eSFL Insider Week 14, 2011-Playoff Week 1

Playoffs!

It's hard to believe that this season is nearly over already.  I, along with others, will hate for the fun to end!  This season has been a remarkable one with possibly the most parity this league has seen.

The Global Division was a dogfight all the way down to the last minute of the last game of the regular season with four, yes four teams finishing in a tie for second place with 8-6 overall records.   Temp's Texas Boys ran away with the division with an 11-3 overall regular season record.  Pardue Bruisermakers, D Crownholder, Zima Ruskies, and Rhodes Runners had to go to a new tiebreaker system to determine the playoff contenders.  Unfortunately, someone had to be left out and the Runners were it.  Commissioner Rhodes did a fine job this season explaining the results of the tiebreaks and running another successful season in the eSFL.  Although he missed the playoffs for the 3rd straight season after winning the title in 2008, he looks to rebound and win an exciting Gunner Cup with an unbelievable format.  Also chasing the Gunner Cup title from the Global are the McKinney Rednecks and Frost Flurries.

In the Appalachian, the Perdew Pulverizers rode the top spot all the way to the regular season finale and hung on to beat out the Texan Bruisers and Kav's Kavanators.  The Pulverizers finished 11-3 for the regular season, but lost 2 of his last 4 games to close out.  Kav's Kavanators jumped into the mix late in the season and took the second place spot away from the Bruisers.  The most exciting finish in the Appalachian was the near blackjack ruling.  Igama's Sweaty Palms nearly found themselves below .500 but found a way to win the final two games to even out at 7-7.  The league implemented a blackjack rule this season in case the fourth place team in either division did not have a winning record, then the last playoff wildcard would be awarded to the highest point fielded team not in the Ballistic Bowl bracket.  Defending eSFL champs, Whitmore Workhorse finished below .500 along with Fields Fanatix and Vial Vigilantes and they will pair up in the Gunner Cup for an opportunity to salvage a disappointing seasons.

Both Division Regular Season Champs have selected their first round opponents and the Gunner Cup seeding was drawn on Tuesday this week.  Lets look at the match-ups as some games are already under way....

Ballistic Bowl Wild Card Round:

  Pardue Bruisermakers (8-6)  At  Temp's Texas Boys (11-3)

#1....... Pick your poison! That is the theme for this week and the Texas Boy's decided to take on the always dominate Pardue Bruisermakers.  Pardue has had some bad luck in past seasons losing in the first round many times, but the Ballistic Bowl runner up from last season has been injury plagued all year.  Losing first rounder Charles early, along with wide receivers missing several weeks, this team is definitely vulnerable.  Temp probably made the right decision after looking at the next match-up.  
Prediction: Temp's Texas Boys 149-143

 Zima Ruskies (8-6)  at  D Crownholders (8-6)

These two contenders reached the playoffs with bomb squads.  I am fairly certain that nobody wants to play these two boys with MVP candidates Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees on opposite sides.  Don't think that's all they have though, as Zima's running game is top notch and D's isn't bad either but injuries have hampered him some.  Solid rosters have fans predicting that the Ballistic Bowl champ may come from this game!  Prediction: Zima Ruskies 167-154

Igama Sweaty Palms (7-7)  At  Perdew Pulverizers (11-3)

#2......... Pick your poison.  Along with Temp, Perdew gets to pick who his opponent will be in the wildcard round and the Igama Sweaty Palms looked like the obvious choice.  After beating Igama both games during the regular season, Perdew looks to pull the three game sweep and take down the youngster!  Igama comes into this game with a lot of confidence and a strong squad led by Arian Foster.  Injuries early in the year put this team behind, but he continued to fight and put up a good amount of points.  Although Perdew won both match-ups earlier this season, late season RB injuries have this team worried.  By record, Perdew chose the weakest team in the division leaving these next two guys to fight an epic battle. 

Prediction: Igama Sweaty Palms 146-139

 Kav's Kavanators (10-4)  At  Texan Bruisers (10-4) 

A combined regular season record of 20-8 for the season, the Kavanators and Bruisers will have to battle to stay alive for a shot at the Ballistic Bowl.  These two squads are fairly even with Kav coming in on a hot streak winning 6 of his last 7 and four straight.  The Bruisers have been solid throughout the year and their most prestigious win this season was against cousin Temp. 

Prediction: Kav's Kavanators 177-141

Gunner Cup Qualifying Round

Frost Flurries (1-13)  At  (8-6) Rhodes Runners (8-6)

Can you say blowout?  In fairness to Frost, Rhodes doesn't belong in this situation.  You know your division is tough when a winning record doesn't earn a playoff berth.  If the Runners were in the Appalachian, they would be in the playoffs and facing the Pulverizers.  Frost has been kicked around all season and this week should be no difference.  The only real concern for the Runners is if they can score enough points to advance.
Prediction: Rhodes Runners 142-103

Vial Vigilante (1-13)  At  (5-9) Fields Fanatix  (5-9)

This match-up features the two lowest scoring teams in the Appalachian Division facing off in the early Gunner Cup round.  This is certainly unfamiliar territory for the Fanatix as they have been one of the most dominate teams in the league.  The Vial team should  be used to seeing that pathetic record, as it is a repeat of last year's mess.  I would like to congratulate both of these squads for at least some league participation and I look forward to a hard fought, low scoring affair this week from you fellas.
Prediction: Vial Vigilante 141-127

Whitmore Workhorse (4-10)  vs  McKinney Rednecks (6-8)

The defending champs struggled severely this season with highly ranked talent no paying off.  Most of this squads reliable scorers never showed up this season.  The Ponies win most of their games with the infamous "golden horseshoe" they haul around.  No luck this week, as he won a bid to play in the Gunner Cup against McKinney.  Unfortunately for Whit, this McKinney team is now under new ownership and the proper lineup will be inserted...right up his ass!  This McKinney team could have been playoff bound with the talent on this squad and we will now get to see this teams potential.
Prediction: McKinney Rednecks 147-119

Best of Luck to all!

eSFL Insider written by correspondent Josh Perdew

Comments or questions should be sent via email: joshperdew@estandoutleague.com