American Conference Wildcard Round

Memphis Showboats (13-2-1) @ Chicago Blitz (7-9)

Point Spread: Memphis -10

Memphis: Offense 3rd Defense 7th
Chicago: Offense 15th Defense 17th

Last Playoff Appearance: Memphis 2001 Chicago 2000
Playoff Records: Memphis 28-13 (5-0 World Bowl) Chicago: 5-9 (0-1 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Memphis is 2-0 vs Chicago in the post season. Memphis beat Chicago 26-6 Week 2 of 2001.

Injuries: Memphis 7 probable Chicago 6 probable, 2 questionable, 1 doubtful

Prediction: Memphis 31 Chicago 14

Memphis has been one of the best teams in the league this season, and they're only a wildcard because they share a division with Oklahoma, who has only lost once and tied once in their last 35 meaningful games. Chicago has average team stats and lost more games than they won, yet they get to host this game. There is always a chance of an upset but I'm not counting on it here.
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Houston Gamblers (13-3) @ San Jose SaberCats (10-6)

Point Spread: Houston -2

Houston: Offense 2nd Defense 8th
San Jose: Offense 8th Defense 3rd

Last Playoff Appearance: Houston 2001 San Jose 2001
Playoff Records: Houston 36-12 (8-0 World Bowl) San Jose 6-12 (1-0 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Houston is 2-1 vs San Jose in the post season. Houston beat San Jose 33-27 Week 9 of this season.

Injuries: Houston 8 probable, 3 questionable San Jose 6 probable, 1 questionable, 1 Out

Prediction: Houston 16 San Jose 13

This game could go either way but I'll pick the team with the playoff pedigree. Both teams have lost 12 post season games but Houston has won 36 times to just 6 for San Jose. To be fair, most of that San Jose history is with previous owners, and you should never count Smirt out until the clock hits 0:00. I have to pick somebody and this is as good a reason as any.
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Arizona Wranglers (9-7) @ Portland Storm (13-3)

Point Spread: Portland -9

Arizona: Offense 10th Defense 12th
Portland: Offense 12th Defense 2nd

Last Playoff Appearance: Arizona 1987 Portland 2001
Playoff Records: Arizona 3-5 Portland 23-17 (3-2 World Bowl)

Head to Head: This is the first post season game between these division rivals. Portland and Arizona split their regular season games this season. Portland won 17-6 in Week 7 while Arizona won 16-10 Week 15.

Injuries: Arizona 2 probable, 1 questionable, 1 doubtful, 3 Out Portland 8 probable, 2 questionable, 1 doubtful

Prediction: Portland 23 Arizona 6

Arizona has 9 OL on their roster and 3 are Out with injuries. The Wranglers surprised a lot of people by making the playoffs but they have a top 12 offense and defense and I'd give them a decent chance at an upset if their line wasn't so decimated. Facing a division foe should help but Portland is used to the playoff pressure and their #2 ranked defense should have no trouble with what's left of the Wranglers OL.

National Conference Wildcard Round

New Jersey Generals (13-3) @ Orlando Renegades (8-8)

Point Spread: New Jersey -5

New Jersey: Offense 9th Defense 9th
Orlando: Offense 14th Defense 24th

Last Playoff Appearance: New Jersey 2001 Orlando 2001
Playoff Records: New Jersey 40-20 (4-6 World Bowl) Orlando 7-9 (0-1 World Bowl)

Head to Head: New Jersey is 2-1 vs Orlando in the post season. New Jersey beat Orlando 16-9 Week 16 of 2001.

Injuries: New Jersey 6 probable, 1 doubtful, 1 I.R. Orlando 6 probable, 1 questionable, 1 Out

Prediction: New Jersey 26 Orlando 17

Orlando is 0-7 this season against current playoff teams, New Jersey was 3-3. The Generals also have an edge in team stats and playoff pedigree. I'll likely pick myself to lose next week if we advance, but that's later.
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Birmingham Stallions (10-6) @ Philadelphia Bell (14-2)

Point Spread: Philadelphia -7

Birmingham: Offense 7th Defense 10th
Philadelphia: Offense 4th Defense 6th

Last Playoff Appearance: Birmingham 2000 Philadelphia 2001
Playoff Records: Birmingham 4-10 (0-1 World Bowl) Philadelphia 1-5

Head to Head: This is the first post season game between these teams. Philadelphia beat Birmingham 16-13 Week 11 of this season.

Injuries: Birmingham 3 probable, 2 questionable, 1 Out Philadelphia 4 probable, 3 questionable

Prediction: Philadelphia 19 Birmingham 13

I haven't been able to beat Philadelphia so I'm picking them, it's really as simple as that. Birmingham can certainly win this game but I'm picking based on game film from our games this season.
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Charlotte Hornets (8-8) @ Pittsburgh Maulers (14-2)

Point Spread: Pittsburgh -14

Charlotte: Offense 19th Defense 16th
Pittsburgh: Offense 5th Defense 1st

Last Playoff Appearance: Charlotte 2000 Pittsburgh 2001
Playoff Records: Charlotte 2-3 Pittsburgh 12-12 (0-1 World Bowl)

Head to Head: This is the first post season game between these teams. Pittsburgh swept Charlotte this season, winning 31-17 Week 3 and 41-0 Week 10.

Injuries: Charlotte 2 probable, 2 doubtful Pittsburgh: 4 probable, 1 questionable

Prediction: Pittsburgh 31 Charlotte 13

Charlotte just doesn't have the team stats to hang with Pittsburgh, as the Maulers bring a top 5 offense to compliment the league's stingiest defense. Look no further than the season sweep by a combined score of 72-17 and you'll see why I'm picking the Maulers.

