Three weeks left now...not much time for those pushing for playoff spots.
Season record: 60-17
GOTW1
Warsaw Wolves (9-4) @ Bath Killer Bees (10-3)
Two clear GOTW this time, filtering out who is likely to take the home playoff spots. The first is Warsaw's chance to climb above Bath in the league - Warsaw have two very easy games after this one, so the opportunity to finish 12-4 is very possible. They will have to be at their best to beat a Bath team who have never conceded more than 29 points this season and have been rather ruthless in beating teams by narrow margins. With a much tougher final couple of games, they must get the win here and I think they will.
Prediction:Bath by 6.
Actual: Warsaw 51-17 - major shock of the week this one, not just the result but the number of points that Warsaw put up! All three fumbles were converted into 7 points which accounts for the difference between the scores, but I'm massively impressed with the Warsaw defense, especially against the run - this is definitely a game that I'll be scouting to see what they did if we meet Bath again. This result throws the playoff picture WIDE open...with Bath slipping down the league.
GOTW2
Team Perkis (9-4) @ The Evil Empire (10-3)
Of these two teams Evil have the easiest run-in (no LTS game for them!) and the stronger record, so I cannot see Perkis making the home playoff games at the moment, even with a win here. With their loss to Amsterdam, Evil must make sure they win all three games and hope that Amsterdam slip up somewhere (possibly against Bath) to stay above them in the league and have the easier playoff run. That will be just about the spur that they will need to pick up a win here.
Prediction: Empire by 7.
Actual: Perkis 34-13 - not only can I not successfully give a pre-game report, I can't make a good prediction either! Perkis made great use of their running game again to take hold of a game, whilst a couple of big defensive plays made sure the score didn't get too close. Really didn't see this coming to be honest (though I don't know why given that I've not been able to call a Perkis game all season!), but I'm now very much worried about keeping the streak alive against these guys on the last game of the season. There is a great chance of these guys going long into the playoffs now!
Belfast Commandos (6-7) @ Lyon Winemakers (7-6)
The 9th and 10th teams are needing a bit of a miracle to get into the playoffs now, and must get a win here to continue their unlikely quest! Both teams are coming into this game in form, with Belfast having only narrowly lost to both Dresden and the Empire in recent weeks and Lyon taking apart Bjelsanica in the last game. However before that Lyon suffered three disappointing defeats so I'm going with Belfast with this one.
Prediction: Belfast by 9.
Actual: Belfast 24-10 - yay...finally called one! Lyon are very good at forcing fumbles, with 4 against Belfast in this one (after the high number against Amsterdam a couple of games ago) - its making the most of them that has proved their difficulty though, with Belfast rarely troubled after they scored their first TD. Given the 2nd half to their season, I think Belfast could be a very big team to watch next season, especially with the WL experience. I'll be very interested in seeing what they've got in the next game. As for Lyon (my early season favourites)...next season guys!
Parts Unknown (0-13) @ Rome Titans (1-12)
Rome will have to be pretty careful here that they don't slip up, otherwise they'll be sweating on the points conceded race to keep them in the league. Even if they lose, I think Parts have had the worse defense by far so should they should be safe...however I don't see them losing - they were very unlucky not to beat the Meatballs and have had some reasonably close results throughout the season, whilst Parts really haven't. If thye can keep the team together next season, they should be a handful in the AAA leagues though!
Prediction: Rome by 31.
Actual: Rome 34-22 - well Parts did slightly better than I thought, but this seals the 16th spot for them I'm afraid. Looking at the game stats I'm surprised by this result even more - Perkis had by far the better of the play, but just couldn't convert the pressure into TDs, with 5 FGs before the single TD in the 4th quarter...that makes the 12-point difference all the more disappointing.
Bjelasnica Red Star (5-8) @ La Tourette Syndrome (13-0)
Bjelasnica have had it tough this season, but with two relatively easy games after this one should come away with a respectable record for their first Pro season. We don't want them to go .500 though!
Actual: LTS 51-3 - not as dominant as we'd have liked, with 7 FGs from our kicker the highest number by far that he's had to kick all season, so you've got to give credit to Red Star for that. From an offensive PoV, they were a little too easy to read (especially with the HB runs from the QB) and a fix to this would make them a completely different proposition! Enjoy the last couple of games guys!
