THE PEERLESS PURPLE PENGUIN PROGNOSTICATIONS (PPPP): WEEK FOURTEEN!!!
Season Results: 77-9
Week Thirteen Results: 8-0
Atlanta at Texas Prediction: ATL 73-0 Actual: ATL 139-0
Sin City at Lincoln Prediction: LIN 76-0 Actual: LIN 230-0
Cleveland at Red Bank Prediction: RBK 30-17 Actual: RBK 58-16
Frostburg at Saginaw Prediction: SAG 63-6 Actual: SAG 89-0
Richmond at Baltimore Prediction: RCH 24-9 Actual: RCH 26-20
Jax Beach at Appalachian Prediction: APP 42-0 Actual: APP 41-24
Louisville at Syracuse Prediction: LOU 45-20 Actual: LOU 69-34
River City at Houston Prediction: HOU 38-6 Actual: HOU 55-9
(8) Baltimore Hustle(1-12) at Frostburg Bobcats (2-11)-----Two teams evenly matched, but well out of contention for the playoffs. Frostburg has more talent, but poor Chemistry while Baltimore, having been building all season, has decent Chemistry but inconsistent talent. I made the mistake of overemphasizing talent before in these Predictions, and unless it has to do with the Freedom Warriors, I generally learn from my mistakes. Frostburg in a romp……….FROSTBURG-27 BALTIMORE-13
(7) The River City Ransom (5-8) at The State of Texas Domination (1-12)-----River City has been a team of streaks, but times have been tough lately. Having lost 6 of the last 7, the Ransom have seen their playoff aspirations wither to near nonexistence, especially considering a confrontation with the formidable Lincoln Freedom Warriors looms large next week. Still, two of these last three games are eminently winnable by the Ransom, and considering that last year they were 1-15, they should provide a shining example to the “Gang of Six” of what hard work can do for a club. I stated earlier this season that I thought that the Ransom’s staff had performed well enough for a “Coach of the Year” vote from yours truly, and while Link (Appalachian), Husker Nation (Lincoln), Raves (Cleveland) and CDavis (Richmond) all have done fabulous jobs, I still haven’t changed my mind. Going from 1-15 to a likely 7-9 will do that. River City gets a breather this week against Texas to break up that nasty string of “L’s”, but won’t be going to the playoffs. If my suspicions are correct, they’ve already started laying the groundwork for recruiting for Season 5. WTG guys! ...……..RIVER CITY-48 TEXAS-6
(6) Syracuse Samurai (8-5) at Sin City Showboats (4-9)-----At the beginning of the season, I wondered why the Syracuse Samurai would have been demoted---they must have been in one heckuva league---but here they are and they have fulfilled expectations to nearly lock up a playoff berth. The win against Sin City is virtually a lock, and they play the Western Conference also-ran in week 16, finishing a likely 10-6. Sin City, OTOH, is now owned by a CPU. Need I say more?….…..SYRACUSE-66 SIN CITY-13
(5) Cleveland Buckeyes (2-11) at Richmond Empire (2-11)-----Although there are no playoff implications for these two clubs, this is an evenly matched game between two teams whose owners have earned my respect. Raves has worked incredibly hard this season to build his team, and it is on the cusp of being a contender. Watch out next year! And Richmond has removed itself from its laughingstock status to become a team that borders on respectability. They certainly have a degree of sentimental support from the league. This is not the year for either of these two clubs, but I sense great things in the future are coming. For now, bragging rights go to...………CLEVELAND-23 RICHMOND-10
(4) Saginaw Spirit (7-6) at Louisville Baby Kittens (10-3)-----Saginaw has won four in a row and feel as though they’ve discovered the malfunction that led to so many disappointments earlier this year. Louisville started off the season looking invincible, but has been brought back to Earth by Appalachian, Atlanta, and most recently Lincoln. This game is Saginaw’s opportunity to show that their recent win streak wasn’t just beating up on cupcakes. The need to show the ability to beat a top quality team to earn respect this year. Louisville, OTOH, MUST win to keep any hopes of a home playoff game alive. Lots at stake for both these clubs, but I have to go for the tried and true team here---sorry shepp!!.....…..LOUISVILLE-51 SAGINAW-27
(3) Houston Armageddon (9-4) at Jax Beach Juggernauts (6-7)-----Appalachian discovered last week what I’ve been saying for a while now---Jax Beach is a deceptively tough team. Now it’s Houston’s turn to play a very dangerous Juggernauts team, and playoff seeding is very definitely at risk here. Jax Beach needs this win to have a realistic shot at postseason play, but can they get their inactives motivated enough to do it? Playing the Juggernauts is like playing dodgeball with bullets, but I think the Armageddon will be able to escape disaster---no doubt with a tremendous sense of relief!....……..HOUSTON-24 JAX BEACH-21
