CFFL Playoffs

Well Fantasy Bowl XXXI is set!  The Juggernauts will face the Crush in the 31st edition of the Cherry Fantasy Football Fantasy Bowl.  Here's how they got there:

Cabucki's Crush 48 Stamm's Sinistars 28
The Sinistars were looking for more magic out of their little elf Woodhead, who scored 4 times last week.  But unfortunately he must have been tied up making sure Santa made all his deliveries on Christmas Eve because he didn't score once that night.  Neither did Amari Cooper, who wasn't in the line up last week and scored.  This week he is in and doesn't score.  By the end of the first quarter (or the Thursday and Saturday Games) it was 6-6.

Woodhead was too busy being on the shelf

Williams scores one of his two TDs!

The Sinistars would take an early lead with a TD pass to Maclin to make the score 12-7.  However that would really be it for the Sinistars as the Crush began to pour it on.  First it was a TD from Williams to make it 16-12 and then he would score again.  As did Gillislee...who?  Gillislee!  The Crush would get 18 points from their stable of back up running backs.  On the bench was Frank Gore's "Knee" who scored 2 times as well.  There was no shortage of running backs for the Crush this week.

To make matters worse for the Sinistars, The Crush started Blake Bortles while the Sinistars had one of the Allen Brothers...Robinson.  Bortles would end up with 17 big points while Robinson would only benefit from one of the QB's TD passes.  The Crush return to the Fantasy Bowl for the 2nd year in a row.  Last year they squeaked into the playoffs and made it all the way to Fantasy Bowl XXX only to lose to the Chislers 30-13.

Bortles girlfriend, ex? who cares....Lindsey Duke

 Jakes' Juggernauts 42 Mark's Mafia 12
The Juggernauts, after playing second fiddle to the Krauts for years, finally have made it to the Fantasy Bowl and it wasn't very difficult what so ever as this game was never close.  The Juggs, not wanting to miss up on a 10 point connection again, decided to start both Bradford and Matthews this week (last week he did not).  They would hook up for another 10 point connection this week.  Unfortunately it would be their only one.

Bradford hits Matthews for the 10 point connection

Not to fear, the suddenly deadly dual Saints attack of Hightower and Cooks would score 18 points between them.  Add in a Kelce TD and 8 points from kicker Catanzaro "Cantstandya" and this game was a cinch.  It didn't hurt that the Mafia decided to bench the red hot Kirk Cousins, who broke the post season  game for most points by a QB just last week.  He would throw for 17 points this week compared to Roethlisberger's big fat ZERO!  Well in the scheme of things, it didn't really matter because even if he started him they still would have lost.

Hightower and Cooks been on fire!

Fantasy Bowl XXI:  Jakes' Juggernauts at Cabucki's Crush

This is the third trip to the Fantasy Bowl for the Crush and their second trip in a row.  A win will give them 2 Fantasy Bowl Trophies and tie for third most titles in the history of the CFFL.  (Crickets, Jewels, Maulers, Power, Mooches and Krauts).  This is the first trip to the Fantasy Bowl for the Juggernauts and want to put the critics that were critical on draft day to rest.  Lets see how they match up.

Quarterback: Juggernauts' Bradford vs. Crush's Bortles
This is assuming that the Juggs go with Bradford.  This is probably going to be the play since McCarron injured his hand on the final play of last weeks game.  Either way the nod has to go with Bortles who has been lights out lately (thanks to the Allen Brothers).  Since week 13 Bortels has scored 20, 18, 10, and 17 points.
Advantage: Crush

More of Lindsey Duke...hell with Blake...

