Playoff Match-ups
ALPHA
#8 lolgm Trophy Whores (9-7) @ #1 Steel City Mafia (15-1)
RSM - (66-12) Mafia
Highlights> A game controlled by the Mafia from the start. TOP was heavy in SCM's favor. Whores like to throw and throw and didn't even try to run the ball. You name it and the Mafia controlled it in this one.
Thoughts> SCM brings the back to back Defensive MVP into this game _Kevin Greene_ who leads the #1 rush defense of the Mafia. The Whores bring the top passing game in the league to the table and will try to overcome the 3rd ranked pass defense of the Mafia. SCM has an OK offense and OK ST's, but both are better than the ehh defense and ehh ST's of the Whores. The Whores are just not set up to win yet at this level and with no rushing attack will struggle to control the clock. All the passing could get them a few scores and I see this one as being closer than the RSM.
Prediction> SCM can run the ball and control the clock which in the playoffs is a huge key <45-21 SCM>
#7 Kung Fu Island Ers (10-6) @ #2 Sterling Bulldogs (15-1)
RSM - (34-0) Bulldogs
Highlights> Bulldogs did whatever they wanted in this game and I am surprised the score wasn't worse than it was. Effective running game, high percentage passing, ST's TD, no penalties. Everything seemed to go the Bulldogs way. Kung Fu just couldn't get anything going on the ground, threw an INT, and had 4 penalties. Opposite of Sterling.
Thoughts> Sterling finished with only one loss for a reason. They finished with a top 3 offense and a top 3 defense. Kung Fu just didn't excel in any aspect of the game this season. Sterling forced a good amount of turnovers and dominated most teams they played, while Kung Fu lost to all top teams as well as a team that didn't even make the playoffs. Just too many holes to fill for Kung Fu and not enough to fill them.
Prediction> Sterling has a repeat of the first match-up only they finish off what they started more times than last game <45-3 Bulldogs>
#6 New Orleans Hoodoo Voodoo (11-5) @ #3 Las Vegas White Tigers (14-2)
RSM - (52-27) White Tigers
Highlights> I wouldn't put a whole lot of stock into this result. Very questionable tactics had the Voodoo throwing the ball 12 times with their HB. Last game of the season against a possible first round opponent means that niether team probably tried too hard to win this game.
Thoughts> Tigers bring the Offensive MVP Cory Cruz to this game, leading their 2nd ranked rushing attack, against the 4th ranked defense of the the Voodoo. Both teams have a top 10 defense, but the biggest difference in this game is that the Voodoo either don't try on offense or are just inconsistent cause they are ranked in the middle for offense. Both teams have an ehh ST's unit. Hoodoo has played the top teams very tough and the Tigers are a top team with their only two losses coming against 15-1 teams. Can the Hoodoo contain the O MVP in a game that counts or will it be more of the same?
Prediction> Not enough offense by New Orleans will spell their doom in the first round, but this game will be much lower scoring than the last game of the season <21-17 Tigers>
#5 Mozambique Mercenaries (11-5) @ #4 Greyling Goblins (13-3)
RSM - (24-13) Goblins
Highlights> Total yards was prtty even, but the Mercenaries needed a lot of passes to do so and only completed about 40% of their passes. Ground game was pretty even. The biggest difference was a PR TD by the Goblins late in the game to really drive the nail in the coffin.
Thoughts> Goblins bring in a whole ST's unit that ranked first in both KR and PR, lead by ST's MVP Prime Toe. That will be the biggest difference in this game. The Mercenaries are one of those teams that don't seem to excel in any one area, but also have no glaring holes. Goblins are pretty average when it comes to offense and defense, but will kill you with Prime Toe. You control Prime, you control the Goblins. The Mercs don't have a very strong run game and try to throw the ball, they may get lucky with a few deep passes that failed in the first game.
Prediction: As much as I would like to predict a first round loss for the Goblins, they have too much Toe for the Mercs < 24-21 Goblins>
ZETA
#8 Green Bay PaBrEas (8-8) @ #1 ECKO BLACK (15-1)
RSM - (65-0) BLACK
Highlights> The game was a little closer than the score would indicate, but dominated by BLACK. 4 PR for TD's will kill any team regardless of what the other stats would show. For not scoring any points the PaBrEas moved the ball pretty well thru the air, but got nothing on the ground.
Thoughts> BLACK brings in the ST's MVP The Birdman Stroud and the Defensive MVP Troy Polulamu. This game is actually a game of strengths vs. strengths. ECKO has the 3rd ranked passing offense, but Green Bay has the 3rd ranked pass D. GB has the 3rd ranked run offense, but ECKO has the 3rd ranked run D. The difference in this game is certainly the ST's where ECKO is in the top 5 for KR/PR while GB is in the bottom third for both.
