(S47) PT #5 - April Madness Brings May Sadness

[papalinator]

DSFL Predictions:

Of course, let us start with the obvious.

1. 
Dallas is not making it to the dance.

2.
Tijuana will win the number 1 seed (remaining games total of 21-19).  They have 3 games in hand over Bondi Beach and have the best offense in the DSFL.

Next, for the less obvious.

3.
Minnesota (8-2) remaining schedule: total 18-22
London (6-4) remaining schedule: total 15-25
Portland (5-5) remaining schedule: total 26-14
Kansas City (4-6) remaining schedule: total 22-18

Of these four teams, Portland is least likely to advance, having to play both the Ducks and the O'Duck.  It was (almost) a good run, if only they had an elite TE.  Kansas City has a difficult schedule, having lost to 2 of the 4 opponents they are slated to play.

London and Minnesota do not play each other, so the most likely scenario is that Minnesota will finish 1 game up over London and secure the 1 seed, with London at the 2.

4.
Bondi Beach (5-5) remaining schedule: 19-21
Norfolk Seawolves (3-7) remaining schedule: 18-22

Bondi Beach does not play Norfolk.  However, 2 games seems too overwhelming for Norfolk to overcome, especially with only 3 wins on the season.

Therefore, the final four are Minnesota v. London, and Tijuana v. Bondi Beach.

Minnesota will beat London in a close game - 27-23.

Tijuana will beat Bondi Beach 30 - 21.

In the matchup of Tijuana vs. Minnesota, it is no diff.  Tijuana has a better offense and a better defense. 

Tijuana gonna win the Ultimini.

[Muddym13]

Having followed the ISFL close this season with my weekly game reviews, I already have my own prediction on the playoffs based off of my own opinions of what I am seeing. Firstly, I have to list the teams that I think will be making the playoffs for both conferences:

ASFC

1.   San Jose Sabercats - Have been dominating all season and I can't see them losing the first seed before the season is over.
2.   New Orleans Secondline - They have the easiest two games to end the season of the potential playoff teams and with them being so hot recently, I think they take the second seed.
3.   Arizona Outlaws - Although they haven't been looking the best as of late, it's hard to bet against the Outlaws missing the playoffs. They will sneak in after slipping to 3

NSFC

1.   Baltimore Hawks - Hawks will continue to hold their 1 seed into the playoffs
2.   Chicago Butchers - Having two of the bottom-end teams in the league to end the season, don't be surprised to see Chicago win it out and keep the second seed as they will lose the tiebreaker for 1st
3.   Yellowknife Wraiths - They find a way to win the big games when it matters and will sneak their way into a playoff run.

Now for the matchups:

ASFC

First Round

  New Orleans Secondline VS   Arizona Outlaws

Conference Championship

  San Jose Sabercats VS   New Orleans Secondline

NSFC

First Round

  Chicago Butchers VS   Yellowknife Wraiths

Conference Championship

  Baltimore Hawks VS   Yellowknife Wraiths

Ultimus

  San Jose Sabercats VS   Yellowknife Wraiths

Yes, I have the Sabercats as my ultimus champions this season. Their team has been too good and they rarely have bad games which makes them one of the toughest teams to beat. Yellowknife has been a weird team all season and they find a way to win games they shouldn't which is why I have them making a deep run all the way to the championship, although the Sabercats aren't going to let them beat them again. Overall, this season's playoffs are going to be very exciting and I cannot wait to see how they play out!

[DoubleDub]

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[OrbitingDeath]

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[Fangorn]

With the regular season windin' down and the playoffs on the horizon, let me tell you how I see the league's playoffs shaking out. First off, you've got the powerhouse teams from both the ASFC and NSFC gunning for that coveted spot in the Ultimus.

In the ASFC, I see the Sabercats leading the charge with an impressive 12-2 record and these cats are fierce, no doubt about it but they lack tenacity. Mark my words, the Otters are hot on their tails with a four-game winning streak under our belts. We've got what it takes to take down anyone.

