We have reached the big week seventeen, with big matchups across the board. Hopefully, everyone had a great Christmas and enjoyed all the games. It is a weird week, with six games already being played going into Sunday. But today will decide who wins the championship or moves on to the championship game. Let’s take a look at who is competing.
FAMILY DIVISION
The Lynchburg Lemonades (Ryan) completed the first undefeated regular season in league history. What an impressive feat. But, as Michael Jordan says, it don’t mean a thing if you don’t get the ring. Standing in the way is a former champion in the Farmville Furies (Maddie). The Furies have a ring and want to knock off the Lemonades and get a chance at a second one. The Lemonades have the early advantage, but we all know how fast these things change.
The other matchup features the 11-5 Hawaii Volcanos (Paul) going up against the 10-6 Seymour Hoosiers (Myiah). It is incredible how many players in this matchup have already played, but there is still plenty of time for things to change. Who will get a chance at that ring next week? We will soon know.
FIRST DIVISION
This is promotion week in the First division. The winners this week have the option to advance into the Dynasty division next year and a chance to win the championship next week.
The Fantrax algorithm has this game at 52% TO 48%, so this is as close to a coin flip as possible. The Virginia Pioneers (Dave) are looking to be the next team to get promoted in their first season in the First Division after regulation. The Olney Ospreys (Kirsi) have made making the playoffs a habit, and once again, they have a chance to become the first team to go from the Family division all the way to the Dynasty division. It is a fascinating matchup, and seeing who pulls it out will be interesting.
The Pennsylvania Poultry Platoon (Ericka) joins Olney with a chance to advance from the Family division to the Dynasty division. Only one person can be the first to accomplish the feat. In the way is the two-time Champion Louisiana Lycanthropes (Kiley). Can the Lycanthropes really win a 3rd title? It would be an impressive feat. However, at this point, the Poultry Platoon has the advantage at 71%.
DYNASTY DIVISION
Let’s start with the most crucial game. And yes, the playdowns are more important than the playoffs to almost everyone in the Dynasty division.
TOILET BOWL
And then there were four. Of the fourteen teams in the Dynasty Division when we began relegation nine years ago, only five teams have yet to be relegated. And both of these teams were in that group. So, ten of the original fourteen will have been relegated after this week. In my opinion, that is just one more example of how competitive this league is. The margin between winning a title and being relegated is razor-thin. And the fact that these two are competing to avoid relegation shows how true that is.
SUPER BOWL
Okay, well, maybe I am wrong about the small margins. Or, perhaps these two have just figured everything out, and the rest of us are playing for 3rd place every year. The Myrtle Beach Wave (Rob D) are in their second straight Super Bowl. That is no small feat. And the Phoenix Heat (Steven) are looking to win their 3rd title in six years. Again, this is no small feat. Clash of the Titans. The Heat currently have a significant advantage. But a lot can happen in a hurry.
Good luck everyone