Prediction> I see more of the same in this one, but the score is a little closer than the first time, but not by much < 56-7 BLACK>
#7 Quebec Nordic Knights (8-8) @ #2 Lake Opeta Legionnaires (14-2)
RSM - (45-3) Legionnaires
Highlights> Total domination by the Legionnaires and their ground game and TOP. Knights were sacked 7 times on only 31 drop backs and only completed 10 of 24 when they did get one off.
Thoughts: Legionnaires bring in the Zeta Offensive MVP Bo Jefferson. Just too much domination in the first match-up to overcome IMO. Opeta sports the #1 rushing attack in the whole league, which equates to controlling the clock and demoralizing their opponent. Knights don't really do anything that jumps out at you but doesn't do anything bad either. Legionnaires also have a top 10 D.
Prediction> Much of the same as the first meeting, barring something screwy <45-7 Legionnaires>
#6 Beers Of The World (8-8) @ #3 Austin Panthers (14-2)
RSM - (27-13) Panthers
Highlights> World jumped out to a 10-0 lead but couldn't hang on as the Panthers came storming back with 20 unanswered points before the World kicked a FG to stop the bleeding, but by then it was too late.
Thoughts> World seems to have the better running game, but the Panthers are better in virtually every aspect of the game. Panthers are the hottest team in all of Elite #2 coming in with a 14 game win streak after dropping their first two games to teams with a combined record 27-5. Panthers seem to have the better ST's also with the 3rd best KR team in the league.
Prediction> This game is closer than the first one, but the 8-8 World have too many area to overcome <31-28 Panthers>
#5 Shaolin Wu Tang Killa Bees (12-4) @ #4 Cape Town Great Whites (13-3)
RSM - (27-20) Great Whites
Highlights > Game was dominated by the Killa Bees in the form of total yards and TOP, but the Whites had the much stronger ST's which gave them two PR for TD's to lead them to victory
Thoughts> Great Whites seemed to get stronger as the season wore on, finishing with 10 straight victories. Killa Bees played some tough games late and came up short. Whites seem to have the better run defense while the Bees sport the better Pass defense. Both teams have a higher ranking passing the ball on offense than running, but both have dangerous run games. ST's seems to be the main difference here, with the Whites having the 3rd best PR team in the league. While the Bees have a better KR game, it's not as big an advantage as the Whites have with their PR game.
Prediction> Bees hold the Whites ST's in check and flip the score from the regular season < 27-20 Bees>
These are just glimpses of the playoff match-ups since they are the first round. I do wish all teams good luck and hope for the teams I pick to lose that I am wrong for your sake (except the Whores
)
ALPHA
#8 lolgm Trophy Whores (9-7) @ #1 Steel City Mafia (15-1)
RSM - (66-12) Mafia
Highlights> A game controlled by the Mafia from the start. TOP was heavy in SCM's favor. Whores like to throw and throw and didn't even try to run the ball. You name it and the Mafia controlled it in this one.
Thoughts> SCM brings the back to back Defensive MVP into this game _Kevin Greene_ who leads the #1 rush defense of the Mafia. The Whores bring the top passing game in the league to the table and will try to overcome the 3rd ranked pass defense of the Mafia. SCM has an OK offense and OK ST's, but both are better than the ehh defense and ehh ST's of the Whores. The Whores are just not set up to win yet at this level and with no rushing attack will struggle to control the clock. All the passing could get them a few scores and I see this one as being closer than the RSM.
Prediction> SCM can run the ball and control the clock which in the playoffs is a huge key <45-21 SCM>
#7 Kung Fu Island Ers (10-6) @ #2 Sterling Bulldogs (15-1)
RSM - (34-0) Bulldogs
Highlights> Bulldogs did whatever they wanted in this game and I am surprised the score wasn't worse than it was. Effective running game, high percentage passing, ST's TD, no penalties. Everything seemed to go the Bulldogs way. Kung Fu just couldn't get anything going on the ground, threw an INT, and had 4 penalties. Opposite of Sterling.
Thoughts> Sterling finished with only one loss for a reason. They finished with a top 3 offense and a top 3 defense. Kung Fu just didn't excel in any aspect of the game this season. Sterling forced a good amount of turnovers and dominated most teams they played, while Kung Fu lost to all top teams as well as a team that didn't even make the playoffs. Just too many holes to fill for Kung Fu and not enough to fill them.
Prediction> Sterling has a repeat of the first match-up only they finish off what they started more times than last game <45-3 Bulldogs>
#6 New Orleans Hoodoo Voodoo (11-5) @ #3 Las Vegas White Tigers (14-2)
RSM - (52-27) White Tigers
Highlights> I wouldn't put a whole lot of stock into this result. Very questionable tactics had the Voodoo throwing the ball 12 times with their HB. Last game of the season against a possible first round opponent means that niether team probably tried too hard to win this game.
