- Grudge Match Games Week 13
doodledog53 (2-11) @ DoCoMo53 (4-9)
We're down to one last regular season game, and more importantly, the last chance to get into the 2009 Fanatic Bowl playoff. In this game we have doodledog53 and DoCoMo53 renewing their rivalry for the second time this year. doodledog53 dropped a close game to M-TOWN Assassins in week 12 while DoCoMo53 surprised the Brady Bunch. doodledog53 has won 5 of the 13 games played since the league kicked off for the first time in 2003. doodledog53 won the first three games against DoCoMo53 but by the end of 2005 DoCoMo53 evened things up at three wins each. Since that time DoCoMo53 has won 5 of 7. During the 2009 opening weekend, DoCoMo53 defeated the doodledogs by 22 points. In 2003 doodledog won both the road and home games. DoCoMo has topped that by sweeping both games in 2005 and 2007. They have another chance to win both if they can keep the dogs from barking this week. Through thirteen games doodledog has scored 1329.32 points, a 102.25 average. DoCoMo53 has scored 1435.82 giving them a 110.44 average per game. The teams split games in 2004, 2006, and 2008. The closest margin of victory was 2 points in the 2005 game played at DoCoMo Stadium and won by DoCoMo53 by a score of 106-104. Both teams will play in the consolation playoff this year.
Brady Bunch (7-6) @ M-TOWN Assassins (10-3)
The Brady Bunch, needing a win to stay in the championship hunt, face a team they beat in week one by 43.46 points. Brady Bunch saw their three game win streak come to an end in week 12. Meanwhile, the M-TOWN Assassins have a five game winning streak going in league play. They would like to keep the momentum going into the playoffs. The Brady Bunch probably felt like they were assassinated over, and over, and over in the first four years (8 games). That's because they were! M-TOWN won 7 of the first 8 games played from 2003 through 2006. Beginning in 2007 things began to change. The Bunch has won 3 of the last 5 games, and currently have a two game win streak over the Assassins. The Brady's won the first game this year, 146.12 - 102.66. Brady Bunch split games with doodledog53 and DoCoMo53 in the West division this year, they have a chance to sweep M-TOWN with a win this week. M-TOWN Assassins have a 9-4 all-time record versus the Brady Bunch. They have scored 1417.65 points in 13 games and average 109.05 points per game. Brady Bunch has a 4-9 record versus M-TOWN, they have scored 1285.10 points for a 98.85 average per game.
Oil Crusaders (6-7) @ The Machine (6-7)
After winning 2 games early in the season, the Oil Crusaders went into hiding during the mid-season games. Beginning in week eight, the Crusaders started playing better. They've won 4 of their last 6 games to get back into the championship hunt. They can't afford a loss this week, and if they do win they will need some help along the way. The Machine find themselves needing a win and some help this week too. Since their week 9 win, The Machine has dropped four games in a row. During the 2003 and 2004 seasons, the home team won every game giving each team a 2-2 series record. The last 2004 game, won by the Crusaders, was just the beginning of a win streak that would not end until the first game in 2007, when The Machine won 105-80. With the five straight wins, the Crusaders opened a 6-2 series lead. Would the Machine ever win another game versus the Crusaders? Yes! They won the next three games in a row and four out of the last five, including the first game in 09. In the thirteen games played the Oil Crusaders have scored 1389.52 points for a 106.89 average. The Machine has scored 1248.16 points, an average of 96.01. The loser will play in the consolation playoff, while the winner could still have a chance at the Fanatic Bowl championship.
