Congrats and Good Luck to all playoff teams!!
Alpha
#1 Indianapolis Gurupies vs. #8 Tampa Bay Puganeers
Props to Tampa Bay for making the playoffs in their first season in OPL... unfortunately they face a much better, undefeated Indianapolis team in the first round. Gurupies have made it more than clear they were not happy demoting from the WL and expect to be back there in season 22. The regular season game was a blowout with Indy winning 89-0 and I see no reason to expect any different this time around.
The Prediction - Gurupies by 56
#4 Hong Kong Voodoo vs. #5 Kingston Uprising
Both teams had nice seasons... HKV with mature dots and Kingston coming home to OPL. The Voodoo blew out Kingston 51-16 early in the season. Would have to imagine Kingston is very happy to have this rematch. I still think they are the better team and will get their revenge. Winner gets Indy next and a guaranteed 2nd round exit.
Prediction - Kingston by 14
#2 Gold Coast Michelin Men vs. #7 Death Dealers
GCMM overcomes a late scare to lock up the #2 seed and an easy 1st round matchup over and an unmanned Death Dealers team. Sadly, its a testament to the state of OPL that DD not only made the playoffs but landed the #7 seed despite being inactive for 2 seasons now. Anyway, GCMM won the regular season game 27-6 and see no reason for that to change much.
Prediction - GCMM by 28
#3 Banzai Pipeline Nites vs. #6 Stockholm Black Death
Disappointing loss for SBD to end the regular season against Kingston. Perhaps they set that up intentionally to face Banzai, the team that knocked them out of the 1st round last season in the 3vs6 matchup, and to avoid Indy until the conference championship game. The regular season matchup was won by Banzai by a score of 41-14 but the game was tainted by early season AI errors. That said, I expect a much different game that will come down the end.
Prediction - Banzai by 6
---------------------------------------------------
Zeta Conference
#1 Asau Pirates vs. #8 Budapest Devils
Budapest should be proud of scraping their way to the 8th seed in their first season in OPL with a young roster. Unfortunately they play the undefeated and strong favorite to win Zeta, Asau Pirates. The Pirates dominated the regular season game 88-6 and we should see much of the same again. Expect Budapest to be a strong force next season.
Prediction - Asua by 72
#4 Syracuse Synergy vs. #5 Oregon Ducks
Great matchup here! Oregon must still be burned about their late 4th quarter 20-13 loss to the Synergy that was decided by a late pick 6. I have have poopoo'ed Oregon for much of the season, questioning their ability to overcome the top teams in Zeta. Well, I think the luck finally goes their way and they end Syracuse's farewell tour early, despite an 18 for 30 220/1td/0int Noodling.
Prediction - Oregon by 3
#2 Sumatra Seahawks vs. #7 Amsterdam Bulls
Interesting matchup here as Amsterdam played Sumatra very close in their frist conference game of the season. In fact it took a late 2nd half run in which Sumatra score 21 unanswered points to win 27-24. That said, this is a very different Sumatra team than what the Bulls saw at the beginning of the season. I think Amsterdam will make a good game of it but like Budapest I think they are a season away.
Prediction - Sumatra by 17
#3 Gold Coast Vipers vs. #6 Kona Gold
Another good 3vs6 matchup! Kona won the regular season matchup 30-23 despite me insisting they were too young this season. I expect another good game between these two teams that could go either way, however I give the edge to the Vipers as they prove me wrong and avoid a 5th straight first round exit.
Prediction - Vipers by 6
Alpha
#1 Indianapolis Gurupies vs. #8 Tampa Bay Puganeers
Props to Tampa Bay for making the playoffs in their first season in OPL... unfortunately they face a much better, undefeated Indianapolis team in the first round. Gurupies have made it more than clear they were not happy demoting from the WL and expect to be back there in season 22. The regular season game was a blowout with Indy winning 89-0 and I see no reason to expect any different this time around.
The Prediction - Gurupies by 56
#4 Hong Kong Voodoo vs. #5 Kingston Uprising
Both teams had nice seasons... HKV with mature dots and Kingston coming home to OPL. The Voodoo blew out Kingston 51-16 early in the season. Would have to imagine Kingston is very happy to have this rematch. I still think they are the better team and will get their revenge. Winner gets Indy next and a guaranteed 2nd round exit.
Prediction - Kingston by 14
#2 Gold Coast Michelin Men vs. #7 Death Dealers
GCMM overcomes a late scare to lock up the #2 seed and an easy 1st round matchup over and an unmanned Death Dealers team. Sadly, its a testament to the state of OPL that DD not only made the playoffs but landed the #7 seed despite being inactive for 2 seasons now. Anyway, GCMM won the regular season game 27-6 and see no reason for that to change much.
Prediction - GCMM by 28
#3 Banzai Pipeline Nites vs. #6 Stockholm Black Death
Disappointing loss for SBD to end the regular season against Kingston. Perhaps they set that up intentionally to face Banzai, the team that knocked them out of the 1st round last season in the 3vs6 matchup, and to avoid Indy until the conference championship game. The regular season matchup was won by Banzai by a score of 41-14 but the game was tainted by early season AI errors. That said, I expect a much different game that will come down the end.
Prediction - Banzai by 6
---------------------------------------------------
Zeta Conference
#1 Asau Pirates vs. #8 Budapest Devils
Budapest should be proud of scraping their way to the 8th seed in their first season in OPL with a young roster. Unfortunately they play the undefeated and strong favorite to win Zeta, Asau Pirates. The Pirates dominated the regular season game 88-6 and we should see much of the same again. Expect Budapest to be a strong force next season.
Prediction - Asua by 72
#4 Syracuse Synergy vs. #5 Oregon Ducks
Great matchup here! Oregon must still be burned about their late 4th quarter 20-13 loss to the Synergy that was decided by a late pick 6. I have have poopoo'ed Oregon for much of the season, questioning their ability to overcome the top teams in Zeta. Well, I think the luck finally goes their way and they end Syracuse's farewell tour early, despite an 18 for 30 220/1td/0int Noodling.
Prediction - Oregon by 3
#2 Sumatra Seahawks vs. #7 Amsterdam Bulls
Interesting matchup here as Amsterdam played Sumatra very close in their frist conference game of the season. In fact it took a late 2nd half run in which Sumatra score 21 unanswered points to win 27-24. That said, this is a very different Sumatra team than what the Bulls saw at the beginning of the season. I think Amsterdam will make a good game of it but like Budapest I think they are a season away.
Prediction - Sumatra by 17
#3 Gold Coast Vipers vs. #6 Kona Gold
Another good 3vs6 matchup! Kona won the regular season matchup 30-23 despite me insisting they were too young this season. I expect another good game between these two teams that could go either way, however I give the edge to the Vipers as they prove me wrong and avoid a 5th straight first round exit.
Prediction - Vipers by 6
