Pac-Pro Playoffs Showcase: Round 1
Southeast Asia
(8) OffTopica Word @ (1) Dead Presidents
Obviously we already know this is a ‘one-trick’ pony with a solid defense. They only run the ball, the thing is, to beat them you’ve not only got to be able to shut that down, you have to be able to dominate on offense yourself. No one has been able to do that this season against them. I see no reason that this week is going to be different. OffTopica is a product of CPU competition; in other words, while they’ve “earned” their way to the playoffs, with a tougher division, they might not have eclipsed the four win mark.
Prediction: 75-3
(5) Arkadak Deadliest Warriors @ (4) Springfield Isotopes
Is it mean if I view this as an upset if ADW loses? Seriously, SI won the first meeting by 3 points but have done nothing relevant since, they too are a product of CPU success, perhaps both of these teams are. SI’s statistical rankings are the product of garbage competition, their roster is a product of a long history of continuity. But to me, I just don’t know if they can repeat the 3 point victory over ADW that they got in the regular season..I’m not convinced their roster is really that talented.
Prediction: ADW 21-17
(7) Malaysian Madness @ (2) Palembang Royally Drunken Monks
Let me make this one short and sweet; I do believe that MM will be a good team next year as long as they have success in recruiting, but they are simply no match for PRDM.
Prediction: PRDM 125-10
(6) Colonial Marines @ (3) Cult of Personalities, Wu
Really, this is another one I’m going to keep short and sweet, Colonial has seemingly improved each season, they’ve had ups and downs, but for CPW, Round 1 is a bye week.
Prediction: CPW 65-13
Oceania
(8) Sumatra Seahawks @ (1) Razorback Nation
In their first meeting Sumatra lost by 22 points, while they did not turn the ball over, they also simply did not get any level of consistency going on offense; between missed FG’s, missed tackles, sacks, and lost yardage on rushing plays, they struggled to stay in the game against RN. On top of that Sumatra’s secondary got lit up like a Christmas tree. Heading into this rematch, Sumatra absolutely has to find a way to contain RN’s offense which had been fatal with over 200 yards rushing and another 165 yards passing. They’re also going to have to find a way to use their rushing attack to force some missed tackles by RN. If they can take a page out of WSR’s book and allow Special Teams to be a factor, they might give themselves a chance here to pull out an upset. For RN, it’s simply a matter of not changing anything so drastically that it actually creates a weakness. They are coming off of their only loss on the season and they openly admitted they did not change a single thing for this game, as such, they were defeated by the 2nd best team in the conference. With all of that occurring, it still doesn’t open much of a door for Sumatra. Unless there’s some sort of cataclysmic break down, RN should be moving onto R2.
Prediction: 42-21 RN
(5) Bow Chicka Brown Cows @ (4) Stockholm Black Death
Obviously with each playoff matchup being a rematch, it’s impossible not to look back at their first meeting and speculate on how things could play out. Three Points, that’s the difference between 4th and 5th seed. In their first meeting BCBC hurt themselves by turning the ball over 3 times, 3 times by rushing fumbles. The crazy part about that is while their passing game was nearly non-existent, Teenage Mutant Ninja Cow ran the ball for over 250 yards by himself. In the end however, BCBC’s turnovers cost them vital opportunities that could have otherwise secured victory. SBD has had an impressive season but against BCBC the first time around, I wouldn’t’ necessarily say they looked impressive as much as I would say that BCBC cost themselves the game. It took an OT FG attempt to lock the first meeting up for SBD; in this game, I’m not sure if they’ll have that luxury. BCBC absolutely has to protect the football and if they can do that, SBD has to flat out play better.
Prediction: BCBC 24-23
(7) $in City $yndicate @ (2) Williamsport Soul Reavers
$C$ has spiraled into the 7th seed in Oceania, at one point looking like a serious candidate for the #2 seed, they have gone on a very unimpressive 4 game losing streak that was, to be fair, followed by an irrelevant victory over a CPU team. Heading into the playoffs it has to be said, did they tank the final parts of the season to attempt to pull off an epic upset? If not, they might very well be in trouble heading into this game. WSR continues to evaluate themselves with each and every game, looking for flaws and ways to improve above their previous game. I’m not real sure how they’re going to be able to do that for this game…considering they are coming off a shocking victory over the #1 team in the Oceania Conference. In ‘version 1.0’ of this matchup $C$ got off to a 10-0 lead and then never held a lead again. WSR nearly completely shut down their offense and ran their own very efficiently. In this game, $C$ is going to have manage some sort of offense, it’s really that simple. WSR just has to keep improving themselves and $C$ has got to find a way to beat the 2nd best team in the Conference, and one of the best teams in the league.
Prediction: $C$ 35-13
(6) Christchurch Fighting Maori @ (3) ***Official*** Football Guys
This is the one game in Oceania’s side of the playoffs that I think may have a very misunderstood result. In the first meeting OFG ran roughshod over CFM in a crazy blowout win; 6 Interceptions..yep that’ll do it. CFM I’m sure by now knows that I respect the heck out of them but the bottom line is…you want to win this game? Don’t suck. 8 Turnovers….I mean..wtf? To be fair, the logic is simple…When you have a Cornerback attempting to run the football, you probably are doing something wrong. But the question is, do you believe this is going to be a repeat of the first game? If you do, well, that makes one of us. I do not believe for a second we saw the ‘real’ CFM in the first meeting between these two teams and while OFG is the clear favorite and simply has got to get their running game going and not turn the ball over, there is most definitely room for an upset.
