After two demoralizing defeats at the hands of the Black Cats in Season 3, the Salty Dogs are looking for an upset of the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. In Week 14 last year it was a 19-0 defeat in the middle of a three game losing streak for the Dogs. It was a 10-6 second-round playoff elimination loss that has left a sour taste in the Dogs mouth headed into this game.
The Salty Dogs this year have been underachievers, overrated, or both while the Black Cats have been the class of the conference. One look at the matchup screen < http://goallineblitz.com/game/compare_teams.pl?team1=3608&team2=3600 > suggests that this game may be closer than some prognosticators believe it will be.
St. John's defense will be thoroughly tested with Queen City's offensive players all over the Eastern Conference leaderboard. QB Shawn Spencer leads the closest competitor by nearly 400 yards and 9 touchdowns after throwing for 2,009.5 yards and 21 TD's through nine contests. The 1-2 punch of Ben Jeudah & Taylor Nixon sit atop the rushing leaderboard at #1 & #3 respectively with a combined 3,832.5 yards and a staggering 65 touchdowns.
The Salty Dogs bring their own 1-2 punch in Duce McAllister & HB Stud who are #4 & #8 on the leaderboard with a combined 2,875.5 yards and 45 touchdowns. Both squads have a balanced receiving corps and the statistics show that they're willing to spread the ball around. Guard Ervin Smith anchors an offensive line that is another highlight of the Queen City team. He's accounted for 159 pancakes individually on a squad that has tallied 767 collectively while only allowing 6 hurries and 2 sacks. Outside of the 9 sack, 14 hurry abberation in Week 2 against the Hashishim, the Salty Dogs offensive line has allowed just four hurries and no sacks in those 9 games, and their protection will be key if they are to upset the Cats.
The two teams defenses look eerily similar on paper. 578 tackles for the Dogs, 557 for the Cats. They've missed 76 & 70, respectively. Pass deflections (114, 142), interceptions (13, 12), and forced fumbles (13, 14) are all close too. The Salty Dogs have half as many hurries (31 vs. 66) and sacks (9 vs. 20) and are allowing nearly three times as many points (15 vs. 5.6) as the Black Cats.
Likewise, the kicking games are close with St. John's converting on 11/14 Field Goal tries and Queen City hitting on 10/12 Field Goal attempts. When the teams elect to punt (rumor has it the Dogs went a whole game without one) they Cats have the edge with a 36.2-yard average on 33 boots versus the Dogs 27.3-yard average on just 29 punts.
Which team will win? The logic says the Queen City Black Cats (the league projector agrees...28-11). However, my heart says to go with the underdog (the fact that I'm a Salty Dogs GM doesn't hurt either). I'm pulling for an upset, 21-20...Salty Dogs!
Let the (respectful) trash talking begin!
The Salty Dogs this year have been underachievers, overrated, or both while the Black Cats have been the class of the conference. One look at the matchup screen < http://goallineblitz.com/game/compare_teams.pl?team1=3608&team2=3600 > suggests that this game may be closer than some prognosticators believe it will be.
St. John's defense will be thoroughly tested with Queen City's offensive players all over the Eastern Conference leaderboard. QB Shawn Spencer leads the closest competitor by nearly 400 yards and 9 touchdowns after throwing for 2,009.5 yards and 21 TD's through nine contests. The 1-2 punch of Ben Jeudah & Taylor Nixon sit atop the rushing leaderboard at #1 & #3 respectively with a combined 3,832.5 yards and a staggering 65 touchdowns.
The Salty Dogs bring their own 1-2 punch in Duce McAllister & HB Stud who are #4 & #8 on the leaderboard with a combined 2,875.5 yards and 45 touchdowns. Both squads have a balanced receiving corps and the statistics show that they're willing to spread the ball around. Guard Ervin Smith anchors an offensive line that is another highlight of the Queen City team. He's accounted for 159 pancakes individually on a squad that has tallied 767 collectively while only allowing 6 hurries and 2 sacks. Outside of the 9 sack, 14 hurry abberation in Week 2 against the Hashishim, the Salty Dogs offensive line has allowed just four hurries and no sacks in those 9 games, and their protection will be key if they are to upset the Cats.
The two teams defenses look eerily similar on paper. 578 tackles for the Dogs, 557 for the Cats. They've missed 76 & 70, respectively. Pass deflections (114, 142), interceptions (13, 12), and forced fumbles (13, 14) are all close too. The Salty Dogs have half as many hurries (31 vs. 66) and sacks (9 vs. 20) and are allowing nearly three times as many points (15 vs. 5.6) as the Black Cats.
Likewise, the kicking games are close with St. John's converting on 11/14 Field Goal tries and Queen City hitting on 10/12 Field Goal attempts. When the teams elect to punt (rumor has it the Dogs went a whole game without one) they Cats have the edge with a 36.2-yard average on 33 boots versus the Dogs 27.3-yard average on just 29 punts.
Which team will win? The logic says the Queen City Black Cats (the league projector agrees...28-11). However, my heart says to go with the underdog (the fact that I'm a Salty Dogs GM doesn't hurt either). I'm pulling for an upset, 21-20...Salty Dogs!
Let the (respectful) trash talking begin!
