Post by alecs on Jul 18, 2022 15:10:24 GMT -8
What a fun regular season it was, friends! Now we turn our attention to the postseason; which of the eight teams will claim the championship trophy in Vegas? Will the Pirates defend the title, or is someone else going to spoil the repeat bid? Last postseason, I was a perfect 7-for-7 in game picks, can I repeat that effort this time around?
Here's what I'm feeling:
#4 Iowa Barnstormers @ #1 Frisco Fighters
Season Series: Fighters 62 - 42 Barnstormers, Week 15
Synopsis: The Barnstormers head to Texas with an upset firmly in mind. Led by IFL-leading rusher D.J. Peterson and dynamic players like Antonio Wimbush and Kentrez Bell, this team has been playing some pretty decent ball heading into the most pivotal stage, with impressive late-season wins against the Pirates and at Tucson under their belt. Unfortunately, they've got to play the hottest team in the league, as Frisco is riding a 9-game winning streak, looking crazy impressive in the process, a path not too dissimilar from the one the Pirates took en route to their 2021 title. The Fighters are geared for a deep run and seem to be carrying all of the momentum right now. I wouldn't let their recent spell of "close" games fool you, I foresee the Fighters winning this one relatively comfortably, with Iowa possibly making a game out of it in the late stages.
Prediction: Fighters win, 52-42.
#3 Quad City Steamwheelers @ #2 Massachusetts Pirates
Season Series: Steamwheelers 25 - 36 Pirates, Week 4
Synopsis: Quad City is back in the playoff fold, looking to capture its first championship since its heyday of the early 2000's, when the former AF2 counterpart played. To do so, E.J. Hilliard and Company will have to travel to Worcester and dethrone the defending Champions. That figures to be a tough task, although Quad City has played good football lately as well, even forcing the Fighters into OT at Frisco in Week 18. The trouble is, the Pirates are as healthy as they've been all season long, with reinforcements on both sides of the ball returning or close to 100%. Not to mention QC has struggled on the road this year (3-5). This seems like an upset that could happen if things suddenly unravel for the Pirates, but I just can't bring myself to pick against them here.
Prediction: Pirates win, 45-37.
#4 Duke City Gladiators @ #1 Arizona Rattlers
Season Series: Gladiators 28 - 50 Rattlers, Week 2 | Rattlers 43 - 21 Gladiators, Week 4 | Rattlers 58 - 38 Gladiators, Week 15
Synopsis: A topsy-turvy year for Duke City sets them up for a rematch of last year's semifinal matchup, infamous for the controversial ending where an Offensive Pass Interference call took away what could have been an upset-sealing TD. After losing Nate Davis for the season in Week 1, Ramone Atkins settled in nicely as the team's starting quarterback, proving that he is capable of leading the Gladiator offense, which also boasts playmakers like Jared Elmore and Gregory Dent. Even with that, though, Arizona's got probable League MVP Drew Powell, along with studs like Shannon Brown and Jamal Miles, and an opportunistic defense that has thrived on capitalizing on opponent's mistakes all season long. Frisco might be the hottest team in these playoffs; but make no mistake, Arizona is the hungriest, especially after losing last year's championship game in front of their own fans. Lots of shootout potential here in a game that will probably have the highest point total of the four opening round games.
Prediction: Rattlers win, 57-40.
#3 Tucson Sugar Skulls @ #2 Northern Arizona Wranglers
Season Series: Wranglers 62 - 72 Sugar Skulls, Week 7 | Sugar Skulls 21 - 36 Wranglers, Week 10 | Wranglers 34 - 32 Sugar Skulls | Week 12
Synopsis: Tucson returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2019, while the sophomore-year Wranglers make their maiden voyage in playoff action, spinning together one of the largest single-season turnarounds in league history (1-13 last year, compared to 12-4 this year). Tucson plays with breakneck pace on the offensive side of the ball, and their 48.9 points per game trails only Arizona for most in the league. Daquan Neal, Mike Jones, and Quinton Pedroza are a few of the standouts on the Sugar Skull offense, which should figure to be a stiff test for the Wranglers' resurgent defense (30.4 points allowed per game, fewest in league). Another game with lots of scoring potential, and will probably go down to the wire. It's tempting to pick the Sugar Skulls in an upset, but I'm sticking with all chalk in Round 1. Wranglers win a nail-biter.
