American Conference Wildcard Weekend

Honolulu Hawaiians (11-5) @ Denver Gold (12-4)

Point Spread: Denver -8

Honolulu: Offense 10th Defense 19th
Denver: Offense 13th Defense 8th

Last Playoff Appearance: Honolulu 2011 Denver 2011

Playoff Records: Honolulu 3-16 Denver 14-15 (1-1 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Honolulu beat Denver 26-13 Week 13 of 2010. Honolulu and Denver have split 2 previous playoff games.

Injuries: Honolulu 1 probable Denver 9 probable, 1 questionable

Prediction: Honolulu 24 Denver 16

Honolulu has the healthier roster and faced stiffer divisional competition. Denver has a new owner, so no idea how the Gold will look tonight.
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Oklahoma Outlaws (11-5) @ Michigan Panthers (13-3)

Point Spread: Michigan -1

Oklahoma: Offense 6th Defense 11th
Michigan: Offense 5th Defense 3rd

Last Playoff Appearance: Oklahoma 2010 Michigan 2011

Playoff Record: Oklahoma 23-17 (2-2 World Bowl) Michigan 10-18

Head to Head: Michigan beat Oklahoma 15-7 Week 14 of 2010. Oklahoma is 3-0 vs Michigan in the post season.

Injuries: Oklahoma 2 probable, 4 questionable, 1 doubtful Michigan 2 probable, 3 questionable

Prediction: Michigan 20 Oklahoma 17

I anticipate a close game and after flipping a coin in my head I pick Michigan.
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Houston Gamblers (10-6) @ San Jose SaberCats (13-3)

Point Spread: Even

Houston: Offense 4th Defense 14th
San Jose: Offense 1st Defense 5th

Last Playoff Appearance: Houston 2011 San Jose 2011

Playoff Records: Houston 48-20 (9-1 World Bowl) San Jose 17-20 (2-1 World Bowl)

Head to Head: San Jose beat Houston 22-6 Week 7 of 2011. Houston and San Jose have split 8 post season games.

Injuries: Houston 6 probable, 3 questionable San Jose 7 probable, 5 questionable, 1 doubtful

Prediction: San Jose 28 Houston 24

There was a time when I always picked Houston in the playoffs. The Gamblers are still a threat to win it all anytime they are in the playoffs but this year, their first game is against a San Jose team that is coming off back to back World Bowl appearances. I may be a victim of recency bias but I'm picking the SaberCats to win a close game.

National Conference Wildcard Weekend

Orlando (11-5) @ New Jersey (10-6)

Point Spread: New Jersey -3

Orlando: Offense 9th Defense 9th
New Jersey: Offense 17th Defense 2nd

Last Playoff Appearance: Orlando 2011 New Jersey 2010

Playoff Records: Orlando 12-18 (0-1 World Bowl) New Jersey 42-28 (4-6 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Orlando beat New Jersey 16-7 Week 1 of this season. New Jersey is 4-1 vs Orlando in the post season.

Injuries: Orlando 4 probable, 5 questionable New Jersey 1 probable, 1 questionable, 1 doubtful

Prediction Orlando 17 New Jersey 9

New Jersey lacks offensive punch, and I'm surprised we're favored. I don't see any reason why this game result will be much different from Week 1, when Orlando beat New Jersey.
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Washington Federals (10-6) @ Jacksonville Bulls (11-5)

Point Spread: Washington -3

Washington: Offense 12th Defense 13th
Jacksonville: Offense 14th Defense 20th

Last Playoff Appearance: Washington 2011 Jacksonville 2011

Playoff Records: Washington 22-21 (0-5 World Bowl) Jacksonville 11-17

Head to Head: Jacksonville won 23-6 Week 11 of this season. Washington is 3-0 vs Jacksonville in the post season.

Injuries: Washington 3 probable, 3 questionable Jacksonville 5 probable, 3 questionable, 1 doubtful

Prediction: Jacksonville 20 Washington 17

Recency bias again. The teams look relatively even on paper so I'm leaning on the most recent result. Washington probably makes it closer, if not outright wins but I made my pick and I'm sticking to it.
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Philadelphia Bell (10-6) @ New Orleans VooDoo (15-1)

Point Spread: New Orleans -13

Philadelphia: Offense 16th Defense 4th
New Orleans: Offense 2nd Defense 1st

Last Playoff Appearance: Philadelphia 2010 New Orleans 2011

Playoff Records: Philadelphia 7-13 (0-1 World Bowl) New Orleans 36-24 (4-5 World Bowl)

Head to Head: New Orleans beat Philadelphia 40-10 Week 13 of 2011. New Orleans is 2-1 vs Philadelphia in the post season.

Injuries: Philadelphia 6 probable, 2 questionable New Orleans 6 probable, 1 questionable

Prediction: New Orleans 27 Philadelphia 13

Alabama Tide has done a nice job, taking over the Bell and winning 8 straight to make the post season. Their reward is a game against the VooDoo, who have won 3 of the last 4 World Bowls. This game could be closer than I expect but I can't pick against New Orleans in this spot.

American Conference Divisional Round

Oklahoma Outlaws (12-5) @ San Antonio Gunslingers (14-2)

Point Spread: San Antonio -14

Oklahoma: Offense 6th Defense 11th
San Antonio: Offense 3rd Defense 6th

Last Playoff Appearance: Oklahoma 2010 San Antonio 2011

Playoff Records: Oklahoma 24-17 (2-2 World Bowl) San Antonio 6-8 (0-1 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Oklahoma beat San Antonio 9-3 Week 10 but San Antonio beat Oklahoma 19-15 Week 13. These teams have split 2 post season games between them.