American Conference Division Round

Houston Gamblers (14-3) @ Oklahoma Outlaws (14-1-1)

Point Spread: Oklahoma -6

Houston: Offense 2nd Defense 8th
Oklahoma: Offense 6th Defense 4th

Last Playoff Appearance: Houston 2001 Oklahoma 2001
Playoff Records: Houston 37-12 (8-0 World Bowl) Oklahoma 9-9 (1-0 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Houston is 1-0 vs Oklahoma in the post season. Oklahoma swept Houston, winning 17-13 Week 3 and 23-13 Week 12.

Injuries: Houston 5 probable, 1 questionable, 1 doubtful Oklahoma 2 probable, 2 questionable

Prediction: Oklahoma 20 Houston 13

I don't pick against Houston much in the post season but Oklahoma is 33-1-1 in their last 35 games and they swept Houston this year. A Gamblers win would not surprise me in the least but I can't pick against the Oklahoma juggernaut.
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Memphis Showboats (14-2-1) @ Portland Storm (14-3)

Point Spread: Memphis -1

Memphis: Offense 3rd Defense 7th
Portland: Offense 12th Defense 2nd

Last Playoff Appearance: Memphis 2001 Portland 2001
Playoff Records: Memphis 29-13 (5-0 World Bowl) Portland 24-17 (3-2 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Portland is 6-2 vs Memphis in the post season. Portland beat Memphis 14-6 in Week 16 of the 2000 season.

Injuries: Memphis 7 probable Portland 3 probable, 3 questionable, 1 doubtful

Prediction: Memphis 17 Portland 16

This seems like a coin flip game to me but I'm picking Memphis because they play in a tougher division. Four yearly games against Oklahoma and Houston have toughened the Showboats up and should have them ready for a tough road playoff game.

National Conference Divisional Round

Birmingham Stallions (11-6) @ New Orleans VooDoo (15-1)

Point Spread: New Orleans -14

Birmingham: Offense 7th Defense 10th
New Orleans: Offense 1st Defense 5th

Last Playoff Appearance: Birmingham 2000 New Orleans 2001
Playoff Records: Birmingham 5-10 (0-1 World Bowl) New Orleans 16-18 (0-4 World Bowl)

Head to Head: This is the first post season meeting between these teams. New Orleans swept Birmingham this season, winning in Week 10 in OT 15-9 and in Week 13 by a 31-10 score.

Injuries: Birmingham 4 probable, 2 questionable, 1 Out New Orleans 8 probable, 1 doubtful

Prediction: New Orleans 24 Birmingham 10

New Orleans has been one of the best teams in the league the last 3 seasons even though they have no championships to speak of yet. It won't be easy to get one this year either, but I think they get 1 step closer tonight. Birmingham did take New Orleans to OT in their first game this season and they're division rivals so it's not a given the VooDoo advance.
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New Jersey Generals (14-3) @ Pittsburgh Maulers (15-2)

Point Spread: Pittsburgh -4

New Jersey: Offense 9th Defense 9th
Pittsburgh: Offense 5th Defense 1st

Last Playoff Appearance: New Jersey 2001 Pittsburgh 2001
Playoff Records: New Jersey 41-20 (4-6 World Bowl) Pittsburgh 13-12 (0-1 World Bowl)

Head to Head: New Jersey is 4-1 vs Pittsburgh in the post season. Pittsburgh beat New Jersey 32-13 Week 1 of the 2001 season.

Injuries: New Jersey 4 probable, 2 questionable, 1 doubtful, 1 I.R. Pittsburgh 5 probable, 1 questionable, 1 doubtful

Prediction: Pittsburgh 24 New Jersey 16

I'm obviously biased about this game since my team is involved but if I'm honest, Pittsburgh is the better team and should win. That's what I thought last post season as well yet my Generals won. This year's Generals are worse on offense (9th this year, 4th last year) and I'm thinking we'll have to settle for too many FGs. Hope I'm wrong though.

American Conference Final

Memphis Showboats (15-2-1) @ Oklahoma Outlaws (15-1-1)

Point Spread: Oklahoma -6

Memphis: Offense 3rd Defense 7th
Oklahoma: Offense 6th Defense 4th

Playoff Records: Memphis 30-13 (5-0 World Bowl) Oklahoma 10-9 (1-0 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Oklahoma and Memphis have played 4 post season games with each team winning 2. These division rivals play twice a year and Oklahoma won the first game 14-10 in Week 2 while nobody won the rematch as they played to a 10-10 tie.

Injuries: Memphis 6 probable, 1 questionable Oklahoma 3 probable, 2 questionable

Prediction: Memphis 17 Oklahoma 16

I'm probably wrong but I just have a feeling Memphis pulls this out. They lost by 4 points the first time and tied the second, so if the progression continues, Memphis wins.
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National Conference Final

Pittsburgh Maulers (16-2) @ New Orleans VooDoo (16-1)

Point Spread: New Orleans -7

Pittsburgh: Offense 5th Defense 1st
New Orleans: Offense 1st Defense 5th

Playoff Records: Pittsburgh 14-12 (0-1 World Bowl) New Orleans 17-18 (0-4 World Bowl)

Head to Head: New Orleans is 3-1 versus Pittsburgh in the post season. New Orleans beat Pittsburgh 19-7 Week 8 of this season.

Injuries: Pittsburgh 4 probable, 1 doubtful New Orleans 4 probable, 1 questionable, 1 doubtful

Prediction: New Orleans 16 Pittsburgh 13

I'm picking New Orleans based on their previous win over Pittsburgh this season. Team stats are a wash and this game will likely be decided by which team makes the least mistakes.