Divisional Round Playoffs in Tier 3

Finally we have arrived to the Post-Season. What all of us play for and where the road to the finals begins. 14 teams have made the playoffs and begin their quest to be the best team in Tier 3. With the top 2 seeds receiving bye’s we will see the other best 12 teams in the division all battle tonight in the Stinger Dome in order to keep their season alive, Lets jump into the matchups. 

#1 & 2 Seed get a first Round Bye 

Now that all 11 weeks of our regular season are done, we have a complete standings and playoff picture. Congratulations to The Process for ending the regular season with a 9-1 record and a first round bye. The other team to join them on bye for the first round is Jagerbombers. Tied with an 8-2 record with Win Diesel but they have Slightly less points against with 201 so they are awarded the #2 seed. Coming off week 11 loss I’m not sure if a week off is the best thing for Jagerbombers but they are so athletic I don’t think it will matter much. 

Team Ethnik Forfeit week 11

The last game of the season for team Ethnik comes by a forfeit loss as they busted the Tier 3 cap after adding a super sub in Jeanslee Alexis for their week 11 matchup versus Team Sexy. Team Ethnik won the game but it was later annulled by the fact that Alexi’s high rating makes Team Ethnik bust the cap on both sides of the ball. This removes a 7-3 record for Team Ethnik and makes them fall to 6-4 which is only good enough for the #9 seed which forces them to play a tougher matchup here in round 1. 

Playoff matchups

Will Win Diesel Roll Over Ball Hawks in Playoff Opener

#3 Win Diesel (8-2) Vs #14 Ball Hawks (5-5)

The third-seeded Win Diesel are heavily favoured to advance past the fourteenth-seeded Ball Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. If I was an FPF odds maker I would have to say Win Diesel would be favoured by at least 9 points. These two teams have not faced each other this year so today will be their first and only matchup of the season. 

Win Diesel, led by quarterback William Sebag, have been one of the most explosive offenses in the league. Sebag’s 40 touchdowns and 1,400 yards highlight their potent attack. Coupled with the stellar play of wide receiver Felix Sebag, who has hauled in 11 touchdowns, the Win Diesel’s offense is a force to be reckoned with. With an 8-2 record the team just misses out on a first round bye. 

The Ball Hawks, while capable of scoring, have struggled defensively. Their defense, which allows an average of 24 points per game, will be severely tested against the high-powered Win Diesel offense. Moreover, their limited success against teams with winning records raises concerns about their ability to compete with a team of the Win Diesel’s caliber as the team has only gotten 1 win vs teams with a winning record. 

Prediction: Win Diesel 36, Ball Hawks 24

The Win Diesel’s superior offensive firepower and defensive capabilities should allow them to comfortably advance to the next round of the playoffs. I do not expect an upset in this one. 

Bandits vs. Mengoose: A Potential Upset Brewing

#4 Bandits   (7-2-1)  Vs. #13  Mengoose (5-5)

The fourth-seeded Bandits are set to face the thirteenth-seeded Mengoose in a first-round playoff matchup. While the Bandits are favoured to win, the Mengoose could pose a significant threat. The truth is Mengoose has competed in every game this season apart from a week 4 blowout vs Penetrators. They have lost 3 game by 3 points or less versus very good teams like Slippery Slopes and West Island Boys.

The Bandits have had a solid season, led by quarterback Emile Skaf. A great season for them as they have tallied up 7 wins in the regular season for the first time. QB Emile Skaf has kept interceptions low with 7 and completion % high with 65 percent. Their offence has only struggled on convert attempts as they have only completed 45% of their 1 point converts and 30% of their 2 point converts. As the #4 seed the Bandits are definite favourites in this one however, the team’s struggles in converting extra points could be a factor in close games.

Mengoose, despite their 5-5 record, have shown resilience and competitiveness throughout the season. Their quarterback, Felix-Antoine Lavigne has not had the best season but to be fair he has only played 5 games. This will be something to monitor as he might not have enough reps this season to perform at a high level here in the playoffs. but his potential is undeniable. With 23 touchdowns in 5 games he can put points on the boar without issue.  If he can perform at a high level, he could lead the Mengoose to an upset victory.

With the Mengoose’s ability to play tough, close games and the Bandits’ potential conversion issues, this matchup is shaping up to be a thrilling contest. While the Bandits are favoured, In their week 10 matchup Bandits came out with a hard fought win 39-36. Essentially this game can clearly go either way and will be decided by a thin margin tonight. Give me the Mengoose Upset. 

Prediction: Mengoose 39, Bandits 37

Slippery Slopes Expected to Cruise Past Les Petites Carrottes

#5 Slipperly Slopes (7-3)  Vs. #12  Les Petites Carottes (5-4-1)

The fifth-seeded Slippery Slopes are heavily favoured to advance past the twelfth-seeded Les Petites Carrottes (LPC) in the first round of the playoffs. These two teams met earlier in the season, with the Slippery Slopes dominating the matchup 34-12.

The Slippery Slopes have been a consistent force this season, boasting a strong offense and a solid defense. Their ability to move the ball efficiently and score points should give them a significant advantage over the struggling LPC. An unexpected team to finish 7-3 but Slippery Slopes have had huge improvement from their 1-9 season last spring. QB Tony Tabet has been great with 35 total touchdowns and only 10 combined interceptions and sacks. Being able to score points and keep the ball out of harms way is exactly how to stay competitive in games and they have completely flipped the script from last season. Well Done!

LPC, on the other hand, have not lived up to expectations this season. After 9-1 season last spring LPC had much bigger expectations then a team with only 5 wins and was at risk at making the playoffs. Their quarterback situation has been a major issue, with no clear starter emerging. This inconsistency at the most important position has hindered their offensive output and overall team performance and leaves us wondering who will be under center for their playoff run and will he be effective. 

