I've decided to focus a little bit more on the little guys in this version of predictions. Try to introduce them to the league a little more and get them more active in the forums.
Russian Tractor 10-2 @ High Plains Drifters 4-8
Quiz question: How many teams in the Elephant Conference have a winning streak of more than 1 game? No Cheating!!! Only the Tractor, the Bees, and yes the Drifters do. A few weeks ago, this team couldn't find a way to beat the Wheelhouse, and now it's on a 3 game streak and 4 out of 5 with a win over the Camels and some convincing wins including a slaughtering of the Death last week. Unfortunately for them, they run into the freight train known as the Tractor. The Drifters can't run the ball and the Tractor have the #1 passing defense in the conference. Last season, Speedy only had 1 catch for 8 yards against the Tractor. He'll need some magic to make this game even close this season.
Tractor 38 Drifters 10
Somalia Wildcats 5-7 @ Los Angeles eXtreme 10-2
The Wildcats came into the season with high hopes which was immediately squashed with a 2-6 start to the season. With limited money to sustain them the rest of the season, it will be interesting to see if this team holds together after the disappointment. The Wildcats have managed 3 out of 4 but none of those teams have winning records and honestly, this team will be lucky to win again. 5-11 for the season. Welcome to AAA. Oh yah, the eXtreme are just too good for them.
eXtreme 34 Wildcats 7
GOTW 1*Mogadishu Malice 6-6 @ Gold Coast Corsairs 9-3
For the Malice to secure a playoff spot, they have to bring it here today. After a 3 game slide, the pulled a big upset 24-23 over the Beavers and look to build on that. This is a team that should be very proud of their season thus far, but they don't want to give up on it yet. With a ridiculously tough closing 3 games to the conference schedule, it will be nearly impossible for them to extend their season to the playoffs. But then again, I didn't think they'd beat us either.
They bring in a defense that has been creating turnovers with the best of them and that was the difference in the Beavers game. They look to do that again. They also don't miss many tackles and will be trying to will themselves to a win here. The way they denied us the outside run will bode well for them against the Corsairs as that's all they do. The problem is that they aren't good enough at stopping the pass and GC will just find a way to put up points. The Malice just doesn't have the offense yet to put up the points to compete with the Corsairs. Barring some major turnovers and big plays, GC comes up with a convincing win.
Corsairs 31 Malice 17
GOTW 2*African Killer Bees 9-3 @ River Styx Jinx 7-5
Two teams having great season's thus far will be playoff bound. With the longest win streak in the conference, the Bees are eyeing something more. When you look at the matchups here, it's obvious that the Jinx struggle to defend the pass. The Bees pass the ball less than anyone in the conference by a ton and for good reason. They have one of the lowest yards/attempt and highest INT rates. Because of that dynamic, it comes down to the Jinx ability to stop the run on that side of the ball. The Jinx defense doesn't miss tackles (#1 in the conference in missed tackles), but also doesn't pick the ball off with only 3 INTs on the season. So, the Bees will try to pound it down the Jinx's throat, and they will try to stop it.
When the Jinx have the ball, they have a very balanced offense and a solid OLine. The most impressive thing they have is QB efficiency. They are #2 in the conference in pass completion %, 3rd in yards/attempt and tied for 2nd fewest INTs. They've also given up fewer QB pressures than anyone else in the conference allowing only 6 hurries and 6 sacks this season. Against a very good Bees defense, expect them to air it out a bit more than usual but keep a good amount of ground game to keep the 3rd downs reasonable. On paper, the Bees should win easily, but we've all seen what the Jinx are capable of. Upset special? Not quite.
Bees 20 Jinx 17
Lake M'Zumba Cannibals 0-12 @ San Dimas Saints 9-3
The Cannibals are dead last in most categories around the league despite having solid levels. They've made some moves to improve but their team morale is probably so devastated at this point, that it's too late to pull an upset anywhere. This team needs to focus on making a few moves in the offseason and could seriously become a playoff contender in AA if they improve some trouble spots (OLine and DLine 1st). The best thing I can say about them is if they were in the Lion they'd be here next season...unfortunately for them, they won't
Saints 41 Cannibals 3
GOTW 3*Morocco Camels 7-5 @ Eaton Beavers 7-5
Two teams that are disappointed in their season's so far and one will come out of this game even more disappointed. Good luck to Morocco, but we need this game, so not that much luck.