Thoughts> Tigers bring the Offensive MVP Cory Cruz to this game, leading their 2nd ranked rushing attack, against the 4th ranked defense of the the Voodoo. Both teams have a top 10 defense, but the biggest difference in this game is that the Voodoo either don't try on offense or are just inconsistent cause they are ranked in the middle for offense. Both teams have an ehh ST's unit. Hoodoo has played the top teams very tough and the Tigers are a top team with their only two losses coming against 15-1 teams. Can the Hoodoo contain the O MVP in a game that counts or will it be more of the same?
Prediction> Not enough offense by New Orleans will spell their doom in the first round, but this game will be much lower scoring than the last game of the season <21-17 Tigers>
#5 Mozambique Mercenaries (11-5) @ #4 Greyling Goblins (13-3)
RSM - (24-13) Goblins
Highlights> Total yards was prtty even, but the Mercenaries needed a lot of passes to do so and only completed about 40% of their passes. Ground game was pretty even. The biggest difference was a PR TD by the Goblins late in the game to really drive the nail in the coffin.
Thoughts> Goblins bring in a whole ST's unit that ranked first in both KR and PR, lead by ST's MVP Prime Toe. That will be the biggest difference in this game. The Mercenaries are one of those teams that don't seem to excel in any one area, but also have no glaring holes. Goblins are pretty average when it comes to offense and defense, but will kill you with Prime Toe. You control Prime, you control the Goblins. The Mercs don't have a very strong run game and try to throw the ball, they may get lucky with a few deep passes that failed in the first game.
Prediction: As much as I would like to predict a first round loss for the Goblins, they have too much Toe for the Mercs < 24-21 Goblins>
ZETA
#8 Green Bay PaBrEas (8-8) @ #1 ECKO BLACK (15-1)
RSM - (65-0) BLACK
Highlights> The game was a little closer than the score would indicate, but dominated by BLACK. 4 PR for TD's will kill any team regardless of what the other stats would show. For not scoring any points the PaBrEas moved the ball pretty well thru the air, but got nothing on the ground.
Thoughts> BLACK brings in the ST's MVP The Birdman Stroud and the Defensive MVP Troy Polulamu. This game is actually a game of strengths vs. strengths. ECKO has the 3rd ranked passing offense, but Green Bay has the 3rd ranked pass D. GB has the 3rd ranked run offense, but ECKO has the 3rd ranked run D. The difference in this game is certainly the ST's where ECKO is in the top 5 for KR/PR while GB is in the bottom third for both.
Prediction> I see more of the same in this one, but the score is a little closer than the first time, but not by much < 56-7 BLACK>
#7 Quebec Nordic Knights (8-8) @ #2 Lake Opeta Legionnaires (14-2)
RSM - (45-3) Legionnaires
Highlights> Total domination by the Legionnaires and their ground game and TOP. Knights were sacked 7 times on only 31 drop backs and only completed 10 of 24 when they did get one off.
Thoughts: Legionnaires bring in the Zeta Offensive MVP Bo Jefferson. Just too much domination in the first match-up to overcome IMO. Opeta sports the #1 rushing attack in the whole league, which equates to controlling the clock and demoralizing their opponent. Knights don't really do anything that jumps out at you but doesn't do anything bad either. Legionnaires also have a top 10 D.
Prediction> Much of the same as the first meeting, barring something screwy <45-7 Legionnaires>
#6 Beers Of The World (8-8) @ #3 Austin Panthers (14-2)
RSM - (27-13) Panthers
Highlights> World jumped out to a 10-0 lead but couldn't hang on as the Panthers came storming back with 20 unanswered points before the World kicked a FG to stop the bleeding, but by then it was too late.
Thoughts> World seems to have the better running game, but the Panthers are better in virtually every aspect of the game. Panthers are the hottest team in all of Elite #2 coming in with a 14 game win streak after dropping their first two games to teams with a combined record 27-5. Panthers seem to have the better ST's also with the 3rd best KR team in the league.
Prediction> This game is closer than the first one, but the 8-8 World have too many area to overcome <31-28 Panthers>
#5 Shaolin Wu Tang Killa Bees (12-4) @ #4 Cape Town Great Whites (13-3)
RSM - (27-20) Great Whites
Highlights > Game was dominated by the Killa Bees in the form of total yards and TOP, but the Whites had the much stronger ST's which gave them two PR for TD's to lead them to victory
Thoughts> Great Whites seemed to get stronger as the season wore on, finishing with 10 straight victories. Killa Bees played some tough games late and came up short. Whites seem to have the better run defense while the Bees sport the better Pass defense. Both teams have a higher ranking passing the ball on offense than running, but both have dangerous run games. ST's seems to be the main difference here, with the Whites having the 3rd best PR team in the league. While the Bees have a better KR game, it's not as big an advantage as the Whites have with their PR game.
Prediction> Bees hold the Whites ST's in check and flip the score from the regular season < 27-20 Bees>
These are just glimpses of the playoff match-ups since they are the first round. I do wish all teams good luck and hope for the teams I pick to lose that I am wrong for your sake (except the Whores
)Edited by 7steeladonis on Feb 18, 2011 22:15:17
