The Playoffs will kickoff this year at the Airport in Chicago as the Gremlins play the Scarlet Ember for the 3rd time this season. The Scarlet Ember have swept the series during the season and hope to continue riding on as the top seed in this conference. There have been whispers that Casey has been holding back in anticipation of her first playoff berth since her rookie season, the world will see if she can live up to the hype. The Jack-led Scarlet Ember hope to repeat last year and move onto the next round. They appear to have as much chemistry as anybody in these playoffs.
Keys to the Series:
SE: Get Casey out at all costs, she is the sole energy in this team
GRE: Break-up Swedish-fest, this is the core of the chemistry
The Skylarks fly across the country to play the Diamonds in what could be the last game at Diamond City University Wrestleplex. The Diamonds are riding on the nations longest win streak at 4 games and lots and lots of hype. Considered by many to be the most dangerous team in these playoffs and even the next dynasty! Can they win a game first critics?! The Skylarks have known all season they were elite and to them, their first game of the season is now. After a 3 year break from the Playoffs, a brand new Skylarks team is ready to have an era of even more success.
Keys to the Series:
DIA: Keep playing as a team, they need to fire on all cylinders to punch-out this heavy weight
SKY: Knock out Sean, he is having a year for the books, Sebastian and Simeon are kind of riding on his coat-tails
Last time these 2 perennial playoff contenders met was in the 2008-2 Conference Championship where the #1 Empire rattled off a couple victories and went on to their first Conference title. Nobody even faintly remembers that game on these clubs though. It is all new and the Interceptors are looking like the clear favorite to go to the Championship in this Conference. Salem isn't what he was last year for the Interceptors, but they still have 3 more power players. The Empire are only working with Aleksandr who is making his unprecedented 8th straight playoff appearance. He knows playoffs.
Keys to the Series:
INT: Use all man-power to out Aleksandr, they have enough depth to do this and the Empire have none
EMP: They need a lot of help from role players, that's what it takes in the Playoffs where everyone is godly
Last time these 2 met in the playoffs was the 2008 Divisional Round. The Cat's went on to the Championship after dusting the Gold. This time around it is the #1 Gold vs. the reigning Conference Champ St. Cat's. The Gold are looking to finally crack into the Championships after the legendary 4 straight Conference Finals loses. They are primed to go and the clock is ticking very loud for Travis, Desmond and Nadashess to gain their 1st title. The Cat's are looking to mend their mistakes from last year and win the whole thing as they look to return to the championship.
Keys to the Series:
CATS: Keep feeding Jared, and make him throw to Desmond, it's the only way to stop that beast
GOLD: Don't get too arrogant, treat the Cat's with as much respect as they would treat the Skylarks.
Game 1 Predictions: SE, DIA, INT, GOLD
Well, well, well. The Cat's and Skylarks meet to settle the South once and for all. The South will be representing the South-West in the championship for an unprecedented 6th time in a row. The Skylarks have had a return to greatness season. They easily could have been #1 for the year except they tripped up in a non-important game against the #16 Dragonfish in week 9. Their only other loss was against the Cat's in New Orleans. Their first matchup in week 4 was the first set the Skylarks lost all year, though they did win in 3 sets. Two weeks later, the Cat's absolutely rolled them 10-4. For some reason it is so easy to forget the Cat's are trying to return to the Championship, they are heavy underdogs here. Should be a good matchup, maybe not as fan-friendly as a #1 Gold v. #2 Skylarks matchup, but it should go to 3 games.
