Wow.....what a lineup of games we have this week. Yes....we do have some blowouts coming up, but we also have 4 very important games on tap. They might be some very close ones too. Let's take a look and see.....
Game of the Week #1.....Back to the future
Newcastle vs. Vanuatu
This is an old time Oceania AA#3 matchup with a lot on the line. A win by the Volcano will give them the #2 spot for the playoffs which will possibly earn them 2 home playoff games..nice. Of course, Newcastle will have something to say about it....I think they want the #2 spot also. The Mino's currently hold a 3-1 edge heads up against the Volcano and have won the last three in this series. Both teams are very solid teams on both sides of the ball. I give the edge on offense to Vanuatu but give the defensive edge to Newcastle. Both these teams will have their game plans set for this matchup which I really have no clue how it will come out. Since I have to guess, I will put my cash on the Minotaur defense getting some turnovers to cap the Volcano playoff rush and hold on to the #2 spot. It won't be easy though. The pick here is Mino's by 7 in a great game.
Game of the Week #2.....Face to Face at last
Antarctica vs. Wake Island
This is a big game for both of these teams. The Destroyers can push any hopes for the Seals hosting a playoff game right into the crapper with a win here. A win by the Seals will not guarantee hosting a game, not with the Matadors in the way, but they have to win to have a chance. Wake Island has been game planning their arses off all year and winning games I never expected them to win. The Destroyers are solid on both sides of the ball....the bad news is though....so are the Seals. The Seals have higher level dots but that hasn't mattered to the Destroyers all year. It might this week though. The Destroyers struggled to put points up against USGD last week and will struggle again against a solid Antarctica defense. The Wake Island defense will be stout and well planned, but they will need turnovers to pull this game out. The Seals have not been very helpful in that regards this year. Tough game, but I see the Seals pulling away and winning this game by 2 TD's.
Game of the Week #3.....Its now or never
Chillicothe vs. SAFS
The Convicts are coming off a tough loss to a good Wake Island team but don't have time to cry in their cells. The SAFS are fighting for their playoff life and a win against the Convicts would go a long way to entering post season play for the SAFS. The SAFS will put the pounding they took from Osaka behind them as they face a familiar opponent. The question again becomes, can the SAFS stop the Chillicothe offense....or at least slow it down? The will try, but the Convict offense will put up enough to cement a victory and lock up the #6 playoff position at least. SAFS try, but not enough in tank.....Convicts win by 3 TD's.
Game of the Week #4.....Win or else!
Tuvalu vs. Gold Coast
The Matadors face what I consider a must win if they hope to make the playoffs. They finish with 2 tough games, one against another playoff contender, and need this game in the win column. Gold Coast is out of the playoffs, but still competing. Unfortunately for the Samaurai, competing will only get you a hearty "well done" and a hand shake post game. Tuvalu needs this game and will get it. I won't say easily, but comfortably. The Matadors take another step towards the playoffs with a solid win over Gold Coast. I see the Matadors by 4 TD's....unless the OTHER Gold Coast team shows up....then...who knows?
Minimum write up games:
Hattrick vs. Cairns
I like this game. Two teams that did not have great years, but are still competing week in and week out. Good job guys. Only one of you will come away with a smile from this game though. I see Hattrick loving life after a win here over a game Fire team. Hattrick by 1 TD in a close matchup.
Penrith vs. Sydney
This game might end up 200-198. Penrith doesn't have mid-teens in the secondary though, and that will make the difference. Penrith wins comfortably by 6 TD's.
Osaka vs. Tonga
The Terror will start to fall out of the playoffs here I believe. This game they are going to lose big, but they also finish with Chillicothe and the SAFS. I don't think they will win any of them. The SAF game might be for the last playoff spot though. That may depend on the Tuvalu-USGD matchup next week. Either way, this game is easy....Buckeyes by lots.
USGD vs Drunk Fu
Non-game of the week. The Dynasty catch a break after a rough 4 game stretch and rest up for a tough finishing schedule. Dynasty by lots.
Conference Leader:
Osaka
Conference Contenders:
Newcastle
Vanuatu
Wake Island
Antarctica
Chillicothe
Playoff Contenders:
Tuvalu
SAFS
USGD
Tonga
Looking to season 7:
Gold Coast
Penrith
Hattrick
Cairns
Sydney
Drunk Fu
Huge games this week. Looking forward to them.
