American Conference Wildcard

Portland Storm (13-3) @ San Jose SaberCats (9-7)

Point Spread Portland -10

Portland: Offense 2nd Defense 1st
San Jose: Offense 19th Defense 8th

Last Playoff Appearance: Portland 1993 San Jose 1993
Playoff Records: Portland 15-9 (3-0 World Bowl) San Jose 1-5

Head to Head: Portland beat San Jose Week 12 29-14...Portland is 1-0 vs San Jose in the post season

Injuries: Portland 10 probable, 3 questionable San Jose 5 probable, 1 questionable

Prediction: Portland 24 San Jose 20

Portland should be on upset alert for a couple of reasons, injuries and Mark Hsu. The Storm have a long injury list, including playmakers Jeffrey Frost and Richard Robinson. San Jose has had ownership turmoil the last season plus, but pronfl51 has found a way to get All World WR Mark Hsu involved in the offense after Hsu disappeared for most of 1994. Injuries have hit the Storm secondary as well so Seth will need to be on top of his game to advance.
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Michigan Panthers (11-5) @ Detroit Wheels (12-4)

Point Spread: Detroit -2

Michigan: Offense 9th Defense 5th
Detroit: Offense 8th Defense 9th

Last Playoff Appearance: Michigan 1993 Detroit 1992
Playoff Records: Michigan 5-9 Detroit 15-9 (2-1 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Detroit and Michigan split their regular season games with the road team winning each time. This is the first post season game between the division rivals.

Injuries: Michigan 8 probable, 1 doubtful Detroit 4 probable, 2 questionable

Prediction: Michigan 23 Detroit 20

Michigan and Detroit are familiar with each other and I don't have a good feel about how this game might turn out. I have to pick somebody so I'll stick with their trend of the road team winning a close game, although I would not be surprised at all if Detroit wins.

National Conference Wildcard

Washington Federals (14-2) @ Shreveport Steamer (8-8)

Point Spread: Washington -8

Washington: Offense 10th Defense 6th
Shreveport: Offense 24th Defense 11th

Last Playoff Appearance: Washington 1993 Shreveport 1990
Playoff Records: Washington 10-13 (0-3 World Bowl) Shreveport 3-7

Head to Head: Washington defeated Shreveport 24-3 in Week 12...This is their first post season meeting

Injuries: Washington 2 probable, 3 questionable Shreveport 7 probable, 1 questionable

Prediction: Washington 24 Shreveport 14

Washington's top 2 playmakers are dealing with injuries, RB Robert Trammell has a bad knee while WR Ronald Matthews has a bad ankle and will be game time decisions. The Federals have other players that can step up if needed and I'm not sure Shreveport can generate enough offense to keep up.
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Philadelphia Bell (10-6) @ New Jersey Generals (13-3)

Point Spread: New Jersey -7

Philadelphia: Offense 13th Defense 23rd
New Jersey Offense 3rd Defense 10th

Last Playoff Appearance: Philadelphia 1993 New Jersey 1993
Playoff Records: Philadelphia 1-3 New Jersey 23-14 (2-4 World Bowl)

Head to Head: New Jersey swept Philadelphia but you can throw out the Week 16 result as the Bell had nothing to play for while the Generals were shooting for a BYE.

Injuries: Philadelphia 3 probable, 2 questionable New Jersey 6 probable, 3 questionable

Prediction: New Jersey 24 Philadelphia 20

I am picking my team but Philadelphia has a real chance at an upset despite the Week 16 result. I was trying to win and get a BYE with some help from Memphis that didn't come, while Philadelphia rested 7 starters. David Koresh, the Generals #1 RB suffered a neck injury and will miss the Wildcard game, and their OL is still banged up. I think my team should have enough weapons to score and our defense is healthy, but will they be able to match the Bell's intensity? If we were playing with humans, I would think the Generals might come into the game overconfident given the Week 16 blowout, while Philadelphia would come out and punch New Jersey in the mouth. Good thing for me that human emotion isn't involved.

American Conference Divisional Round

Portland Storm (14-3) @ Denver Gold (13-3)

Point Spread: Portland -4

Portland: Offense 2nd Defense 1st
Denver: Offense 5th Defense 12th

Last Playoff Appearance: Portland 1993 Denver 1992
Playoff Records: Portland 16-9 (3-0 World Bowl) Denver 11-9 (1-1 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Denver and Portland split their 2 regular season game while Portland is 2-1 vs Denver in the post season

Injuries: Portland 6 probable, 1 questionable Denver 1 probable, 1 I.R.

Prediction: Portland 23 Denver 21

These teams have combined to win the last 3 World Bowls and they split in the regular season, so this game could go either way. I have to pick someone, so I'll pick Portland to win a close, hard fought game.
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Detroit Wheels (13-4) @ Houston Gamblers (12-4)

Point Spread: Houston -6

Detroit: Offense 8th Defense 9th
Houston: Offense 4th Defense 15th

Last Playoff Appearance: Detroit 1992 Houston 1993
Playoff Records: Detroit 16-9 (2-1 World Bowl) Houston21-8 (4-0 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Houston won the last regular season meeting 29-13 in Week 10 of 1992. Houston is 3-0 vs Detroit in the post season.

