The comprehensive playoff preview

With Week 14 in the books, we now have our confirmed playoff teams, and also our confirmed forfeit playoff teams. Regardless of what has happened to this point and how the teams got there, each coach faces only one task now - win. In the case of the playoffs, for glory, in the case of the forfeit playoffs...well, we'll have to see - these have added spice don't forget, as it's a two week long match up. On that note, please submit your "forfeit" or "reward" once agreed with your opponent to the commissioner. Here we go.

Playoffs

(1) Patistan v (4) IKNAN
This is a great match up. Two division rivals all year long, who played each other in the final week. IKNAN had to win to make playoffs, and make playoffs they did. They've been good all season long, and they just squeaked their way in. Patistan meanwhile started out 0-4, went 8-0. then went 1-3 down the stretch. Have Patistan peaked too early and lost their edge? Or were they simply resting up for the playoffs? They absolutely still have the great roster they did before, but make no mistake this is going to be a competitive game.

(2) The Dream Team v (3) ADRZ
A rematch of round 1 of the playoffs last year, and The Dream Team has a chance to get revenge. Not only this, they have a shot to return to the final after losing it in 2014. ADRZ however is fighting to become the first coach to win two seasons in a row. Three teams have gone to the Corona Bowl twice in two years, all of them left with an L the second time. And this is an even match up, both teams have moments of brilliance, and both have been disappointing at times. Both teams have cooled a bit the last couple of weeks, so this will be one heck of a game to watch.


Forfeit Playoffs

The Special Brew Bowl: (11) Burdettinators v (12) The Tuckfards
After the Corona Bowl, this is the bowl game people are most interested in. And boy, it even gives the Corona Bowl a run for its money. These two LOC greats, who met each other in the Corona Bowl only 3 years ago, now face each other in the losers bowl. I can't wait to find out what the forfeit will be with these guys. We all know the story, The Tuckfards has Burdettinators number, but Burdettinators got the trophy from them. This is going to be one heck of a game.

The forfeits: If Burdettinators win, Phil has to change his team name to Tanky McTankface. If The Tuckfards win, Ollie has to let Phil change his team logo, permanently.


The Fruit Bowl: (5) Cash4Gould v (6) Bear Necessities
Two division rivals, and two playoff hopefuls, face off for the Fruit Bowl. Both these teams had a shot at the wildcard, but both fell just short. Now they face each other to clamour for the right to 5th place. It's a dynamic match up between one of the league's most experienced and least experienced, a Rookie against a Veteran. Both teams are evenly matched as well. Here's a little sweetener though, both of them are Bears fans, so at least it should be a friendly game.

The forfeits: If Cash4Gould wins, Coach Stubbs Sr has to say well done to Coach Gardner. If Bear Necessities wins, Coach Garnder has to say well done to Coach Stubbs Sr...thrilling right?


The Fish Bowl: (7) The Brady Bunch v (8) Gridiron Gang
Two teams that fought each other tooth and nail to even get a chance at the playoffs...ultimately came no where near. Despite being two of the highest scoring teams this year, both didn't bring home the wins they needed. Now they'll face each other, meaning we'll have 3 weeks of fantasy football between these two. Coach Stubbs Jr isn't thrilled about facing Brady 3 weeks in a row...this could be a vengeance game for taking the QB in the draft.

The forfeits: If Gridiron Gang wins, Coach Nunn has to go to the draft in a dolphin costume. If The Brady Bunch wins, Coach Stubbs Jr has to wear women's underwear over his suit at the draft.


The Soup Bowl: (9) Forge Flyers v (10) Tom's Tyrants
A tale of two seasons in the Soup Bowl. Forge Flyers started slow and caught fire late on, only to flame out near the end. Tom's Tyrants meanwhile had a hot middle, but it turns out they were just travelling from one cold pole, as they had a cold start and finish. None of that matters now though, as the Co-Host of the LOC Report goes toe to toe with the EDOTLOCCA. Coach Leach will just be happy he's not playing in yet another loses bowl, while Tom's Tyrants would love to win it to end a disappointing season on a high.

The forfeits: TBC

Power Rankings: The playoff hopefuls

Instead of the traditional power rankings, which at this stage of the season is a bit moot, we'll transition to my usual playoff hopefuls article, where I pluck numbers out of the air and guess the likelihood of the playoff teams. Only ADRZ and Patistan have confirmed playoff places, while The Tuckfards, Forge Flyers, Burdettinators and Tom's Tyrants have been eliminated. But don't forget for those of you already eliminated, we have the forfeit playoffs this year, so start thinking of punishments/rewards for beating your opponent - there is still plenty to play for!