Prediction: 24-20 OFG
Southeast Asia
(8) OffTopica Word @ (1) Dead Presidents
Obviously we already know this is a ‘one-trick’ pony with a solid defense. They only run the ball, the thing is, to beat them you’ve not only got to be able to shut that down, you have to be able to dominate on offense yourself. No one has been able to do that this season against them. I see no reason that this week is going to be different. OffTopica is a product of CPU competition; in other words, while they’ve “earned” their way to the playoffs, with a tougher division, they might not have eclipsed the four win mark.
Prediction: 75-3
(5) Arkadak Deadliest Warriors @ (4) Springfield Isotopes
Is it mean if I view this as an upset if ADW loses? Seriously, SI won the first meeting by 3 points but have done nothing relevant since, they too are a product of CPU success, perhaps both of these teams are. SI’s statistical rankings are the product of garbage competition, their roster is a product of a long history of continuity. But to me, I just don’t know if they can repeat the 3 point victory over ADW that they got in the regular season..I’m not convinced their roster is really that talented.
Prediction: ADW 21-17
(7) Malaysian Madness @ (2) Palembang Royally Drunken Monks
Let me make this one short and sweet; I do believe that MM will be a good team next year as long as they have success in recruiting, but they are simply no match for PRDM.
Prediction: PRDM 125-10
(6) Colonial Marines @ (3) Cult of Personalities, Wu
Really, this is another one I’m going to keep short and sweet, Colonial has seemingly improved each season, they’ve had ups and downs, but for CPW, Round 1 is a bye week.
Prediction: CPW 65-13
Oceania
(8) Sumatra Seahawks @ (1) Razorback Nation
In their first meeting Sumatra lost by 22 points, while they did not turn the ball over, they also simply did not get any level of consistency going on offense; between missed FG’s, missed tackles, sacks, and lost yardage on rushing plays, they struggled to stay in the game against RN. On top of that Sumatra’s secondary got lit up like a Christmas tree. Heading into this rematch, Sumatra absolutely has to find a way to contain RN’s offense which had been fatal with over 200 yards rushing and another 165 yards passing. They’re also going to have to find a way to use their rushing attack to force some missed tackles by RN. If they can take a page out of WSR’s book and allow Special Teams to be a factor, they might give themselves a chance here to pull out an upset. For RN, it’s simply a matter of not changing anything so drastically that it actually creates a weakness. They are coming off of their only loss on the season and they openly admitted they did not change a single thing for this game, as such, they were defeated by the 2nd best team in the conference. With all of that occurring, it still doesn’t open much of a door for Sumatra. Unless there’s some sort of cataclysmic break down, RN should be moving onto R2.
Prediction: 42-21 RN
(5) Bow Chicka Brown Cows @ (4) Stockholm Black Death
Obviously with each playoff matchup being a rematch, it’s impossible not to look back at their first meeting and speculate on how things could play out. Three Points, that’s the difference between 4th and 5th seed. In their first meeting BCBC hurt themselves by turning the ball over 3 times, 3 times by rushing fumbles. The crazy part about that is while their passing game was nearly non-existent, Teenage Mutant Ninja Cow ran the ball for over 250 yards by himself. In the end however, BCBC’s turnovers cost them vital opportunities that could have otherwise secured victory. SBD has had an impressive season but against BCBC the first time around, I wouldn’t’ necessarily say they looked impressive as much as I would say that BCBC cost themselves the game. It took an OT FG attempt to lock the first meeting up for SBD; in this game, I’m not sure if they’ll have that luxury. BCBC absolutely has to protect the football and if they can do that, SBD has to flat out play better.
Prediction: BCBC 24-23
(7) $in City $yndicate @ (2) Williamsport Soul Reavers
$C$ has spiraled into the 7th seed in Oceania, at one point looking like a serious candidate for the #2 seed, they have gone on a very unimpressive 4 game losing streak that was, to be fair, followed by an irrelevant victory over a CPU team. Heading into the playoffs it has to be said, did they tank the final parts of the season to attempt to pull off an epic upset? If not, they might very well be in trouble heading into this game. WSR continues to evaluate themselves with each and every game, looking for flaws and ways to improve above their previous game. I’m not real sure how they’re going to be able to do that for this game…considering they are coming off a shocking victory over the #1 team in the Oceania Conference. In ‘version 1.0’ of this matchup $C$ got off to a 10-0 lead and then never held a lead again. WSR nearly completely shut down their offense and ran their own very efficiently. In this game, $C$ is going to have manage some sort of offense, it’s really that simple. WSR just has to keep improving themselves and $C$ has got to find a way to beat the 2nd best team in the Conference, and one of the best teams in the league.
Prediction: $C$ 35-13
(6) Christchurch Fighting Maori @ (3) ***Official*** Football Guys
This is the one game in Oceania’s side of the playoffs that I think may have a very misunderstood result. In the first meeting OFG ran roughshod over CFM in a crazy blowout win; 6 Interceptions..yep that’ll do it. CFM I’m sure by now knows that I respect the heck out of them but the bottom line is…you want to win this game? Don’t suck. 8 Turnovers….I mean..wtf? To be fair, the logic is simple…When you have a Cornerback attempting to run the football, you probably are doing something wrong. But the question is, do you believe this is going to be a repeat of the first game? If you do, well, that makes one of us. I do not believe for a second we saw the ‘real’ CFM in the first meeting between these two teams and while OFG is the clear favorite and simply has got to get their running game going and not turn the ball over, there is most definitely room for an upset.
Prediction: 24-20 OFG
