American Conference Wildcard Round

Los Angeles Express (11-5) @ Michigan Panthers (9-7)

Point Spread: Michigan -1

Los Angeles: Offense 20th Defense 23rd
Michigan: Offense 24th Defense 11th

Last Playoff Appearance: Los Angeles 1997 Michigan 1997
Playoff Records: Los Angeles 8-7 (1-0 World Bowl) Michigan 6-11

Head to Head: Michigan is 1-0 vs Los Angeles in the post season. Los Angeles beat Michigan 16-13 Week 10 of this season.

Injuries: Los Angeles: 9 probable, 5 questionable, 3 doubtful, 1 Out Michigan 2 questionable

Prediction: Michigan 19 Los Angeles 13

Michigan has the better defense and much better health. This should help the Panthers in the 4th quarter of a possible tight game.
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Houston Gamblers (10-6) @ San Jose SaberCats (12-4)

Point Spread: San Jose -4

Houston: Offense 6th Defense 19th
San Jose: Offense 5th Defense 4th

Last Playoff Appearance: Houston 1997 San Jose 1997
Playoff Records: Houston 31-9 (7-0 World Bowl) San Jose 1-9

Head to Head: Houston is 2-0 vs San Jose in the post season. San Jose beat Houston 21-19 in Week 2 of this season.

Injuries: Houston 9 probable 3 questionable San Jose 3 probable 1 questionable

Prediction: San Jose 24 Houston 16

Houston has the legacy of 7 World Bowls but they have triple the injuries of San Jose. The SaberCats have recently been a great regular season team who fails in the playoffs, but none of those failures came under Smirt. Both teams come in hot, San Jose has won 5 in a row, Houston 3. Someone has to lose and it seems the Gamblers window is closing.
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Memphis Showboats (9-7) @ Oklahoma Outlaws (13-3)

Point Spread: Oklahoma -7

Memphis: Offense 15th Defense 7th
Oklahoma: Offense 8th Defense 9th

Last Playoff Appearance: Memphis 1997 Oklahoma 1996
Playoff Records: Memphis 25-10 (5-0 World Bowl) Oklahoma 2-6

Head to Head: Memphis is 2-0 vs Oklahoma in the post season. They split their 2 regular season meetings this season.

Injuries: Memphis 9 probable 1 questionable Oklahoma 3 probable 2 questionable

Prediction: Oklahoma 19 Memphis 16

Division foes facing off for the 3rd time. They know each other so it should be a tight game, but these teams come in on different paths. Oklahoma has won 5 in a row while Memphis has lost 4 of 6. That tilts the scales for my decision to pick Oklahoma.

National Conference Wildcard Round

Georgia Force (10-6) @ Washington Federals (11-5)

Point Spread: Georgia -2

Georgia: Offense 27th Defense 3rd
Washington: Offense 21st Defense 12th

Last Playoff Appearance: Georgia 1980 Washington 1996
Playoff Records: Georgia 1-3Washington 16-16 (0-5 World Bowl)

Head to Head: This is the first post season meeting between these teams. Georgia beat Washington 37-17 Week 1 of 1997.

Injuries: Goergia 4 probable 2 questionable 2 doubtful Washington 5 probable 2 questionable

Prediction: Washington 13 Georgia 10

I'm picking based on playoff experience this time. I expect a tight game where the lack of playoff experience for the Force will have them make a mistake, or not stop Washington when they need to.
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Charlotte Hornets (8-7-1) @ Jacksonville Bulls (11-5)

Point Spread: Jacksonville -6

Charlotte: Offense 19th Defense 5th
Jacksonville: Offense 13th Defense 10th

Last Playoff Appearance: Charlotte 1997 Jacksonville 1987
Playoff Records: Charlotte 0-1 Jacksonville 5-8

Head to Head: This is the first post season game between the teams. Jacksonville beat Charlotte 37-16 Week 15 1996.

Injuries: Charlotte 5 probable 3 questionable 2 doubtful Jacksonville 3 probable 1 doubtful 1 Out

Prediction: Jacksonville 20 Charlotte 10

Jacksonville has some impressive wins on their regular season resume, going 5-2 against current playoff teams. Charlotte was 1-4 against current playoff teams and they're on the road for this game. That should give the Bulls confidence to win their first playoff game in more than a decade.
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Florida Blazers (8-7-1) @ Shreveport Steamer (12-4)

Point Spread: Shreveport -9

Florida: Offense 9th Defense 25th
Shreveport: Offense 7th Defense 8th

Last Playoff Appearance: Florida 1997 Shreveport 1997
Playoff Records: Florida 6-7 (1-0 World Bowl) Shreveport 6-11

Head to Head: This is the first post season game between these teams. Shreveport beat Florida 24-17 Week 6 of this season.

Injuries: Florida 10 probable 1 questionable Shreveport 7 probable 1 questionable

Prediction: Shreveport 23 Florida 13

Shreveport has quietly put together a pretty strong team with a top 10 offense and defense. They beat Florida earlier this season and I don't see why they can't do it again.

