The Playoff Race is On!
By The Masked Prognosticator
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The
Masked "The Masked Prognosticator, spotted in Las Vegas, cheerfully signs autographs for Japanese tourists!" |
(24 March 2001) -- The playoff race is on!!!! And revenge is on EVERYONE'S minds!
With three games left in the XFL season, all 10 teams now play no one but division foes who they faced before. And every player is looking for something else besides their $2500 bonus- to capture the top 2 spots in their divisions.
Amazingly, EVERY TEAM IN THE XFL IS STILL ALIVE!!!! And mathematically, ANY TEAM CAN STILL WIN THEIR DIVISION! How's THAT for parity?
To make things more intriguing, Orlando QB Jeff Brohm is out for the rest of the regular season. It is conceivable that if Orlando losses their final three games, NY-NJ could win their next three and win the XFL East!
Let's take a closer look. What we did was list the team and their current record. Then we give you what we think is the MOST LIKELY scenario for the remaining three games, followed by what we feel their final record will be.
Finally we give you the latest Vegas odds to win the Big Game at the End, and analyze their value.
ORLANDO (6-1)
The Rage is without Jeff Brohm the rest of the season. They play New York at home, Birmingham on the road, and finish up with Chicago on the road.
The only way Orlando chokes is if they lose all three games. They could lose to the Hitmen this week. If they do, they will wake up and kill off Birmingham who sucks. Orlando then faces Chicago in a situation where Chicago is seeking revenge and Orlando is off their 2nd road game. Also, by then Orlando will have the playoff spot wrapped up and might decide to take it easy that week.
RAGE FINISH 7-3.
Vegas odds: 5-7. Not a good value with Jeff Brohm's condition.
Then again these odds were posted 3-19.
NY-NJ (3-4)
Let's say Tillman and Crew upset the Rage. Then they face Chicago at home. The Enforcers are seeking revenge for an embarrassing home opener loss and the Hitmen are 1-3 straight up at home, so the Hitmen lose game 9. They wrap up the season playing a demoralized Thunderbolts team on the road.
THE CLEANERS FINISH 5-5
Vegas odds: 8-1. Not a bad value. The Hitmen have a very good
chance to make the playoffs then face Orlando, possibly without
Jeff Brohm, and have a shot, and I mean ONLY A SHOT, to win
the Big Game at the End. Then again, I could be smoking crack.
BIRMINGHAM (2-5)
I see very few scenarios other than the Bolts going out like a spring shower, losing to Chicago this week (revenge plus it will be the Bolts 2nd road game, and they are off a game against the punishing Outlaws D), a worried Orlando team next week, and an angry Hitmen the last week of the season. The only thing the Bolts have going for them is they finish the season with two home games.
BOLTS FINISH 2-8, MAYBE 3-7 AT BEST!
Vegas odds: 15-1. I'd bet a dollar on it. Hey anything can happen
in the XFL!
CHICAGO (2-5)
We say the Enforcers get revenge at home on the Bolts this weekend.
Then they travel to the Meadowlands to avenge their humiliating
loss to the Hitmen. They wrap
up the season desperately needing a win to make the playoffs
and facing an Orlando team that's already in. What a nice way
to wrap up the regular season- with a
home revenge win against the best team in the XFL! Believe it
or not, the Enforcers could win all three of their final games!
ENFORCERS FINISH . . . 5-5????
Vegas odds: 12-1. An awesome deal. Chicago could conceivable
make the playoffs. Beating Orlando and Los Angeles however,
is a different story. The Chicago Fire they ain't.
The second playoff spot could come down to a tie breaker between
NY and Chicago.
However, for all this to happen, Chicago would have to win all three of their remaining games, and beat Orlando to boot. Yeah, that's really going to happen.
We're sticking with Rusty Tillman's team to take the second East spot (I cannot believe I just said that).
WEST
L.A. (5-2)
We've already predicted the X to lose to Las Vegas straight up this weekend. Then they go on the road to play the Maniax in a big revenge game, which we feel they could win. The season finale is at home where Los Angeles finally gets to avenge that cheesy loss to San Francisco in the season opener, and snag the top spot in the West.
XTREME FINISH 7-3
Vegas odds: 8-5. Unless Jeff Brohm can come back 100% the Ex
are in the driver's seat. But I wouldn't take anything under
3-1 on ANYBODY in this league.
LAS VEGAS (4-3)
LV beats the Xtreme this weekend, then faces the Demons and
the Maniax at home. I think they could win both of those games,
but both visiting teams are seeking revenge and will need the
win to knock Vegas out of the playoffs. So let's say they split
those final two games, I'm just not sure who they will beat
yet. It won't matter- we think the Outlaws are as good as gold
to make the playoffs.
OUTLAWS
FINISH 6-4
Vegas odds: 3-1. Er . . uh . . .well, they are the blue chip
team in the XFL. I'd prefer 5 or 6-1 myself.
MEMPHIS (3-4)
In their second straight road game the Tams lose to the Demons this week. They lose to Los Angeles at home, then . . . well maybe they will be the team to beat Las Vegas Week 10.
MANIAX FINISH 4-6
Vegas odds: 10-1. Might be worth a look if your looking to waste
your money.
SAN FRANCISCO (3-4)
Beat the Ax at Pac-Bell, then travels to Vegas and loses. They wrap up the season with a loss in L.A. for reasons stated above.
DEMONS
FINISH 5-5
Vegas odds: 7-1. Too high. But the Demons can really surprise
you.