We're barely more than halfway done with the 2000 season but it's not too early to check playoff races. In the American Conference, we have a 1.5 game separation between the 7th and 8th seeds. The wildcard race in the National Conference could be interesting as a bunch of teams are grouped together with 4-6 wins. Let's see what's going on across the league.

Pacific Division

San Jose is 9-0 and coming off a victory over 7-2 Los Angeles. That win makes it extremely difficult for the Express to overtake the SaberCats for the division title but both teams would make the playoffs if they started now. Southern California and Honolulu are both 4-5 and need to go on a winning streak to become playoff contenders.

West Division

Portland got off to a 1-3 start but 5 wins in a row see the Storm atop the West with a 6-3 record. They have a 2 game lead on Denver and seem to be on track for another division title. Denver is 4-5 and need a winning streak while Arizona (3-6) and Oakland (2-7) are on the outside looking in.

Southwest Division

Defending Champion Houston is in a dogfight with the Oklahoma Outlaws for the division title. The Gamblers lost the first game against Oklahoma and faced them again this past week. Houston won, forcing the tie, and now it's a race to the end of the season to see who blinks first. The record of Houston's remaining opponents is 30-33 while Oklahoma's opponents are a combined 31-32, no real advantage there. Whichever team doesn't win the division will likely be the #5 seed.

Memphis is 6-3 but in 3rd place. The Showboats are probably too far behind Houston and Oklahoma to catch them, but they are currently the #7 seed which would make them a wildcard team. San Antonio is 2-6-1 and would likely have a better record if they weren't in such a heavyweight division. That's gotta be rough having those 6 division games every season.

Midwest Division

This division was tight a few weeks ago but Detroit lost 4 in a row after a 3-0-1 start, including getting swept by division leader Chicago. The Blitz are 7-2 with a 2.5 game lead on the 4-4-1 Wheels. Chicago would need to go on a losing streak for the Wheels to have a chance at the division title. Michigan is 2-7 in their season of turmoil. MoonPygg started the season as owner, then abruptly left MFN. Cleveland rounds out the division and despite being 0-9, aren't the worst team in the league, at least defensively. The Thunderbolts allow less than 20 points a game but their offense has been offensive all season, scoring a league low 37 points through 9 games.

I'll take a look at the National Conference shortly.

Southeast Division

Jacksonville is 8-1, with their only loss coming against 9-0 San Jose. The Bulls have allowed only 77 points this season and have a 2 game lead on 6-3 Orlando. The Renegades went all the way to the World Bowl last season, and another division title isn't out of the question. It's a lot easier to overcome a 2 game deficit if you play the team you're trailing twice, and the first Bulls/Renegades game is tonight. Florida (3-6) and Tampa Bay (2-7) are looking at 2001.

South Division

This division is tight top to bottom, with 3 games separating the 4 teams. New Orleans leads now with a 7-2 record with Birmingham right behind them at 6-3. Birmingham won the first meeting in OT with the rematch set for Week 15. Shreveport is 5-4 and MFN has the Steamer listed as the current #7 seed. Georgia is in last place at 4-5 but just 1 game out of a wildcard spot.

Atlantic Division

This division is a 2 team race between Washington and Charlotte as they are tied at the top with 5-4 records. The Federals won the first meeting with the Hornets, giving them the tiebreaker edge at the moment. Both teams have tough schedules down the stretch and they each still must play the champs. Baltimore (1-8) and Pittsburgh (0-9) are in rebuilding mode.

East Division

New Jersey is 7-2, leading the East by 3 games. The Generals have had injury issues all season, testing their depth, and have now won 3 in a row following a rough 3 game stretch. The Boston Breakers are in 2nd with a 4-5 record, and if they can manage a split in their next 2 games (against division leaders New Jersey and Chicago), they could make a playoff run as their schedule down the stretch is rather soft. The New York Stars got off to an 0-3 start before winning 3 of 4. Their current 2 game losing streak has them sitting in 3rd at 3-6. Philadelphia is 1-8 and on an 8 game losing streak.

13 games are in the books and the American Conference field is pretty much set. We know the likely 7 playoff teams but we don't know the seeds just yet. Detroit is the only team that can crash the party but the Wheels need to close out the season with 3 wins and have 1 of the following teams lose 3 in a row: Chicago, Memphis, or Los Angeles.

American Conference

Division Winners: San Jose, Portland

Clinched Playoffs: Oklahoma, Houston

Virtually in: Chicago, Memphis, Los Angeles

On Life Support: Detroit

San Jose and Oklahoma are fighting for the coveted BYE, while Oklahoma is also trying to stay 1 step ahead of Houston for the Southwest crown. Chicago will win the division as soon as they win another game or Detroit loses another game, while Memphis and Los Angeles will be the wildcards as soon as either they win or Detroit loses.

