SPOILER ALERT!!! Stop reading if you don't know the scores yet.
Our final 4 is set and it's 2003 all over again as we have the exact same conference championship matchups in the same stadiums. In 2003, New Orleans went into Philadelphia and rang the Bell 31-10, advancing to World Bowl XXX. Portland shocked the Gamblers in Houston 27-19 before beating New Orleans in World Bowl XXX 19-10. Will history repeat itself?
American Conference ChampionshipPortland Storm (14-4) @ Houston Gamblers (15-2)Point Spread: Houston -6
Portland: Offense
16th Defense
3rdHouston: Offense
1st Defense
20thPlayoff Records: Portland 31-20 (4-3 World Bowl)
Houston 40-15 (8-0 World Bowl)
Head to Head: Portland beat Houston 10-9 Week 5 of 2004. Portland and Houston are 4-4 vs each other in the post season and 1-1 vs each other in Conference Championships, with Portland winning in 2003 and Houston in 1995.
Injuries: Portland 6 probable, 3 I.R.
Houston 2 probable, 1 questionable
Prediction: Houston24 Portland 17
Portland is more than capable of beating Houston, especially with the Gamblers being mediocre on defense (20th ranked = mediocre to me, sorry), but Houston has too many playmakers for the Storm to shut them all down. As long as Dale Baber takes care of the football, I believe their superior offense wins the game for them.
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National Conference ChampionshipNew Orleans VooDoo (15-3) @ Philadelphia Bell (15-2)Point Spread: Philadelphia -4
New Orleans: Offense
4th Defense
9thPhiladelphia: Offense
8th Defense
4thPlayoff Records: New Orleans 26-20 (1-5 World Bowl)
Philadelphia 3-8
Head to Head: Philadelphia beat New Orleans 20-7 Week 16 of this season for the right to host this game. New Orleans is 1-0 vs Philadelphia in the post season.
Injuries: New Orleans 5 probable, 3 questionable, 1 doubtful
Philadelphia 1 probable, 2 questionable
Prediction: New Orleans 26 Philadelphia 24
It looks like that Week 16 loss to Philadelphia lit a fire in the VooDoo as they've since dismantled the Generals and Stars to reach this point. Philadelphia didn't exactly struggle in beating Orlando and they did just beat this VooDoo squad a couple weeks ago, but I can only pick 1 team and the defending champs are playing too well for me to not pick them. Should be a good couple of games to see who plays in World Bowl XXII.