Co-Ed 3: Breaking Down The Playoff Race
Three weeks remain in the Coed 3 regular season, but the playoff race is far from decided. While Phantom Troupe currently sits atop the standings, they've also played more games than the teams chasing them. With five games scheduled in Week 9 and several head-to-head matchups still to come, the standings could look completely different by the end of the week.
If there was one game to circle on the Week 9 schedule, it's tonight's matchup between All Day Every Day and LysMoiLeFlag. Both teams enter the game at 4-2, have yet to face each other this season and are firmly in the race for first place. With Phantom Troupe already having played eight games, this is a huge opportunity for either team to gain ground while also picking up a valuable head-to-head tiebreaker.
What makes this matchup even more intriguing is how similar these teams have been statistically. Both rank among the top four in points scored and points allowed, proving they can win games on both sides of the ball. This isn't a case of a high-powered offence facing a defensive-minded team. Both have shown they can score when needed while also making life difficult for opposing offences.
There's another layer to this game as well. All Day Every Day is the only team near the top of the standings with two games scheduled in Week 9. A win tonight would immediately put them in a great position heading into their second game later this week, while a loss would make that matchup even more important if they want to keep pace in the race for first.
There's still plenty of football left to play, but this game has the potential to completely change how the top of the standings looks heading into the final two weeks.
When you look at the standings, it's easy to think Phantom Troupe has one hand on the regular-season title. Sitting at 6-2, they're currently four points ahead of the pack. The reality, however, is much different.
The top six teams are still mathematically alive for first place. Phantom Troupe has only two games remaining against Flag Me Daddy! and Les Moins Mous, while every other contender still has at least three games left to play. All Day Every Day and LysMoiLeFlag each have four games remaining, meaning they control much more of their own destiny than the standings might suggest.
Even Michael Scott's Tots, Back That Pass Up and The Woo's, who all sit at 4-3, remain within striking distance. If Phantom Troupe were to stumble over the final two weeks, the race for first could quickly become one of the closest finishes of the summer.
That's what makes Week 9 so important. Nearly every game features teams battling one another for playoff positioning. Wins won't just determine who qualifies for the postseason. They could decide who finishes first, who earns a bye and who is forced to play an extra playoff game.
Phantom Troupe doesn't have another game against a fellow top-six team, which means they'll be watching the scoreboard just as much as they'll be watching their own games. Win out, and they give themselves the best chance to stay on top. Slip up once, however, and the teams with games in hand could make them pay.
No contender has a tougher or more rewarding finish. Three of All Day Every Day's final four games come against teams currently in the top six, with only Flag Me Daddy! sitting outside the playoff picture. They also have a chance to avenge their one-point loss to Phantom Troupe by taking care of business against the teams around them. If they finish first, nobody will question whether they earned it.
LysMoiLeFlag already owns one of the biggest wins of the season after defeating Phantom Troupe, but they still have plenty of work left to do. They'll face three teams currently fighting for playoff positioning, including tonight's matchup against All Day Every Day. They'll also see Back That Pass Up for the first time this season before closing the regular season with a rematch against Michael Scott's Tots, who they'll look to defeat for a second time.
Michael Scott's Tots don't have any room for error. They'll open with All Day Every Day before taking on The Woo's and finishing the regular season with a rematch against LysMoiLeFlag. The first meeting between the two ended in a five-point loss, so that final game could end up deciding much more than just bragging rights if the standings remain this tight.
Back That Pass Up starts with what looks like a favourable matchup against Les Moins Mous before the schedule gets much tougher. They'll get another shot at All Day Every Day after falling 42-16 earlier this season, while the regular-season finale against LysMoiLeFlag will be the first meeting between the two teams. If both clubs remain near the top of the standings, that matchup could have major playoff implications.
The Woo's already own two victories over LysMoiLeFlag and handed Phantom Troupe one of its two losses this season, proving they can compete with anyone in the division. If they take care of business against Fatties and Les Moins Mous, their Week 11 matchup against Michael Scott's Tots could become one of the biggest games left on the schedule.
Will Phantom Troupe hold onto first place? Can All Day Every Day or LysMoiLeFlag capitalize on their games in hand? Or will another contender make a late push over the final three weeks?
We'll start getting those answers by the end of Week 9.
With three weeks remaining, Coed 3 still feels like one of the most unpredictable divisions in FPF. Six teams remain within reach of first place, several key head-to-head matchups are still to be played and one result can completely change the standings heading into the following week. By the end of Week 9, we'll have a much clearer picture of who's in the driver's seat, but I don't think the playoff race will be decided just yet.