Mozambique Thundercats 5-7 @ New Jersey Blazes 2-10
The Blazes are horribly disappointed with their season so far and must now pin their hopes of avoiding relegation on a week 1 win over the Wheelhouse. If the Wheelhouse fail to win again, the Blazes stay in AAA. The Thundercats have toughed it out through the hardest part of their schedule with wins over the Camels, Jinx, and Malice. That bodes well for them in the tiebreaker arena and with a real possibility of winning out, has not given up hopes of the playoffs, nor should they. The Blazes have a solid team but need to dump the CPUs and make a few key moves to improve. I don't see them winning another game this season, so we may not be seeing them around next.
Thundercats 31 Blazes 10
Congo Death 4-8 @ Chicago Wheelhouse 2-10
The Wheelhouse vehemently defended themselves earlier in the season only to fall flat on their faces when it counted. Since then, I haven't heard a peep. They've been competitive in a few games here and there but haven't been within 20 points of an over .500 team. A game 1 loss to the Blazes may come back to bite them in the ass when they get relegated. The Death might be their last chance at avoiding relegation after a tough loss to Somalia last week. It seems like ages ago when the Death upset the Bees and after their dismantling at the hands of the Drifters, one must wonder if they have anything left in the tank or if they've just called in the season. With an unfriendly final stretch, this may be their last chance at a win as well. Neither of these teams have run the ball at all well this season and though the Death are the #1 passing offense, they've done so at some cost. They are 3rd in INTs, hurries allowed and sacks allowed. These two teams are at the bottom of the league in passes defended and pressuring the QB though so we could see a shootout here. This game is actually a very intriguing match up and important for both team's morale. Death are just slightly better.
Death 31 Wheelhouse 28
Russian Tractor 10-2 @ High Plains Drifters 4-8
Quiz question: How many teams in the Elephant Conference have a winning streak of more than 1 game? No Cheating!!! Only the Tractor, the Bees, and yes the Drifters do. A few weeks ago, this team couldn't find a way to beat the Wheelhouse, and now it's on a 3 game streak and 4 out of 5 with a win over the Camels and some convincing wins including a slaughtering of the Death last week. Unfortunately for them, they run into the freight train known as the Tractor. The Drifters can't run the ball and the Tractor have the #1 passing defense in the conference. Last season, Speedy only had 1 catch for 8 yards against the Tractor. He'll need some magic to make this game even close this season.
Tractor 38 Drifters 10
Somalia Wildcats 5-7 @ Los Angeles eXtreme 10-2
The Wildcats came into the season with high hopes which was immediately squashed with a 2-6 start to the season. With limited money to sustain them the rest of the season, it will be interesting to see if this team holds together after the disappointment. The Wildcats have managed 3 out of 4 but none of those teams have winning records and honestly, this team will be lucky to win again. 5-11 for the season. Welcome to AAA. Oh yah, the eXtreme are just too good for them.
eXtreme 34 Wildcats 7
GOTW 1*Mogadishu Malice 6-6 @ Gold Coast Corsairs 9-3
For the Malice to secure a playoff spot, they have to bring it here today. After a 3 game slide, the pulled a big upset 24-23 over the Beavers and look to build on that. This is a team that should be very proud of their season thus far, but they don't want to give up on it yet. With a ridiculously tough closing 3 games to the conference schedule, it will be nearly impossible for them to extend their season to the playoffs. But then again, I didn't think they'd beat us either.
