Week 10 Preview

The final fights for positioning take place this final week of the regular season. 12 teams remarkably still have a shot at making the 8 team playoff. The lynch pin of this week focuses on the final game of the season in Atlanta. The Reapers control the destiny of the Margays and Dizzy Devils if both win. If the Reapers lose, they are out, if they win, they are all in. That final game also features the race for #1 as the Skylarks look to rebound after losing their title to the Gold. The 'I don't want to play-in' in the SW is another thing to watch for. The Diamonds, Cat's, and Pharoahs could all technically get to the #3 spot in their conference and avoid the dreaded death trap Play-In game.

(4-5) @ (1-8)

The week kicks off in Seattle were wins have been non-existent for the season. The Dizzy Devils round out the playoff hopefuls. They need a wing and a prayer to get in the playoffs with help from the Reapers and maybe the Gremlins to win. They have a solid team but they haven't been consistent at all. But they are playing the Silverbacks who have really imploded. Sanchito is their unlikely hero after Kenneth and Zeno decided to go on vacation this season. Not really much support, I see a 2 set victory.
Prediction: DD
All Time: DD- 2 SB- 3

(4-5) @ (3-6)

The Gremlins head to Houston for a chance at the playoffs even though it seemed they had been eliminated from contention 2 times before. The Toros will try to relish in a final victory for what will most likely be the last time the Dynasty Boys ride together. These are 2 pretty evenly matched teams, but I see the Toros just getting out their frustration and winning this.
Prediction: TOR
All Time: GRE- 3 TOR- 1

#6 (6-3) @ (2-7) 

The Interceptors suffered a big blow in regards to the playoffs now that Salem is a 4. But this game should be a cake walk, they already wrapped up a secure playoff spot, now they just want to repeat as division champions after a rough start to the season. The Dragonfish have been on fire lately but I think their luck will run out.
Prediction: INT
All Time: INT- 2 DF- 1

(4-5) @ (5-4) #7

Very similar 2 teams. Perennial failures that had a great burst of energy in the beginning of the year on the back of a big rookie draft pick. Then both missed their chance at being in the serious contenders league with losses down the stretch. Both hope to rebound here with a win to send them forward into the playoffs that once seemed promised. I say Charlie Dodgeball gets back in gear and gets it done here. The Margays have just been anemic, and don't play well when expectations are high. 

Prediction: PHA

All Time: MAR- 4 PHA- 1

#4 (6-3) @ (5-4) #5

This could be the most exciting game of the week. Two strong playoff teams face off who have been living in different universes for forever. The Scarlet Ember have a few people yet to convince of their awesomeness, and beating the Cat's would show it proudly. They would still need to have the Interceptors falter though to get the division title even though they have a higher ranking. The Cat's have been down lately, they might have gotten complacent after that big Skylarks win, but now they have a sense of urgency not to fall into the trap play-in. 

Prediction: CATS

All Time: SE- 0 CATS- 1

(3-6) @ (6-3) #3

However hard the Cat's or Pharoahs play will not matter as the Diamonds plan to crush the Seadogs in their regular season farewell to the Diamond City University Wrestlingplex. They are probably the scariest team coming into the playoffs, especially if Sebastian can get going again. The Seadogs have had their fun, who knew they would win 3 games with 3 rookies on their team? But I think the Seadogs will hit a brick wall when they take the long journey to SoCal. 

Prediction: DIA

All Time: SEA- 2 DIA- 2

Flex Game of the Week 10

#8 (5-4) @ (7-2) #1

Such a royal match-up. The Empire and Gold are the class of their division year in and year out and they both have wrapped up the titles. The Gold are looking to put an exclamation point on their season after going 6-0 in their division by winning their first season title. The Empire are securely avoided from the Reapers mess, but they could possibly be entangled in a play-in situation with a loss. I think the Empire have much better cohesion than the Gold and should ride out on them. 

Prediction: EMP

All Time: EMP- 0 GOLD- 4

RTP Flex 10

(4-5) @ (7-2) #2

They were the first 2 expansion teams entered in this league in 2004. They have played but the strike shortened season was cancelled as far as official stats. Since then they have been avoiding each other each making championships, Skylarks winning one in 2008-2, but never playing. Now the stage is set and each one has very important, yet different goals. The entire league will be waiting on the result of this one, that is why it is the RTP Flex Final.

The Reapers started out the season strong as ever. they won the preseason tourney in Hong Kong and fired shots as they ended the Interceptors untouchable win streak. They got to 4-1, ranked #2 in the league, predicted to go to the Championship, before dropping 4 straight. Now they just hope to make a play-in game. But their great start has given them so much points that a loss would float them above some potential non losing teams, automatically eliminating those teams.

The Skylarks have it a little bit easier, but in regards to living up to past legends, not that much easier. This was supposed to be their outright year. Yet, they dropped a puzzling one to the rival Dragonfish on their home court. Now they need a win and a Gold loss to reclaim the season title, which would be their record tying 3rd trophy. This after 3 straight seasons of being ranked #13+. I see the Skylarks really handling this struggling juggernaut. 

Prediction: SKY

All Time: REP- 0 SKY- 0