The War Room (D3) – Week 10

 

The Playoff Picture is simply a mess, whether its seeding or what team’s qualify, it will come down to Sunday night to determine all the various scenarios. This season has been nothing short of exciting and I expect our week 11 finish to be no less interesting. I will project the playoffs as of week ten and demonstrate some of the scenarios which could play out….

 

Conference A:

1. Ducks (8-1): winner of West, in the words of MC Hammer

2. DK (7-2): Play GPK for the rights to represent the South

3. VPC (7-2): Could lose the division if AMB Win and they lose.

4. Lazy Boys (7-2): Winner of North

5. GPK (7-2): Could win the division with a win vs DK.

6. Amb Eagles (6-3) Could win the division if VPC lose and they win.

7. Souljahs (5-4): They are winning the point differential battle with the Cobras for the seed, so they need to win and pile on some points to keep the heat on Cobras and Primetime.

8. Cobras (5-4): They need a win and some good points to possibly jump over Souljahs for 7th seed.

Bubble:

9. Primetime (5-4): You need to win and pray that Cobras or Souljahs lose.

10. Vr6 (4-4-1): You need to win against Souljahs and pray that the Cobras lose as well.

 

Conference B:

1. D-Boys (7-2): North Winners

2. Rude Bwoys (6-3): Need to win and maintain the point differential lead on Big TDs (if they win)

3. Park Street Elite (5-4): They play for the division title vs Sandlot Saints

4. The U (5-4): They are the kings of their “great” division

5. Big TDs (6-3): Need Rude Bwoys to falter or score a high amount of points to surpass them.

6. Sandlot Saints (5-4): They need to beat PSE for guaranteed entry into the playoffs

7. Dirty Birds (5-4); They need to beat KGP, and maintain a good point differential and they are in.

8.Bandits (5-4): They play Top Sauce for a shot at the wildcard. They win, they are in. They Lose, potentially are out.

Bubble:

9. Top Sauce (5-4): Beat Bandits and you are in.

10. Outlawz (4-4-1): Win against D-Boys (easier said, than done) and basically pray that Dirty Birds and Sandlot Saints both lose.

I’m sure there are other mathematical variables available where other teams may have a long shot on qualifying. I apologize in advance if any of team other than the twenty teams mentioned above, make the playoffs and I have erroneously excluded them.

Power Rankings (1-10):

#1 Ducks (8-1): Back on top after spending a week down south, they put on a nice little beat down on the Commission to alleviate any lingering concerns of their early depth issues. They wrap up their season against a feisty Trojan team who will be highly motivated for a miracle playoff qualification.

#2 D-Boys (7-2): I can “guarantee” you that the D-Boys were somewhat pleased with the outcome of their thrashing of the “confident” Bandits. This just proves that while people enjoy to “talk the talk”, occasionally they need to play at a high level to back it up. In my opinion, no team in their conference would be able to beat the highly touted D-Boys, unless of course this Gino Di Fazio squad squanders their shot (like in past seasons).

#3 VPC (7-2): This team has no business playing this well with a WR turned QB. They are not the most athletic nor the most talented, but their chemistry and cohesiveness as a team has proved to be unstoppable. Their defense could use a little work, considering Collusion 67 scored a whopping 31 points on them (which in all circumstances, should never happen). The Cobras will be no cake walk for the VPC, but I have little doubt they will persevere.

#4 Lazy Boys (7-2): This team just can’t handle the top spot. Whenever I’m finally ready to rank them “numero uno”… well… they lose. Losing to VR6 is puzzling, but it isn’t unforgivable. They have a gimme (no pun) of a game vs. the Squad. It’s funny how certain people aren’t as vocal on FB when they lose, right James Eaglesham? Best of luck from here on out boys, but you ain’t getting the number #1 ranking back anytime soon.

#5 AMB Eagles (6-3): Wow, I thought the Cobras would put up a better fight. But you manhandled them with apparent ease. This version of the Eagles seems ready to take the next step in terms of playoff success. I would still enjoy more rhythm on offense and less rushing.

#6 Big TDs (6-3): They end the season vs Turf Toe Inc, so chalk up a likely win and possibly the division? Rude Bwoys might disagree and it might come down to point differential. So, Springer, time to turn on your go-go gadget flow, and put up some BIG POINTS (yes, I just made a Lupe Fiasco reference, sigh).

#7 Rude Bwoys (6-3): They were slightly more concerned about my recent comments about their uniforms (Star Trek outfits), than their game against KGP. They are a hot team right now, and have a serious shot at winning the division if they can beat the U. Can it be done? U BETCHA.

#8 DK (7-2): You beat Brocassion, congrats (so have 7 other teams this season). You will need to play up to your potential this week in order to clinch the division. If you somehow lose this game, will the Sith Lord banish you from the Empire?

#9 GPK (7-2): A nail biter against a weaker opponent does not exude confidence going into their biggest game of the season. This team is streaky and needs a little more consistency if they want to be feared. They need to beat DK this week in order to win their division, which would be quite the accomplishment (and perhaps a ‘lil more encouraging).

#10 Park Street Elite (5-4): Better late than never to come into the rankings, but we welcome you. Scott Kelly has been impressive steering his team into playoff contention and torching the DIP defense in the process. They have a huge matchup vs the Sandlot Saints to decide their playoff destiny, its now or never boys…

 

Castleton’s Random Thoughts of the Week:

1. Skillz: After a huge win over the Ducks, you fall to the Sandlot Saints? Not Impressed Gentlemen… not impressed.

2. One Night Stands: I wonder how good they could be if they actually had a defense. If this was Madden their offense would be ranked 92 with a defense of 60.

3. Waterbuffaloes, Shockers or All Blacks: One of these teams will not be making the playoffs, which is strange considering last winter’s conference championship pitted both the Buffs and Shockers. Oh, how the times they are a changing…(Redemption with a Dylan quote)

4. Hurricanes and Express: It’s quite interesting to note that the MTL Finest hold the destiny of Hurricanes in their proverbial hands. They can “throw” the game vs the Express and eliminate their bitter rivals from making the playoffs. As per Karim Binette, this won’t happen as they look forward to a potential matchup against their rivals in the first-round of the playoffs.

5. Division 4: I don’t usually mention my friends in Division 4 (I’m sure I must have one or two) but I just want to wish you all good luck in the playoffs and a bounty of a “24” on whoever knocks out the Triple Sixers or Warriors. Now go get’em tiger(s).

6. Ara Ekmekdjian: The man is Hercules behind a computer screen and Minnie Mouse on camera. But nonetheless, he is a character and yes JP Mancini did a great job on BTH.

7. Individual Awards: Tune in next week as I announce my individual award winners from the regular season. I’m sure all you stat loving guys are drooling already!