Running Backs: Juggernauts' Hightower vs. Crush's Gillislee, Williams, Gore
Hightower has been a great pick up for the Juggs and has been playing well, scoring 3 TDs in the past 3 weeks.  Interestingly the Juggs have Le'Veon Bell who is out for the season, and the Crush have his back up DeAngelo Williams.  Williams has filled in nicely in place of Bell and has 11 TDs on the season, 5 coming in the past 3 weeks.  The second back for the Crush is still to be determined.  Will they ride the unknown Gillislee or take the Veteran Gore?  Flip a coin.  I don't see either of them scoring this week, however Williams should be enough
Advantage: Crush

Williams leads the Crush rushing attack

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends:  Juggs' Cooks, Matthews, Kelce, Olsen, Seferian-Jenkins vs. Crush's Gates, Rodgers, Willson? Jeffery? Wright? Royal?
The Crush have a lot of questions for their wide outs.  Jeffery will likely not play once again.  Willson suffered a concussion (bounty) vs. Rams last week and so he is in the dreaded concussion protocol.  On the bench for the Crush is Eddie Royal, who has 1 TD catch all year, back in Week 4, and Kendall Wright, who hasn't caught a TD pass since Week 7.

The Juggs seem a little more solid in this area with strong set of TEs in Kelce and Olsen not to mention Seferian-Jenkins (16 TDs between them).  Cooks has been on fire lately scoing in each of the last 2 games and now has 9 TDs on the season.  So has Matthews, who gives them a nice 10 point connection if they go with Bradford.
Advantage: Juggernauts

Kelce and Olsen, key to a Juggs victory

Kickers:  Juggeranuts' Catanzaro vs. Crush's Gano

Redskin Defense Cheerleader...

Both kickers have scored a lot of points and playing for teams that tend to drive the ball and put up points.  Catanzaro has 137 points on year and Gano 138.  Close as it gets.
Advantage: Draw.

Defense: Juggernauts' Panthers vs. Crush's Redskins
Another close one.  I am leaning toward the Panthers as they play the Buccaneers as they tend to turn the ball over for 6 points.  If any of them will score my money would be on the Panther D.  However any score from either of these defenses would be a bonus and give the team that scored a huge leg up on winning Fantasy Bowl XXXI

Prediction:  Crush 32  Juggernauts 30

This should be a close one.  While the Crush will dominate the running game the Juggernauts will dominate the receiving game.  The difference will come at QB where Bortels out duels Bradford 12-4  and the Crush get their 2nd Fantasy Bowl Title!!

Crush Cheerleader!

CFHL Week 9

Almost the New Year.  It all begins with the Winter Classic between the Goon Crew and Krampus Carols, the two top teams in the CFHL.  However, I digress.  Here is what happen this past week in the CFHL.

Goon Crew vs. AshBusters 3-2-1
The Goon Crew kept up with their winning ways but it wasn't easy.  The AshBusters gave them a fight and nearly came away with the tie but a 5 goal performance on Sunday kept that from happening.    The Crew continue to ride their Stars line of Spezza, Benn and Seguin.  (4 goals, 6 assists, +8 and 6 PIM combined).  Throw in the AshBusters' center Sharp and that would add 2 more goals, 4 assists and a +2 to all the Stars that played in this match up.  Goalies were a disappointment on both sides as they could only manage a win a piece.

Stars have been red hot!

USSR vs. Assassins 3-2-1
Another close match up had the Soviets taking out the Assassins and pushing them to last place in the CFHL.  It wasn't pretty as the USSR could only manage 4 goals to the Assassins 6 and both teams tied with only 6 assists.   Mark Stone lead all players with 3 goals for the Assassins.  Oh and the +/- battle was won by the USSR -7 to -8...brutal.  At least the goalies played better as the USSR edged the Assassins in SV% .939 to .932, while the Assassins got 3 wins between Allen and Rinne.

Rinne making save for Assassins

Checkers vs. Who Gives a Puck 3-2-1
As if the USSR's goal total of 4 wasn't bad enough, the Puck scored only 3 times, 2 from Brent Burns.  Malkin and Kessel teamed up for 4 goals for the Checkers as they basically have players from just 3 teams (Kings, Predators, and Penguins).  Muzzin for the Checkers was the Goon of the game racking up a 10 minute misconduct penalty.  Antti Niemi was the Number One Star of the game getting 2 wins and a SV% of .966 including a shut out.  The Puck could be suffering from the Cherry Cup hangover.  This week they  had only one player on the plus side of the +/-.