(2) Red Bank Thundercats (11-2) at Appalachian Lycans (12-1)-----OK, here’s what’s at stake for Red Bank. Because they have beaten the Freedom Warriors, if Red Bank beats Appalachian, they will almost certainly be looking at the #2 overall seed in the playoffs, and assuming games go according to seeding, will stand to gain two to three MILLION dollars as a result of winning this game! Let me say that again: Two to Three MILLION dollars!!! If the Thundercats get bounced by the Lycans, they may well find themselves out of the home playoff derby completely since they lost to Louisville. That could mean a swing of FOUR TO SIX MILLION DOLLARS riding on the outcome of this game!!!! Hey, but no pressure, Thundercats
! Appalachian still has done nothing to dissuade me from my preseason impression of the Lycans as the class of this league, but they are NOT unbeatable as teams like Red Bank have improved themselves not only during the off season but during the season as well! I expect a knock-down drag-out fight between these two proud organizations, but in the end, the team that stands victorious will be.…..….…..APPALACHIAN-27 RED BANK-20
(1) GAME OF THE WEEK: Lincoln Freedom Warriors(11-2) at Atlanta Purple Penguins (13-0)-----Y’know, having a target on your back is very uncomfortable---especially when you’re as small as we penguins are! But that’s the way it is and next to try and kick dirt in our faces is the Lincoln Freedom Warriors. You have to respect what Husker Nation has done to strengthen and invigorate his team. Lots of free agent signings of quality players making the Freedom Warriors a MUCH more formidable team than they looked to be in the preseason. In all seriousness, win or lose, Husker Nation deserves a hearty dose of respect for the tremendous job he’s done this year! (But that won’t stop us from trying to beat him!) The key here is going to be……..well, I really can’t say because I don’t want to give anything away before the game---sorry guys!..……..ATLANTA-23 LINCOLN-20
OK, we’re coming down to the wire and the playoffs are beginning to shape up! Just a few questions left regarding that last playoff slot and the seedings and by next week, we’ll be into the “Second Season” where it’s one-and-done! Should be exciting!!!
Season Results: 77-9
Week Thirteen Results: 8-0
Atlanta at Texas Prediction: ATL 73-0 Actual: ATL 139-0
Sin City at Lincoln Prediction: LIN 76-0 Actual: LIN 230-0
Cleveland at Red Bank Prediction: RBK 30-17 Actual: RBK 58-16
Frostburg at Saginaw Prediction: SAG 63-6 Actual: SAG 89-0
Richmond at Baltimore Prediction: RCH 24-9 Actual: RCH 26-20
Jax Beach at Appalachian Prediction: APP 42-0 Actual: APP 41-24
Louisville at Syracuse Prediction: LOU 45-20 Actual: LOU 69-34
River City at Houston Prediction: HOU 38-6 Actual: HOU 55-9
(8) Baltimore Hustle(1-12) at Frostburg Bobcats (2-11)-----Two teams evenly matched, but well out of contention for the playoffs. Frostburg has more talent, but poor Chemistry while Baltimore, having been building all season, has decent Chemistry but inconsistent talent. I made the mistake of overemphasizing talent before in these Predictions, and unless it has to do with the Freedom Warriors, I generally learn from my mistakes. Frostburg in a romp……….FROSTBURG-27 BALTIMORE-13
(7) The River City Ransom (5-8) at The State of Texas Domination (1-12)-----River City has been a team of streaks, but times have been tough lately. Having lost 6 of the last 7, the Ransom have seen their playoff aspirations wither to near nonexistence, especially considering a confrontation with the formidable Lincoln Freedom Warriors looms large next week. Still, two of these last three games are eminently winnable by the Ransom, and considering that last year they were 1-15, they should provide a shining example to the “Gang of Six” of what hard work can do for a club. I stated earlier this season that I thought that the Ransom’s staff had performed well enough for a “Coach of the Year” vote from yours truly, and while Link (Appalachian), Husker Nation (Lincoln), Raves (Cleveland) and CDavis (Richmond) all have done fabulous jobs, I still haven’t changed my mind. Going from 1-15 to a likely 7-9 will do that. River City gets a breather this week against Texas to break up that nasty string of “L’s”, but won’t be going to the playoffs. If my suspicions are correct, they’ve already started laying the groundwork for recruiting for Season 5. WTG guys! ...……..RIVER CITY-48 TEXAS-6
