JB's Season 15 Playoff Extravaganza
Western Conference
1 Texoma Bay Pirates (16-0) vs. 8 Bridgetown RumRunners (8-8)
Last year, the Bay Pirates took down Wellington in the penultimate game of the regular season. This upset was a harbinger of the season to come. After an 11-5 campaign that ended in a first round playoff loss to Athens, the Pirates lead the Western Conference from wire to wire, putting together a 16-0 campaign that included a 55-37 drubbing of their rivals, the Athens Minotaurs. Their 16 game run is the 2nd longest in Casual Pro history, behind Diablo's 36 and counting. Looking for a spot in the title game, they'll have to get through the Bridgetown RumRunners, who followed up their 9-7 S14 campaign with an 8-8 record that secured them the eighth and final spot in the playoffs for the second straight year. Although the RumRunners are always tough, I think that the Pirates have shown themselves to be the class of the Western Conference, and should advance easily. Last year the Rum Runners beat the Pirates 30-25 in a battle of the bucaneers. Texoma took this year's regular season matchup 59-14, and I think you can expect a similar result.
Prediction: Texoma Bay Pirates, 65-21
2 Athens Minotaurs (15-1) vs. 7 Baltimore Fuggers (11-5)
Last year the Minotaurs made a valient run to the Western Conference title game, ultimately losing to the Gridiron Armageddon. Following their 4th place finish last year, the Minotaurs added another 15 wins to the record, leaving them at 28-4, and the best record of any team in the Western Conference during the first two years of the league. As well, they added a Runner Up trophy in the Casual Addicts Tournament. After finishing a game out of the playoffs last year, the Baltimore Fuggers put together an excellent campaign and improved 3 wins from last year, ending up with an impressive 11-5 record the speaks to the depth clustered at the top of the Western Conference. The Fuggers have one of the best passing attacks in the game, but the Minotaurs have beaten them twice already this year, both times in convincing fashion. I expect Athens to move on.
Prediction: Athens Minotaurs, 55-35.
3 Gridiron Phantoms (14-2) vs. 6 GLB Most Wanted (11-5)
After a "down" year for the Phantoms, where they only racked up 10 wins and lost in the first round of the playoffs to eventual Western champion, Gridiron Armageddon, the Phantoms roared back to life in Season 15, rolling up a 14-2 record and an impressive stand against the Diablo Dots during the Casual Addicts Tournament. With one of the best running attacks in the game, and an impressive defense that's often overlooked, the Phantoms look to be ready to challenge for the Western crown. Standing in their way are the GLB Most Wanted's, a team that's perhaps the feistiest and toughest in the league. With only 42 players on their roster, the Most Wanted have shown that depth isn't always the answer, as they followed up their 3rd place finish in Season 14 with an 11-5 record and a playoff spot despite recruiting problems. Look for them to rely on newly crowned MVP Muncie Corbin to get their offense rolling. That said, I think the Phantoms have demonstrated their depth and talent is too much for the Most Wanted to overcome.
Prediction: Gridiron Phantoms, 48-14.
4 Macon Bacon (12-4) vs. 5 Wellington Spitfires (11-5)
Macon Bacon was a newcomer to the league this year, and although they'd represented the Western Conference in the Casual AAA #1 league last year, no one knew they'd be this good. In their inaugural season, the Baconators walloped all but 4 of the seasoned and established teams they played this year. Demonstrating the skill of their coordinators, these Meat Strips followed a 94-6 early season destruction by the Athens Minotaurs with a respectable 34-28 loss during a scrimmage game. Said Athens owner Joseph Blitz, "I thought we had them figured out, but they showed their resilience and trickiness by almost playing us to a draw." The Wellington Spitfires are one of the most decorated teams in Casual history. In addition to their championship seasons in S13, S12, S9, their Eastern Conference championship in S8, they also won the Casual Addicts tournament 3 years running, from Season 12 to Season 14. Although they aged quickly last season and went down to the Athens Minotaurs in the second round, they regrouped to go 11-5 this year, and despite not having the impressive depth of years past, are still a dangerous opponent. In fact, because of the skill of McDuffy, the resilience of the Spitfires, and the tremendous amount of pride they have in their team, this is my only upset prediction for the first round in the Western Conference.