Niemi came up big for Checkers

Mayhem on Ice vs. Krampus Carols 3-3
In what is becoming one of the most storied rivalries (Mayhem vs. Krampus and Dragons), the two hockey clubs skated to a 3-3 tie.  Even though it was Christmas time, someone didn't tell Scott Hartnell of the Mayhem as he tallied 21 PIM by getting a charging major against Krampus goalie Ben Bishop that ultimately lead to a game misconduct.  Corey Perry's 2 goals on Sunday Night helped the Krampus pass the Mayhem in Goals to force the tie.  This all while apparently the two owners were seen together sliding down water slides at some random water park...bitter rivals?  Apparently not.

Hartnell plowing over Bishop

CFFL Playoffs 2015 - Round 1

What a first round this was.  Top seeds fall.  Records break.  And two teams lay a 60-burger on their opponents.  Merry Freaking Christmas!!

Sinistars 67 Mayhem 29
The Sinistars barley made it into the playoffs.  In fact they didn't know they even made it until someone told them.  Well they made good use of the gift that was given to them.  They easily took out the top seed in the playoffs.  But that wouldn't be too much of a surprise. The top seed rarely makes it to the Fantasy Bowl.  You have to go back 10 years to 2005 when the 13-1 Cherry's Chislers won Fantasy Bowl XXI.

Woodhead scores 4 times!

The Sinistars got 36 points from a couple of unusual places.  First early it was their Chief defense who not only scored once, but twice!  Not a bad bonus in the playoffs.  Then the newly acquired Danny Woodhead would score once, twice, three, four times for 24 points!  This would be good enough for the second most points scored in a playoff game by a RB, tied with Portis, Steven "Stiff" Jackson, Marshall Faulk and Emmitt Smith. 

The Mayhem ended the season in disappointing fashion and even though Stafford had 12 points and Delanie Walker had 12 it wasn't enough.  Hard to overcome 36 points from a defense and a small white running back scoring 4 times. 

Mafia 64 Krauts 42
This game was much closer than the score would indicate.  This was a counter game as the Mafia cane in with Kirk Cousins at QB but the Krauts would counter with Jordan Reed and DeSean Jackson.  This would work for the most part as 3 out of Cousins' 4 TD passes went to them.  However Cousin would hit another WR and also run one in.  He would finish with 22 points and break the former record  for most points by a QB in a postseason game by one point.  He passed Matthew Stafford who had 21 points in the Fantasy Bowl XXVII in 2011 for the Chiselers. 

Cousins sets new postseason record!

Krauts would get 2 more TDs from Hill and then had Aaron Rodgers going later.  He would only throw 1 TD and the Mafia countered him with the Packer kicker Crosby who ended up with 12 points.  Going into the Sunday and Monday night games the Krauts had a narrow 42-40 lead and was done.  He would need the Mafia players to come up with goose eggs.. As it turned out David Johnson would score the game winner Sunday night.  But the Mafia wouldn't stop there, firing 3 more rounds into the dead Krauts, as Johnson would score 2 more times and Colston would score Monday night. 

Johnson finds the end zone 3 times!

Juggernauts 32 Ferrets 30
In probably the game of the week the Juggernauts came back to upset the Ferrets on a late TD Monday Night to win.  The Ferrets, looking for their first Fantasy Bowl title in their 31 year history was riding the hot hand of Russell Wilson, and turned out to be the right move as he scored 12 points.  Sanders would score as did Barnidge. 


