First and foremost, THESE ARE PURELY MY OPINION. If you do not agree, feel free to criticize, name call, or give your own opinion. I will not mind in any way.
Second, I will be picking every game of the playoffs right now along with scores. I am basing my picks on regular season performances, recent trends, spreadsheet rankings, and my gut instinct.
Now on with the predictions!
Round One
Alpha Conference
(1) D.C. Redskins vs (8) Transylvania Vampire Bears
Regular Season Meeting: 64-9 Redskins
Playoff Prediction: 72-10 Redskins
D.C. is the clear team to beat. They are not scary because of their offense, but because of their stellar defense. Be prepared to watch a defensive clinic in this game as D.C. will roll easily into the second round.
(4) Siberian Express vs (5) Warsaw War Machine
Regular Season Meeting: 30-28 Express
Playoff Prediction: 28-21 War Machine
These are two teams better suited for next year's playoffs instead of this one. Both have a bright future, but I think the War Machine have found their stride. If Warsaw can keep the Express offense off the field with their 3rd ranked rushing offense, they will win this game. If the Express find a way to slow them down, then they can pull this one off. I pick Warsaw, but this is going to be a nail-biter.
(2) Donetsk Hammers vs (7) Lviv Lions
Regular Season Meeting: 27-10 Hammers
Playoff Prediction: 42-24 Hammers
I would go in depth, but I really see the Hammers as the clear #2 in Alpha. Lviv is a solid team, but needs more time and talent to compete with a team like Donetsk. The Hammers will move on.
(3) Tyrrhenian Sea Wasps vs (6) Warsaw Warlocks
Regular Season Meeting: 34-30 Sea Wasps
Playoff Prediction: 28-24 Warlocks
The Sea Wasps are an enigma. They definitely are not a great offensive team, but they make up for it with the league's 4th best defense. However, their defense is by no means tough against the run, finishing outside of the top 10. They are facing the Warlocks who love to run. They will not test that tough pass D and instead will try to pound out the victory. I think they will be successful and will move on to the second round.
Zeta Conference
(1) Chicago Midway Monsters vs (8) AZ Knights
Regular Season Meeting: 41-17 Midway Monsters
Playoff Prediction: 42-13 Midway Monsters
AZ has the 2nd best rushing offense in the league and the 5th best rushing offense. How can I pick against them? I love both of those stats. The sad truth, though, is that they are facing the team with the best rushing offense and the 2nd best rushing defense. When they played earlier this season, Payton was only able to amass 31.5 yards, 250 yards less than his average. Expect more of the same as Chicago moves on.
(4) St. Petersburg Red Tide vs (5) Grid Iron Valor
Regular Season Meeting: 37-30 Red Tide
Playoff Prediction: 38-20 Red Tide
This was a close game before and is a great matchup again. So why the big win for the Tide? Simple, Valor has yet to show they can compete with the top teams in Zeta. They got very close to beating the Tide, but overall, their running game was stuffed and they benefited from a bad day from Speedy McPastu. I think the Tide correct their errors and show why they are considered a top team.
(2) Krakow Gutter Runners vs (7) Odessa Ajejes
Regular Season Meeting: 48-37 Gutter Runners
Playoff Prediction: 38-30 Gutter Runners
This was a close game before, don't let the score fool you. It was a 1 point game in the 4th quarter. The difference maker? Brandon Minor. He was a beast against Odessa's rather weak tackling. He amassed over 160 yards and 27 broken tackles. If Odessa fixes their tackling problems, they can pull off the upset. I don't see that happening to the extent they need to win, so they'll keep it close, but Krakow will win.
(3) Big Island Growas vs (6) Litochoro Cerberi
Regular Season Meeting: 48-37 Growas
Playoff Prediction: 42-31 Growas
The Growas are a strong team, especially their top ranked offense. They will be able to move the ball against Litochoro's middle of the pack defense. Litochoro's only hope is to force turnovers, but I don't see it happening. The Growas will advance.