Prediction: Wellington Spitfires, 21-20.
Eastern Conference
1 Diablo Dots (16-0) vs 8 New York Kings (8-8)
What else is there to be said about Diablo? The lone trophy missing from their impressive case was captured this year, as they took home gold in the Casual Addicts tournament. Their streak stands at 76 straight wins, and their lone loss this year, scrimmage or otherwise, was to the WL team C-town Hoodlums, a game in which Diablo acquitted themselves quite impressively. Their closest game all season was a 75-10 win over the Wild Thangs, and their KR/PR picked up his first MVP trophy (this reporter won't even GO INTO Season 14's PUNTERGATE scandal). The New York Kings followed up their 15-1 Season 14 effort in Casual AAA #1 with a solid 8-8 record and a playoff spot in their first shot at Casual Pro. They lost to Diablo 150-10 earlier in the season, and I think that they'll have to spend some time reflecting during their quickly approaching offseason, as I expect them to lose again tonight.
Prediction: Diablo Dots, 115-3.
2 Wild Thangs (15-1) vs. 7 North Dakota Bison (9-7)
Other than the Diablo Dots, no team in the Eastern Conference is stronger than the Wild Thangs, who ended last season bitterly by giving up 14 points in the 4th quarter to the Cozumel Jedi Knights in the 2nd round of the playoffs. This season, look for them to make it to at least the Eastern Conference title game, where they should face their nemesis, the Diablo Dots. The Wild Thangs destroyed teams at will this year, and even placed 3rd in the Casual Addicts Tournament. The North Dakota Bison followed their 8-8 Season 14 campaign with a 9-7 record. Last year they were crushed by the Diablo Dots in the first round, but this year their season started strong, as they surprised the Athens Minotaurs in the preseason, before eventually going on to a solid regular season. The Wild Thangs are a little too strong for them, however, but considering their preseason upset, you never know.
Prediction: Wild Thangs, 60-14.
3 Cozumel Jedi Knights (14-2) vs. 6 Great Lakes Wolfpack (9-7)
The Cozumel Jedi Knights have long been one of the best teams in the Casual Leagues, their lack of sweet sweet gold notwithstanding. In fact, besides the Diablo Dots (who stand at 32-0), no team has been better than the Jedi Knights in the Casual Pro leagues--their 29-3 record over the first two years of Casual Pro tie them with the Wild Thangs for the second best record in the game. They have perhaps the best running game in the entire league, as last year's Eastern Conference offensive MVP Eaton Beaver stepped up to capture his second straight title. Hot on his heels was last year's Western Conference MVP HB Toadie Flex, who had as fine a season as he's ever had to finish as MVP-Runner Up. Meeting them in the first round is the Great Lakes Wolfpack, who had a successful run through last year's Casual AAA #1 playoffs before losing to eventual champion UH OH Squad in the Eastern Conference finals. This year they proved their worthiness by finishing in 6th place in the Eastern Conference. A rough schedule never allowed them to gain any momentum, but they nevertheless battled hard. The Jedi Knights ended their season on a 10 win streak, and I don't see any reason they shouldn't run it to 11.
Prediction: Cozumel Jedi Knights, 85-21.
4 UH OH Sqaud (12-4) vs. 5 Bay Area Bulls (12-4)
Along with Macon Bacon, the UH OH Squad proved themselves to be one of the few Casual AAA teams to be worthy of Casual Pro's competition, as they ran up a 12-4 record that, had the Gods of Chance been a little more favorable, easily been 13-3 (they lost to the Gridiron Phantoms in their cross-conference game). The Squad boasts the league's Defensive MVP, DE Deebo Washington, who has been an absolute beast all season. In their lone game against the Bulls this year, Washington racked up 5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles to lead the UH OH's to a 34-27 victory. The Bay Area Bulls moved up one spot in the rankings from last year, finishing this season with 2 more wins and a 5-seed. Last year they were blanked in the first round, as the Wild Thangs beat up on them, and Season 15 will leave them still without a single trophy on their team page, as I expect them to fall to the Squad.
Prediction: UH OH Squad, 30-17.
I'll have a write-up after tonight's games. Let's get this started!