Wilson did his best for the Ferrets

They also decided to start both Packer running backs, Lacy and Starks.  Seemed like the right thing to do.  They combined last week for 3 TDs, and might as well start both of them instead of trying to figure out who would score.  As it turned out, the Packers for some reason, started playing Kuhn in critical red zone situations!  What was up with that!?  Neither Lacy or Starks would score.  This would prove to be detrimental. 

Lacy and Starks were like what the hell??

The Ferrets would have a 30-16 lead going into Sunday night.  Not that comfortable but definitely doable.  "Can't stand ya" Catanzaro would kick in 10 points to make the game 30-26.  This would not be good for the Ferrets as the Juggs still had Brandin Cooks and Hightower Monday night. But Ferrets had the mighty Megatron.  It started to look like the Ferrets might dodge bullets like Neo. 

Cooks caught a long pass and dove into the end zone for a TD!! But upon further review he was down on the one.  Still bad for Ferrets as Hightower would punch it in for the TD on the next play..wait penalty.  Try 2 more times and Hightower would get stuffed.  The Juggs would come away with ZERO points from that mess and the Ferrets would need to survive just one more half.  But with 5 minutes left in the third quarter Cooks would catch a 27 yard pass for the TD and the win for the Juggs.  Megatron couldn't find the end zone.  A tough pill to swallow for the Ferrets to lose in round 1.  They would need to wait yet another year to win their first title. 

Cooks catches game winner

Crush 30 Cocktails 16

Bortles girlfriend Lindsey Dukes and her hot friend

This game was pretty much a yawner.  The Cocktails just couldn't overcome their QB injuries.  TJ Yates would leave the game with a torn knee and zero points, while the Crush's QB Bortles, who quietly become the 3rd ranked QB in the CFFL behind only Brady and Newton, scored 10 points.  They would get 6 more from Williams and Jeffery "I WIN". 

As the Cocktails and Krauts exit the playoffs, so goes the preseason favorites to go to the Fantasy Bowl.  While the Crush are trying to return to the Fantasy Bowl for the second year in a row.  They will have to take on the suddenly dangerous Sinistars to make the trip.

Second Round Match Ups:

Stamm's Sinistars at Cabucki's Crush

Line: Crush -1.5

The Crush will be playing for a chance to make it to their 3rd Fantasy Bowl since they entered the league in 1986.  Not a stellar record, but if they can defeat the Sinistars they will have made it 2 years in a row.  The big question, or maybe its not even a question, is start Bortles, or Eli Manning?  Eli actually outscored Bortles, 16-10 but will be on road vs. Vikings.  Bortles will be on road in New Orleans.  They will need better production out of their WRs than just 6 points between Jeffery, Wilson, Rodgers, and Gates. 

Sinistars will be trying to make it to their first ever Fantasy Bowl.  They have been in the league for 10 years and this is their first trip to Round 2!  Don't expect another 24 point performance from Woodhead this week.  But they also had 24 points on the bench from Diggs "Dig Dug" and Cooper.  Expect them in the line up this week... maybe... Every player scored last week expect Ryan Mathews.  Also don't expect 2 TDs again from their Chiefs Defense.  I have a feeling they will need to do it in a much more conventional way this week...

Jakes Juggernauts at Mark's Mafia

Line: Mafia -2.5

The Mafia will try to make it to only their 2nd Fantasy Bowl trip in the nearly 20 years they have been in the CFFL.  It was an interesting move last week for the Mafia to go with Cousins instead of Roethlisberger.  Will they do that again, or roll the dice on another line up change and put in Big Ben?  Not a bad problem to have.  Outside of that, look for a very similar line up with David Johnson leading the way.  Also Mike Evans, who was blanked last week, should do much better this week. 

The Juggernauts never have been to the Fantasy Bowl. They will look to make it there this year, after having just about a draft pick form nearly every team in this years draft.  And After a slow start to the year, they have won 8 in a row.  The move last week to not play Bradford and Matthews for the 10 point connection (which hooked up) didn't hurt them last week, but can they afford to not play them this week.  With "Malachi" Dalton out it would seem like the thing to do.  But then again that's what we thought last week. 

