Root for the Underdog: Pick an away team in an upcoming game and try to convince yourself (and us) why they can win. (Must be completed before the playoff series you write about)
I am rooting for the Orange County Otters to unseat the Arizona Outlaws' status as threepeat champions. While this is a long shot for the Otters, going up against a team that has only lost 3 of their past 30 games, it can be done. The Otters have had a tremendous year on both offense and defense, and have improved in many of their weak spots from last year. Plus, the Otters will be playing with a vengeance. Think about it this way: they've played this ASFC championship three times already. In every matchup, they believed that they had the best shot of beating the mighty Outlaws in the league. Each time, they've been sent home with heartbreak. But I predict this year will be different. They've got two solid cornerbacks in Anthony Petrakis and Marc Spector, who may be at a disadvantage to the likes of Josh Garden and Dustin Evans, but they have proven to be tremendous fighters. With arguably the best front 7 in talent in the league, they should be able to contain King Bronko and stop Reg Mackworthy. Their offense is as strong as ever, with Mike Boss shattering passing yard and passing touchdowns that he rewrote just a year ago. Sure, their run game is nonexistent, but the Outlaws don't have the best passing game in the league, and if the offensive line can hold up, the Otters might just have a chance.
Playoff Predictions: Give a short write up on each of the playoff matches (including the championship game). Must be completed before the simulation of the Conference Finals
NSFC Championship: Philadelphia Liberty @ Yellowknife Wraiths - 16-21
The Wraiths have never made an Ultimus this year. It's also notable that in each NSFC championship game they've qualified for, they've played on the road. The Wraiths lost many key pieces this offseason, including Josh Garden, Chris Orosz, and mid-season, Kevin Cushing. But they've also improved tremendously. With the signings of Gosh Jarden and Cle Hardrool in the offseason to go along with the position switch of Mat Akselsen to quarterback, the Wraiths, who were nodded off at the beginning of the season, are now favorites. I believe it will be a gritty game, but the Wraiths will redeem themselves and head to their first Ultimus championship game.
ASFC Championship: Orange County Otters @ Arizona Outlaws - 37-38
Another extremely tight game I'm predicting. This might be too close to comfort, but it is a win nonetheless. While on paper, they look like clear favorites, there is lots of elements going against them. It comes down to a matter of which team can last the shootout the longest. Also, Arizona Outlaws wide receiver Josh Garden infamously choked in the S2 NSFC championship game, getting blanked. There's no doubt the pressure will be on for the threepeat champs trying to defend their crown, but I believe they will pull it out in the end.
NSFL Championship: Yellowknife Wraiths @ Arizona Outlaws - 13-30
Sorry, Yellowknife. Better luck next year. This game will be of a wider margin than the championship games, as the 12-2 Outlaws certainly performed better than the 8-6 Wraiths. Although the Wraiths did beat the Outlaws in a head-to-head matchup in the regular season, that was at home. And the Outlaws went and beat the Wraiths at home. The Outlaws will have to trust their passing game, as the Wraiths have the most stout run defense in the league, allowing a measly 60.9 rushing yards per game. While Josh Garden may face some troubles in former teammate Dermot Lavelle, the Outlaws simply outmatch the Wraiths.
Matchup Nightmares: Pick an offensive and defensive player who will be going up against each other and why it will be a nightmare for one of them. (Must be completed before the playoff series you write about)
Gosh Jarden will have a nightmare going up against Tyler Oles. The first thing that popped out to me when I was comparing these two players is the TPE differential. While Gosh Jarden is in the mid-300s in TPE, Oles is nearly 200 TPE higher than Jarden in the food chain. This means that Gosh will struggle getting open on Oles. It does not help that both Philly CBs are nearly identical in talent, so switching them around would make it even worse for Jarden. Mat Akselsen will have to rely on some less-known targets, such as Eric Kennedy and Joseph Askins if he wants to win this game. It is going to be a tough day the entire game for the Wraiths receivers, and it doesn't help Jarden's case that the Liberty have both Lincoln Jefferson and Vikian Marmeladov, two players who have made the pro bowl, patrolling the skies. So if Jarden gets free, except some help up top to break it up. Obviously, the Wraiths management is shrewd and cunning and has proven to defy the odds before, but they're going to need a real trick to outsmart these Liberty corners. Obviously, you can't take anything for granted in these championship games as we've seen before, but this should be an extremely tough matchup for Gosh Jarden of the Yellowknife Wraiths.
New Talent: Write about which S4 trade will or did have the biggest impact in the playoffs. Can be written at any time depending on if you choose to write about who already has or who will do good
Kevin Cushing will have the biggest impact in the playoffs. Already in the NSFC championship game, he is facing a tall task by being assigned to guard Bailey Cook, the Wraiths #1 receiver. I believe he is up for the challenge, though. Cushing is one of the most vocal players in the league, and will have lots to play for, as he is going up against his former team, the same team that traded him away from a player just finishing up his first year. The trade to Philly was unprecedented for Cushing; he was one of the most loyal members of the Wraiths locker room, and his agent, Kckolbe, was sporting some "Fail-adelphia" shirts after the S2 draft, but clearly times have changed. Cushing has already overtaken Tyler Oles on the depth chart. Obviously, if the Liberty desire to move on, they will need Cushing to play the best football of his life, and a lot of luck. He's one of the best bench presences the Liberty have, and will continue to energize them. Maybe he'll wear down Bailey Cook. Who knows? The only thing for sure is that Cushing will be detrimental to the Liberty's success, and he's been put up in the spotlight ever since the move to Philly.
