WEEK TWELVE - 2 DIVISIONS CLINCHED.
Wildcard Brawl Between 9 teams over 4 spots.
With just two weeks to go in the regular season of the Subsim League, the first two divisional titles have been clinched, but with some key results, the wildcard race for the 4 open positions in the Consolation Final, is being waged between nine other teams.
In the Surface Skimmers Division, Helmands Nighthawks 113-76 win over divisional rivals Mudville Nine has secured the divisional championship, and potentially, either the first or second seeding in the Championship Finals. Having already beaten two of the other three divisional leaders, only Every Given Sunday or the Dead Poets can knock the Nighthawks off. Every Given Sunday beat the Nighthawks in week 7, and the Nighthawks do not play the Ded Poets in the regular season.
The loss by the Mudville Nine drops them 2 games back, relegating them, at best, to the Consolation Finals. The Nine, having lost earlier in the season to the Green Beans, places them in the 8th and final playoff position. Even then their position is not secured as teams below them, have already beaten the Nine.
The Dragons are the second team to clinch, opening up a two game lead over the Miners in the Old Schoolers Division. At 3-0 within the division, the Dragons are only playing for their seeding in the Championship Round.
With 2 decided that leaves the other 2 divisions to be sorted out. In the Sub Simmers Division, which suddenly houses three teams with the hardest schedule in the league, the loss by Every Given Sunday against the Ded Poets drops them to 8-4, and keeps the division alive. The Green Beans, with the easiest schedule of all teams in the last two weeks, advance to 7-5 and sets up a two horse race for the divisional lead.
But if you want a three horse race throw a blanket over the BP Badasses, the Ded Poets and the Wild Boston Terriers in the Norris Division. At 9-3, only the BP Badasses have clinched a playoff position this week, but, they will have to wait at least another week to know if it's in the Championship or Consolation Finals. The Badasses have their last divisional game to play in week 12 against the Collared Greenz (4-7). A win against them will advance them to 2-1 in the division, but, a loss earlier in the season against the Wild Boston Terriers leaves all three teams still viable to win the division.
Which brings us to the entire line up of the wildcard chase. Fortuitous results in other games keep the 5-7 Reapers and the Australian Taipans still in with a chance, but, eliminates Show Me Your TD's with their 0-3 divisional record.
Let's go to the Subsim Torpedo Bowl rankings for Week 11.
The Nighthawks and Dragons advance to the Championship Finals. The BP Badasses lead their divisional and are assured a playoff position. Every Given Sunday lead their division, but, must wait on other results before advancing to either finals. They can still miss out on the playoffs. So the picture looks something like this:
CURRENT DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONS
Team.....Record
Nighthawks...9-3
Dragons...... 8-4
WILDCARD RACE
Team....... Record
BP Badasses...9-3 (Clinched playoff position)
Ded Poets......9-3
Every Given Sunday 8-4
Wild Terriers...8-4
Green Beans...7-5
Mudville Nine..7-5
Miners...........6-6
Reapers........ 5-7
AU Taipans.... 5-7
Nine teams, two to advance to the Championship Finals, the rest to brawl over the last spots in the Consolation Final.
Show Me Your TD's joins the Collared Greenz, Huge Manatee, Drunk Ground Hogs and Phants Rage as eliminated from the playoffs.
Each week, the Associated Subsim Writers (ASW) will nominated their Most Valuable Torpedo (MVT) of the week, the single player who proved decisive in their teams performance.
In week twelve, the Associated Subsim Writers are pleased to present, for the effort of 317 passing yards, 2 passing TD's plus an extra 4 yards rushing, Phillip Rivers of the Dragons is the Week Twelve MVT.
