Well we've all seen that 5 way tie for two spots at the bottom of the conference as well as some potential jocking for home field at the top. I've run down the scenarios and if it's possible that points scored will effect the out come they are included in {} after the teams record. Hope to generate a few comments and let all enjoy the games tomorrow, it should be fun.
1)Antwerp JDD(14-1){492} – Looking to lockup the #1 Seed and homefield throught the Zeta Conference Playoffs with a win against the Belfast Mafia(11-4) and Belfast is trying to earn a home playoff game.
Scenario: Earns homefield with a win, or a loss and a loss by Amsterdam, or a loss wins by Amsterdam and Quebec by margins less than 70pts.
2)Quebec Colored Trombones(13-2){426} – Trying to stay the conferences #2 seed holds the head to head tiebreaker against Amerstdam plays the (10-5) Basin City Blues.
Scenario: Keeps the #2 seed with a win and win by Antwerp, only chance for the top spot is with an Antwerp loss Amsterdam win and winning their own game by a margin of greater than 70 points than either of their two opponents.
3)Amsterdam Smugglers(13-2){427} – Could potentially claim the #1 overall seed with a win against Wrexham Maelor(7-8) and an Antwerp Loss along with a Quebec loss. Seems almost guaranteed to be the #3 seed do to Quebec holding the head to head tie-breaker on them.
Scenario: Is the #3 seed with a loss, goes to #1 with a win and a Antwerp & Quebec Loss, or a win and Antwerp loss if they outscore Wrexham by 65 more points than Antwerp scores in their game. Becomes the #2 seed with a win and Trombones loss. Becomes the #2 seed with a win and a Quebec loss.
4)Hamburg Patriots(11-4) – Owns the tie-breaker against Athens and plays the dreadfull winless Crimson&Cream Sooner Machine from Alpha.
Scenario: Cannot move up by certainly seems assured to be the 4th seed, guarantees a home playoff game with a win, or loss and loss by Athens.
5)Athens Gators(11-4) – Is pretty much locked into this spot as they take on the Kilenny Cannibals(6-9) and look to build momentum for a first round matchup on the road at Hamburg in what looks to be a re-match from game 1 of the season.
Scenario: Will defiantly play Hamburg week 1 of the postseason, can only host the game with a win and Hamburg loss or tie.
6)Konoha Hokages(9-6) – Are locked in as the sixth seed and will take on Vatra Dornei Wraiths(4-11) but would defiantly like to break out of their current five game skid and get some morale back as they head into their first round playoff matchup.
Scenario: None they are the sixth seed regardless.
7)Vatican City Angels(7-8){258} – need the Pope to attend as they matchup against the Transylvania Blood Suckers(14-1) and arguably the best team in the league. At least for the most part they control their own destiny as they have an advantage in points scored and own tie breakers against Cardiff and Newcastle.
Scenario: Are the 7th seed with a win and a loss by Malmo and a loss by Vienna. Can be the 8th seed with a loss and either (but not both) wins by Malmo or Vienna and they score a decent amount of points in the game to maintain their slim margin over the others.
8)Cardiff Cobra’s(7-8){255} – Are at home to play the woeful London Brawling Tommies and are probably rooting for a multi-game tie in the standings given their point totals and the fact that they may run up some points against the Tommie’s. Their current five game skid though does leave them vulnerable to an upset here. They own tie-breakers against Malmo and Newcastle.
Scenario: Are the 7th seed with a win and losses by Vatican City and Vienna. Become the 8th seed with a win and win by either(but not both) Vatican City or Vienna.
9)Vienna Blood Sausages(7-8){248) – Are probably still kicking themselves after their loss to Malmo last week as a win would have all but guaranteed them a playoff spot while the loss has left them in dire need of pulling off an upset at home against the powerhouse Warsaw Knuckleheads(12-3). They own head to head tie-breakers against Cardiff and Vatican City.
Scenario: Are the 7th seed with a win and losses by Malmo, Newcastle. Become the 8th seed with a win and a win by either (but not both) Malmo or Newcastle. Is in pretty good shape on points scored but if they do pull the upset one cannot imagine it being by a huge enough margin to offset some of the others who have weaker opponents.
10)Newcastle Nightmare(7-8){240} – Are the swing match as they play the Grim Reapers(7-8) this game is really the one that will have the most impact on the final two spots short of a big upset by either Vienna or Vatican City. Newcastle holds head to head tie-breakers against Malmo and Vienna.