Now, over in the NSFC, you've got the Hawks soaring high with a 10-4 record. These birds might have the stats on their side, but don't count out the Butchers or the Yellowknife Wraiths just yet. They're hungry for victory, and they'll stop at nothing to claim that Ultimus title - we are gonna see some upsets before the season is done.

But when it comes down to it, there's only one team that's destined for everlasting glory, and that's the Orange County Otters. Here's how it'll shake out:

San Jose Sabercats v New Orleans Secondline
Arizona Outlaws v Orange County Otters

Baltimore Hawks v Cape Town Crash
Chicago Butchers v Yellowknife Wraiths

San Jose Sabercats v Orange County Otters
Yellowknife Wraiths v Cape Town Crash

Orange County Otters v Yellowknife Wraiths

So mark my words – when all is said and done, it'll be the Orange County Otters hoisting that Ultimus trophy high above our heads, cementing our place in football history as the greatest team to ever grace the gridiron.

[AustinP0027]

As a relative newcomer, having just been pulled into the Dallas Birddogs, I think that I can be unbiased and not pick my own last place team to climb to the championship. Minnesota and Tijuana are clearly the top dogs, their record a step above everyone else. London is next, with Bondi and Portland close behind.

But what if? You can imagine any scenario if you jump through enough hoops. You see, it starts with an anonymous report. A simple message, sent to the Head Office, that maybe things aren't so up and up with the Grey Ducks. Maybe a screenshot or two. Then, a full blown investigation, where it's discovered that they entire team is juicing. That's right, they're profiting off a lucrative orange juice business, and they all decide to quit to follow their dreams of franchising. Minnesota is gone.

Then Tijuana reveals that they are all actually ChatGPT. The team, the GMs, everyone. The Head Office doesn't ban them because who wants to risk a robot uprising, but they self-select out, and go to for the RISFL (Robot International Sim Football League). Tijuana exit left.

London and Bondi both get it the worst. The team charter plane has to stop for maintenance in Topeka, and they're just never seen again. Real tragedy, and the league starts a memorial fund. Rumors run rampant, but no evidence is ever found. London and Bondi go bye bye.

Suddenly, Dallas has a shot to play. The team suits up, ready to prove themselves. And probably gets blown out, I guess. I mean, look at our record. It doesn't look like we've been lucky all year so why would that start now.

So, Portland takes it, mostly because the other teams have already started their offseason vacation schedule and really wanted to go visit Aruba, so half the offense was sipping Mai Tai's on a beach instead of playing.

[NUCK]

SHL

[bfry]

AS the DSFL season is winding down, I can see that the Bondi Beach Bucs are right in the thick of the playoff race.  I may be completely biased, but you will see that Bondi Beach has won exactly half of its games.  That puts them in second place in the always difficult South Conference.  We are only one game behind the third seed in the playoffs.  I will admit right now that I do not know how many teams actually make it to the playoffs.  I am hopeful that that number is at or above four.  If not, my predictions are going to be pretty terrible.  From what I have learned in my probability classes, the chances of one team beating another team on any given day is fifty percent.  If the number of teams in the playoffs is four, a team would need to win two games in a row which would come out to a twenty five percent chance to win it all. Because Stone Wall is now faster than ever, I give Bondi Beach a bit of a bonus percent and therefore should be the odds on favorites to win it all.

[oknom]

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[DocLars]

As the DSFL comes to a close, it appears that the race for the Ultimini is likely between two teams: Minnesota and Tijuana. Both teams are sitting at 8-2, at the top of their respective conferences. Though you never know what could happen in a playoff game, I predict that the season will end the way we think with an epic showdown between the top 2 DSFL teams. Of these two teams, I believe the Grey Ducks of Minnesota will end up hoisting the trophy. While Tijuana has a potent offensive attack the features Andre Benn and Brandon Johnson, Minnesota has the best chance of anyone to slow them down. They met earlier this season (and will again in week 13) and Tijuana won in a blowout, but lots of things have changed since then. Minnesota's young secondary has improved greatly, and quarterback Greg Hirsch has switched from a scrambler to a pocket passer, giving Minnesota a lot more flexibility on offense. Tijuana may have the best gif game in the DSFL, but this is Minnesota's year. Go Ducks!