... MORE TO COME ...
Second, I will be picking every game of the playoffs right now along with scores. I am basing my picks on regular season performances, recent trends, spreadsheet rankings, and my gut instinct.
Now on with the predictions!
Round One
Alpha Conference
(1) D.C. Redskins vs (8) Transylvania Vampire Bears
Regular Season Meeting: 64-9 Redskins
Playoff Prediction: 72-10 Redskins
D.C. is the clear team to beat. They are not scary because of their offense, but because of their stellar defense. Be prepared to watch a defensive clinic in this game as D.C. will roll easily into the second round.
(4) Siberian Express vs (5) Warsaw War Machine
Regular Season Meeting: 30-28 Express
Playoff Prediction: 28-21 War Machine
These are two teams better suited for next year's playoffs instead of this one. Both have a bright future, but I think the War Machine have found their stride. If Warsaw can keep the Express offense off the field with their 3rd ranked rushing offense, they will win this game. If the Express find a way to slow them down, then they can pull this one off. I pick Warsaw, but this is going to be a nail-biter.
(2) Donetsk Hammers vs (7) Lviv Lions
Regular Season Meeting: 27-10 Hammers
Playoff Prediction: 42-24 Hammers
I would go in depth, but I really see the Hammers as the clear #2 in Alpha. Lviv is a solid team, but needs more time and talent to compete with a team like Donetsk. The Hammers will move on.
(3) Tyrrhenian Sea Wasps vs (6) Warsaw Warlocks
Regular Season Meeting: 34-30 Sea Wasps
Playoff Prediction: 28-24 Warlocks
The Sea Wasps are an enigma. They definitely are not a great offensive team, but they make up for it with the league's 4th best defense. However, their defense is by no means tough against the run, finishing outside of the top 10. They are facing the Warlocks who love to run. They will not test that tough pass D and instead will try to pound out the victory. I think they will be successful and will move on to the second round.
Zeta Conference
(1) Chicago Midway Monsters vs (8) AZ Knights
Regular Season Meeting: 41-17 Midway Monsters
Playoff Prediction: 42-13 Midway Monsters
AZ has the 2nd best rushing offense in the league and the 5th best rushing offense. How can I pick against them? I love both of those stats. The sad truth, though, is that they are facing the team with the best rushing offense and the 2nd best rushing defense. When they played earlier this season, Payton was only able to amass 31.5 yards, 250 yards less than his average. Expect more of the same as Chicago moves on.
(4) St. Petersburg Red Tide vs (5) Grid Iron Valor
Regular Season Meeting: 37-30 Red Tide
Playoff Prediction: 38-20 Red Tide
This was a close game before and is a great matchup again. So why the big win for the Tide? Simple, Valor has yet to show they can compete with the top teams in Zeta. They got very close to beating the Tide, but overall, their running game was stuffed and they benefited from a bad day from Speedy McPastu. I think the Tide correct their errors and show why they are considered a top team.
(2) Krakow Gutter Runners vs (7) Odessa Ajejes
Regular Season Meeting: 48-37 Gutter Runners
Playoff Prediction: 38-30 Gutter Runners
This was a close game before, don't let the score fool you. It was a 1 point game in the 4th quarter. The difference maker? Brandon Minor. He was a beast against Odessa's rather weak tackling. He amassed over 160 yards and 27 broken tackles. If Odessa fixes their tackling problems, they can pull off the upset. I don't see that happening to the extent they need to win, so they'll keep it close, but Krakow will win.
(3) Big Island Growas vs (6) Litochoro Cerberi
Regular Season Meeting: 48-37 Growas
Playoff Prediction: 42-31 Growas
The Growas are a strong team, especially their top ranked offense. They will be able to move the ball against Litochoro's middle of the pack defense. Litochoro's only hope is to force turnovers, but I don't see it happening. The Growas will advance.
... MORE TO COME ...
Last edited Mar 27, 2009 21:36:01