Western Conference
1 Texoma Bay Pirates (16-0) vs. 8 Bridgetown RumRunners (8-8)
Last year, the Bay Pirates took down Wellington in the penultimate game of the regular season. This upset was a harbinger of the season to come. After an 11-5 campaign that ended in a first round playoff loss to Athens, the Pirates lead the Western Conference from wire to wire, putting together a 16-0 campaign that included a 55-37 drubbing of their rivals, the Athens Minotaurs. Their 16 game run is the 2nd longest in Casual Pro history, behind Diablo's 36 and counting. Looking for a spot in the title game, they'll have to get through the Bridgetown RumRunners, who followed up their 9-7 S14 campaign with an 8-8 record that secured them the eighth and final spot in the playoffs for the second straight year. Although the RumRunners are always tough, I think that the Pirates have shown themselves to be the class of the Western Conference, and should advance easily. Last year the Rum Runners beat the Pirates 30-25 in a battle of the bucaneers. Texoma took this year's regular season matchup 59-14, and I think you can expect a similar result.
Prediction: Texoma Bay Pirates, 65-21
2 Athens Minotaurs (15-1) vs. 7 Baltimore Fuggers (11-5)
Last year the Minotaurs made a valient run to the Western Conference title game, ultimately losing to the Gridiron Armageddon. Following their 4th place finish last year, the Minotaurs added another 15 wins to the record, leaving them at 28-4, and the best record of any team in the Western Conference during the first two years of the league. As well, they added a Runner Up trophy in the Casual Addicts Tournament. After finishing a game out of the playoffs last year, the Baltimore Fuggers put together an excellent campaign and improved 3 wins from last year, ending up with an impressive 11-5 record the speaks to the depth clustered at the top of the Western Conference. The Fuggers have one of the best passing attacks in the game, but the Minotaurs have beaten them twice already this year, both times in convincing fashion. I expect Athens to move on.
Prediction: Athens Minotaurs, 55-35.
3 Gridiron Phantoms (14-2) vs. 6 GLB Most Wanted (11-5)
After a "down" year for the Phantoms, where they only racked up 10 wins and lost in the first round of the playoffs to eventual Western champion, Gridiron Armageddon, the Phantoms roared back to life in Season 15, rolling up a 14-2 record and an impressive stand against the Diablo Dots during the Casual Addicts Tournament. With one of the best running attacks in the game, and an impressive defense that's often overlooked, the Phantoms look to be ready to challenge for the Western crown. Standing in their way are the GLB Most Wanted's, a team that's perhaps the feistiest and toughest in the league. With only 42 players on their roster, the Most Wanted have shown that depth isn't always the answer, as they followed up their 3rd place finish in Season 14 with an 11-5 record and a playoff spot despite recruiting problems. Look for them to rely on newly crowned MVP Muncie Corbin to get their offense rolling. That said, I think the Phantoms have demonstrated their depth and talent is too much for the Most Wanted to overcome.
Prediction: Gridiron Phantoms, 48-14.
4 Macon Bacon (12-4) vs. 5 Wellington Spitfires (11-5)
Macon Bacon was a newcomer to the league this year, and although they'd represented the Western Conference in the Casual AAA #1 league last year, no one knew they'd be this good. In their inaugural season, the Baconators walloped all but 4 of the seasoned and established teams they played this year. Demonstrating the skill of their coordinators, these Meat Strips followed a 94-6 early season destruction by the Athens Minotaurs with a respectable 34-28 loss during a scrimmage game. Said Athens owner Joseph Blitz, "I thought we had them figured out, but they showed their resilience and trickiness by almost playing us to a draw." The Wellington Spitfires are one of the most decorated teams in Casual history. In addition to their championship seasons in S13, S12, S9, their Eastern Conference championship in S8, they also won the Casual Addicts tournament 3 years running, from Season 12 to Season 14. Although they aged quickly last season and went down to the Athens Minotaurs in the second round, they regrouped to go 11-5 this year, and despite not having the impressive depth of years past, are still a dangerous opponent. In fact, because of the skill of McDuffy, the resilience of the Spitfires, and the tremendous amount of pride they have in their team, this is my only upset prediction for the first round in the Western Conference.
Prediction: Wellington Spitfires, 21-20.
