American Conference Wildcard Weekend

Denver Gold (12-4) @ Chicago Blitz (10-6)

Point Spread: Denver -4

Denver: Offense 8th Defense 3rd
Chicago: Offense 15th Defense 18th

Last Playoff Appearance: Denver 1994 Chicago 1990
Playoff Records: Denver 12-10 (1-1 World Bowl) Chicago 4-6 (0-1 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Last regular season meeting Week 7 of 1993, Denver won 61-10...Chicago is 1-0 vs Denver in the playoffs (1974)

Injuries: Denver 5 probable, 3 questionable Chicago 6 probable, 2 questionable

Prediction: Denver 34 Chicago 20

Chicago went on a run in the second half of the season to win the Midwest, but having to face a team the caliber of Denver is no easy task. The stats say the Gold has the better offense and defense, and potentially bad weather shouldn't bother a team from Denver. I think the Blitz hang tough, but the Gold eventually wear then down and pull away for victory.

Memphis Showboats (10-6) @ Portland Storm (13-3)

Point Spread: Portland -11

Memphis: Offense 6th Defense 8th
Portland: Offense 2nd Defense 1st

Last Playoff Appearance: Memphis 1993 Portland 1994
Playoff Records: Memphis 24-8 (5-0 World Bowl) Portland 16-10 (3-0 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Portland beat Memphis Week 13 this season 33-13...Portland is 3-2 against Memphis in the playoffs

Injuries: Memphis 4 probable, 2 questionable, 3 doubtful Portland 4 probable, 2 questionable, 1 Out

Prediction: Portland 24 Memphis 13

Both teams have top 10 offenses and defenses, although the Storm are Top 2 in both while the Showboats have had inconsistent QB play. I expect the Portland defense to somewhat hold USFL leading rusher Steve Ransome, forcing Norman Maldonado into passing situations. That plus the ball control offense of Portland should be enough for them to advance to the next round.
__________________________________________________________________________________

National Conference Wildcard Weekend

Baltimore Stars (10-6) @ Shreveport Steamer (9-7)

Point Spread: Shreveport -3

Baltimore: Offense 4th Defense 10th
Shreveport: Offense 17th Defense 12th

Last Playoff Appearance: Baltimore 1994 Shreveport 1994
Playoff Records: Baltimore 14-11 (0-3 World Bowl) Shreveport 3-8

Head to Head: Baltimore just beat Shreveport Week 16 by a score of 31-6...this is their first playoff game against each other

Injuries: Baltimore 4 probable, 2 questionable Shreveport 4 probable, 1 questionable

Prediction: Baltimore 27 Steamer 17

Baltimore has won 8 of their last 10 games to earn their playoff spot and are fresh off a victory over the Steamer. Shreveport did sit QB George Marcil, but they need to find a way to either slow down John Warkentin or force Jon Snow into interceptions. If they don't, it could be a long game for the Steamer defense.

Florida Blazers (9-7) @ New Jersey Generals (11-4-1)

Point Spread: New Jersey -8

Florida: Offense 26th Defense 7th
New Jersey: Offense 1st Defense 14th

Last Playoff Appearance: Florida 1994 New Jersey 1994
Playoff Records: Florida 5-4 (1-0 World Bowl) New Jersey 25-15 (2-4 World Bowl)

Head to Head: New Jersey defeated Florida 32-10 Week 13 of this season...New Jersey is 1-0 against Florida in the playoffs

Injuries: Florida 5 probable, 2 questionable, 2 Out New Jersey 4 probable, 1 questionable, 1 doubtful

Prediction: New Jersey 31 Florida 13

New Jersey has the most prolific offense in the league, but Ferguson is prone to throw INTs and the defense tends to allow big plays. Had Baltimore been the opponent, I might have picked an upset, but Florida will be without 4 time All Pro TE William Merkel and RB Robert Romero will be hobbled with an injury of his own. The Generals lost WR Eric Davis to an injury in Week 16, but their stable of RBs are all healthy along with the rest of the WR group. New Jersey's offense should be able to score enough to advance this week.

American Conference Divisional Round

Denver Gold (13-4) @ Houston Gamblers (15-1)

Point Spread: Houston -11

Denver: Offense 8th Defense 3rd
Houston: Offense 3rd Defense 16th

Last Playoff Appearance: Denver 1994 Houston 1994
Playoff Records: Denver 13-10 (1-1 World Bowl) Houston 24-8 (5-0 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Houston beat Denver 27-10 Week 13 of this season...Denver is 3-2 vs Houston in the playoffs

Injuries: Denver 3 probable, 2 questionable, 1 doubtful Houston 1 probable, 1 questionable

Prediction: Houston 24 Denver 23

The post season is here which means it's Tony Dean time. I think Denver has a team that can pull the upset and I think they will have a late 4th quarter lead, but I also think Tony Dean leads Houston to a last minute win.