I am rooting for the Orange County Otters to unseat the Arizona Outlaws' status as threepeat champions. While this is a long shot for the Otters, going up against a team that has only lost 3 of their past 30 games, it can be done. The Otters have had a tremendous year on both offense and defense, and have improved in many of their weak spots from last year. Plus, the Otters will be playing with a vengeance. Think about it this way: they've played this ASFC championship three times already. In every matchup, they believed that they had the best shot of beating the mighty Outlaws in the league. Each time, they've been sent home with heartbreak. But I predict this year will be different. They've got two solid cornerbacks in Anthony Petrakis and Marc Spector, who may be at a disadvantage to the likes of Josh Garden and Dustin Evans, but they have proven to be tremendous fighters. With arguably the best front 7 in talent in the league, they should be able to contain King Bronko and stop Reg Mackworthy. Their offense is as strong as ever, with Mike Boss shattering passing yard and passing touchdowns that he rewrote just a year ago. Sure, their run game is nonexistent, but the Outlaws don't have the best passing game in the league, and if the offensive line can hold up, the Otters might just have a chance.
Playoff Predictions: Give a short write up on each of the playoff matches (including the championship game). Must be completed before the simulation of the Conference Finals
NSFC Championship: Philadelphia Liberty @ Yellowknife Wraiths - 16-21
The Wraiths have never made an Ultimus this year. It's also notable that in each NSFC championship game they've qualified for, they've played on the road. The Wraiths lost many key pieces this offseason, including Josh Garden, Chris Orosz, and mid-season, Kevin Cushing. But they've also improved tremendously. With the signings of Gosh Jarden and Cle Hardrool in the offseason to go along with the position switch of Mat Akselsen to quarterback, the Wraiths, who were nodded off at the beginning of the season, are now favorites. I believe it will be a gritty game, but the Wraiths will redeem themselves and head to their first Ultimus championship game.
ASFC Championship: Orange County Otters @ Arizona Outlaws - 37-38
Another extremely tight game I'm predicting. This might be too close to comfort, but it is a win nonetheless. While on paper, they look like clear favorites, there is lots of elements going against them. It comes down to a matter of which team can last the shootout the longest. Also, Arizona Outlaws wide receiver Josh Garden infamously choked in the S2 NSFC championship game, getting blanked. There's no doubt the pressure will be on for the threepeat champs trying to defend their crown, but I believe they will pull it out in the end.
NSFL Championship: Yellowknife Wraiths @ Arizona Outlaws - 13-30
Sorry, Yellowknife. Better luck next year. This game will be of a wider margin than the championship games, as the 12-2 Outlaws certainly performed better than the 8-6 Wraiths. Although the Wraiths did beat the Outlaws in a head-to-head matchup in the regular season, that was at home. And the Outlaws went and beat the Wraiths at home. The Outlaws will have to trust their passing game, as the Wraiths have the most stout run defense in the league, allowing a measly 60.9 rushing yards per game. While Josh Garden may face some troubles in former teammate Dermot Lavelle, the Outlaws simply outmatch the Wraiths.
Matchup Nightmares: Pick an offensive and defensive player who will be going up against each other and why it will be a nightmare for one of them. (Must be completed before the playoff series you write about)
Gosh Jarden will have a nightmare going up against Tyler Oles. The first thing that popped out to me when I was comparing these two players is the TPE differential. While Gosh Jarden is in the mid-300s in TPE, Oles is nearly 200 TPE higher than Jarden in the food chain. This means that Gosh will struggle getting open on Oles. It does not help that both Philly CBs are nearly identical in talent, so switching them around would make it even worse for Jarden. Mat Akselsen will have to rely on some less-known targets, such as Eric Kennedy and Joseph Askins if he wants to win this game. It is going to be a tough day the entire game for the Wraiths receivers, and it doesn't help Jarden's case that the Liberty have both Lincoln Jefferson and Vikian Marmeladov, two players who have made the pro bowl, patrolling the skies. So if Jarden gets free, except some help up top to break it up. Obviously, the Wraiths management is shrewd and cunning and has proven to defy the odds before, but they're going to need a real trick to outsmart these Liberty corners. Obviously, you can't take anything for granted in these championship games as we've seen before, but this should be an extremely tough matchup for Gosh Jarden of the Yellowknife Wraiths.
New Talent: Write about which S4 trade will or did have the biggest impact in the playoffs. Can be written at any time depending on if you choose to write about who already has or who will do good
Kevin Cushing will have the biggest impact in the playoffs. Already in the NSFC championship game, he is facing a tall task by being assigned to guard Bailey Cook, the Wraiths #1 receiver. I believe he is up for the challenge, though. Cushing is one of the most vocal players in the league, and will have lots to play for, as he is going up against his former team, the same team that traded him away from a player just finishing up his first year. The trade to Philly was unprecedented for Cushing; he was one of the most loyal members of the Wraiths locker room, and his agent, Kckolbe, was sporting some "Fail-adelphia" shirts after the S2 draft, but clearly times have changed. Cushing has already overtaken Tyler Oles on the depth chart. Obviously, if the Liberty desire to move on, they will need Cushing to play the best football of his life, and a lot of luck. He's one of the best bench presences the Liberty have, and will continue to energize them. Maybe he'll wear down Bailey Cook. Who knows? The only thing for sure is that Cushing will be detrimental to the Liberty's success, and he's been put up in the spotlight ever since the move to Philly.