Conference Championship WeekendHouston Gamblers (15-2) @ Michigan Panthers (15-1-1)Houston: Offense
5th Defense
20thMichigan: Offense
2nd Defense
3rd (Tie)Playoff Record: Houston 14-3
Michigan 4-4
Head to Head: 1-1 in playoffs/ No 1988 regular season game
Injuries: Houston 3 probable
Michigan 9 probable, 2 questionable, 1 doubtful
Prediction: Houston 23 Michigan 21
The top 2 seeds in the American Conference meet for the right to go to World Bowl XV. Houston has the playoff experience but Michigan is the giant killer, so who will win and why? I can see either team winning this game and I expect the final margin to be within one score. The Gamblers have the experience and health edge, and I believe that health will enable them to pull through in the 4th quarter.
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Baltimore Stars (14-4) @ New Orleans VooDoo (15-2)Baltimore: Offense
6th Defense
1stNew Orleans Offense
4th Defense
3rd (Tie)Playoff Record: Baltimore 8-5
New Orleans 8-9
Head to Head: No playoff games/New Orleans beat Baltimore 25-17 in 1988
Injuries: Baltimore 3 probable, 3 questionable
New Orleans 7 probable, 1 questionable, 1 Out
Prediction: New Orleans 22 Baltimore 21
Both teams overcame double digit deficits to reach this point, but just one can advance to World Bowl XV. New Orleans won the regular season game and I think they pull out a nailbiter here as well. Baltimore is about big plays, and they will hit some, but Jon Snow has also thrown a lot of interceptions. I think the difference in this game is the 2 point conversions the VooDoo like to use in the first half. I'll say the halftime score is 19-7 VooDoo on 2 TDs, 2 two point conversions and a FG. Baltimore will take the lead late 21-19 before the VooDoo drive for the game winning FG in the final 2 minutes.