It's playoff time!! It's time for the second season to begin.. time to see who's bringing their A game today!! I wish all of the teams in the playoffs luck (with the exception of the Warthogs) and hopefully we don't get any bull shit sims.. just solid dot to dot action!!
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Lion Conference:
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District 9 Prawns VS. Somali Pirates:
These two teams just met two games ago.. and the Pirates found out exactly what a suffocating defense looked like as D9 shut down the Somali offense completely (including holding the league leading rusher (Lane West) to 3 yards on 15 carries)!! Somali has had a really good first season in APL and they should take solice in that.. because D9 has been considered the top team in Lion for a reason.. they're just straight nasty! The Shrimpies will hit you in the face, kick you in the junk and then show you scandalous pictures of your sister.. and that's just their offense!! I hope the Pirate ship is stocked with rum and ice bags.. because I think Somali will need both to ease the pain after their first round exit!! Sometimes giant shrimpies are just too much to handle.. D9 makes a statement and wins by 70
Carthaginian War Elephants VS. Massawa Redhorns:
Like PP said.. this is definitely a game to watch.. the Redhorns triped up against the Black Magic.. but still finished the season winning 8 of their last 10!! Not to be outdone though the War Elephants have won 11 of the last 12 (including victories over 4 playoff teams). I believe that this is the most dangerous team in the Lion Conference right now!! I'm sure that Massawa will be ready and will make one hell of a battle out of this today (and if they can get Mr. Winfield to turn the ball over like he's prone to they have a great shot at the upset).. but when the dust settles I think these hard charging War Elephants are just too much for Massawa.. I won't give a spread because it's all based on the CWE QB.. if he turns the ball over 3 times (and we've seen him do that many times) they lose.. if he doesn't.. they could win by 20...
Sahara Storm VS. Bamako Black Magic:
Looks like the Storm blew into the #2 seed (which at the start of the season is where I would have predicted they'd be) and are looking to make a big playoff push. The Black Magic are another 1st season APL team that should be very proud of their showing this year! These teams just met 3 games ago and it was the Storm imposing their will.. controlling the clock and really the game! The Black Magic will need some extra chickens and snake venom if their going to advance to the second round! But I watched the news this morning and the forcast wind and rain (and we all know that meteorologists are never wrong).. so I'll take the Storm by 35
Zambezi Silverbacks VS. Uganda Silverbacks:
Part of me wonders if Fat Danny threw the last game of the season just so we could have Rumble for the Jungle II? I know that LL has a strong team over there but I'm a little concerned about the death spiral that Uganda went into at the end of the season (losing to the Storm, CWE, Massawa, LOL... and almost losing the Sahara Blow Job crew).. admittedly their are some solid teams in that list.. but damn! While Zambezi just quietly went about their business until the end of the season and they decided free falling with Uganda would be fun.. I'm not sure what to expect in this one.. so I guess I'll take the older Silverbacks to continue running the jungle (for now).. Zambezi by 10
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Elephant Conference:
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Carthage Mad Clash VS. Kiev Dynamos:
Well it looks like the Clash have accomplished the first of their two goals this season.. they're sitting in the number one seed and now looking to make a big statement. The Dynamos should feel pretty good about this season.. you're first season in APL and you're in the playoffs.. but the down side is with that back loaded schedule of yours you backed into the playoffs and have to play a powerhouse!! I think that the writings already on the wall for this one .. Mad Clash will continue playing with a chip on their shoulder and roll Kiev like a fresh pastry!!
Swaziland Dachshunds VS. The African Predators:
This is hands down the best game of the first round (I don't care what PP says about his conference) both teams sitting at 13-3 this game will be a battle!! The first time that these teams met this season it was the Dachshunds controlling the clock (38:48 T.O.P.) and controlling the game. The Predators might not get as much publicity as the other top teams in the conference... but they're as dangerous as anybody! It's going to come down to ball control (not that kind of ball control get your mind out of the gutter).. if Swazi can keep the ball away from the Predators they have a great chance of taking them down again.. but that's easier said then done.. and the double threat monster known as Bo Jackson (2,800 yards rushing and 850 receiving) can score from just about anywhere.. I think that WD-40 will slip through the Predators defense and lead this team to a hard fought win.. Swaziland by 6
Rhodesia Ratels VS. Pirgos Warlords:
Another great match up here as well!! The Ratels have been remotely quiet this season as they went along the way only losing 2 games (well quiet for them that is) and so long as Forbin doesn't outthink himself they ought to be able to move through the first round.. the last game they controlled the clock with the help of 32 broken tackles (which is what concerns be for Pirgos).. BUT Uncle Rico leads a very balanced offense (260 yards/game passing and 289 rushing) so it's a pick your poison kind of day for the Ratels.. if you choose to shut down Lethal Injection II.. the Uncle Rico has the 3rd most passing yards in the conference.. this one comes down to turnovers as always.. and I think that the Ratels take care of the ball a little better then the Warlords do.. I'll take RR by 10
Nairobi Warthogs VS. Sons of Anubis:
What can I really say about this one.. the Warthogs bring in the most prolific passing offense in APL.. I mean QB Shocker General was 2,300 yards ahead of the second most passing yards in the conference (and 1,200 ahead of the top QB in Lion).. while his favorite target Pokey (who's not so pokey) Greyson was almost 900 yards of the second best receiver (who also happens to be his teammate)!! WTF... this is an offense even Steve Spurrier would endorse!! While the Sons are still my favorite blue collar team.. they'll show up today and put in work ( but hays23 will tell you they do sometimes score fast also). If the Sons defense can force Shocker General into some turnovers they'll have a chance.. this one's all about the Warthogs offense!! pick 'em...
