivia Bytes believes that Portland's playoff position is locked
:!: Murfreesboro will host a game in the first round of the playoffs, and thus has played their backups in week 16. We believe that to be the case this Sunday also.
:!: Cleveland cannot win their division even if tied with Montreal at the end of the season with identical record of 13-3. We believe that Cleveland has no chance of increasing or decreasing their playoff ranking. Cleveland will be on the road against someone in the first found
oke: The Wild Card SCRUM: Four teams continue to grab and claw in the scrum for any type of leverage for the remaining two playoff slots (the championship of the AC/East and a wild card slot are at stake). West Virginia, Boston and Norfolk. West Virginia (9-6) West Virginia has its playoff hopes in its own hands. If West Virginia can defeat Hartford for the 2nd time, we believe that they will be in the playoffs. If West Virginia wins, their seeding will be determind by the outcome of their divisionmates games.
Boston (9-6) Boston lost a heartbreaking game in OT against a tough NC playoff team. That said, their week 17 opponent also lost to a tough NC playoff team. Boston holds their destiny in their own hands. A win, and Boston wins the division and will host a playoff game. If they lose, and West Virginia wins, we believe that Boston will not make the playoffs due to a West Virginia's Division record. If they lose and West Virginia loses, Boston will be a road playoff team against Murfreesboro.
Norfolk (9-6) Much like Boston, Norfolk holds it's future in their own hands. Norfolk dropped their game to Tulsa last week ending their 9 game win streak. We still believe that Norfolk is still hot and hold this week's big game at home. Norfolk wins and they're in. A Norfolk loss and West virginia win will put the Vipers at home watching the games from their couch based on divisional records. A Norfolk loss and West Virginia loss gets very interesting. Identical divisional and conference records and split games head to head and also identical record against common opponents. Do we perhaps pull sticks at this point?
National Conference Observations:
Teams out of the hunt: One new team added to the list. Georgia, joins the peanut gallery despite winning for the second straight week. The peanut gallery: Dakota, Lansing, Lawrence, Little Rock, Orlando, Reno, Vancouver, Salt Lake City, Georgia:shoot: SPRINT for a BYE: Pennsylvania (12-3), Tulsa (12-3) & Newark (12-3) We believe that Oakland does not have a chance at a first round bye. Let's see what the NC bye and homefield looks like.
:!: Newark needs to defeat their archrival to set themselves up for a playoff bye and a chance at homefield throughout. With a Newark win and Pennsylvania loss, Newark will gain homefield throughout. With a Newark win and Pennsylvania win, Newark will settle with a first round bye. With a Newark loss and Tulsa win, Newark will host a wild card game.
:!: Tulsa defeated a tough Norfolk team. Tulsa must win. That is the easiest thing for them. If they win, and Newark loses, they have a bye. Things get very interesting if Tulsa loses and Texas wins. head to head is a PUSH. Divisional record is a PUSH. Conference record is a PUSH. They would also have identical records against common opponents. Perhaps we will be picking straws in this situation also.
:!: Pennsylvania has been rolling all year long. However their playoff seeding comes against their arch rivals, who have also been very hot. A win gives them homefield throughout the playoffs. A loss combined with a Newark and Tulsa win will find the Lions hosting a wildcard game. A loss with either a Newark or Tulsa loss puts the Lions back in a first round bye situation.
:!: Oakland we believe has nothing to gain in playoff seeding. Oakland will be hosting a wildcard playoff game. The only thing they can hope for is their QB Horace Donovan to get healthy for this game.
oke:The Wild Card SCRUM: This is where things get interesting....Vermont (10-5) Vermont has the chance to be an 11-5 non playoff team. If the season ended today, Vermont would lose out to Madison for the last playoff spot. If Vermont wins and Madison loses, Vermont will travel somewhere for a wildcard game. If Vermont wins and Madison wins, we believe Madison gets the final spot based on what the in game is showing us.
Texas (11-4) Texas is hot, hot, hot. See Tulsa's write up to see Texas's opportunity. We believe that Texas is in no matter what. The interesting thing here is that if Texas wins and Tulsa, Newark, and Pennsylvania lose, Texas was the one NC playoff team to defeat Pennsylvania. We believe that if Texas wins the best they can do is host a wild card game.
Madison (10-5) The Demons just will not die. The Demons, defeated the Firebirds 2nd's in week 16 to set themselves up for a big matchup against their divisional rival. A Madison win will find them in the playoffs and travelling somewhere for a wildcard game. A Madison loss and Vermont win will put the Demons out of playoff contention.
TB picked had a down week picking only 3 of 5 games correct. Overall, TB has picked 16 games correct out of 21 so far. TB will pick all key games for this weekend.Boston vs. Norfolk It all comes down to this. Throw everything out the window. The playoffs start here for both of these teams. With all things being equal, we believe that the 80,000 people in Norfolk's stadium wll give them the advantage. Norfolk wins in a closely contested matchup.
Madison vs. Pennsylvania This will be another close game. Again, TB is going with the safe bet and going with the home team. TB predicts a 4th qtr game winning drive by Gene Hamilton.
Newark vs. Lawrence These great rivals clash in a meaningless game.....but that does not matter. Lawrence has the opportunity to play spoiler and are at home. Early lines have the Bulldogs as 6pt favorites. TB believes that this game will be much closer than that. Lawrence has lost 5 straight games to close out the season. Very unPhantom like. TB thinks the Bulldogs eek out a close game against what appears to be a Lawrence team that's packed it in. Would Tobias Stanfield have allowed this late season collapse.
other winners......
Hartford in the upset over West Virginia. Look for WV turnovers to Haunt them
Tulsa over Georgia - tune up game for the Tigerhawks
Vermont over Orlando - Vermont to get into the playoffs
Texas over Little Rock - Texas is hot. Look out for these guys in the playoffs.
TB's projected Playoff seedings
AC
Montreal Firebirds
Portland Seals
Murfreesoboro Mules
Norfok Vipers
Cleveland Clawz
Boston Dragons
NC
Pennsylvania Lions
Newark Bulldogs
Tulsa TigerHawks
Oakland DevilDogs
Texas Trojans
Vermont Mountaineers
Good luck to all
disclaimer
TB does not guarantee any of the information above. This is for amusment only. The playoff tiebreakers and scenario's are far too complicated for one person to comprehend
:withstupid:
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