Merry Christmas to all of the CFFL owners.  While 12 of us are not where we want to be, it still has been a fun year once again in the CFFL's 31st year!

CFHL Week 8

Merry Christmas everyone! Christmas is only a few days away and its hard to believe its Week 8 already!  We only have like 12 more weeks to go!  This week saw a couple of teams make statements... or t least it seemed like it.

Goon Crew vs. Assassins 5-1
In the first "statement" game, the Crew certainly made a statement to not only the Norris, but the entire league.  They have quickly moved to now the number one team in the league and 16 point lead over 2nd place Checkers.  They had little trouble with the Assassins out scoring them in goals 13-4 and having another great goalie week getting another 6 wins from their goalies.  That's 12 goalie wins in the past 2 weeks.  Both Crawford and Varlamov had 3 wins.  Seguin led all skaters with 3 goals.  The one bright spot for the Assassins was Backstrom and Steen who combined for 11 assists.  The Crew blew this game open on Saturday where they posted a 7 goal, 5 assist, 2 PIM night.

Spezza, Benn and Seguin Goon Crew's Stars

AshBusters vs. Checkers 6-0
In another statement game of sorts, the AshBusters dominated the once proud Checkers, winning every category!  The AshBusters' Capital Connection led the way as Ovechkin scored 3 goals, 2 assists, a +3 and 4 PIM, and Goaltender Holtbly had 3 wins and .933 SV% and Carlson on the blue line scoring 2 goals, 3 assists and a +2.  It would appear that the Checkers "all in on a team" is catching on across the league.  Too bad it hasn't produced results for the Checkers, who have always been vested in the Kings but this year has not been as productive. 

Holby and Ovechkin came up big for AshBusters

Krampus Carols vs. USSR 3-3
It what everyone thought would be a laugher, turned out to be a much harder fought contest for the, at the time, Number One team in the CFHL.  This was First vs. Worst.  And they ended in a 3-3 tie.  It was a close one in almost all categories.  The USSR did double up the Krampus in goals 14-7 lead by Stinky Stamkos' 3 goals, but the Number One Star in this game was the USSR's Hoffman who to go along with his 2 goals and 3 assists was a +6!  The USSR finally solved their +/- woes and ended up with a +12.  Erik Karlsson continues to be the Krampus MVP of the year as he notched 3 goals and 2 assists and a +2, incredible stats for a defenseman. 


Krampus Carols with everyone a very Krampus Christmas!

Mayhem on Ice vs. Who Gives a Puck 4-2
A small bright spot in the Mayhem organization as they saw their Number 1 seed football team lose in the first round.  As least their hockey team got a win, beating the defending champ Who Gives a Puck.  The Mayhem had both Number One Star of the Week and Number One Goon of the Week.  T.J. Oshie had 5 goals with 3 assist along with a +2 to help the Mayhem win Goals, Assists and +/-.  Then Wayne Simmonds racked up 34 PIM in 2 games, fighting, instigating and just being an overall Delta Bravo.  Luongo for the Puck played well between the pipes notching 3 wins and a .946 SV%.

Simmonds being a delta bravo

CFFL Week 14

What a wild final week of the Season... well at least in 2 games, rest weren't really that close. 

Game of the Week 1: Wrecking Crew 31 Animals 30

Carr celebrates his game winning TD!

The Animals were playing to keep their playoff hopes alive.  If they won they would be in good shape for a wildcard spot if one of the other 7-6 teams ahead of them would lose too.  The Crew were just playing spoiler.  The Animals took a commanding lead early with 12 points from Fitzpatrick and 12 from "Jim Jay" Bullock.  However Thomas Rawls would break his ankle and not return to the game.  The Crew got TDs from Martin and Sammy "Davis Jr" Watkins and the score was 30-17.  The Crew would need their Raiders to come through and they were playing the tough Bronco Defense.  It wasn't till the second half of that game when Carr would connect with Roberts for the 10 point connection making the game 30-27.  Just like that the Crew were back in it.  Carr would then throw one more TD, that turned out to be the game winning TD making it 31-30.  The Crew survived Sunday Night as the Animals had Hopkins going, but would come up empty.  Any playoff hopes the Animals had dissipated in the Sunday Night Texas air...