Injuries: Detroit 3 probable, 2 questionable Houston 3 probable, 2 questionable

Prediction: Houston 34 Detroit 20

In my opinion, Detroit has no chance at an upset so long as their backup QB keeps making cameo appearances. The Wheels need an efficient Gabriel Flanagan playing the entire game plus their defense has to find a way to stop all of the Gamblers weapons on offense. I don't see any of that happening so I'm picking Houston to advance.

National Conference Divisional Round

Washington Federals (15-2) @ Baltimore Stars (16-0)

Point Spread: Baltimore -3

Washington: Offense 10th Defense 6th
Baltimore: Offense 1st Defense 2nd

Last Playoff Appearance: Washington 1993 Baltimore 1992
Playoff Records: Washington 11-13 (0-3 World Bowl) Baltimore 14-10 (0-3 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Baltimore swept Washington in the regular season and is 5-1 against the Federals in the post season, although Washington did win the last one.

Injuries: Washington 7 probable, 1 questionable Baltimore 3 probable, 3 questionable

Prediction: Baltimore 23 Washington 17

Baltimore ran the regular season table with the #1 offense and #2 defense although Washington gave them the most trouble. The Federals did lose twice to the Stars, but both were narrow, 6 point losses and Washington would love nothing more than to knock Baltimore out of the playoffs. The Federals probably have the best chance to knock Baltimore out, but I see the Stars being able to hold on and advance.
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New Jersey Generals (14-3) @ Florida Blazers (13-3)

Point Spread: Florida -1

New Jersey: Offense 3rd Defense 10th
Florida: Offense 17th Defense 4th

Last Playoff Appearance: New Jersey 1993 Florida 1993
Playoff Records: New Jersey 24-14 (2-4 World Bowl) Florida 5-3 (1-0 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Florida defeated New Jersey 13-9 in Week 14 for the right to host their first ever post season game against the Generals.

Injuries: New Jersey 3 probable, 2 questionable Florida 5 probable

Prediction: New Jersey 23 Florida 20

I'm basing my pick on nothing really. I'm going to need Al Borland to be accurate with his FGs because Florida's defense is tough to score against. If the Generals can chip away with FGs, they can outscore the Blazers, but if they are forced to punt, or have too many turnovers, it will be Florida advancing.

The Houston Gamblers backed into/limped into the playoffs so we have nothing to lose.

On a positive note....this is 13 straight playoff appearances for the Houston francise, 11 with me as owner. I'm proud of the consistency over that stretch of time. Who knows if we can make it 14 (12), so I'm just going into this one with no expectations and will enjoy it while it lasts.

I remember joining this league because my friend Raidergreg was here and Tribewriter invited me to join. Greg was just a regular owner back then with Tribewriter running the show.

Time flies when you are having fun!

American Conference Championship

Houston Gamblers (13-4) @ Denver Gold (14-3)

Point Spread Denver -2

Houston: Offense 4th Defense 15th
Denver: Offense 5th Defense 12th

Playoff Records: Houston 22-8 (4-0 World Bowl) Denver 12-9 (1-1 World Bowl)
Head to Head: Denver beat Houston Week 16, 35-28...Denver is 3-1 vs Houston in the post season

Injuries: Houston 2 probable, 2 questionable Denver 3 probable, 1 I.R.

Prediction: Denver 37 Houston 34 (OT)

I see this game as a see-saw affair and if not OT, then the team with the ball last probably wins. It's hard picking against Tony Dean, but Denver has actually been to a World Bowl more recently than Houston and the Gold are 3-1 against the Gamblers in January.
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National Conference Championship

Washington Federals (16-2) @ New Jersey Generals (15-3)

Point Spread New Jersey -3

Washington: Offense 10th Defense 6th
New Jersey: Offense 2nd Defense 10th

Playoff Records: Washington 12-13 (0-3 World Bowl) New Jersey 25-14 (2-4 World Bowl)
Head to Head: Washington shut out New Jersey 18-0 Week 10, Washington is 2-1 against New Jersey in the post season

Injuries: Washington 4 probable 1 questionable New Jersey 6 probable

Prediction: New Jersey 24 Washington 23

It's time Don Ferguson gets over facing his former team and play like he plays against most everybody else. It's not going to be easy, as lately Washington has our number, but somehow, some way I think my Generals will squeak by and get to another World Bowl.
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On a side note, even if I lose, I will be rooting for Washington in the World Bowl because I am sick of our conference losing World Bowls. We are 3-17 and 0 for the last 10. Nothing personal against VCR or CJ.

I'd go all in on the Gold if that is the betting line. :)

If this were real life, I'd probably not bet on this game. I can see why Denver is favored but I don't think I'd put real cash betting against Tony Dean.

In my game, smart money is on Washington. If I wasn't biased toward my own team, I would have picked the Federals to win. I think it's much more likely Washington either wins or loses by 3 or less.

Denver is the better team and has a great owner but Houston always has a punchers chance to win.

Tony Dean is the alltime leader in passing yards and 2nd to (who else) Snow in TD passes in the playoffs but Brewer is a great QB with experience!