They bring in a defense that has been creating turnovers with the best of them and that was the difference in the Beavers game. They look to do that again. They also don't miss many tackles and will be trying to will themselves to a win here. The way they denied us the outside run will bode well for them against the Corsairs as that's all they do. The problem is that they aren't good enough at stopping the pass and GC will just find a way to put up points. The Malice just doesn't have the offense yet to put up the points to compete with the Corsairs. Barring some major turnovers and big plays, GC comes up with a convincing win.Corsairs 31 Malice 17
GOTW 2*African Killer Bees 9-3 @ River Styx Jinx 7-5
Two teams having great season's thus far will be playoff bound. With the longest win streak in the conference, the Bees are eyeing something more. When you look at the matchups here, it's obvious that the Jinx struggle to defend the pass. The Bees pass the ball less than anyone in the conference by a ton and for good reason. They have one of the lowest yards/attempt and highest INT rates. Because of that dynamic, it comes down to the Jinx ability to stop the run on that side of the ball. The Jinx defense doesn't miss tackles (#1 in the conference in missed tackles), but also doesn't pick the ball off with only 3 INTs on the season. So, the Bees will try to pound it down the Jinx's throat, and they will try to stop it.
When the Jinx have the ball, they have a very balanced offense and a solid OLine. The most impressive thing they have is QB efficiency. They are #2 in the conference in pass completion %, 3rd in yards/attempt and tied for 2nd fewest INTs. They've also given up fewer QB pressures than anyone else in the conference allowing only 6 hurries and 6 sacks this season. Against a very good Bees defense, expect them to air it out a bit more than usual but keep a good amount of ground game to keep the 3rd downs reasonable. On paper, the Bees should win easily, but we've all seen what the Jinx are capable of. Upset special? Not quite.
Bees 20 Jinx 17
Lake M'Zumba Cannibals 0-12 @ San Dimas Saints 9-3
The Cannibals are dead last in most categories around the league despite having solid levels. They've made some moves to improve but their team morale is probably so devastated at this point, that it's too late to pull an upset anywhere. This team needs to focus on making a few moves in the offseason and could seriously become a playoff contender in AA if they improve some trouble spots (OLine and DLine 1st). The best thing I can say about them is if they were in the Lion they'd be here next season...unfortunately for them, they won't
Saints 41 Cannibals 3
GOTW 3*Morocco Camels 7-5 @ Eaton Beavers 7-5
Two teams that are disappointed in their season's so far and one will come out of this game even more disappointed. Good luck to Morocco, but we need this game, so not that much luck.
Mozambique Thundercats 5-7 @ New Jersey Blazes 2-10
The Blazes are horribly disappointed with their season so far and must now pin their hopes of avoiding relegation on a week 1 win over the Wheelhouse. If the Wheelhouse fail to win again, the Blazes stay in AAA. The Thundercats have toughed it out through the hardest part of their schedule with wins over the Camels, Jinx, and Malice. That bodes well for them in the tiebreaker arena and with a real possibility of winning out, has not given up hopes of the playoffs, nor should they. The Blazes have a solid team but need to dump the CPUs and make a few key moves to improve. I don't see them winning another game this season, so we may not be seeing them around next.
Thundercats 31 Blazes 10
Congo Death 4-8 @ Chicago Wheelhouse 2-10
The Wheelhouse vehemently defended themselves earlier in the season only to fall flat on their faces when it counted. Since then, I haven't heard a peep. They've been competitive in a few games here and there but haven't been within 20 points of an over .500 team. A game 1 loss to the Blazes may come back to bite them in the ass when they get relegated. The Death might be their last chance at avoiding relegation after a tough loss to Somalia last week. It seems like ages ago when the Death upset the Bees and after their dismantling at the hands of the Drifters, one must wonder if they have anything left in the tank or if they've just called in the season. With an unfriendly final stretch, this may be their last chance at a win as well. Neither of these teams have run the ball at all well this season and though the Death are the #1 passing offense, they've done so at some cost. They are 3rd in INTs, hurries allowed and sacks allowed. These two teams are at the bottom of the league in passes defended and pressuring the QB though so we could see a shootout here. This game is actually a very intriguing match up and important for both team's morale. Death are just slightly better.
Death 31 Wheelhouse 28