Hamburg Parrots (8-5) @ Stockholm Meatballs (3-10)
Out of the remaining games, this one has the most potential for upset (sorry Hamburg) - Stockholm have shown that they can almost pull off the shock when on their game, and the Parrots have been off their game a little too frequently than they'd like this season. This one will either be incredibly close, or will be a Parrots blowout...I'm going to go for the latter.
Prediction: Hamburg by 45.
Actual: Hamburg 72-23 - a very entertaining shootout this one, until Stockholm started faltering on offense and Hamburg took the game away from them. I would have thought Stockholm's defense was a little better than this, but Hamburg are very strong on offense. Although they lie perilously in 8th (not trying to set up a game against LTS in the playoffs I hope fellas!) and have Bath to face now, they should easily pick up a win against Parts to get them into the POs. Stockholm meanwhile have an 11th season in the Pro Leagues to look forward to...hopefully anyway!
Dresden Demons (8-5) @ D-Town Bushwalkers (4-9)
WIth both 9-4 teams potentially struggling for wins this week, Dresden have a good chance with Hamburg to make a four-team group (man there are far too many things that could happen with these playoff places). They should have very little problem against a struggling D-Town team on a very poor run of form.
Prediction: Dresden by 59.
Actual: Dresden 65-10 - my points differences have been rather good today! Completely expected to be honest, though Dresden will struggle to get any higher than 7th place thanks to the game against the Empire up next.
Amsterdam Affliction (10-3) @ Plainview Bulldogs (1-12)
Amsterdam finally lose the #2 spot after the LTS defeat, but with the easiest game of the three 10-3 teams, could claim it back in an instance!
Prediction: Amsterdam by 83.
Actual: Amsterdam 79-3 - ...and just like that, Amsterdam do indeed claim back 2nd place! The final week is going to be a massive week for games to sort out the playoff places, and I'd love to see a league where there is still this much to be decided! Are Amsterdam just about to reclaim their form heading into the POs?
PREDICTION RECORD: 5-2 - not awful!
Season record: 60-17
GOTW1
Warsaw Wolves (9-4) @ Bath Killer Bees (10-3)
Two clear GOTW this time, filtering out who is likely to take the home playoff spots. The first is Warsaw's chance to climb above Bath in the league - Warsaw have two very easy games after this one, so the opportunity to finish 12-4 is very possible. They will have to be at their best to beat a Bath team who have never conceded more than 29 points this season and have been rather ruthless in beating teams by narrow margins. With a much tougher final couple of games, they must get the win here and I think they will.
Prediction:Bath by 6.
Actual: Warsaw 51-17 - major shock of the week this one, not just the result but the number of points that Warsaw put up! All three fumbles were converted into 7 points which accounts for the difference between the scores, but I'm massively impressed with the Warsaw defense, especially against the run - this is definitely a game that I'll be scouting to see what they did if we meet Bath again. This result throws the playoff picture WIDE open...with Bath slipping down the league.
GOTW2
Team Perkis (9-4) @ The Evil Empire (10-3)
Of these two teams Evil have the easiest run-in (no LTS game for them!) and the stronger record, so I cannot see Perkis making the home playoff games at the moment, even with a win here. With their loss to Amsterdam, Evil must make sure they win all three games and hope that Amsterdam slip up somewhere (possibly against Bath) to stay above them in the league and have the easier playoff run. That will be just about the spur that they will need to pick up a win here.
Prediction: Empire by 7.
Actual: Perkis 34-13 - not only can I not successfully give a pre-game report, I can't make a good prediction either! Perkis made great use of their running game again to take hold of a game, whilst a couple of big defensive plays made sure the score didn't get too close. Really didn't see this coming to be honest (though I don't know why given that I've not been able to call a Perkis game all season!), but I'm now very much worried about keeping the streak alive against these guys on the last game of the season. There is a great chance of these guys going long into the playoffs now!
Belfast Commandos (6-7) @ Lyon Winemakers (7-6)
The 9th and 10th teams are needing a bit of a miracle to get into the playoffs now, and must get a win here to continue their unlikely quest! Both teams are coming into this game in form, with Belfast having only narrowly lost to both Dresden and the Empire in recent weeks and Lyon taking apart Bjelsanica in the last game. However before that Lyon suffered three disappointing defeats so I'm going with Belfast with this one.