Scenario: Is the 7th seed with a win and losses by Vatican City and Cardiff. Become the 8th seed with a win and a win by either(but not both) Vatican City and Cardiff.
11)Malmo Dawgs(7-8){219} – Have one of the easier inter-conference matchups against the Oklahoma Outlaws(3-12) and are gonna need it. They need a win and some points on the board as they trail their next closest competitor by 21 in points scored. A blowout win by Malmo would unravel the secondary head to head tie-breaks. Malmo holds head to head tie-breaks against Vienna and Vatican City.
Scenario: Become the 7th seed with a win and losses by Newcastle and Cardiff. To become the 8th seed they need either a blowout win by the outlaws where they score 50+ or a Newcastle loss.
Special Scenario: In case 4 of these teams are tied at the end of week 16 the points scored will be the tie-breaker which leaves Vatican City in the best position(assuming they can pull off a miracle) and Cardiff probably in the true best position as they are against a week opponent and have the chance to wrack up some points in that one. Malmo is in the worst position as their shut-down defense does not benefit them in this scenario. The biggest Headache for all these teams will be the fact that each of the five teams vying for two spots is 2-2 against the others that are vying as well so no-one team has an absolute lock on any particular tie-breaker advantage.
BOLD PREDICTIONS:
Antwerp squeaks by Belfast to hold onto the number one seed 33-30.
Quebec falls to Baysin City in a close matchup decided late. 24-27.
Amsterdam becomes the #2 seed with a blowout win against Wrexham 44-10.
Hamburg wins in a blowout holding onto the final home playoff game by a margin of 56-0.
Athens wins a close one to build some momentum for their anticipated matchup at Hamburg 17-10.
Konoha wins but it doesn’t matter and books plane tickets to Quebec 15-14.
Vatican City puts up a valiant effort against Transyvannia but gets knocked off by a score of 28-34.
Cardiff’s low morale causes them grief as they get upset 14-20.
Vienna puts up the valiant effort in the first half then the game gets away from them 13-34.
NewCastle manages to pull out a tough win against a good opponent after they trail in the first half rallying to a 21-20 victory late.
Malmo blows out the Outlaws by a score of 44-14.
That leaves the Zeta Matchups as
Malmo Dawgs(8) at Antwerp JDD(1)
Newcastle Nightmare(7) at Amerstdam Smugglers(2)
Konoha Hokages(6) at Quebec Colored Trombones (3)
Athens Gators (5) at Hamburg Patriots (4)
1)Antwerp JDD(14-1){492} – Looking to lockup the #1 Seed and homefield throught the Zeta Conference Playoffs with a win against the Belfast Mafia(11-4) and Belfast is trying to earn a home playoff game.
Scenario: Earns homefield with a win, or a loss and a loss by Amsterdam, or a loss wins by Amsterdam and Quebec by margins less than 70pts.
2)Quebec Colored Trombones(13-2){426} – Trying to stay the conferences #2 seed holds the head to head tiebreaker against Amerstdam plays the (10-5) Basin City Blues.
Scenario: Keeps the #2 seed with a win and win by Antwerp, only chance for the top spot is with an Antwerp loss Amsterdam win and winning their own game by a margin of greater than 70 points than either of their two opponents.
3)Amsterdam Smugglers(13-2){427} – Could potentially claim the #1 overall seed with a win against Wrexham Maelor(7-8) and an Antwerp Loss along with a Quebec loss. Seems almost guaranteed to be the #3 seed do to Quebec holding the head to head tie-breaker on them.
Scenario: Is the #3 seed with a loss, goes to #1 with a win and a Antwerp & Quebec Loss, or a win and Antwerp loss if they outscore Wrexham by 65 more points than Antwerp scores in their game. Becomes the #2 seed with a win and Trombones loss. Becomes the #2 seed with a win and a Quebec loss.
4)Hamburg Patriots(11-4) – Owns the tie-breaker against Athens and plays the dreadfull winless Crimson&Cream Sooner Machine from Alpha.
Scenario: Cannot move up by certainly seems assured to be the 4th seed, guarantees a home playoff game with a win, or loss and loss by Athens.
5)Athens Gators(11-4) – Is pretty much locked into this spot as they take on the Kilenny Cannibals(6-9) and look to build momentum for a first round matchup on the road at Hamburg in what looks to be a re-match from game 1 of the season.
Scenario: Will defiantly play Hamburg week 1 of the postseason, can only host the game with a win and Hamburg loss or tie.
6)Konoha Hokages(9-6) – Are locked in as the sixth seed and will take on Vatra Dornei Wraiths(4-11) but would defiantly like to break out of their current five game skid and get some morale back as they head into their first round playoff matchup.
