Greetings! Without further blah blah blah:
Playoff Preview
Western Conference
1 Wellington Spitfires (15-1) vs. 8 Bridgetown Rum Runners (9-7)
Two of the great franchises in Casual. RumRunners have had an up and down year, finishing 9-7 following their 13-3 campaign from a year ago. Wellington, of course, has a solid claim as the greatest Casual team of all time. Despite heavy decline, they managed to capture their 3rd straight Addicts Tournament Cup, a feat that’s going to be hard to duplicate. As they’ll be hanging around one more year in Casual Pro before recharging their dots, this is their final hurrah as a dominant squad—at least for a little while. Personally, I’m skeptical of their alleged slide, and expect them to go no worse than 12-4 next season. The RumRunners blazing rushing attack will have to step up big and avoid turnovers if they want to take down the Spitfires, who are out for blood following the abrupt and surprising halt to their 55 game winning streak. Watch for just-crowned Eastern Defensive MVP DE Quickness McSacksAlot to unleash hell.
Prediction: Wellington Spitfires, 75-14
4 Athens Minotaurs (13-3) vs. 5 Texoma Bay Pirates (11-5)
Has there ever been a better 5 seed in the history of Casual? Texoma is sitting pretty with a 72 overall lolBar ranking, and is coming off the most unexpected upset that I can remember. With all of their players owned by a few agents, most of them quite young, let me be the first to suggest that Texoma is going to dominate Casual Pro for the next two seasons. The Minotaurs are coming off another successful season where they went 13-3 and secured a home playoff game. Following their surprising run last year, it’s hard to write this team off, but I fear that Texoma is peaking and boosting at the right time.
Prediction: Texoma, 42-30
2 Gridiron Armageddon (14-2) vs. 7 Gridiron Phantoms (10-6)
One more round of the Gridiron Bowl this season, folks. The Armageddon are coming off another successful season. This team has never put together the full package, either via bad luck (has any team had to deal with the Diablo/Wellington juggernaut in the playoffs as frequently as the Armageddon? No.) or just not getting it together in time, but I expect them to make a very solid run through the playoffs this time. The Phantoms are familiar with the Diablo Dot as well, having run into that particular buzzsaw in Season 14’s Uncapped #3 finale, where they were shut out, 67-zilch. Boasting S14’s Casual Pro Offensive MVP, HB Toadie Flex, the Armageddon look to start their Cup campaign strong.
Prediction: Armageddon 65-14
3 GLB Most Wanted (13-3) vs. 6 World’s Most Interesting Men (10-6)
After flying under the radar most of the season, the Most Wanted emerged as legit title contenders by escaping from a grueling 4 game mid-season set against the Spitfires, Armageddon, Minotaurs, and WMIM relatively unscathed and with a solid 2-2 record that was made up of 4 very close games. They can run and throw and will look to make their way into the second round for the sixth season in a row—this team has been very good for a lot longer than people think. The WMIM boast a likewise impressive record, reeling off seasons of 14 and 13 wins before coming home 10-6 in Season 14. This game should be a barn burner, as the Most Wanted and WMIM have played two very close games already this season—both Most Wanted victories, both by 13 points.
Prediction: Most Wanted pulls off the trifecta, 21-14, with the last second Krueger to Mexico TD pass.
Eastern Conference
1 Diablo Dots (16-0) vs. 8 North Dakota Bison (8-8)
The Diablo Dots are widely acknowledged as one of the most dominant Casual teams of all time. They currently hold a 56 game winning streak, have a single loss over the past 2 seasons (scrimmages included), and possess a passing attack that’s nearly unstoppable. As far as showings against the Dots go, the Bison actually managed to put 2 touchdowns up on the board in their lone match this season. Look for the Dots to rampage, however, as they look to put some fear into the heart of the Cozumel Jedi Knights and Twilight Vampires early in the playoffs.
Prediction: Diablo Dots, 86-3
4 Atlantis Golden Wolves (12-4) vs. 5 Twilight Vampires (11-5)
The Golden Wolves had the pleasure of being the sacrificial lamb at the Altar of Wellington last season, but they regrouped to run their record to a solid 12-4 in the East this season. The Vampires were widely tipped to be among the contenders this season, but it would appear that they’ve played too many day games as their 11-5 record was only good enough for 5th in the slightly weaker East. Nevertheless, this should be a good matchup between two fairly even teams. Because they played each other just a day ago, it’s easy to suggest that the 50-27 shellacking applied by the Golden Wolves is how this one will go, but we all know that anything can happen in the playoffs. I expect this one to be quite close.
