BCFFL CHAMPIONSHIP

BACKDOOR BANDITS

9-4-1

VS

PREDATORS

10-5

PREVIEW

BACKDOOR BANDITS - For the fourth time in five years the Backdoor Bandits will play for the Bay Cities Fantasy Football League (BCFFL) Championship. There has only been one year since the BBs entered the league that they have not played for the title or finished in the money. This team has achieved "elite" status and with a win over the Predators, perhaps even "legendary" would be a better description.

This year's #1 seed and Original Division Champions, the Bandits trounced the two-time defending champion Delta Marauders in Week 14. The DMs defeated the BBs for the BCFFL Championship in '10 and '11 and so this was a major case of exercising a demon. This season the Bandits put up a league high 2,156 total points. They nearly got the league high again last week, missing the $10 prize by 4-points with 172-points. But that's all right. They won the $10 prize the week before - their bye week - with 190-points. How's that for taking a week off?!?!

Drew Brees and Tony Romo are the 1-2 punch at QB and their teams will be playing each other in Dallas this weekend. Adrian Peterson has a good chance at winning both Comeback Player of the Year and league MVP. Jamaal Charles is the only real bright spot on the Chiefs' tragic season. You never know what you'll get with Matt Forte on the Bears roller coaster ride, but he has the potential for a big games. At WR, it's Vincent Jackson who has been having a remarkable season, along with Marques Colston, who enhances the scoring potential with Bandits' QB Drew Brees throwing to him. Dennis Pitta, Matt Prater, and the ever-impressive Seahawks DST round out the roster. 

The Bandits only lost 4, and two of those losses were by 7-points and 1-point, respectively. You just can't sneak by the Backdoor Bandits to win any games. It's going to take a solid, whole team effort to take down this year's #1 seed and league finalist in four of the past five seasons. They are battle tested, and championship-quality good. 

PREDATORS - The two-time BCFFL Champions are fighting now for a place in history. The third time's the charm, hopefully, as the Predators, (now up 17-0 on the Bandits after last night's game between Atlanta and Detroit) play for a spot on the league trophy.

Once again, the Predators made all the right moves on the waiver wire and with trades. They're on quite a roll, winning 9 of their past 11 games. The Predators lost 3 straight early in the season, and suffered a 2-game losing streak in Weeks 9 and 10 to Loud Noises!!! and the Backdoor Bandits. But it's been downhill since then. 

The Predators have won the $10 weekly prize for the league's highest score in Weeks 6 and 15.

The Predators eliminated their arch-rival Megatons in the Wildcard round (128-113.5) and then defeated Frick and Frack (176-138) while winning the $10 prize for the highest score in the Semi-finals.

Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson are the signal-callers for the Predators. It's also a chance for them to win important playoff advantages for their teams. Expect them to step up at home. Workhorse running back Alfred Morris from Washington, and Dallas' DeMarco Murray lead the rushing attack. Julio Jones put up 17-points in Atlanta's game last night, while Dez Bryant and Andre Johnson round out the aerial attack with their big play capabilities catching the pass. Ben Watson, Lawrence Tynes, and the Packers DST complete the Predators arsenal.

BEST OF LUCK,

GENTLEMEN!

Consolation Game:

Frick and Frack 

8-6-1

vs

Delta Marauders

7-7-1

BCFFL SEMI-FINALS PREVIEW

DREW BENNETT BOWL

2004 BCFFL PLAYOFFS: PREDATORS def TITANS, 133-120.

This particular playoff game featured a comeback for the ages. The Predators entered Monday night down 120-80 and were facing their 10th playoff elimination in 10 years of BCFFL play. With just Drew Bennett at WR in a match-up against the Chiefs, it seemed highly improbable that Derrick's team would pull off the victory. But 233 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns later, it was a 13-point win for the Predators and a stinging elimination for the Titans. The Predators went on to win their first BCFFL Championship that year.

For the Titans, they learned from their mistake in 2004 and went on to a league best 14-1 record in 2005 and a BCFFL Championship of their own.

For the Predators, they won yet another BCFFL Championship since '04 and for the Titans, times have been tough. So tough, that this year the services of former 3-time champion (Stingrays) John was enlisted to team up with Alex and lead a team through the season. They earned the #2 overall seed by putting together a 5-game winning streak featuring wins over both division leaders and two-time champion Delta Marauders. Now they face history. It's the Drew Bennett Bowl as the team, Frick and Frack (named by Derrick) square off against Derrick's Predators.

The irony is thick 8 years later as the Predators added a "Bennett" to the roster this week in Chicago's Earl Bennett. Meanwhile, Frick and Frack have added the Tennessee Titans DST to theirs. And wouldn't you know it, 8 years later, the Titans have a Monday Night Football game, this time against the Jets. Wonder if they will be able to rack up the 53-points that Titans' WR Drew Bennett put on that Monday night years ago?