(6) Syracuse Samurai (8-5) at Sin City Showboats (4-9)-----At the beginning of the season, I wondered why the Syracuse Samurai would have been demoted---they must have been in one heckuva league---but here they are and they have fulfilled expectations to nearly lock up a playoff berth. The win against Sin City is virtually a lock, and they play the Western Conference also-ran in week 16, finishing a likely 10-6. Sin City, OTOH, is now owned by a CPU. Need I say more?….…..SYRACUSE-66 SIN CITY-13
(5) Cleveland Buckeyes (2-11) at Richmond Empire (2-11)-----Although there are no playoff implications for these two clubs, this is an evenly matched game between two teams whose owners have earned my respect. Raves has worked incredibly hard this season to build his team, and it is on the cusp of being a contender. Watch out next year! And Richmond has removed itself from its laughingstock status to become a team that borders on respectability. They certainly have a degree of sentimental support from the league. This is not the year for either of these two clubs, but I sense great things in the future are coming. For now, bragging rights go to...………CLEVELAND-23 RICHMOND-10
(4) Saginaw Spirit (7-6) at Louisville Baby Kittens (10-3)-----Saginaw has won four in a row and feel as though they’ve discovered the malfunction that led to so many disappointments earlier this year. Louisville started off the season looking invincible, but has been brought back to Earth by Appalachian, Atlanta, and most recently Lincoln. This game is Saginaw’s opportunity to show that their recent win streak wasn’t just beating up on cupcakes. The need to show the ability to beat a top quality team to earn respect this year. Louisville, OTOH, MUST win to keep any hopes of a home playoff game alive. Lots at stake for both these clubs, but I have to go for the tried and true team here---sorry shepp!!.....…..LOUISVILLE-51 SAGINAW-27
(3) Houston Armageddon (9-4) at Jax Beach Juggernauts (6-7)-----Appalachian discovered last week what I’ve been saying for a while now---Jax Beach is a deceptively tough team. Now it’s Houston’s turn to play a very dangerous Juggernauts team, and playoff seeding is very definitely at risk here. Jax Beach needs this win to have a realistic shot at postseason play, but can they get their inactives motivated enough to do it? Playing the Juggernauts is like playing dodgeball with bullets, but I think the Armageddon will be able to escape disaster---no doubt with a tremendous sense of relief!....……..HOUSTON-24 JAX BEACH-21
(2) Red Bank Thundercats (11-2) at Appalachian Lycans (12-1)-----OK, here’s what’s at stake for Red Bank. Because they have beaten the Freedom Warriors, if Red Bank beats Appalachian, they will almost certainly be looking at the #2 overall seed in the playoffs, and assuming games go according to seeding, will stand to gain two to three MILLION dollars as a result of winning this game! Let me say that again: Two to Three MILLION dollars!!! If the Thundercats get bounced by the Lycans, they may well find themselves out of the home playoff derby completely since they lost to Louisville. That could mean a swing of FOUR TO SIX MILLION DOLLARS riding on the outcome of this game!!!! Hey, but no pressure, Thundercats
! Appalachian still has done nothing to dissuade me from my preseason impression of the Lycans as the class of this league, but they are NOT unbeatable as teams like Red Bank have improved themselves not only during the off season but during the season as well! I expect a knock-down drag-out fight between these two proud organizations, but in the end, the team that stands victorious will be.…..….…..APPALACHIAN-27 RED BANK-20(1) GAME OF THE WEEK: Lincoln Freedom Warriors(11-2) at Atlanta Purple Penguins (13-0)-----Y’know, having a target on your back is very uncomfortable---especially when you’re as small as we penguins are! But that’s the way it is and next to try and kick dirt in our faces is the Lincoln Freedom Warriors. You have to respect what Husker Nation has done to strengthen and invigorate his team. Lots of free agent signings of quality players making the Freedom Warriors a MUCH more formidable team than they looked to be in the preseason. In all seriousness, win or lose, Husker Nation deserves a hearty dose of respect for the tremendous job he’s done this year! (But that won’t stop us from trying to beat him!) The key here is going to be……..well, I really can’t say because I don’t want to give anything away before the game---sorry guys!..……..ATLANTA-23 LINCOLN-20
OK, we’re coming down to the wire and the playoffs are beginning to shape up! Just a few questions left regarding that last playoff slot and the seedings and by next week, we’ll be into the “Second Season” where it’s one-and-done! Should be exciting!!!
(bangs palm on head). That will be taken care of for our team...I can say that!
