Since my power rankings would be identical to the final standings, I figured I'd focus on the playoffs from here on out.
1. Edinburgh Black Knights (16-0) vs. 8. Milan Cock Fighters (8-7-1)
Milan isn’t heading into this matchup with a great deal of confidence, having lost 5 of 6 after starting the season 7-2-1. Meanwhile Edinburgh hasn’t lost a regular season game in their history, and are focused on winning the championship that eluded them last year. Milan has their hands full with HB’s Rikky Danner and Joe Delaney, who are second and third in Zeta in rushing yards, respectively. Milan brings a balanced attack that doesn’t like to turn the ball over, but can they score more than the 7 points they managed in their first meeting?
2. Icelandic Vikings (13-3) vs. 7. Middlesbrough Mayhem (10-6)
Seven of Middlesbrough’s 16 games were decided by a touchdown or less, including their 31-30 win over Iceland in week 3. In fact, this is the only first-round matchup in which the lower-seeded team beat the higher-seeded team in the regular season. But the Mayhem have dropped two of three, and the Vikes are riding a six-game winning streak, including back-to-back wins over Glasgow and West Yorkshire to close out the season. Middlesbrough is going to have to find a way to stop Iceland’s potent offense, which will be hard for a team that gave up 4,051 yards in the air this season. Still they only gave up 50 yards on 23 rushes in week 3 to the team that led the league in pancakes by a pretty wide margin.
3. Glasgow Tigers (13-3) vs. 6. Trillville Hoods (10-6)
Glasgow’s reward for finishing the season at 13-3? A first-round matchup with Trillville and Zeta’s leading rusher, Brian “The Wizard” Westbrook. The Tigers held him in check the first time around, forcing Trillville to go to the air early in a 37-7 week 11 win. Westbrook still had a 5.1 yd/carry average for the game, he just didn’t get enough touches to be effective. It’ll be interesting in this game to see if the Hoods run him straight into the teeth of the Tiger defense that gave up the fewest yards on the ground of any team in Zeta. It’ll also be interesting to see if Trillville has figured out a way to stop Glasgow’s rushing attack, which stomped them for 302 yards.
4. Tilburg Power (12-4) vs. 5. Schiffertown Griffin’s (12-4)
This is the marquee matchup of the first round, in my opinion. The Griff’s have arguably the most dangerous offense in the league, which was on full display during a frenzied 4th quarter win over Alpha’s #2 team, the Boston Punks. Their loss to Tilburg in week 5 came at the tail end of a 3-game losing streak that eventually cost them a chance at home field advantage in the playoffs. But they recovered and went 11-1 down the stretch, and look to avenge their 24-14 defeat. The Power also started the season a little slow, dropping their first two right out of the gate. If not for an upset loss to Trillville, they would’ve had a shot at the #3 or #2 seed. Instead, they’re going to try to re-create their victory over a Schiffertown team that looks very different from the team they faced early in the season. But they’ve got a very strong, ball-hogging offense that kept possession so well that their defense logged the fewest snaps of any team in Zeta. That’ll be a key in this game: how well they can keep Schiffertown’s high-powered offense off the field.
1. Edinburgh Black Knights (16-0) vs. 8. Milan Cock Fighters (8-7-1)
Milan isn’t heading into this matchup with a great deal of confidence, having lost 5 of 6 after starting the season 7-2-1. Meanwhile Edinburgh hasn’t lost a regular season game in their history, and are focused on winning the championship that eluded them last year. Milan has their hands full with HB’s Rikky Danner and Joe Delaney, who are second and third in Zeta in rushing yards, respectively. Milan brings a balanced attack that doesn’t like to turn the ball over, but can they score more than the 7 points they managed in their first meeting?
2. Icelandic Vikings (13-3) vs. 7. Middlesbrough Mayhem (10-6)
Seven of Middlesbrough’s 16 games were decided by a touchdown or less, including their 31-30 win over Iceland in week 3. In fact, this is the only first-round matchup in which the lower-seeded team beat the higher-seeded team in the regular season. But the Mayhem have dropped two of three, and the Vikes are riding a six-game winning streak, including back-to-back wins over Glasgow and West Yorkshire to close out the season. Middlesbrough is going to have to find a way to stop Iceland’s potent offense, which will be hard for a team that gave up 4,051 yards in the air this season. Still they only gave up 50 yards on 23 rushes in week 3 to the team that led the league in pancakes by a pretty wide margin.
3. Glasgow Tigers (13-3) vs. 6. Trillville Hoods (10-6)
Glasgow’s reward for finishing the season at 13-3? A first-round matchup with Trillville and Zeta’s leading rusher, Brian “The Wizard” Westbrook. The Tigers held him in check the first time around, forcing Trillville to go to the air early in a 37-7 week 11 win. Westbrook still had a 5.1 yd/carry average for the game, he just didn’t get enough touches to be effective. It’ll be interesting in this game to see if the Hoods run him straight into the teeth of the Tiger defense that gave up the fewest yards on the ground of any team in Zeta. It’ll also be interesting to see if Trillville has figured out a way to stop Glasgow’s rushing attack, which stomped them for 302 yards.
4. Tilburg Power (12-4) vs. 5. Schiffertown Griffin’s (12-4)
This is the marquee matchup of the first round, in my opinion. The Griff’s have arguably the most dangerous offense in the league, which was on full display during a frenzied 4th quarter win over Alpha’s #2 team, the Boston Punks. Their loss to Tilburg in week 5 came at the tail end of a 3-game losing streak that eventually cost them a chance at home field advantage in the playoffs. But they recovered and went 11-1 down the stretch, and look to avenge their 24-14 defeat. The Power also started the season a little slow, dropping their first two right out of the gate. If not for an upset loss to Trillville, they would’ve had a shot at the #3 or #2 seed. Instead, they’re going to try to re-create their victory over a Schiffertown team that looks very different from the team they faced early in the season. But they’ve got a very strong, ball-hogging offense that kept possession so well that their defense logged the fewest snaps of any team in Zeta. That’ll be a key in this game: how well they can keep Schiffertown’s high-powered offense off the field.
Last edited Sep 3, 2008 11:57:12