Game of the Week 2:  Dragons 46 Bees 43
Now this game had one of the wildest comebacks in CFFL history.  The Bees were looking at finishing 8-6, firmly set as a wildcard team.  They lead 34-22 late into Sunday as Lockett and Ginn Jr combined for 24 points.  The Dragons were led by Newton's 12 points, which at the time, looked like the Dragons wasted yet another great week from Newton.  The Bees then on Sunday Night would add 9 more from Gostkowski to make the score 43-22.  There was no way the Dragons would get 4 scores from Lamar Miller and Beckham Jr on Monday Night... or would they?  Well early on Lamar Miller scored from 14 yards out, score 43-28.  Lamar Miller would score again, this time a beautiful 38 yard run in the 2nd quarter, score 43-34.  They would still need 2 more scores.  Beckham Jr. would catch a 6 yard TD pass in the 3rd quarter, score 43-40.  Was it possible?  Could the impossible, be possible?  YES IT CAN!!! Then in the 4th quarter Beckham would haul in an 84 yard TD pass to complete the comeback, SCORE 46-43!!!  To make matters worse for the Bees who fell to 7-7, the Sinistars won to move to 7-7 and held the tie breaker over the Bees as they played week 5 with the Sinistars winning 47-24.  So the Dragons knocked out their bitter Rival Bees in dramatic fashion!

Beckham races 84 yards for game winner!

Sinistars 26 Mafia 10 - As mentioned the Sinistars win propelled them into the playoffs.  In addition their win over the Mafia helped the Crush become West Division Champs.  The Sinistars actually didn't even realize they had made the playoffs and were just fighting to be a respectable .500 club..

Williams playing big for the Crush

Crush 48 Bums 13 - Crush needed the win to clinch the West Division Crown and had little problem doing that vs. the Bums.  It helped to get 16 points from Eli Manning on Monday night to go along with DeAngelo Williams 12.  This marks 7 division title and first one since 2008.

Titans 28 Mayhem 13 - In a meaningless game the Titans upset the Mayhem led by 18 big points from Doug Baldwin "Brother".  The Mayhem still remain the number one seed in the playoffs and Sad Sack South Champs.  This is the Mayhem's 6 division title and first one since 2012.

Juggernauts 23 Cocktails 17 - In a must win game for both teams, more so for the Juggs, the Cocktails came up a little flat and have some serious QB issues going into the playoffs.  The Juggernauts had to win to stay in the wildcard spot.  The Cocktails needed the win to clinch the East Division.  The Juggs won with just 1 TD from Hightower (nice pick up) and 11 points from their kicker and 6 from their D.  An odd way to win.  This was the Juggernauts 7th win in a row.  Are they this year's Chislers?

Krauts 32 Roulette 6 - This time the Krauts made it all the way to Moscow and kicked some Rooskie ass.  With the Eastern Bloc title on the line the Krauts took care of business.  Rodgers had 8 and McManus kicked in 12.  And as it seems every week an Allen Brother scored and Jordan Reed scored.  The Roulette who looked so good early in the year completely faded away as their once potent 10 point connection became non existent (Ryan and Julio Jones). This is the Krauts 6 division title and second in a row. 

Jordan Reed TD Catch!