Portland Storm (14-3) @ San Jose SaberCats (14-2)

Point Spread: Portland -2

Portland: Offense 2nd Defense 1st
San Jose: Offense 7th Defense 11th

Last Playoff Appearance: Portland 1994 San Jose 1994
Playoff Records: Portland 17-10 (3-0 World Bowl) San Jose 1-6

Head to Head: San Jose beat Portland 7-3 Week 16 for the right to host this game and have a BYE...Portland is 2-0 against San Jose in the playoffs

Injuries: Portland 6 probable, 1 questionable, 1 Out San Jose 1 probable, 3 questionable

Prediction: Portland 20 San Jose 17

Once again I expect a close game, with Portland getting out to an early lead, then holding on for the victory. San Jose had the week off and face the best defense in the league, so I think their offense will start slow. Portland's Melvin Driggers had a great Wildcard game and I figure that momentum carries into the early part of this game, allowing the Storm an early advantage. The rest is a race against the clock.

National Conference Divisional Round

Baltimore Stars (11-6) @ Washington Federals (15-1)

Point Spread: Washington -6

Baltimore: Offense 4th Defense 10th
Washington: Offense 12th Defense 2nd

Last Playoff Appearance: Baltimore 1994 Washington 1994
Playoff Records: Baltimore 15-11 (0-3 World Bowl) Washington 13-14 (0-4 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Washington swept Baltimore this season...Baltimore is 5-2 against Washington in the playoffs, though the Federals have won the last 2, including last post season

Injuries: Baltimore 2 probable, 4 questionable, 2 doubtful Washington 2 probable, 1 questionable

Prediction: Washington 26 Baltimore 20

While it's hard to beat a team 3 times in 1 season, Washington is one of the best teams in the league, and are trying to reach their 3rd World Bowl in a row. The Federals have the best turnover margin in the league and they face Jon Snow, who is prone to INTs. I think the Stars keep it close but Washington has too much.

New Jersey Generals (12-4-1) @ Orlando Renegades (14-2)

Point Spread: Orlando -3

New Jersey: Offense 1st Defense 14th
Orlando: Offense 9th Defense 4th

Last Playoff Appearance: New Jersey 1994 Orlando 1990
Playoff Records: New Jersey 26-15 (2-4 World Bowl) Orlando 3-4

Head to Head: New Jersey beat Orlando 20-10 in 1994 Week 11...Orlando is 1-0 against New Jersey in the playoffs

Injuries: New Jersey 4 probable, 2 questionable, 1 doubtful Orlando 3 probable

Prediction: Orlando 27 New Jersey 23

Even if New Jersey was at full strength I would pick Orlando to win because Don Ferguson is throwing way too many INTs lately. Throw in the fact that WR Duncan Meyer is a game time decision with an injury and Ferguson looks likely to force some throws. Defensively the Generals will be without their defensive backfield anchor Nuke LaLoosh. Orlando doesn't have much playoff experience on their roster, so they may start slow, but if Ferguson turns it over as expected, the Renegades will get comfortable in a hurry.

I'll get this and the blog done sometime tomorrow or early Sunday morning. Needed to cut the grass and do some yard work today.

Washington gets to beat me for the 3rd straight conference championship unless my Generals play a near perfect game. Ferguson has been throwing INTs against everyone and he has struggled in every game against his former team, plus our defense isn't playing well.

Got a little break from work, so I can get this done now.

American Conference Championship

Portland Storm (15-3) @ Houston Gamblers (16-1)

Point Spread: Houston -5

Portland: Offense 2nd Defense 1st
Houston: Offense 3rd Defense 16th

Playoff Records: Portland 15-10 (3-0 World Bowl) Houston 25-8 (5-0 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Houston beat Portland 25-6 Week 15, 1994...Portland is 2-1 vs Houston in the playoffs

Injuries: Portland 6 probable, 2 doubtful Houston 2 probable, 2 questionable

Prediction: Portland 27 Houston 23

It's always hard to pick against Tony Dean but Portland is 2-1 against Houston in the playoffs. The Storm have the league's best defense and an offense that can score with the Gamblers if the game trends that direction. As long as Portland doesn't suffer multiple turnovers, I think they pull out a win thanks to red zone defense.
________________________________________________________________________________

National Conference Championship

New Jersey Generals (13-4-1) @ Washington Federals (16-1)

Point Spread: Washington -3

New Jersey: Offense 1st Defense 14th
Washington: Offense 12th Defense 2nd

Playoff Records: New Jersey 27-15 (2-4 World Bowl) Washington 14-14 (0-4 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Washington beat New Jersey 34-30 Week 2 of this season...Washington is 3-1 vs New Jersey in the playoffs, including wins the last 2 conference championships.

Injuries: New Jersey 6 probable, 1 questionable Washington 5 probable, 1 questionable

Prediction: Washington 34 New Jersey 24

New Jersey QB Don Ferguson used to back up current Washington QB Scott Bieber, and Ferguson has a 2/5 TD/INT ratio against the Federals in the post season. I don't know if he is pressing because he is playing his old team, or if it's nerves about the World Bowl, or both, but it needs to change if the Generals are going to reach their 7th World Bowl. Ferguson has a career postseason TD/INT ratio of 20/15 so I see more mistakes coming in this game. Washington has a solid offense, a top notch defense, and good special teams, plus they are probably living rent free in the heads of the Generals after the last 2 seasons.