Scenario: None they are the sixth seed regardless.
7)Vatican City Angels(7-8){258} – need the Pope to attend as they matchup against the Transylvania Blood Suckers(14-1) and arguably the best team in the league. At least for the most part they control their own destiny as they have an advantage in points scored and own tie breakers against Cardiff and Newcastle.
Scenario: Are the 7th seed with a win and a loss by Malmo and a loss by Vienna. Can be the 8th seed with a loss and either (but not both) wins by Malmo or Vienna and they score a decent amount of points in the game to maintain their slim margin over the others.
8)Cardiff Cobra’s(7-8){255} – Are at home to play the woeful London Brawling Tommies and are probably rooting for a multi-game tie in the standings given their point totals and the fact that they may run up some points against the Tommie’s. Their current five game skid though does leave them vulnerable to an upset here. They own tie-breakers against Malmo and Newcastle.
Scenario: Are the 7th seed with a win and losses by Vatican City and Vienna. Become the 8th seed with a win and win by either(but not both) Vatican City or Vienna.
9)Vienna Blood Sausages(7-8){248) – Are probably still kicking themselves after their loss to Malmo last week as a win would have all but guaranteed them a playoff spot while the loss has left them in dire need of pulling off an upset at home against the powerhouse Warsaw Knuckleheads(12-3). They own head to head tie-breakers against Cardiff and Vatican City.
Scenario: Are the 7th seed with a win and losses by Malmo, Newcastle. Become the 8th seed with a win and a win by either (but not both) Malmo or Newcastle. Is in pretty good shape on points scored but if they do pull the upset one cannot imagine it being by a huge enough margin to offset some of the others who have weaker opponents.
10)Newcastle Nightmare(7-8){240} – Are the swing match as they play the Grim Reapers(7-8) this game is really the one that will have the most impact on the final two spots short of a big upset by either Vienna or Vatican City. Newcastle holds head to head tie-breakers against Malmo and Vienna.
Scenario: Is the 7th seed with a win and losses by Vatican City and Cardiff. Become the 8th seed with a win and a win by either(but not both) Vatican City and Cardiff.
11)Malmo Dawgs(7-8){219} – Have one of the easier inter-conference matchups against the Oklahoma Outlaws(3-12) and are gonna need it. They need a win and some points on the board as they trail their next closest competitor by 21 in points scored. A blowout win by Malmo would unravel the secondary head to head tie-breaks. Malmo holds head to head tie-breaks against Vienna and Vatican City.
Scenario: Become the 7th seed with a win and losses by Newcastle and Cardiff. To become the 8th seed they need either a blowout win by the outlaws where they score 50+ or a Newcastle loss.
Special Scenario: In case 4 of these teams are tied at the end of week 16 the points scored will be the tie-breaker which leaves Vatican City in the best position(assuming they can pull off a miracle) and Cardiff probably in the true best position as they are against a week opponent and have the chance to wrack up some points in that one. Malmo is in the worst position as their shut-down defense does not benefit them in this scenario. The biggest Headache for all these teams will be the fact that each of the five teams vying for two spots is 2-2 against the others that are vying as well so no-one team has an absolute lock on any particular tie-breaker advantage.
BOLD PREDICTIONS:
Antwerp squeaks by Belfast to hold onto the number one seed 33-30.
Quebec falls to Baysin City in a close matchup decided late. 24-27.
Amsterdam becomes the #2 seed with a blowout win against Wrexham 44-10.
Hamburg wins in a blowout holding onto the final home playoff game by a margin of 56-0.
Athens wins a close one to build some momentum for their anticipated matchup at Hamburg 17-10.
Konoha wins but it doesn’t matter and books plane tickets to Quebec 15-14.
Vatican City puts up a valiant effort against Transyvannia but gets knocked off by a score of 28-34.
Cardiff’s low morale causes them grief as they get upset 14-20.
Vienna puts up the valiant effort in the first half then the game gets away from them 13-34.
NewCastle manages to pull out a tough win against a good opponent after they trail in the first half rallying to a 21-20 victory late.
Malmo blows out the Outlaws by a score of 44-14.
That leaves the Zeta Matchups as
Malmo Dawgs(8) at Antwerp JDD(1)
Newcastle Nightmare(7) at Amerstdam Smugglers(2)
Konoha Hokages(6) at Quebec Colored Trombones (3)
Athens Gators (5) at Hamburg Patriots (4)
O well, good luck to Athens tomorrow!