New England Execution (10-3) @ Da Ragin Rebels (6-7)
Well, this should be an interesting game. New England Execution (04 champs) travel to play a desperate Rebels team (defending champ). A win by New England Execution could mean they keep the #1 seed for the upcoming playoffs. Da Ragin Rebels are desperate for a win to stay in the hunt for another championship challenge. A loss will put the Rebels in the consolation playoff. Execution holds a slight series lead with 7 wins and 6 losses. In three years (05,06,08), one team or the other swept both games. Da Ragin Rebels first swept the series in 2005 and again in 2008, while New England Execution swept Da Ragin during the 2006 season. Execution can earn their second sweep with a win this week. They defeated Da Ragin Rebels in week one by a score of 149.88 to 134.32. Week 12 turned out to be not-so-kind to the Rebs. They scored 150.04 points, unfortunately, they played the Oil Crusaders who scored a league high 180.90 points. After 13 games the longest win streak by either team has been three games. How do the teams fare in home and road games? The Execution has 3 home wins and 4 road wins, while Da Ragin Rebels have 3 home and 3 road wins. Although NE Execution has one more win than the Rebels, the Rebels average more points per game. The Rebels score an average of 109.85 per game, while Execution scores 105.29 per game. Each team has won 3 home games. The big question this week is, can Da Ragin Rebels draw upon some of that Saints magic and win one when they really need it?
WestWood Warriors (7-6) @ The Goats (2-11)
The East division has never produced a league champion in six years of existance. This year the WestWood Warriors are one of three teams in the East division, trying to make it to the Big Show. If the Warriors win, they're in. A loss would place them in the pool of 7-7 teams trying to win the tie-breakers to get in. Within the division, the Warriors have had mixed results , losing 2 to the Atlantic Geckos, winning 2 versus Buckeye Big Uglies, and they won the week one game against The Goats. How have the Goats fared in their division rivalries? They've been swept by the Geckos and the Big Uglies. If The Goats lose to the Warriors this week, it will be the first time they have been swept by all three division rivals in one year. They avoided the three-sweep in 2007 when they tied the Buckeye Big Uglies in week 12 by a score of 98-98. WestWood Warriors have 8 wins over the Goats since 2003, while the Goats have won 5. The Goats longest win streak is two games. They swept the Warriors in 2006. The Warriors have two sweeps, one in 2005, and the other during the 07 season. Is there any benefit in home games versus road games? In this matchup there sure is. For the Warriors, 6 of their 8 wins (75%) were won in front of the home crowd. As for The Goats, they have 5 wins, of which 4 (80%) have been in front of their fanatic home crowd. Three road wins total between the two teams, doesn't sound promising if you're the visitors. Looking at the teams average point production per game, WestWood Warriors have 1302.80 total points giving them 100.22 each game, while The Goats aren't far behind with 1263.42 total for a 97.19 average.
Buckeye Big Uglies (9-4) @ Atlantic Geckos (9-4)
Both teams have made it to the Fanatic Bowl, they just want to improve their starting position. Depending on what happens in the NE Execution and M-TOWN Assassins games, one of these teams could be awarded the #1 or #2 seed and the automatic bye in the first round of games. I talked to both coaches, they said every player will be available for this game. No one will rest. During 2003 and 2004 the Geckos beat up on the Big Uglies often, winning 3 and losing only 1. In those games the Big Uglies averaged 78 points while the Geckos scored 112.5 per game. In 2005 the Uglies finally got the best of the Geckos and won both games. The Geckos didn't like losing to the Uglies twice in 05, so they took the next three games in 06 and 07. The Big Uglies won the next three and added one to that streak to make it four in a row. And that's where the series stands today. The Big Uglies 7-6, the Atlantic Geckos 6-7. Three of the Uglies wins have been at home, while 4 wins came on the road. The Geckos tend to do better on the road too, winning 2 home games and 4 road games. In division games this year, the Geckos have defeated the WestWood Warriors and The Goats twice each. They lost the first game to the Buckeye Big Uglies in week one. The Big Uglies have lost two games to the WestWood Warriors, while winning two versus The Goats. Through 13 games the Geckos have scored 1504.70 points, giving them a 115.74 point average per game. The Big Uglies have scored 1450.54 points for a 111.58 average per contest. Both teams have swept each other twice. The Geckos did it in 2003 and 2006, while the Big Uglies did it in 2005 and 2008. If the Big Uglies win this week, it will mark the first time in the series that one team has been swept two years in a row.