Prediction: Golden Wolves munch on Vampire meat, 33-27
2 Cozumel Jedi Knights (15-1) vs. 7 Sin City Gamblers
Besides the Gridiron Armageddon, the Jedi Knights are the greatest team to never win a league title. Last season they fell to the Athens Minotaurs in the league final, the year before that the Gridiron Phantoms, and the seasons prior to that they ran very successful regular season campaigns before falling early in the playoffs. With a mere 10 regular season losses since Season 8, it’s evident they know how to run their team. The Gamblers fell to the Jedi Knights 73-6 early in the season, but they too bring a long record of competing at the highest level, as evidenced by their successful playoff runs: 2 losses in the conference championship and 1 in the league championship over the past three seasons. However, their impressive streak ends this year in the first round, as the Jedi Knights look to lance the hopes of the Gamblers. Look for the Jedi Knights impressive rushing attack, lead by newly crowned MVP HB Eaton Beaver and 4th place finisher Yrved Nosredna to hammer the Gambler’s D-line.
Prediction: Jedi Knights, 70-14
3 Wild Thangs (14-2) vs. 6 Bay Area Bulls (10-6)
This should be the most exciting game of the day in the Eastern conference. These two teams had a wild 43-42 shootout early in the season, with the Wild Thangs scoring 10 unanswered points late in the 4th quarter to take the lead. The Bulls then marched 35 yards to the Wild Thangs 35.5 yard line before the Wild Thangs stopped them. But neither team was done yet: the Bulls stopped the Wild Thangs, forcing them to punt, before the Wild Things finally sealed the deal by forcing an interception with mere seconds left. With one league title under their belt and a long record of successful regular season runs, the Wild Thangs look poised to advance to the second round this season. The Bay Area Bulls have always fielded a strong team, but they appear to have slipped a bit after their successful 15-1 season from a year ago. Although their GM hasn’t been quite as vocal this season about the Bull’s chances, he’s gotta believe that they’ll be able to put up a solid fight against the Wild Thangs. Look for a close one between these two proud franchises.
Prediction: Wild Thangs, 21-20
Playoff Preview
Western Conference
1 Wellington Spitfires (15-1) vs. 8 Bridgetown Rum Runners (9-7)
Two of the great franchises in Casual. RumRunners have had an up and down year, finishing 9-7 following their 13-3 campaign from a year ago. Wellington, of course, has a solid claim as the greatest Casual team of all time. Despite heavy decline, they managed to capture their 3rd straight Addicts Tournament Cup, a feat that’s going to be hard to duplicate. As they’ll be hanging around one more year in Casual Pro before recharging their dots, this is their final hurrah as a dominant squad—at least for a little while. Personally, I’m skeptical of their alleged slide, and expect them to go no worse than 12-4 next season. The RumRunners blazing rushing attack will have to step up big and avoid turnovers if they want to take down the Spitfires, who are out for blood following the abrupt and surprising halt to their 55 game winning streak. Watch for just-crowned Eastern Defensive MVP DE Quickness McSacksAlot to unleash hell.
Prediction: Wellington Spitfires, 75-14
4 Athens Minotaurs (13-3) vs. 5 Texoma Bay Pirates (11-5)
Has there ever been a better 5 seed in the history of Casual? Texoma is sitting pretty with a 72 overall lolBar ranking, and is coming off the most unexpected upset that I can remember. With all of their players owned by a few agents, most of them quite young, let me be the first to suggest that Texoma is going to dominate Casual Pro for the next two seasons. The Minotaurs are coming off another successful season where they went 13-3 and secured a home playoff game. Following their surprising run last year, it’s hard to write this team off, but I fear that Texoma is peaking and boosting at the right time.
Prediction: Texoma, 42-30
2 Gridiron Armageddon (14-2) vs. 7 Gridiron Phantoms (10-6)
One more round of the Gridiron Bowl this season, folks. The Armageddon are coming off another successful season. This team has never put together the full package, either via bad luck (has any team had to deal with the Diablo/Wellington juggernaut in the playoffs as frequently as the Armageddon? No.) or just not getting it together in time, but I expect them to make a very solid run through the playoffs this time. The Phantoms are familiar with the Diablo Dot as well, having run into that particular buzzsaw in Season 14’s Uncapped #3 finale, where they were shut out, 67-zilch. Boasting S14’s Casual Pro Offensive MVP, HB Toadie Flex, the Armageddon look to start their Cup campaign strong.