Game of the Week #1.....Back to the future
Newcastle vs. Vanuatu
This is an old time Oceania AA#3 matchup with a lot on the line. A win by the Volcano will give them the #2 spot for the playoffs which will possibly earn them 2 home playoff games..nice. Of course, Newcastle will have something to say about it....I think they want the #2 spot also. The Mino's currently hold a 3-1 edge heads up against the Volcano and have won the last three in this series. Both teams are very solid teams on both sides of the ball. I give the edge on offense to Vanuatu but give the defensive edge to Newcastle. Both these teams will have their game plans set for this matchup which I really have no clue how it will come out. Since I have to guess, I will put my cash on the Minotaur defense getting some turnovers to cap the Volcano playoff rush and hold on to the #2 spot. It won't be easy though. The pick here is Mino's by 7 in a great game.
Game of the Week #2.....Face to Face at last
Antarctica vs. Wake Island
This is a big game for both of these teams. The Destroyers can push any hopes for the Seals hosting a playoff game right into the crapper with a win here. A win by the Seals will not guarantee hosting a game, not with the Matadors in the way, but they have to win to have a chance. Wake Island has been game planning their arses off all year and winning games I never expected them to win. The Destroyers are solid on both sides of the ball....the bad news is though....so are the Seals. The Seals have higher level dots but that hasn't mattered to the Destroyers all year. It might this week though. The Destroyers struggled to put points up against USGD last week and will struggle again against a solid Antarctica defense. The Wake Island defense will be stout and well planned, but they will need turnovers to pull this game out. The Seals have not been very helpful in that regards this year. Tough game, but I see the Seals pulling away and winning this game by 2 TD's.
Game of the Week #3.....Its now or never
Chillicothe vs. SAFS
The Convicts are coming off a tough loss to a good Wake Island team but don't have time to cry in their cells. The SAFS are fighting for their playoff life and a win against the Convicts would go a long way to entering post season play for the SAFS. The SAFS will put the pounding they took from Osaka behind them as they face a familiar opponent. The question again becomes, can the SAFS stop the Chillicothe offense....or at least slow it down? The will try, but the Convict offense will put up enough to cement a victory and lock up the #6 playoff position at least. SAFS try, but not enough in tank.....Convicts win by 3 TD's.
Game of the Week #4.....Win or else!
Tuvalu vs. Gold Coast
The Matadors face what I consider a must win if they hope to make the playoffs. They finish with 2 tough games, one against another playoff contender, and need this game in the win column. Gold Coast is out of the playoffs, but still competing. Unfortunately for the Samaurai, competing will only get you a hearty "well done" and a hand shake post game. Tuvalu needs this game and will get it. I won't say easily, but comfortably. The Matadors take another step towards the playoffs with a solid win over Gold Coast. I see the Matadors by 4 TD's....unless the OTHER Gold Coast team shows up....then...who knows?
Minimum write up games:
Hattrick vs. Cairns
I like this game. Two teams that did not have great years, but are still competing week in and week out. Good job guys. Only one of you will come away with a smile from this game though. I see Hattrick loving life after a win here over a game Fire team. Hattrick by 1 TD in a close matchup.
Penrith vs. Sydney
This game might end up 200-198. Penrith doesn't have mid-teens in the secondary though, and that will make the difference. Penrith wins comfortably by 6 TD's.
Osaka vs. Tonga
The Terror will start to fall out of the playoffs here I believe. This game they are going to lose big, but they also finish with Chillicothe and the SAFS. I don't think they will win any of them. The SAF game might be for the last playoff spot though. That may depend on the Tuvalu-USGD matchup next week. Either way, this game is easy....Buckeyes by lots.
USGD vs Drunk Fu
Non-game of the week. The Dynasty catch a break after a rough 4 game stretch and rest up for a tough finishing schedule. Dynasty by lots.
Conference Leader:
Osaka
Conference Contenders:
Newcastle
Vanuatu
Wake Island
Antarctica
Chillicothe
Playoff Contenders:
Tuvalu
SAFS
USGD
Tonga
Looking to season 7:
Gold Coast
Penrith
Hattrick
Cairns
Sydney
Drunk Fu
Huge games this week. Looking forward to them.
Last edited Dec 7, 2008 12:28:51