Elephant is a major cluster f, but Lion is pretty interesting as well. I'll start there.
Lion Round 1
Canton vs. Guyana
Guyana comes in after a great first season in APL, securing their playoff spot by a 5 game margin. Unfortunately, they come in the 8 seed still. That said, I remember watching our game against them and thinking, these guys did a good job game planning for us. But it just didn't matter. And I don't think they can do much better than they already did. They're just too young, especially on offense. Their future is bright though. Canton by 40
Somalia vs. CWE
Somalia has logged a great season with only one loss, but CWE is a team you never really look forward to playing. Assuming they avoid a fumble-fest, the Pirates should move on fairly easily though. Somalia by 20
Philly vs. Zambezi
This is a very interesting game. Zambezi won the first match up fairly handily, but is that really telling of this match up? Both teams have some very nice dots, and I think whoever gets the big plays is going to win this one. Philly really corralled Famous Amos last time. I think if they do that again, they win. Philly by 6.
San Diego vs. Lincoln
The Aquabats come in losing 4 out of 5, including the loss to Lincoln back in week 12. They've shown they can game plan, but Lincoln has some gained some experience after a couple seasons up here. The Aquabats have to be concerned about their offense which has been held to 15 points or less 7 times this season. Not really sure what to expect here, but I'll take the new guys to find a way. San Diego by 3.
Elephant Round 1
Ivory Coast vs. ABD
Not often do you have a 1 vs. 8 match up where the 8 seed beat the 1 seed during the regular season, but that's what we have here. Could this be the year ABD wins a playoff game? I'm not betting on it. ICB by 14
TAP vs. Nairobi
The regular season game was a 30-29 with TAP winning on a late FG. This is a very big first round match up as we have an experience WL team against a team that has established themselves as arguably the top team in Elephant this season. I don't think TAP takes a step back this season, and Nairobi is really built for next season. TAP by 10
Rocky Mountain Thunder vs. Sons of Anubis
Every game in Elephant is a great match up. I feel like this is the old school vs. the new school, and I like this RMT team. They're still young too, but I think they take it. RMT by 6
Warriors of the Big house vs. A7
Amazing how the difference between the 1 seed and out of the playoffs was so slim in Elephant this season. Warriors held the 1 slot most of the season before falling apart down the stretch including an embarrassing loss to ECS to end the season. Yah, they were in the playoffs and didn't care, but no one wants to finish a season like that. A7 really is a weird team. Killed BSSI to guarantee their playoff spot. Killed Nairobi. Got killed by ICB and TAP. Warriors game looked like a blowout on the surface, but a closer reveal shows 6 turnovers really did A7 in, and that was with a Warriors Mini-helmet. I know foshiz and stuman have some post-season success at this level. I know they should win this game. But I'm taking A7. Don't ask me why. A7 by 3.
Lion Round 1
Canton vs. Guyana
Guyana comes in after a great first season in APL, securing their playoff spot by a 5 game margin. Unfortunately, they come in the 8 seed still. That said, I remember watching our game against them and thinking, these guys did a good job game planning for us. But it just didn't matter. And I don't think they can do much better than they already did. They're just too young, especially on offense. Their future is bright though. Canton by 40
Somalia vs. CWE
Somalia has logged a great season with only one loss, but CWE is a team you never really look forward to playing. Assuming they avoid a fumble-fest, the Pirates should move on fairly easily though. Somalia by 20
Philly vs. Zambezi
This is a very interesting game. Zambezi won the first match up fairly handily, but is that really telling of this match up? Both teams have some very nice dots, and I think whoever gets the big plays is going to win this one. Philly really corralled Famous Amos last time. I think if they do that again, they win. Philly by 6.
San Diego vs. Lincoln
The Aquabats come in losing 4 out of 5, including the loss to Lincoln back in week 12. They've shown they can game plan, but Lincoln has some gained some experience after a couple seasons up here. The Aquabats have to be concerned about their offense which has been held to 15 points or less 7 times this season. Not really sure what to expect here, but I'll take the new guys to find a way. San Diego by 3.
Elephant Round 1
Ivory Coast vs. ABD
Not often do you have a 1 vs. 8 match up where the 8 seed beat the 1 seed during the regular season, but that's what we have here. Could this be the year ABD wins a playoff game? I'm not betting on it. ICB by 14
TAP vs. Nairobi
The regular season game was a 30-29 with TAP winning on a late FG. This is a very big first round match up as we have an experience WL team against a team that has established themselves as arguably the top team in Elephant this season. I don't think TAP takes a step back this season, and Nairobi is really built for next season. TAP by 10
Rocky Mountain Thunder vs. Sons of Anubis
Every game in Elephant is a great match up. I feel like this is the old school vs. the new school, and I like this RMT team. They're still young too, but I think they take it. RMT by 6
Warriors of the Big house vs. A7
Amazing how the difference between the 1 seed and out of the playoffs was so slim in Elephant this season. Warriors held the 1 slot most of the season before falling apart down the stretch including an embarrassing loss to ECS to end the season. Yah, they were in the playoffs and didn't care, but no one wants to finish a season like that. A7 really is a weird team. Killed BSSI to guarantee their playoff spot. Killed Nairobi. Got killed by ICB and TAP. Warriors game looked like a blowout on the surface, but a closer reveal shows 6 turnovers really did A7 in, and that was with a Warriors Mini-helmet. I know foshiz and stuman have some post-season success at this level. I know they should win this game. But I'm taking A7. Don't ask me why. A7 by 3.