Eastern Conference
1 Diablo Dots (16-0) vs 8 New York Kings (8-8)
What else is there to be said about Diablo? The lone trophy missing from their impressive case was captured this year, as they took home gold in the Casual Addicts tournament. Their streak stands at 76 straight wins, and their lone loss this year, scrimmage or otherwise, was to the WL team C-town Hoodlums, a game in which Diablo acquitted themselves quite impressively. Their closest game all season was a 75-10 win over the Wild Thangs, and their KR/PR picked up his first MVP trophy (this reporter won't even GO INTO Season 14's PUNTERGATE scandal). The New York Kings followed up their 15-1 Season 14 effort in Casual AAA #1 with a solid 8-8 record and a playoff spot in their first shot at Casual Pro. They lost to Diablo 150-10 earlier in the season, and I think that they'll have to spend some time reflecting during their quickly approaching offseason, as I expect them to lose again tonight.
Prediction: Diablo Dots, 115-3.
2 Wild Thangs (15-1) vs. 7 North Dakota Bison (9-7)
Other than the Diablo Dots, no team in the Eastern Conference is stronger than the Wild Thangs, who ended last season bitterly by giving up 14 points in the 4th quarter to the Cozumel Jedi Knights in the 2nd round of the playoffs. This season, look for them to make it to at least the Eastern Conference title game, where they should face their nemesis, the Diablo Dots. The Wild Thangs destroyed teams at will this year, and even placed 3rd in the Casual Addicts Tournament. The North Dakota Bison followed their 8-8 Season 14 campaign with a 9-7 record. Last year they were crushed by the Diablo Dots in the first round, but this year their season started strong, as they surprised the Athens Minotaurs in the preseason, before eventually going on to a solid regular season. The Wild Thangs are a little too strong for them, however, but considering their preseason upset, you never know.
Prediction: Wild Thangs, 60-14.
3 Cozumel Jedi Knights (14-2) vs. 6 Great Lakes Wolfpack (9-7)
The Cozumel Jedi Knights have long been one of the best teams in the Casual Leagues, their lack of sweet sweet gold notwithstanding. In fact, besides the Diablo Dots (who stand at 32-0), no team has been better than the Jedi Knights in the Casual Pro leagues--their 29-3 record over the first two years of Casual Pro tie them with the Wild Thangs for the second best record in the game. They have perhaps the best running game in the entire league, as last year's Eastern Conference offensive MVP Eaton Beaver stepped up to capture his second straight title. Hot on his heels was last year's Western Conference MVP HB Toadie Flex, who had as fine a season as he's ever had to finish as MVP-Runner Up. Meeting them in the first round is the Great Lakes Wolfpack, who had a successful run through last year's Casual AAA #1 playoffs before losing to eventual champion UH OH Squad in the Eastern Conference finals. This year they proved their worthiness by finishing in 6th place in the Eastern Conference. A rough schedule never allowed them to gain any momentum, but they nevertheless battled hard. The Jedi Knights ended their season on a 10 win streak, and I don't see any reason they shouldn't run it to 11.
Prediction: Cozumel Jedi Knights, 85-21.
4 UH OH Sqaud (12-4) vs. 5 Bay Area Bulls (12-4)
Along with Macon Bacon, the UH OH Squad proved themselves to be one of the few Casual AAA teams to be worthy of Casual Pro's competition, as they ran up a 12-4 record that, had the Gods of Chance been a little more favorable, easily been 13-3 (they lost to the Gridiron Phantoms in their cross-conference game). The Squad boasts the league's Defensive MVP, DE Deebo Washington, who has been an absolute beast all season. In their lone game against the Bulls this year, Washington racked up 5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles to lead the UH OH's to a 34-27 victory. The Bay Area Bulls moved up one spot in the rankings from last year, finishing this season with 2 more wins and a 5-seed. Last year they were blanked in the first round, as the Wild Thangs beat up on them, and Season 15 will leave them still without a single trophy on their team page, as I expect them to fall to the Squad.
Prediction: UH OH Squad, 30-17.
I'll have a write-up after tonight's games. Let's get this started!
Edited by josephblitz on May 9, 2010 14:56:34
Edited by josephblitz on May 9, 2010 14:55:56