The National Conference has a little more drama, with 2 undecided divisions and several teams fighting for wildcard spots.

National Conference

Division Winners: New Jersey

Clinched Playoff Spot: Orlando, Jacksonville, New Orleans

In the Hunt: Birmingham, Georgia, Shreveport, Charlotte, Washington, New York, Boston

New Orleans hasn't clinched the South yet but that's just a matter of time unless they lose their last 3 and Birmingham wins their last 3. The VooDoo are on track for the #1 seed thanks to their 10-1 conference record. New Jersey has won the East and will host a playoff game. Orlando and Jacksonville will both make the playoffs but they have to decide the Southeast division first.

Charlotte and Washington are fighting for the Atlantic, and the team that doesn't win it will be in the wildcard mix.

Birmingham is an extreme longshot to win the South but they are currently the #2 wildcard and in good shape to make the playoffs. Georgia is right behind them at 7-6 and would be the last wildcard if the playoffs started now. They don't, which means they need to keep winning or Shreveport, New York, or Boston are lurking 1 game behind them, along with Washington.

I was almost done with a detailed post with the remaining schedules when I mis-clicked and lost it all. Not typing it all again, but to summarize...

Orlando can clinch the Southeast division by beating Jacksonville in Week 14. If Jacksonville wins then the division comes down to the final 2 weeks, but both teams are at least wildcards.

If New Orleans loses and Birmingham wins in Week 14, their Week 15 game becomes very important. If the Stallions win that game too, handing the VooDoo a 2 game losing streak (pending Week 14 results of course), Week 16 will be scoreboard watching time.

Charlotte has a 1 game lead on Washington and a tough schedule (23-15-1 remaining opponents) but Washington has to play Houston and Oklahoma.

Georgia's remaining opponents have a 15-24 record, giving them good odds to hang onto a playoff spot.

Shreveport, New York, and Boston are on the outside looking in, but the Breakers have an easy schedule on paper with games against Cleveland (1-12) and Pittsburgh (0-13). They will still likely need to also beat New York Week 15. New York's remaining opponents have a 19-19-1 record while Shreveport's are 24-15, same as Birmingham.

The American Conference playoff teams are set and all that's left is seeding and determining who wins the Southwest Division.

Division Winners: San Jose, Portland, Chicago

Clinched Playoff Spot: Los Angeles, Houston, Oklahoma, Memphis

Houston schedule vs Balt, @ Char
Oklahoma schedule @ Por, vs Wash

Houston and Oklahoma split their games but the Gamblers have the division record tiebreaker sewn up and win the division in the event of a tie.

Memphis could win their last 2 but they would need both Houston and Oklahoma to lose twice to be involved in a 3 way tiebreaker and the odds of that happening are pretty slim.

San Jose has the inside track for the BYE and will get it if they win their last 2 games. If they lose, they could fall to #2 seed since their lone loss was to Houston.

The National Conference is pretty jumbled for the last playoff spot, but they also have 3 divisions decided already. New Orleans has the inside track at the BYE but the banged up New Jersey Generals are waiting in the wings should the VooDoo stumble. MFN says 9-5 Jacksonville is in as a wildcard but not 9-5 Birmingham, despite identical conference records. They didn't play each other either, so idk what's up with that.

Charlotte (@ SA, vs Hou) and Washington (vs SHR, @ Okl) continue to fight it out for the Atlantic, with the Hornets (7-7) having a 1 game lead on the Federals. It's likely imo that only 1 of these 2 teams will make it, with the other team falling short of a wildcard.

Birmingham must be right on the cusp of a playoff berth or the standings glitch is here. One more Stallions win or losses by the right teams should get them in.

That would leave Georgia, Shreveport, Boston, and New York fighting for 1 spot.

Birmingham schedule (@ NO, @ SHR)
Georgia schedule (@ Pitt, @ Jax)
Shreveport schedule (@ Wash, vs Birm)
Boston schedule (@ NY, vs Pitt)
New York schedule (vs Bos, vs Det)

Division Winners: New Orleans, New Jersey, Orlando

Clinched playoff spot (according to MFN): Jacksonville

In the Hunt: Birmingham, Georgia, Shreveport, Charlotte, Washington, New York, Boston

Maybe the division records make the decision for Jacksonville (3-2 vs 1-3 Birmingham)

Division records have nothing to do with wildcards, unless the teams are in the same division. My money is on the standings glitch.