American Conference Divisional Round

Michigan Panthers (10-7) @ Portland Storm (15-1)

Point Spread: Portland -11

Michigan: Offense 24th Defense 11th
Portland: Offense 2nd Defense 2nd

Last Playoff Appearance: Michigan 1997 Portland 1997
Playoff Records: Michigan 7-11 Portland 18-13 (3-1 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Portland is 1-0 vs Michigan in the post season. Portland beat Michigan 20-6 Week 7 of this season.

Injuries: Michigan 6 probable 2 questionable Portland 4 probable 1 questionable

Prediction: Portland 24 Michigan 13

Sadly I think this is the end of the road for Hellbringer as Portland looks very strong and will be tough to beat.
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San Jose SaberCats (13-4) @ Oklahoma Outlaws (14-3)

Point Spread: Oklahoma -1

San Jose: Offense 5th Defense 4th
Oklahoma: Offense 8th Defense 9th

Last Playoff Appearance: San Jose 1997 Oklahoma 1996
Playoff Records: San Jose 2-9 Oklahoma 3-6

Head to Head: This is the first post season game between these teams. Week 1 of 1996 San Jose beat Oklahoma 23-9.

Injuries: San Jose 4 probable 1 questionable Oklahoma 6 probable 1 questionable

Prediction: San Jose 24 Oklahoma 21

I expect a tight game and perhaps a new rivalry. ArmoredGiraffe has Oklahoma on the upswing and his success in other leagues tells me the Outlaws will be a playoff contender for the forseeable future, tough division and all. We all know about Smirt and his success and I expect his team will find a way to pull it out in the end.

National Conference Divisional Round

Charlotte Hornets (9-7-1) @ New Jersey Generals (15-1)

Point Spread: New Jersey -11

Charlotte: Offense 19th Defense 5th
New Jersey: Offense 1st Defense 1st

Last Playoff Appearance: Charlotte 1997 New Jersey 1997
Playoff Records: Charlotte 1-1 New Jersey 32-17 (3-5 World Bowl)

Head to Head: This is the first post season game between these teams. New Jersey beat Charlotte 15-8 Week 11 of this season.

Injuries: Charlotte 5 probable 5 questionable 1 doubtful 1 Out New Jersey 1 probable 1 questionable 1 I.R.

Prediction: New Jersey 19 Charlotte 6

In the regular season, the Hornets held us to 15 points. I figure my Generals will be able to move the ball but bog down in the red zone while Charlotte struggles to move the ball on my defense.
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Washington Federals (12-5) @ Shreveport Steamer (13-4)

Point Spread: Shreveport -7

Washington: Offense 21st Defense 12th
Shreveport: Offense 7th Defense 8th

Last Playoff Appearance: Washington 1996 Shreveport 1997
Playoff Records: Washington 17-16 (0-5 World Bowl) Shreveport 7-11

Head to Head: Washington is 1-0 vs Shreveport in the post season. Washington beat Shreveport 16-7 Week 5 of 1997.

Injuries: Washington 5 probable 4 questionable 1 Out Shreveport 4 probable

Prediction: Shreveport 20 Washington 16

I expect a tight game because Washington is battle tested in the playoffs, but Shreveport is also no stranger to post season play. The Steamer's stats show they are the better team and I expect them to prevail.

American Conference Championship

Oklahoma Outlaws (15-3) @ Portland Storm (16-1)

Point Spread: Portland -9

Oklahoma: Offense 8th Defense 9th
Portland Offense 2nd Defense 2nd

Playoff Records: Oklahoma 4-6 Portland 19-13 (3-1 World Bowl)

Head to Head: This is the first post season game between these teams. Portland beat Oklahoma 20-9 Week 5 of 1997

Injuries: Oklahoma 3 probable 1 questionable 1 doubtful Portland 4 probable 1 questionable

Prediction: Portland 20 Oklahoma 17

Both teams are off impressive wins and were the top 2 teams in the conference this season. I can easily see Oklahoma winning this game, in fact I have a feeling at least one favorite, if not both will lose. I'm still picking Portland however, mainly based on their 2nd ranked offense and defense.
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National Conference Championship Game

Shreveport Steamer (14-4) @ New Jersey Generals (16-1)

Point Spread: New Jersey -7

Shreveport: Offense 7th Defense 8th
New Jersey: Offense 1st Defense 1st

Playoff Records: Shreveport 8-11 New Jersey 33-17 (3-5 World Bowl)

Head to Head: New Jersey is 5-1 vs Shreveport in the post season. New Jersey beat Shreveport 16-0 Week 14 of this season.

Injuries: Shreveport 2 probable, 1 questionable New Jersey 4 probable 1 questionable 1 doubtful 1 I.R.

Prediction: Shreveport 17 New Jersey 16

Like I said, I feel one or both favorites don't make it. Obviously I hope I'm wrong on this prediction but I think my Generals are ripe for the upset. We were pretty healthy but got nicked up against Charlotte, and Shreveport would love revenge for last season's loss in the Conference Championship Game. At the very least, I expect both games to be tight games that come down to the end.