Given the Slippery Slopes’ dominance in the previous matchup and the LPC’s struggles, it’s highly likely that the Slippery Slopes will cruise to victory once again.

Prediction: Slippery Slopes 35, Les Petites Carottes 20

West Island Boys Favored to Continue Their Hot Streak

#6 West island Boys (7-3)   Vs.   #11 The Penetrators (6-4)

This matchup is one of the most intriguing first-round playoff games. Both teams have talented players and have shown flashes of brilliance. However, the West Island Boys (WIB) have been on fire as they enter the playoffs with a 6 game win streak. One of those wins being vs Penetrators as they beat them 47- 32. A key factor in WIB’s resurgence has been the emergence of quarterback Skylar Bayliff. Bayliff has brought a new level of efficiency and explosiveness to the offense. Combined with a strong defense, WIB has proven to be a  force in Tier 3. With receivers like Jerome Hovington, Julian McLaren-Thompson and Mike Badibabungi WIB can hurt you any type of way, which makes defending this offence one the toughest to contain. 

The Penetrators, for the most part, have also had a solid season. Winning 6 games and possessing one of the best scoring offences in Tier 3 with 304 points for. The Penetrators bright spot has easily been Nicholas Fon as the reciever has caught 500 yards and 18 touchdowns!! However, their losses to top-tier teams raise questions about their ability to compete with the best. While Fon is a dynamic playmaker, the Penetrators will need a strong performance from their quarterback Justin Goodman, to keep pace with WIB’s high-powered offense. 

With what could be one of the highest scoring games the whole weekend, be sure to tune in to this Game of the Week style matchup of 2 top teams going at to survive another week. As much as I have praised Penetrators this season, I believe Skylar Bayliff will carry WIB to a few more wins. 

Prediction: West Island Boys 38, The Penetrators 30

A Tight Matchup: Team Sexy vs. Snowdon Deli Degens

#7 Team Sexy (7-3)    Vs   # 10 Snowdon Deli Degens (6-4)

The seventh-seeded Team Sexy and the tenth-seeded Snowdon Deli Degens face off in a first-round playoff matchup that promises to be a thrilling contest. Both teams have talented quarterbacks and explosive offenses, setting the stage for a high-scoring affair. I did expect Snowdon Deli Degens to end with a better record then 6-4 but it goes to show that 10-0 in division D will not directly translate to a crazy record here in Tier 3. 

Team Sexy has been impressive this season, led by quarterback Benjamin Berbrier. Berbrier has shown a strong arm and the ability to make accurate throws in tight windows. However, his 13 interceptions this season is a concern and he will have to limit Ints if they want to walk away with a win versus a very opportunistic opponent. The Deli Degens rarely turn the ball over so Benjamin needs to be mindful of dangerous defenders and keep putting points on the board. Team Sexy will need to abuse their mismatches and target Sam Anastasopoulos. Sam has been one of the best receivers in the entire division and he will need a huge game to boost this offence. 

The Snowdon Deli Degens have a potent offense led by quarterback Adam Malinoff. Malinoff has been efficient and has the ability to extend plays with his legs. This team plays hard and isn’t afraid to get gritty and talk some smack in order to get into their opponents heads.  The Degens’ defense has also been solid, forcing turnovers and limiting opponents’ scoring opportunities. The defence has 15 ints and 8 sacks and have been performing at a high level. Their red zone defence could use some work but its not a huge cause of concern for me in this matchup. This is a close call, and either team could emerge victorious. However, given the ability of Adam Malinoff and company in the playoffs, I’m taking the #10 seed to get the dub.

Prediction: Snowdon Deli Degens 35, Team Sexy 30

TrapStars vs. Team Ethnik: A Battle of Strengths

#8 TrapStars  (6-4)  Vs    #9 Team Ethnik (6-4)

The eighth-seeded TrapStars and the ninth-seeded Team Ethnik are set to clash in a highly anticipated matchup. Both teams possess talented quarterbacks and strong defensive units, making this a game that could go either way.

Quarterback Duel; Ryan Garber  for TrapStars has been a force to be reckoned with this season, amassing 2,043 passing yards, 47 touchdowns, and 70.8% completion percentage. His ability to extend plays with his legs and make accurate throws under pressure makes him one of the best Qbs in the entire division. On the other side of the field stands Veteran Benoit Lawler of Team Ethnik. Lawler has also impressed this season, throwing for 1,498 yards and 32 touchdowns. However, his 14 interceptions are a concern, as turnovers can be costly in playoff games. Lawler’s ability to avoid sacks and get rid of the ball quickly is impressive, but he will need to be more accurate and limit mistakes to compete with Garber.

Defensive Showdown:

TrapStars Defense: Led by Tyler Stern, the TrapStars defense has been solid this season. Stern’s five interceptions and three passes defended have been crucial in limiting opponents’ scoring opportunities. The team has allowed 248 points in 10 games. 

Team Ethnik Defense: David De Andrade has been a standout for the Team Ethnik defense, recording six interceptions and 18 tackles. However, the team has allowed 267 points in 10 games, indicating some defensive vulnerabilities.

The TrapStars’ high-powered offense and strong defense give them a slight edge. However, the Team Ethnik’s ability to play tough, physical defense could keep the game close. Ultimately, I believe Ryan Garber will play perfect with 5 tds and 0 ints and lead his team to victory. 

Prediction: TrapStars 37, Team Ethnik 28

Thats all for this week and Good luck to all teams playing today!