Prediction: Belfast by 9.
Actual: Belfast 24-10 - yay...finally called one! Lyon are very good at forcing fumbles, with 4 against Belfast in this one (after the high number against Amsterdam a couple of games ago) - its making the most of them that has proved their difficulty though, with Belfast rarely troubled after they scored their first TD. Given the 2nd half to their season, I think Belfast could be a very big team to watch next season, especially with the WL experience. I'll be very interested in seeing what they've got in the next game. As for Lyon (my early season favourites)...next season guys!
Parts Unknown (0-13) @ Rome Titans (1-12)
Rome will have to be pretty careful here that they don't slip up, otherwise they'll be sweating on the points conceded race to keep them in the league. Even if they lose, I think Parts have had the worse defense by far so should they should be safe...however I don't see them losing - they were very unlucky not to beat the Meatballs and have had some reasonably close results throughout the season, whilst Parts really haven't. If thye can keep the team together next season, they should be a handful in the AAA leagues though!
Prediction: Rome by 31.
Actual: Rome 34-22 - well Parts did slightly better than I thought, but this seals the 16th spot for them I'm afraid. Looking at the game stats I'm surprised by this result even more - Perkis had by far the better of the play, but just couldn't convert the pressure into TDs, with 5 FGs before the single TD in the 4th quarter...that makes the 12-point difference all the more disappointing.
Bjelasnica Red Star (5-8) @ La Tourette Syndrome (13-0)
Bjelasnica have had it tough this season, but with two relatively easy games after this one should come away with a respectable record for their first Pro season. We don't want them to go .500 though!
Actual: LTS 51-3 - not as dominant as we'd have liked, with 7 FGs from our kicker the highest number by far that he's had to kick all season, so you've got to give credit to Red Star for that. From an offensive PoV, they were a little too easy to read (especially with the HB runs from the QB) and a fix to this would make them a completely different proposition! Enjoy the last couple of games guys!
Hamburg Parrots (8-5) @ Stockholm Meatballs (3-10)
Out of the remaining games, this one has the most potential for upset (sorry Hamburg) - Stockholm have shown that they can almost pull off the shock when on their game, and the Parrots have been off their game a little too frequently than they'd like this season. This one will either be incredibly close, or will be a Parrots blowout...I'm going to go for the latter.
Prediction: Hamburg by 45.
Actual: Hamburg 72-23 - a very entertaining shootout this one, until Stockholm started faltering on offense and Hamburg took the game away from them. I would have thought Stockholm's defense was a little better than this, but Hamburg are very strong on offense. Although they lie perilously in 8th (not trying to set up a game against LTS in the playoffs I hope fellas!) and have Bath to face now, they should easily pick up a win against Parts to get them into the POs. Stockholm meanwhile have an 11th season in the Pro Leagues to look forward to...hopefully anyway!
Dresden Demons (8-5) @ D-Town Bushwalkers (4-9)
WIth both 9-4 teams potentially struggling for wins this week, Dresden have a good chance with Hamburg to make a four-team group (man there are far too many things that could happen with these playoff places). They should have very little problem against a struggling D-Town team on a very poor run of form.
Prediction: Dresden by 59.
Actual: Dresden 65-10 - my points differences have been rather good today! Completely expected to be honest, though Dresden will struggle to get any higher than 7th place thanks to the game against the Empire up next.
Amsterdam Affliction (10-3) @ Plainview Bulldogs (1-12)
Amsterdam finally lose the #2 spot after the LTS defeat, but with the easiest game of the three 10-3 teams, could claim it back in an instance!
Prediction: Amsterdam by 83.
Actual: Amsterdam 79-3 - ...and just like that, Amsterdam do indeed claim back 2nd place! The final week is going to be a massive week for games to sort out the playoff places, and I'd love to see a league where there is still this much to be decided! Are Amsterdam just about to reclaim their form heading into the POs?
PREDICTION RECORD: 5-2 - not awful!
Edited by forestrobin on Mar 7, 2010 14:58:51
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