Ferrets 42 Chislers 19 - The Ferrets had the division locked up and not really playing for anything.  The Chislers on the other hand needed the win and help to make the playoffs for the 23rd time and 8th year in a row.  Well the Ferrets were playing for something.  The Coveted Cherry Brother sweep!  They beat the Chiselers 37-19 in Week 1.  Then swept the Crew in the home and home series and if they could win this game would have swept the Cherry Brothers.  This turned out to be easier than expected getting 20 points from Russell Wilson.  This is the Ferrets 7th Division title.  And this marks the first time that either the Crew or the Chislers did not make the playoffs since 1996!  (Looks like we will finally have a different trophy presentation next year)

Wilson ends all interviews now with "Go Ferrets"

NOW ON TO THE PLAYOFFS AND THE CHASE FOR FANTASY BOWL XXXI

Stamm's Sinistars (7-7) at Michigan Mayhem (10-4)

Line: Mayhem -2

The Mayhem come into the playoffs as the Number One Seed and marks their 9th playoff appearance since entering the league in 2002.  They are led by their QB Matthew Stafford, which isn't exactly good.  Edelman will need to come back to help Mayhem make a deep run into the playoffs.  Fitzgerald, Landry and recently Delanie Walker certainly don't hurt. 

The Sinistars basically backed into the playoffs as they were out of the playoffs until 11 minutes left in the Monday night game when the Dragons completed that epic comeback vs. Bees.  This is only the 6 playoff appearance for them since entering the league in 2005.  They will rely on an Allen Brother (Robinson) to take them further in the playoffs.  Not sure Jay Cutler or Johnny "Let's Party and do stupid shit" Manziel will lead this team.

Mark's Mafia (8-6) at Kretz Krauts (9-5)

Line: Krauts -6

Berlin will be buzzing as the Krauts return to Germany for another run at the Fantasy Bowl and are hoping for a better performance this year then last year's first round loss at home to the Crush.  This is the Krauts 9th playoff appearance since entering the league in 2002.  Krauts are tough with Rodgers at QB, Hill at RB and yet another Allen Brother in the playoffs (Hurns) not to mention Jordan Reed, the new stud Redskins TE. 


Krauts fans in line to get playoff tickets

The Mafia might be calling in some favors from their Italian mob to scout out things in Berlin and whack these Krauts.  Since 1996 when the Mafia started running booze and gambling in the CFFL, this is their 9th playoff appearance as well.  Interestingly they have Kirk Cousins (counter to Reed) but also Ben Roethlisberger.  Yeah Big Ben should get the nod.  They did suffer a big blow when Tyler Eifert went down last week with a concussion.  Will have to manage to get through at least one game without him. 

Mafia celebrating release of The Force Awakens

Jakes Juggernauts at Fez's Ferrets

Line: Pick'em

Who will Michigan route for?  The Ferrets who play in Ann Arbor or the Mayhem who play at Ford Field.  (If only Michigan was so lucky in reality). The Ferrets seem like a team of destiny.  Sweeping the Cherry Brothers and neither of them making the playoffs, winning the North and as one of the original 3 left in the league that started in 1985 and yet no Fantasy Bowl title.  Well in the 31 years this is their 12 playoff appearance and 7th division title.  They have a QB with a hot hand in Wilson who has been on fire lately.  Oh and they also have Brady.  A nice problem to have or a curse?  And does Vegas know something we don't?  A Pick'em?  Looks like an easy bet on the Ferrets!

Who to start??

The Juggs who, before the epic Bees collapse, were set to square off against long time rival Krauts, were happy to see that they get the Ferrets instead (careful what you wish for).  The Juggs were ridiculed for the first half of the season as they had a terrible draft, a draft in which they nearly had 2 picks in every round for the first 6 rounds!  Well they started to put things together and have rattled off 7 in a row.  This is only their 5th playoff appearance since entering the league in 2005.  Their playoff run might be short lived as their leader Andy "Malachi, Heat Miser" Dalton broke his thumb in the final game and is likely to be out remainder of the season. 

