Week 12, or Clinching of the Three

 Three of our teams have clinched a playoff spot: Hardcore Sacks, Jeff Fisher Effect and Utah Falco. These three now battle for only two first round byes. It's Sacks and The Effect for now. Falco was a long shot, but made up a ton of ground in points this past week, and is within striking distance if he and The Effect finish with the same record. A lot comes down to these last two weeks for those desirable byes.

A lot comes down to the last two weeks for the last three playoff spots too. Let's look at how things shake out for the current 4-6 seeds:

4. Bishop Sycamore Centurions (6-5-1) Final 2 games: HRG, Iron Ryan

5. Death Valley Driver (6-6) Final 2 games: The Effect, Hardcore Sacks

6. Iron Ryan (5-6-1) Final 2 games: Falco, Sycamore

Sycamore is simple: win one of these last two and he's in, thanks to that tie. A 7th win means that even HRG running the table and finishing 7-7 can't get in. (Can you believe that? A awful as HRG has been the last month and a half, he still has an outside shot at the playoffs!) That Week 14 game against I-Ry could potentially be HUGE.

Death Valley Driver basically only misses if he loses his last two games; a single win and he's in. He's got the toughest last two games of anyone, facing the current top 2 seeds and top 2 point scorers. He could still get in at 6-8, but would need I-Ry and HRG to lose out, Boobies (heh) and Provost to each lose one of their final two. 

Iron Ryan needs two wins to lock himself in. At 7-6-1, he could even be the 5 seed (holding the edge over any potential 7-7 teams). A split in his last two games would get him in too, as long as HRG doesn't win out.

Hamilton Rod & Gun (5-7) gets Sycamore and Boobies (heh) in his final two. He could get in if he wins out, finishing 7-7, and I-Ry loses out. There's an interesting scenario where HRG and Boobies (heh) win this week, I-Ry and DVD both lose, which would set up a "must-win and need some help" scenario for Boobies (heh) and HRG to get in. Their chances are pretty low though. But they're not dead.

Boobies (heh) is 4-8, and could get in if he wins out over Pickles and HRG. A loss knocks him out. Ain't nobody getting in at 5-9.

Provost (4-8), the defending champ, plays JFE and Falco his last two weeks, so he's a bigger long shot. BUT theoretically possible. Here's how:

1. Provost wins his final 2, finishing 6-8
2. HRG loses out, finishing 6-8
3. Boobies (heh) beats HRG in Week 14, finishing 6-8 or 5-9
4. I-Ry loses out, finishing 5-8-1
5. Provost maintains his points lead, currently 41.5 over Boobies (heh)

So basically, everyone wants to win this week. Especially Pedro Pickles (4-8). He's mostly trying desperately to improve his positions so as NOT to be The Worst in back-to-back seasons. He's only 4-8, so could finish 6-8. But he's SO FAR behind in points, it's not plausible (he's 55 points behind I-Ry, who has the second fewest points, and 119 behind fellow 4-8 Team Provost).

What Would The Commish Want?

I think it would be hilarious if Sycamore loses and I-Ry wins this week, and then they tie again in Week 14, both finishing 6-6-2. I believe the technical term for that would be a "fustercluck." I think they would both get in and it would come down to points, where they are currently separated by...

ONE POINT!

God, that would be fun.

So let's let the Week 13 fun commence, shall we?