Regular Season is Over

[The Immortal Ramirez]

Cry in your beer, it’s playoff time and only four have made it! Preseason hopes and dreams have been dashed for eight teams who only can look forward to the off-season. Yet, four teams are pushing for bragging rights and the coveted Super Bowl Champion Title!!

East
Indiana Undead (8-6) at the Philadelphia Freedom (5-9).

Holy cow! 47.3 points by Drew Bennett on MNF has to be a record! The dude had 192 yards and two TDs at the half!!! Amazing. How did they keep him to only 41 yards in second half. The Undead did have a pretty consistent team though with five other players scoring in double digits. Freedom had a great run going, but we knew it would end. McAllisters’ 33.5 and Leftwich’s 25.65 was nice, but only had two other players in double digits. Need more rounded play to pull out the victory on this one.
Prediction: Double dipping on the Jags (Leftwich / Smith) won’t be enough to keep the Undead from winning their last game of the season.

** Actual: Undead 137.5 to Freedom 129.05 (sadly enough, even potential points was with eight points of each other with Undead still pulling it off)

Parkwood Predators (9-5) at Royal Hawaiian Opihi (8-6) :

The Predators were having too much fun watching the hula dancers and drinking fancy drinks with little umbrellas and stuff in them… It appeared that only LT2 had any work ethic what-so-ever in the game (scoring 28.25). Preds decided that coasting into the playoffs is better than going in on a roll. For the Opihi, who were playing for pride, enjoyed big games from Trent Green, Nick Goings, Torry Holt and Buffalo DT (who had 29).
Prediction: This actually ought to be a pretty close game. I’m actually going to be a pain and pick this as my upset (simply on the shot of irony sticking it to the Opihi "look you beat Predators in last game…if only you…")
** Actual: Predators 115.3 to Opihi 145.95 (who also had 188.55 potential points…)

** Oh, by the way Mike, I DID project an upset…

MidWest
Liquid Swords (10-4) at Jersey Toxic Waste (5-9):

Todd Heap was a welcome sight for the JT Waste bringing in 22.1 points. McNabb, James, Muhammad & Wayne together averaged above 20 points per player as well. In most leagues, that’s a win. However, the Swords made a statement this week by having a three game run at the end of the season to steal the division title from the Wonder Mutts, and the dark horse also is the #1 seed for the playoffs. McGahee has been on a roll (but can’t play Cleveland every week) with 31.45 points. Culpepper has been off lately, but the 24.95 point helped. Five other players were…yup, you got it, in the double digits for a very well rounded team.
Prediction: This will definitely be a high scoring game. I think Swords will continue on to make this playoff exciting and barely edge out Waste.

** Actual: Swords 154.6 to Waste 122.35

Wonder Mutts (10-4) take their league best record to face Soap Box Derby Cars (4-10):

I think the Mutts have been hanging out with the Predators a little too much as they lost two games in a row now to limp into the playoffs. They knew they were in, but don’t you want to go in on a winning streak? Favre was a let down (the 79 yards TD to Ahman being taken away really hurt). Dominic Davis has an awesome game, while Dillon scored in the 20s again. Darrell Jackson also had a big game. Derby Cars had huge game by Maurice Hicks and that dude named Peyton. Other than that, only Morton and Westbrook broke into double digits…Can you see I’m stuck on this double-digit scoring thing???
Prediction: Peyton Manning is great, but he’s not going to be able to stop the Mutts by himself…well, maybe he can, but I don’t see it happening. Mutts take the division title!

** Actual: Derby Cars 124.5 to Mutts 123.3 (talk about your close games…)


West
Nittany Dodgers (8-6) are on the road for the third week in a row at Bay Area Bloodsucking Insects (5-9)

Dodgers take the West title with the win this week. Julius Jones is pulling in the numbers for them and giving them a legitimate shot at the Championship. Pittsburgh DT, Staley, Gonzalez, Patten & Delhomme all played well and set up some numbers. However Moulds and Burlseson let him down. Insects put up a fight this week. Alexander and Portis lead the charge with 55.65 points combined. Collins’ bad week didn’t help any in this close game.
Prediction: This actually should be a close game as well. I think the Dodgers earn a playoff birth this week with a victory

** Actual: Dodgers 110.2 to Insects 107.55 (whew…a close one there)

Urza’s Ragers (7-7) are at Brain Dead Squirrel Chasers (5-9):

At least I really wasn’t wrong in saying the Squirrel Chasers had nothing for the RBs. And the total 1.75 points confirmed that. However, Moss, Houshmandzadeh (glad the season’s over and I don’t have to type that anymore) & Hasselbeck proved they DID have enough to beat the Ragers. Thirteen points my Morten Anderson and 17 from Jags DT certainly helped. Ragers called this one (by the way, was it a self-fulfilling prophesy to say they were going to tail spin at the end of the year???) end thought they were going to lose. When Fred Taylor with 102 total yards is your best player, that’s just got to hurt. By the way, not that you would have won, but I even MENTIONED Larry Johnson in my article last week and you left 27.05 points on the bench. I was not giving you recommendation, but I personally thought he would get me than Sammy Morris (though Morris did get a TD).
Prediction: I don’t see enough points to make up for the lack of RBs, Ragers win this but may face elimination anyway because I see Dodgers winning as well.

** Actual: Chaser 121.3 to Ragers 82.7 (nice job in playing the spoiler Chasers!)

So, congrats to the Predators, Swords, Mutts and Dodgers as they plan for next weeks round one of the playoffs. Not really sure how you will all set this up, but my guess would be the Mutts will be travelling to Liquid (whereever that is) to face the Swords (top seed hosting wild card) and the Dodgers travelling to Parkwood to face off with the Predators.

More banter on this come Thurs or Friday.

[Urza's Ragers]

Promoting Larry Johnson this late in the season will cause me more headache than it's worth. I would have to cut multiple players in order to get him in my active roster, even though I did think about it.

[Royal Hawaiian Opihi]

Thanks, Immortal... I'm sorry we can't pay for you to come out and cover the OPIHI in the postseason this year... maybe next!

[The Immortal Ramirez]

makes sense Ragers...I didn't take time to look to see him on Dev squad...my bad.