American Conference Wildcard Weekend

Los Angeles Express (11-4-1) @ Oakland Invaders (8-8)

Point Spread: Los Angeles -1

Los Angeles: Offense 14th Defense 12th
Oakland: Offense 15th Defense 27th

Last Playoff Appearance: Los Angeles 2004 Oakland 2010

Playoff Records: Los Angeles 10-11 (1-0 World Bowl) Oakland 5-6 (1-0 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Los Angeles beat Oakland 19-16 Week 4 of this season. Los Angeles is 1-0 versus Oakland in the post season.

Injuries: Los Angeles 4 probable, 2 questionable, 1 doubtful Oakland 4 probable, 1 questionable, 1 doubtful

Prediction: Los Angeles 20 Oakland 13

Los Angeles should have the advantage having played in a tougher division with a better record than Oakland, who struggled when not playing other West division teams. The Invaders 27th ranked defense probably won't hold up.
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Memphis Showboats (11-5) @ Michigan Panthers (12-4)

Point Spread: Michigan -2

Memphis: Offense 11th Defense 11th
Michigan: Offense 5th Defense 20th

Last Playoff Appearance: Memphis 2008 Michigan 2012

Playoff Records: Memphis 31-18 (5-0 World Bowl) Michigan 10-19

Head to Head: Memphis beat Michigan 27-10 Week 4 of this season. Memphis is 2-1 versus Michigan in the post season.

Injuries: Memphis 7 probable, 1 questionable Michigan 3 probable, 2 questionable

Prediction: Michigan 27 Memphis 24

Michigan has won 10 games in a row while Memphis has won 2 in a row following a 4 game losing streak. The Showboats big weapon, George Hoffman seemed to wear down toward the end of the season and while he'll give 110% tonight, I figure the Showboats will wear down toward the end of the game, allowing Michigan to pull out a close win.
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San Jose SaberCats (11-5) @ Honolulu Hawaiians (14-2)

Point Spread: Honolulu -5

San Jose: Offense 1st Defense 8th
Honolulu: Offense 9th Defense 10th

Last Playoff Appearance: San Jose 2012 Honolulu 2012

Playoff Records: San Jose 19-21 (2-1 World Bowl) Honolulu 4-17

Head to Head: San Jose and Honolulu split their regular season games. San Jose won 54-33 Week 1 while Honolulu won 10-7 Week 9. San Jose is 3-0 versus Honolulu in the post season.

Injuries: San Jose 6 probable Honolulu 4 probable

Prediction: San Jose 30 Honolulu 27

If Honolulu is going to get off the schneid against San Jose in the post season it's tonight. The Hawaiians tied their best ever record this season and have been a thorn in the side of San Jose the last few regular seasons. The SaberCats are 3-0 against the Hawaiians in the post season and you gotta figure Smirt has something up his sleeve. Honolulu is on a 9 game win streak where they have not allowed more than 14 points so the lower scoring game we have the more it favors Honolulu.

30-14 Memphis. We've been struggling with ball control.

National Conference Wildcard Weekend

Jacksonville Bulls (13-3) @ Philadelphia Bell (12-4)

Point Spread: Philadelphia -6

Jacksonville: Offense 7th Defense 3rd
Philadelphia: Offense 13th Defense 7th

Last Playoff Appearance: Jacksonville 2012 Philadelphia 2012

Playoff Records: Jacksonville 12-18 Philadelphia 7-14 (0-1 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Philadelphia beat Jacksonville 10-3 Week 10 of 2012. Jacksonville and Philadelphia have split 4 post season games versus each other.

Injuries: Jacksonville 4 probable, 1 questionable Philadelphia 6 probable

Prediction: Jacksonville 19 Philadelphia 17

Philadelphia was hot until they took their foot off the gas once the East was clinched. Can they turn it back on on offense? Not easy to do against the 3rd ranked defense of the Bulls.
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Pittsburgh Maulers (10-5-1) @ Orlando Renegades (13-3)

Point Spread: Orlando -3

Pittsburgh: Offense 10th Defense 4th
Orlando: Offense 6th Defense 9th

Last Playoff Appearance: Pittsburgh 2012 Orlando 2012

Playoff Records: Pittsburgh 29-20 (2-3 World Bowl) Orlando 12-19 (0-1 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Pittsburgh beat Orlando 21-10 Week 5 of 2012. Orlando is 2-1 versus Pittsburgh in the post season.

Injuries: Pittsburgh 5 probable, 2 questionable, 1 doubtful, 1 Out Orlando 5 probable

Prediction: Orlando 23 Pittsburgh 17

I don't have any real reasons to explain why I picked Orlando other than I just have the feeling they win. Sometimes it's really that simple.
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New Jersey Generals (8-7-1) @ Washington Federals (14-2)

Point Spread: Washington -5

New Jersey: Offense 16th Defense 16th
Washington: Offense 8th Defense 6th

Last Playoff Appearance: New Jersey 2012 Washington 2012

Playoff Records: New Jersey 43-29 (4-6 World Bowl) Washington 22-22 (0-5 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Washington beat New Jersey 17-12 Week 15 of this season. Washington is 6-1 versus New Jersey in the post season.