Molotov Cocktails at Cabucki's Crush

Line: Cocktails -1

The Crush entered the league in 1986 and this marks their 11 playoff appearance and yet they still don't know that a shut out by your defense gets you 6 points... This team is clearly led by DeAngelo Williams (a great get) and Richard "Jolly Trolley" Rodgers. The QB situation is interesting as they typically go with Eli Manning, but has Bortles on the bench.  He has actually outscored Manning 126-112.  He has scored 20 and 18 points the past two weeks. 

This is only the 2nd year for the Cocktails and they have immediately been recognized as a team that appears to know what they are doing and pays attention.  This team was predicted to be here, there is no question about that.  However as it stands their QB situation is a mess.  Luck, Hasselbeck, Hoyer.  I don't think any of them are healthy right now and Hasselbeck and Hoyer got hammered last week and would be in concussion protocols.  Devonta Freeman, who set the league on fire the first 6 weeks of the season scoring 10 TDs, has only scored 1 since.  Thankfully they acquired Brandon Marshall from the Crew.

Cocktails sign Nike to design new uniforms

Now lets take a look at how well the preseason predictions panned out:

North:  Predictions: Division Winner: Ferrets  Actual: Ferrets
Potential playoff team: Animals (that was close)

East: Division Winner: Cocktails  Actual: Krauts (both tied, but Krauts had tie breaker)
Playoff teams: Krauts and Roulette (was right about Krauts and Cocktails getting in.  Had Juggs on bubble)

South:  Division Winner: Dragons. Actual: Mayhem (whoops whiffed on that one)
Playoff teams: Mayhem (got that right)
On the bubble:  Bees (yep that was about as much on the bubble as you could be this year)
Predicted 3 wins.... Titans won 3 games this year...

West:  Division Winner: Mafia  Actual: Crush (came down to last game)
Playoff Teams: Bums, Sinister and Crush (only Bums didn't make it).

Not bad.  Not bad at all!

CFHL Week 7

This was a week of close matchups and one blow out...

Goon Crew vs. Checkers 5-0-1
In the Brother Rivalry, the Goon Crew owned this game winning in all categories except goals.  They had 4 categories wrapped up and then an 11 PIM night on Saturday put them in the lead 21-19 in PIM.  Not to mention they were tied with goals at 8 each and they both had their big scorers playing, but no one ended up scoring.  No Kings for the Checkers, and no Stars for the Crew.  The Impressive part of this game was the Crew's goalies that racked up 6 wins and a .974 SV% between Crawford and Varlamov.  The win put the Goon Crew into first place in the Norris.

Crawford had 3 wins on the week!

USSR vs. Who Gives a Puck 3-3
Two struggling franchises skated to a tie this week.  While the Crew displayed excellence in net, these two teams combined for only 1 goalie win.  Who Gives a Puck had no wins from their goalies, main reason was Bobrovsky was listed with the dreaded lower body injury and placed on IR.  Patrick Kane and Ristolainen each had 3 goals for the USSR, but they continue to struggle with the +/- as they finished with -6 and only 2 players had a positive +/-.

It was throwback night for the USSR

Mayhem on Ice vs. MacDaddys AshBusters 3-3
Another tie this week with AshBusters winning goals with only 8 and the Mayhem winning +/- with only +3 (well Puck won with a -5, so what the hell).  David Backes was the Number One Star of the game tallying 3 goals, 2 assists +1 and 7 PIM.  Nearly matching him was Gaudreau with 3 goals, 2 assist and a +3, no PIM.  Mayhem are still trailing the Krampus by 9 points.

Backes getting 5 of his 7 PIM

Krampus Carols vs. Assassins 3-2-1
The Krampus continue to lead the league in points and in first place and they did it again with some impressive fire power.  Taylor Hall, Kucherov, and Justin Faulk all had 3 goals each.  Hall also had 3 assists, a +4 and PIM to earn Number One Star honors for the game.  While the Krampus got the win, they got beat up in the process as the Assassins racked up 25 PIM, including 11 from Marchand.  The Assassins only managed 4 goals all week. 

Taylor Hall lead the Krampus in stuffing kids in sacks!