The following rankings are based on the most likely scenarios, meaning the top 2 are likely to be your remaining playoff teams. However, I will also include my own personal % chance of the scenario panning out, just to add a bit of flavour. Next to the team name is that team's possible routes to the playoffs. Please note that I've ignored the possibility of Gridiron Gang or The Brady Bunch tying...if this happens neither has a chance at playoffs, and Cash4Gould, IKNAN and Bear Necessities would be the only eligible teams for the wildcard.

The Hopefuls

1. The Dream Team 8-5: Division winner (99.9%) or wildcard (99.99999%)

- Coach Nathwani's team is on this list really in name value alone. They've achieved a playoff berth, they just need the games to happen on Sunday to confirm it. With one more win than any of the other contenders and a far superior point total, they are basically in.
- The only way they don't make playoffs is if they lose and are outscored by 2 of Cash4Gould, Bear Necessities and IKNAN. Those teams would  all need to win, and to outscore The Dream Team by 78, 123, and 85 respectively.

- So yeah, unless Viv benches all his players, he's made the playoffs. Just to add a tiny bit of spice, they're also playing Cash4Gould in the last week, which should be a good game.


2. Cash4Gould 7-6: Division winner (0.1%) or wildcard (60%)

- As mentioned above, Coach Gardner's chances of winning the division are slim to none, so I won't go into this.
- However, the wildcard is a distinct possibility. If Cash4Gould win and Bear Necessities and IKNAN lose, they make playoffs.
- If IKNAN and Bear Necessities win, Coach Gardner must win and maintain their point lead of 7 and 45 respectively over IKNAN and Bear Necessities, then they get the wildcard
- If they lose, they would need both IKNAN and Bear Necessities to lose, whilst also outscoring the winner of Gridiron Gang v The Brady Bunch (which would require them to outscore them by 86 or 44 respectively).

- So really, Cash4Gould just need to win and outscore IKNAN and Bear Necessities and their chances are good. As stated, they are playing The Dream Team, so it should be a competitive game.


3. Bear Necessities 7-6: Division winner (0.000001%) or wildcard (55%)

- Bear Necessities chances of winning the division are even slimmer than Cash4Gould's because they are so far behind in points. It's just not going to happen.
- The wildcard however is quite possible. A win for Bear Necessities and a loss for Cash4Gould and IKNAN would see Coach Stubbs Sr. returning to playoffs.
- If either or both of those teams win, Bear Necessities would have to win and out score Cash4Gould by 45 and IKNAN by 38.
- If Bear Necessities lose, they would need Cash4Gould and IKNAN to lose, then to outscore the winner of Gridiron Gang v The Brady Bunch by 131 or 89 respectively.

- So again, Bear Necessities needs to win first and foremost, and get some points to boot. They are helped by the softest match up of all these playoff hopefuls, they play The Tuckfards.


4. IKNAN 7-6: Wildcard (50%)
- With Patistan having won their division, Coach Sherwood's only hope is the wildcard, which they are firmly in the race for. If they win and Cash4Gould and Bear Necessities lose, they make the playoffs.
- If IKNAN lose, they need Cash4Gould and Bear Necessities to lose, whilst outscoring Cash 4 Gould by 7 and maintaining their 38 point lead over Bear Necessities. They would also need to outscore the winner of Gridiron Gang and The Brady Bunch by 93 points or 51 points respectively.

- Put simply, IKNAN just needs to win and outscore Cash4Gould by 7, that is their easiest route to the playoffs. They face the toughest match up of the lot however, the league leading Patistan.


T5. Gridiron Gang 6-7: Wildcard (30%)
- Due to ADRZ locking up the division this past week, Gridiron Gang can only achieve a wildcard. This is actually a simpler scenario, as Coach Stubbs Jr. just needs to win and for Cash4Gould, Bear Necessities and IKNAN to all lose. Gridiron Gang are leading the league in points, so they just need to maintain their point lead over the aforementioned (86, 131, 93).

- As I said, simple. Win and get some help is all Gridiron Gang need. They play The Brady Bunch in a show down for a chance at the playoffs.