Injuries: Oklahoma 6 probable, 3 questionable, 1 Out San Antonio 3 probable, 2 questionable

Prediction: San Antonio 17 Oklahoma 14

These divisional foes know each other well and both games this season were low scoring affairs. San Antonio is healthier and well rested, which should help them in the 4th qtr of a potentially close game.
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Honolulu Hawaiians (12-5) @ San Jose SaberCats (14-3)

Point Spread: San Jose -9

Honolulu: Offense 10th Defense 19th
San Jose: Offense 1st Defense 5th

Playoff Records: Honolulu 4-16 San Jose 18-20 (2-1 World Bowl)

Head to Head: San Jose beat Honolulu 52-34 Week 14 but Honolulu beat San Jose 37-24 Week 16. San Jose is 2-0 vs Honolulu in the playoffs.

Injuries: Honolulu 2 probable, 1 questionable San Jose 8 probable, 6 questionable

Prediction: San Jose 38 Honolulu 35

I just averaged the total points from their 2 games in the regular season to come up with my prediction. It's a divisional game so anything goes but I still have to pick San Jose.

National Conference Divisional Round

New Jersey Generals (11-6) @ Pittsburgh Maulers (15-1)

Point Spread: Pittsburgh -8

New Jersey: Offense 17th Defense 2nd
Pittsburgh: Offense 7th Defense 7th

Last Playoff Appearance: New Jersey 2010 Pittsburgh 2011

Playoff Records: New Jersey 43-28 (4-6 World Bowl) Pittsburgh 28-19 (2-3 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Pittsburgh beat New Jersey 17-13 Week 13 of 2011. New Jersey is 4-3 vs Pittsburgh in the post season.

Injuries: New Jersey 3 probable Pittsburgh 1 probable, 2 questionable, 1 I.R.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 23 New Jersey 9

All Pittsburgh has to do is score 20 and they win because everyone knows New Jersey isn't scoring 20. The Generals defense has played well all year but eventually the lack of offense will bite them. If not tonight, then certainly next week.
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Jacksonville Bulls (12-5) @ New Orleans (16-1)

Point Spread: New Orleans -13

Jacksonville: Offense 14th Defense 20th
New Orleans: Offense 2nd Defense 1st

Playoff Records: Jacksonville 12-17 New Orleans 37-24 (4-5 World Bowl)

Head to Head: New Orleans beat Jacksonville 23-6 Week 8. New Orleans is 4-0 vs Jacksonville in the post season.

Injuries: Jacksonville 6 probable, 2 questionable New Orleans 5 probable, 1 questionable

Prediction: New Orleans 31 Jacksonville 16

Jacksonville has had a good season but New Orleans is a juggernaut and should at least make the conference championship. Anything can happen in a game sim, but I can't pick the upset here.

American Conference Championship

San Jose SaberCats (15-3) @ San Antonio Gunslingers (15-2)

Point Spread: San Antonio -8

San Jose: Offense 1st Defense 5th
San Antonio: Offense 3rd Defense 6th

Playoff Records: San Jose 19-20 (2-1 World Bowl) San Antonio 7-8 (0-1 World Bowl)

Head to Head: San Antonio beat San Jose 67-16 Week 8 of this season. San Antonio is 2-1 vs San Jose in the post season.

Injuries: San Jose 8 probable, 2 questionable San Antonio 2 probable, 2 questionable

Prediction: San Antonio 27 San Jose 25

The top 2 seeds face off for the right to go to the World Bowl and I expect a tight game, unlike their regular season game. San Jose has been to the last 2 World Bowls and would love to make it a 3rd, while San Antonio has been itching to get back ever since they lost in their only World Bowl. I'm picking San Antonio because they won the coin flip in my head.
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National Conference Championship

New Orleans VooDoo (17-1) @ Pittsburgh Maulers (16-1)

Point Spread: New Orleans -4

New Orleans: Offense 2nd Defense 1st
Pittsburgh: Offense 7th Defense 7th

Playoff Records: New Orleans 38-24 (4-5 World Bowl) Pittsburgh 29-19 (2-3 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Pittsburgh beat New Orleans 27-10 Week 14. New Orleans is 5-3 vs Pittsburgh in the post season.

Injuries: New Orleans 3 probable, 1 questionable, 1 doubtful Pittsburgh 3 probable, 2 questionable, 1 doubtful, 1 Out, 1 I.R.

Prediction: New Orleans 24 Pittsburgh 20

The regular season notwithstanding, New Orleans has won 3 of the last 4 World Bowls. They have revenge on their mind as Pittsburgh gave them their only loss, and while a Maulers win would not surprise me, I'm picking the VooDoo.

Played great D, offense with suped up over-rides did not perform properly to the gaping holes D it had pulled up. I would have taken a 15-13 loss but garbage D I pulled up for stretches should not net 3 points. smh #getpissed, getbetter

Myron Dustin, age 33 - 10 percent retirement rate to get it on record. I have been getting screwed on qb's. If he retires I may have to hit the beautiful red button on the team page due to unfairness even though i love the league and greg is awesome.