The Eastern Conference is overflowing with great matchups this week, as the playoff race kicks into high gear.
There's a big dropoff in record after the East's Top 10, meaning there are essentially 10 teams vying for 8 playoff spots. This week's games pit 8 of those teams against one another, including all 6 of the 3- and 4-loss teams currently battling for wild-card playoff spots, so there's a lot at stake today.
Which will be the two unlucky teams left watching the playoffs from home? (Hmm, technically, all of the teams will be watching the playoffs from home... perhaps I should say two will be watching from their virtual homes?)
Here are my predictions for this week in the Eastern Conference. This is one of the toughest weeks all season to call, so I encourage everyone to show us their skills at prognostication:
Seabrook Energy @ New England Red Celtics
This may not be one of the week's marquee matchups, but it still has the makings of a great game. If the scouting report is to be believed, Seabrook is the favorite today, despite their 1-8 record and a current 6-game losing streak. The Red Celtics ended a 5-game losing streak of their own last week against Viridia, and they put up a fight in recent losses to PTT and the unbeaten Wolfpack, so I'm going with the "underdog": 23-13 New England
Langley Raptors @ Dearborn Bullitt
One of these teams will get its third win of the season today. The Raptors have lost their last 3 by a combined margin of 192-3, and against common opponents, Dearborn has a slight edge, so I'm taking Steve McQueen in this fight: 27-16 Dearborn
Viridian Vanguards @ Washington Wolfpack
The Vanguards are on a 7-game slide since winning their first 2 games, and their opponent today is the only undefeated team in the East. Looking at Viridia's closing 7-game stretch, minus Seabrook their upcoming opponents are a combined 41-13, so it looks like relegation could be on the line in that Week 13 meeting with the Energy: 41-10 Washington
Sconnie Badgers @ Lizard Lick Lizard Lickers
Lizard Lick and the Badgers each went deep in the playoffs last season, but the loser today will be 5-5, needing a great finish to make a return playoff trip. The two teams have throttled weaker opponents, combining to outscore the Raptors and Demon Sweat (now Hitmen) by a total of 293-0 in recent weeks, but both LLLL and the Badgers have struggled against playoff-calibre competition, with a combined record of just 1-8 in those games. The Badgers have the lone win, a 19-16 victory over the Wolves, but LLLL has been closer in their defeats, so I'm picking them (honestly, who didn't see that coming?) in a close one today: 16-13 Lizard Lick
Philadelphia Wolves @ Buffalo Daggers
The Daggers suddenly are on a roll, extending their winning streak to 4 games with last week's 23-22 thriller over the Fanboys. The Wolves, meanwhile, have split their last 4 after starting the season 5-0. These two teams allow more points than any others in the playoff hunt, so the outcome could come down to which defense steps up and makes a play. Can the Daggers pull off late-game heroics for a second straight week? I'll take the Wolves in a nailbiter: 20-16 Wolves
New Orleans Fanboys @ Memphis River Rats
Another fantastic matchup, this game features a pair of 6-3 teams. The Fanboys were riding a wave of momentum that carried them to 6 straight wins, but last week's 23-22 loss had to sting like Daggers to the heart. The River Rats may not be unbeaten like they were last season at this time, but Memphis still knows a thing or two about winning tough football games. In yet another toss-up, I think the River Rats do just enough to leave the Fanboys fuming for a second straight week: 16-13 Memphis
Washington Slashers @ PTT Villagers
The Slashers rebounded nicely from their loss to the Wolfpack, getting a convincing win over a solid Badgers team last week. This week, they face a Villagers team that has dropped 3 of 4 since racing to a 4-1 start. The Slashers lead the conference in total defense, while the Villagers are worst among the playoff contenders in total offense. That's a bad combination for the Villagers: 23-9 Slashers
New Jersey Hitmen @ Tennessee Fury
The Jacksonville Demon Sweat actually changed ownership prior to last week's thrashing by LLLL, but this will be their first game under the New Jersey Hitmen moniker. The winless Hitmen have been outscored 232-0 over their last 3 games, and despite New Jersey's recent trades with a certain Western Conference team which shall remain nameless (cough *Coos Bay* cough), expect the Fury to continue pouring on the points in what figures to be the week's most lopsided contest. 80-0 Fury
There's a big dropoff in record after the East's Top 10, meaning there are essentially 10 teams vying for 8 playoff spots. This week's games pit 8 of those teams against one another, including all 6 of the 3- and 4-loss teams currently battling for wild-card playoff spots, so there's a lot at stake today.