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Lion Conference:
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District 9 Prawns VS. Somali Pirates:
These two teams just met two games ago.. and the Pirates found out exactly what a suffocating defense looked like as D9 shut down the Somali offense completely (including holding the league leading rusher (Lane West) to 3 yards on 15 carries)!! Somali has had a really good first season in APL and they should take solice in that.. because D9 has been considered the top team in Lion for a reason.. they're just straight nasty! The Shrimpies will hit you in the face, kick you in the junk and then show you scandalous pictures of your sister.. and that's just their offense!! I hope the Pirate ship is stocked with rum and ice bags.. because I think Somali will need both to ease the pain after their first round exit!! Sometimes giant shrimpies are just too much to handle.. D9 makes a statement and wins by 70
Carthaginian War Elephants VS. Massawa Redhorns:
Like PP said.. this is definitely a game to watch.. the Redhorns triped up against the Black Magic.. but still finished the season winning 8 of their last 10!! Not to be outdone though the War Elephants have won 11 of the last 12 (including victories over 4 playoff teams). I believe that this is the most dangerous team in the Lion Conference right now!! I'm sure that Massawa will be ready and will make one hell of a battle out of this today (and if they can get Mr. Winfield to turn the ball over like he's prone to they have a great shot at the upset).. but when the dust settles I think these hard charging War Elephants are just too much for Massawa.. I won't give a spread because it's all based on the CWE QB.. if he turns the ball over 3 times (and we've seen him do that many times) they lose.. if he doesn't.. they could win by 20...
Sahara Storm VS. Bamako Black Magic:
Looks like the Storm blew into the #2 seed (which at the start of the season is where I would have predicted they'd be) and are looking to make a big playoff push. The Black Magic are another 1st season APL team that should be very proud of their showing this year! These teams just met 3 games ago and it was the Storm imposing their will.. controlling the clock and really the game! The Black Magic will need some extra chickens and snake venom if their going to advance to the second round! But I watched the news this morning and the forcast wind and rain (and we all know that meteorologists are never wrong).. so I'll take the Storm by 35
Zambezi Silverbacks VS. Uganda Silverbacks:
Part of me wonders if Fat Danny threw the last game of the season just so we could have Rumble for the Jungle II? I know that LL has a strong team over there but I'm a little concerned about the death spiral that Uganda went into at the end of the season (losing to the Storm, CWE, Massawa, LOL... and almost losing the Sahara Blow Job crew).. admittedly their are some solid teams in that list.. but damn! While Zambezi just quietly went about their business until the end of the season and they decided free falling with Uganda would be fun.. I'm not sure what to expect in this one.. so I guess I'll take the older Silverbacks to continue running the jungle (for now).. Zambezi by 10
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Elephant Conference:
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Carthage Mad Clash VS. Kiev Dynamos:
Well it looks like the Clash have accomplished the first of their two goals this season.. they're sitting in the number one seed and now looking to make a big statement. The Dynamos should feel pretty good about this season.. you're first season in APL and you're in the playoffs.. but the down side is with that back loaded schedule of yours you backed into the playoffs and have to play a powerhouse!! I think that the writings already on the wall for this one .. Mad Clash will continue playing with a chip on their shoulder and roll Kiev like a fresh pastry!!
Swaziland Dachshunds VS. The African Predators:
This is hands down the best game of the first round (I don't care what PP says about his conference) both teams sitting at 13-3 this game will be a battle!! The first time that these teams met this season it was the Dachshunds controlling the clock (38:48 T.O.P.) and controlling the game. The Predators might not get as much publicity as the other top teams in the conference... but they're as dangerous as anybody! It's going to come down to ball control (not that kind of ball control get your mind out of the gutter).. if Swazi can keep the ball away from the Predators they have a great chance of taking them down again.. but that's easier said then done.. and the double threat monster known as Bo Jackson (2,800 yards rushing and 850 receiving) can score from just about anywhere.. I think that WD-40 will slip through the Predators defense and lead this team to a hard fought win.. Swaziland by 6
Rhodesia Ratels VS. Pirgos Warlords:
Another great match up here as well!! The Ratels have been remotely quiet this season as they went along the way only losing 2 games (well quiet for them that is) and so long as Forbin doesn't outthink himself they ought to be able to move through the first round.. the last game they controlled the clock with the help of 32 broken tackles (which is what concerns be for Pirgos).. BUT Uncle Rico leads a very balanced offense (260 yards/game passing and 289 rushing) so it's a pick your poison kind of day for the Ratels.. if you choose to shut down Lethal Injection II.. the Uncle Rico has the 3rd most passing yards in the conference.. this one comes down to turnovers as always.. and I think that the Ratels take care of the ball a little better then the Warlords do.. I'll take RR by 10
Nairobi Warthogs VS. Sons of Anubis:
What can I really say about this one.. the Warthogs bring in the most prolific passing offense in APL.. I mean QB Shocker General was 2,300 yards ahead of the second most passing yards in the conference (and 1,200 ahead of the top QB in Lion).. while his favorite target Pokey (who's not so pokey) Greyson was almost 900 yards of the second best receiver (who also happens to be his teammate)!! WTF... this is an offense even Steve Spurrier would endorse!! While the Sons are still my favorite blue collar team.. they'll show up today and put in work ( but hays23 will tell you they do sometimes score fast also). If the Sons defense can force Shocker General into some turnovers they'll have a chance.. this one's all about the Warthogs offense!! pick 'em...