Prediction: Wranglers win, 48-47.
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL: Fighters over Pirates, 42-31
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL: Rattlers over Wranglers, 42-39
IFL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Fighters over Rattlers, 48-42
Here's what I'm feeling:
#4 Iowa Barnstormers @ #1 Frisco Fighters
Season Series: Fighters 62 - 42 Barnstormers, Week 15
Synopsis: The Barnstormers head to Texas with an upset firmly in mind. Led by IFL-leading rusher D.J. Peterson and dynamic players like Antonio Wimbush and Kentrez Bell, this team has been playing some pretty decent ball heading into the most pivotal stage, with impressive late-season wins against the Pirates and at Tucson under their belt. Unfortunately, they've got to play the hottest team in the league, as Frisco is riding a 9-game winning streak, looking crazy impressive in the process, a path not too dissimilar from the one the Pirates took en route to their 2021 title. The Fighters are geared for a deep run and seem to be carrying all of the momentum right now. I wouldn't let their recent spell of "close" games fool you, I foresee the Fighters winning this one relatively comfortably, with Iowa possibly making a game out of it in the late stages.
Prediction: Fighters win, 52-42.
#3 Quad City Steamwheelers @ #2 Massachusetts Pirates
Season Series: Steamwheelers 25 - 36 Pirates, Week 4
Synopsis: Quad City is back in the playoff fold, looking to capture its first championship since its heyday of the early 2000's, when the former AF2 counterpart played. To do so, E.J. Hilliard and Company will have to travel to Worcester and dethrone the defending Champions. That figures to be a tough task, although Quad City has played good football lately as well, even forcing the Fighters into OT at Frisco in Week 18. The trouble is, the Pirates are as healthy as they've been all season long, with reinforcements on both sides of the ball returning or close to 100%. Not to mention QC has struggled on the road this year (3-5). This seems like an upset that could happen if things suddenly unravel for the Pirates, but I just can't bring myself to pick against them here.
Prediction: Pirates win, 45-37.
#4 Duke City Gladiators @ #1 Arizona Rattlers
Season Series: Gladiators 28 - 50 Rattlers, Week 2 | Rattlers 43 - 21 Gladiators, Week 4 | Rattlers 58 - 38 Gladiators, Week 15
Synopsis: A topsy-turvy year for Duke City sets them up for a rematch of last year's semifinal matchup, infamous for the controversial ending where an Offensive Pass Interference call took away what could have been an upset-sealing TD. After losing Nate Davis for the season in Week 1, Ramone Atkins settled in nicely as the team's starting quarterback, proving that he is capable of leading the Gladiator offense, which also boasts playmakers like Jared Elmore and Gregory Dent. Even with that, though, Arizona's got probable League MVP Drew Powell, along with studs like Shannon Brown and Jamal Miles, and an opportunistic defense that has thrived on capitalizing on opponent's mistakes all season long. Frisco might be the hottest team in these playoffs; but make no mistake, Arizona is the hungriest, especially after losing last year's championship game in front of their own fans. Lots of shootout potential here in a game that will probably have the highest point total of the four opening round games.
Prediction: Rattlers win, 57-40.
#3 Tucson Sugar Skulls @ #2 Northern Arizona Wranglers
Season Series: Wranglers 62 - 72 Sugar Skulls, Week 7 | Sugar Skulls 21 - 36 Wranglers, Week 10 | Wranglers 34 - 32 Sugar Skulls | Week 12
Synopsis: Tucson returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2019, while the sophomore-year Wranglers make their maiden voyage in playoff action, spinning together one of the largest single-season turnarounds in league history (1-13 last year, compared to 12-4 this year). Tucson plays with breakneck pace on the offensive side of the ball, and their 48.9 points per game trails only Arizona for most in the league. Daquan Neal, Mike Jones, and Quinton Pedroza are a few of the standouts on the Sugar Skull offense, which should figure to be a stiff test for the Wranglers' resurgent defense (30.4 points allowed per game, fewest in league). Another game with lots of scoring potential, and will probably go down to the wire. It's tempting to pick the Sugar Skulls in an upset, but I'm sticking with all chalk in Round 1. Wranglers win a nail-biter.
Prediction: Wranglers win, 48-47.
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL: Fighters over Pirates, 42-31
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL: Rattlers over Wranglers, 42-39
IFL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Fighters over Rattlers, 48-42