Which will be the two unlucky teams left watching the playoffs from home? (Hmm, technically, all of the teams will be watching the playoffs from home... perhaps I should say two will be watching from their virtual homes?)
Here are my predictions for this week in the Eastern Conference. This is one of the toughest weeks all season to call, so I encourage everyone to show us their skills at prognostication:
Seabrook Energy @ New England Red Celtics
This may not be one of the week's marquee matchups, but it still has the makings of a great game. If the scouting report is to be believed, Seabrook is the favorite today, despite their 1-8 record and a current 6-game losing streak. The Red Celtics ended a 5-game losing streak of their own last week against Viridia, and they put up a fight in recent losses to PTT and the unbeaten Wolfpack, so I'm going with the "underdog": 23-13 New England
Langley Raptors @ Dearborn Bullitt
One of these teams will get its third win of the season today. The Raptors have lost their last 3 by a combined margin of 192-3, and against common opponents, Dearborn has a slight edge, so I'm taking Steve McQueen in this fight: 27-16 Dearborn
Viridian Vanguards @ Washington Wolfpack
The Vanguards are on a 7-game slide since winning their first 2 games, and their opponent today is the only undefeated team in the East. Looking at Viridia's closing 7-game stretch, minus Seabrook their upcoming opponents are a combined 41-13, so it looks like relegation could be on the line in that Week 13 meeting with the Energy: 41-10 Washington
Sconnie Badgers @ Lizard Lick Lizard Lickers
Lizard Lick and the Badgers each went deep in the playoffs last season, but the loser today will be 5-5, needing a great finish to make a return playoff trip. The two teams have throttled weaker opponents, combining to outscore the Raptors and Demon Sweat (now Hitmen) by a total of 293-0 in recent weeks, but both LLLL and the Badgers have struggled against playoff-calibre competition, with a combined record of just 1-8 in those games. The Badgers have the lone win, a 19-16 victory over the Wolves, but LLLL has been closer in their defeats, so I'm picking them (honestly, who didn't see that coming?) in a close one today: 16-13 Lizard Lick
Philadelphia Wolves @ Buffalo Daggers
The Daggers suddenly are on a roll, extending their winning streak to 4 games with last week's 23-22 thriller over the Fanboys. The Wolves, meanwhile, have split their last 4 after starting the season 5-0. These two teams allow more points than any others in the playoff hunt, so the outcome could come down to which defense steps up and makes a play. Can the Daggers pull off late-game heroics for a second straight week? I'll take the Wolves in a nailbiter: 20-16 Wolves
New Orleans Fanboys @ Memphis River Rats
Another fantastic matchup, this game features a pair of 6-3 teams. The Fanboys were riding a wave of momentum that carried them to 6 straight wins, but last week's 23-22 loss had to sting like Daggers to the heart. The River Rats may not be unbeaten like they were last season at this time, but Memphis still knows a thing or two about winning tough football games. In yet another toss-up, I think the River Rats do just enough to leave the Fanboys fuming for a second straight week: 16-13 Memphis
Washington Slashers @ PTT Villagers
The Slashers rebounded nicely from their loss to the Wolfpack, getting a convincing win over a solid Badgers team last week. This week, they face a Villagers team that has dropped 3 of 4 since racing to a 4-1 start. The Slashers lead the conference in total defense, while the Villagers are worst among the playoff contenders in total offense. That's a bad combination for the Villagers: 23-9 Slashers
New Jersey Hitmen @ Tennessee Fury
The Jacksonville Demon Sweat actually changed ownership prior to last week's thrashing by LLLL, but this will be their first game under the New Jersey Hitmen moniker. The winless Hitmen have been outscored 232-0 over their last 3 games, and despite New Jersey's recent trades with a certain Western Conference team which shall remain nameless (cough *Coos Bay* cough), expect the Fury to continue pouring on the points in what figures to be the week's most lopsided contest. 80-0 Fury
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