T5. The Brady Bunch 6-7: Wildcard (30%)
- Coach Nunn is in the exact same boat as Gridiron Gang. They need to win and for Cash4Gould, Bear Necessities and IKNAN to all lose. Their point totals are not as good as Gridiron Gang's, but are substantially higher than the other playoff hopefuls, needing to maintain a lead of 44 over Cash 4 Gould, 89 over Bear Necessities, and 51 over IKNAN.

- Another simple one. They need to win and get some help in a division thriller against Gridiron Gang.


Summary
- The obvious choice is The Dream Team, they've made playoffs. Past that, it's really tough to call. I think it's fair to say if either IKNAN or Cash4Gould win it's a bit of an upset, so I'd say Bear Necessities probably have a good chance of getting the wildcard. However, if IKNAN or Cash4Gould win, one of them will be the wildcard team. In the unlikely event that all three of them lose (though in the league this year it wouldn't be too surprising), the wildcard team would be Gridiron Gang or The Brady Bunch. These two have both looked marvelous and average at times this year, so this should be a thrilling game. As always, stay tuned for the results on Sunday.

Power Rankings: Week 13

While my will to write these seems to be waning with every passing weeks (most likely due to my own team's misfortunes), I am determined to not miss an edition of the power rankings this season! And, begin!

Power Rankings

1. Patistan, 9-3 (1): The League's finest is one small step closer to 10 wins, and one giant leap closer to the playoffs. Sorry couldn't resist the word play, Coach Allen has actually achieved a playoff berth in only his second season, congratulations. What more can be said? They get to enjoy the next two weeks of fantasy now (a rare reward).

2. ADRZ, 7-5 (3): The continually perplexing case of ADRZ finds itself in second this week. This team is capable of brilliant performances and absolute stinkers. But to Coach Well's credit, they've had more of the former than the latter in recent weeks. They're a stones throw from the playoffs as it stands.

3. The Dream Team, 7-5 (4): The now fully established, definitely not under the radar Dream Team are flourishing with their bad luck now transferred to others. They came up with a huge division win last week, and find themselves one step closer to a return to the playoffs. While not bullet proof, they are very good.

4. IKNAN, 6-6 (2): I'm really not sure what to make of them. They are very similar to Burdettinators, albeit with significantly better luck. Last week was not a good week, and it's not the first like it, but they got the win and find themselves in prime position for a wildcard. Whether they can pull it off or not, we shall see.

5. Burdettinators, 5-7 (5): Boy. This team is 5th purely cause of the bad luck. Look, we know Coach Burdett has channeled my own ability to consistently pick the wrong players, but in a 12 team league that's just bad luck as opposed to bad judgement. They've been above average for them lately, and that might be enough to sneak it.

6. Forge Flyers, 5-7 (6): Forge Flyers has cooled a tad the last couple of weeks, but they've still posted over 100 points each outing so that's jut fine. But they didn't bring home the W, and it's put them on precarious footing when it comes to playoffs. They've got every chance to make it, but they're up against it. 

7. Cash4Gould, 6-6 (7): The Rookie coach has really had a nice resurgence in the last few weeks, and they are squarely in the running. It's no secret why, Aaron Rodgers has been fire, Elliot is a rookie sensation, and cooper is a beast. The holy trinity can fail at times, but as far as trinities go there are few better.

8. The Brady Bunch, 6-6 (9): The continuously hard to predict Brady Bunch continues to surprise. Like I say all the time, Brady gives the team the floor they need, and Coach Nunn relies on the rest to bring it home. That is absolutely not a given, but they've got a mean streak, and it could take them to the playoffs.

9. Gridiron Gang, 5-7 (8): This team just ran out of steam I think. They had a few bitter losses over the last two months, but at this point the team just looks a bit gassed. They have great options at many positions, but a glaring weakness at one, and that's what is letting them down right now. Maybe i could play receiver for Gridiron Gang...

10. Bear Necessities, 6-6 (10): Another team that just looks a bit gassed. I'm a crucial division game last week, Bear Necessities just weren't up to it, and it casts a large shadow over their playoff hopes. They are still in play for a playoff spot, but with the other competition it's a tall order.

11. Tom's Tyrants, 5-7 (11): You'll forgive me for perhaps speeding through these last few, because for the first time this season, the cutlery is coming out. While they can still achieve a playoff berth, Tom's Tyrants have not been good lately, and I can't see that changing enough to save their season. Stick a fork in them, they're done.

12. The Tuckfards, 5-7 (12): Another team in the same situation as above. This team does have the Shaman himself, but even Coach Merritt doesn't have enough power to save The Tuckfards season. Stick a fork in them, they're done.