Injuries: New Jersey 6 probable, 3 questionable Washington 7 probable, 1 questionable, 1 doubtful

Prediction: Washington 27 New Jersey 13

The Generals are an average team (16th of 32 in offense and defense) with an above average turnover margin (+19, 2nd best in USFL). The Generals are allergic to scoring 20 points in a game and I don't think we'll score enough to keep this close.

American Conference Divisional Round

San Jose SaberCats (12-5) @ San Antonio Gunslingers (16-0)

Point Spread: San Antonio -11

San Jose: Offense 1st Defense 8th
San Antonio: Offense 3rd Defense 1st

Playoff Records: San Jose 20-21 (2-1 World Bowl) San Antonio 9-8 (1-1 World Bowl)

Head to Head: San Antonio beat San Jose 22-3 Week 15 of this season. San Antonio is 3-1 versus San Jose in the post season.

Injuries: San Jose 7 probable, 1 questionable San Antonio 1 probable, 1 questionable

Prediction: San Antonio 22 San Jose 20

I'm picking the Gunslingers to win because they always win this year. They just beat San Jose by 19 points but I don't think they'll repeat that here. Gotta figure Smirt will make some kind of adjustment to at least keep the game close into the 4th qtr where anything can happen.
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Memphis Showboats (12-5) @ Oakland Invaders (9-8)

Point Spread: Memphis -4

Memphis: Offense 11th Defense 11th
Oakland: Offense 15th Defense 27th

Playoff Records: Memphis 32-18 (5-0 World Bowl) Oakland 6-6 (1-0 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Memphis beat Oakland 27-7 Week 12 of 2012. This is the first post season meeting between these teams.

Injuries: Memphis 4 probable, 1 questionable Oakland 4 probable, 2 questionable

Prediction: Memphis 27 Oakland 16

I have to pick Memphis as eventually the Invaders' 27th ranked defense has to come into play right? Oakland is playing with house money though so Memphis can't get complacent or they could get upset.

National Conference Divisional Round

Pittsburgh Maulers (11-5-1) @ New Orleans VooDoo (14-1-1)

Point Spread: New Orleans -7

Pittsburgh: Offense 10th Defense 4th
New Orleans: Offense 4th Defense 2nd

Playoff records: Pittsburgh 30-20 (2-3 World Bowl) New Orleans 39-25 (4-6 World Bowl)

Head to Head: These two teams tied 22-22 Week 2 of this season. New Orleans is 6-3 vs Pittsburgh in the post season,

Injuries: Pittsburgh 2 probable, 2 questionable, 2 doubtful New Orleans 1 probable, 1 questionable

Prediction: New Orleans 23 Pittsburgh 13

I'm going with the chalk in this matchup. Pittsburgh should give New Orleans a good game but I expect New Orleans to find a way to win and advance.
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Jacksonville Bulls (14-3) @ Washington Federals (15-2)

Point Spread: Washington -3

Jacksonville: Offense 7th Defense 3rd
Washington: Offense 8th Defense 6th

Playoff Records: Jacksonville 13-18 Washington 23-22 (0-5 World Bowl)

Head to Head: Jacksonville beat Washington 23-6 Week 11 of 2012. Washington is 3-1 against Jacksonville in the post season.

Injuries: Jacksonville 3 probable, 4 questionable, 1 doubtful Washington 5 probable, 1 questionable

Prediction: Jacksonville 24 Washington 23

Washington is 3-1 against Jacksonville in the playoffs but that loss was last season. The Bulls also beat them in the 2012 regular season. Whichever team wins, I see a one score game coming down to the wire.

American Conference Championship

Memphis Showboats (13-5) @ San Antonio Gunslingers (17-0)

Point Spread: San Antonio -9

Memphis: Offense 11th Defense 11th
San Antonio: Offense 3rd Defense 1st

Playoff Records: Memphis 33-18 (5-0 World Bowl) San Antonio 10-8 (1-1 World Bowl)

Head to Head: San Antonio swept Memphis this season, winning 29-13 Week 9 and 29-6 Week 12. This is the first post season meeting between these teams.

Injuries: Memphis 4 probable, 2 questionable, 1 Out San Antonio 4 probable, 1 questionable, 1 doubtful, 1 Out

Prediction: San Antonio 29 Memphis 10

San Antonio has won every game this season so far and they're the defending champs. Who else am I gonna pick?
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National Conference Championship

Washington Federals (16-2) @ New Orleans VooDoo (15-1-1)

Point Spread: New Orleans -7

Washington: Offense 8th Defense 6th
New Orleans: Offense 4th Defense 2nd

Playoff Records: Washington 24-22 (0-5 World Bowl) New Orleans 40-25 (4-6 World Bowl)

Head to Head: New Orleans beat Washington 45-6 Week 10 of 2012. New Orleans is 3-2 versus Washington in the post season.

Injuries: Washington 3 probable, 2 questionable New Orleans 3 probable

Prediction: New Orleans 28 Washington 27

I'm tempted to pick Washington to upset New Orleans but if the VooDoo can win a playoff game with a minus 6 turnover ratio, luck seems to be on their side.