Prediction: Armageddon 65-14
3 GLB Most Wanted (13-3) vs. 6 World’s Most Interesting Men (10-6)
After flying under the radar most of the season, the Most Wanted emerged as legit title contenders by escaping from a grueling 4 game mid-season set against the Spitfires, Armageddon, Minotaurs, and WMIM relatively unscathed and with a solid 2-2 record that was made up of 4 very close games. They can run and throw and will look to make their way into the second round for the sixth season in a row—this team has been very good for a lot longer than people think. The WMIM boast a likewise impressive record, reeling off seasons of 14 and 13 wins before coming home 10-6 in Season 14. This game should be a barn burner, as the Most Wanted and WMIM have played two very close games already this season—both Most Wanted victories, both by 13 points.
Prediction: Most Wanted pulls off the trifecta, 21-14, with the last second Krueger to Mexico TD pass.
Eastern Conference
1 Diablo Dots (16-0) vs. 8 North Dakota Bison (8-8)
The Diablo Dots are widely acknowledged as one of the most dominant Casual teams of all time. They currently hold a 56 game winning streak, have a single loss over the past 2 seasons (scrimmages included), and possess a passing attack that’s nearly unstoppable. As far as showings against the Dots go, the Bison actually managed to put 2 touchdowns up on the board in their lone match this season. Look for the Dots to rampage, however, as they look to put some fear into the heart of the Cozumel Jedi Knights and Twilight Vampires early in the playoffs.
Prediction: Diablo Dots, 86-3
4 Atlantis Golden Wolves (12-4) vs. 5 Twilight Vampires (11-5)
The Golden Wolves had the pleasure of being the sacrificial lamb at the Altar of Wellington last season, but they regrouped to run their record to a solid 12-4 in the East this season. The Vampires were widely tipped to be among the contenders this season, but it would appear that they’ve played too many day games as their 11-5 record was only good enough for 5th in the slightly weaker East. Nevertheless, this should be a good matchup between two fairly even teams. Because they played each other just a day ago, it’s easy to suggest that the 50-27 shellacking applied by the Golden Wolves is how this one will go, but we all know that anything can happen in the playoffs. I expect this one to be quite close.
Prediction: Golden Wolves munch on Vampire meat, 33-27
2 Cozumel Jedi Knights (15-1) vs. 7 Sin City Gamblers
Besides the Gridiron Armageddon, the Jedi Knights are the greatest team to never win a league title. Last season they fell to the Athens Minotaurs in the league final, the year before that the Gridiron Phantoms, and the seasons prior to that they ran very successful regular season campaigns before falling early in the playoffs. With a mere 10 regular season losses since Season 8, it’s evident they know how to run their team. The Gamblers fell to the Jedi Knights 73-6 early in the season, but they too bring a long record of competing at the highest level, as evidenced by their successful playoff runs: 2 losses in the conference championship and 1 in the league championship over the past three seasons. However, their impressive streak ends this year in the first round, as the Jedi Knights look to lance the hopes of the Gamblers. Look for the Jedi Knights impressive rushing attack, lead by newly crowned MVP HB Eaton Beaver and 4th place finisher Yrved Nosredna to hammer the Gambler’s D-line.
Prediction: Jedi Knights, 70-14
3 Wild Thangs (14-2) vs. 6 Bay Area Bulls (10-6)
This should be the most exciting game of the day in the Eastern conference. These two teams had a wild 43-42 shootout early in the season, with the Wild Thangs scoring 10 unanswered points late in the 4th quarter to take the lead. The Bulls then marched 35 yards to the Wild Thangs 35.5 yard line before the Wild Thangs stopped them. But neither team was done yet: the Bulls stopped the Wild Thangs, forcing them to punt, before the Wild Things finally sealed the deal by forcing an interception with mere seconds left. With one league title under their belt and a long record of successful regular season runs, the Wild Thangs look poised to advance to the second round this season. The Bay Area Bulls have always fielded a strong team, but they appear to have slipped a bit after their successful 15-1 season from a year ago. Although their GM hasn’t been quite as vocal this season about the Bull’s chances, he’s gotta believe that they’ll be able to put up a solid fight against the Wild Thangs. Look for a close one between these two proud franchises.
Prediction: Wild Thangs, 21-20
Edited by josephblitz on Mar 11, 2010 21:48:34