The winner of this game moves on to face either two-time champion Shane and the Delta Marauders or the hottest team in the league and this year's #1 seed, the Backdoor Bandits.

Earl Bennett

VS

Tennessee Titans DST

___________________________________________

The other semi-final features your defending, reigning, back-to-back champion Delta Marauders as they put it all on the line once again versus the number one seed Backdoor Bandits. In Week 15, the Bandits captured their first $10 weekly prize for the league's highest point total: 190. They are as hot as it gets right now and enter today's game with a 10-point lead over the DMs.

Greg's team features QBs Drew Brees and Tony Romo. Last week's $10 prize was greatly aided by the running power of Adrian Peterson who is having an amazing season in light of his offseason training following knee surgery. Jamaal Charles and Matt Forte round out the running attack. Vincent Jackson has been outstanding in Tampa Bay and Marques Colston makes every Drew Brees touchdown that much sweeter. Dennis Pitta has emerged as a tight end threat in Baltimore and the last two players have had great seasons as well in the Bucs kicker Connor Barth and the Seattle DST. How huge was the 58-0 win the Seahawks put on Arizona last weekend? Did I mention the Bandits had 190-points?

Their opponents are savvy enough to overcome just about any problem and they're facing the loss of their star QB, Robert Griffin III entering this semi-final match-up. What to do? Never overlook the shrewd moves and constant success of our two-time ('10-'11) champion Shane. If anyone can McGyver their way out of a jam like this, it's the Delta Marauders. They have countered the loss of RGIII by adding an extra WR. The rushing attack will feature LeShoure (Detroit) and last week's breakout star for the Giants (50-points in Week 15!) David Wilson.  

The four WRs include game changer Victor Cruz, Mike Wallace, Derrius Heyward-Bey, and Roddy White. Vernon Davis hopes to play a big role at tight end for the Niners tonight in New England. David Akers and the Niners DST will be the last chance tonight for the Marauders to secure a spot in the 2012 BCFFL Championship game in Week 16.

Matthew Stafford

VS

Drew Brees

GOOD LUCK!

PLAYOFF PREVIEW!

The Wildcard Round of the BCFFL Championship tournament kicks off tomorrow night as Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos square off against Darren McFadden and the Oakland Raiders. This year's playoffs feature past BCFFL Champions (Derrick, Andrew, Shane, Alex, John, and Greg) as well as the league's newest member, Ryan!

The subplots to these Wildcard games are thick and juicy. Let's take a look and see how the games may break down. Good luck to everyone, and remember that our four non-playoff teams are still eligible for the weekly $10 prize. Congrats to Kelvin's The Spoiler for taking top honors in Week 13 with 145-points.

Let the games begin...

LOUD NOISES!!! (8-5) (+7.5)

 vs

DELTA MARAUDERS (6-6-1)

WEEK 1: 108-99 - Delta Marauders def Loud Noises!!! 

WEEK 7: 174-114 - Loud Noises!!! def Delta Marauders

BACK-TO-BACK CHAMP 

DELTA MARAUDERS

SET TO DEFEND THEIR TITLE!

PREVIEW

This year's top two quarterbacks face each other for the third time in the BCFFL this season. It's the rubber match between the two teams who split their regular season division series. Robert Griffin III takes on Andrew Luck as Delta Marauders seek to advance to the semi-finals of the BCFFL and hopefully continue defense of their back-to-back league championships.

Meanwhile, Andrew Luck has been nothing but Andrew Good this season for both the Indianapolis Colts and the Loud Noises!!! Luck has thrown for 299.7 yards per game with a total of 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions through 12 games this season as he continues to emerge as an elite Fantasy quarterback in this league.

Other key match-ups include the 49ers DST (Delta Marauders) against the vaunted Broncos DST (Loud Noises!!!). This figures to be a pick-em as Patrick Willis and Von Miller are both beastly in their own right.

At tight end, it will likely be a Battle of the Bay as the DMs Vernon Davis (49ers) goes up against Raider Brandon Myers. Depending on the 49ers game plan, Vernon Davis could either be feasting or starving for attention.

The RBs for the Marauders figure to be the Lions' Mikel LeShoure and DeAngelo Williams of the Carolina Panthers. Detroit travels to Green Bay while Detroit hosts the #1 seed in the NFC, Atlanta.

Loud Noises!!! counters with rookie phenom Doug Martin of the Tampa Bay Bucs who will be at home against Philly. Knowshon Moreno takes the field tomorrow night in Oakland for the Broncos in relief of injured Willis McGahee.

Victor Cruz, Roddy White, and T.Y. Hilton (Luck's WR, by the way) are the Marauders' receiving corps. Randall Cobb, A.J. Green, and Pierre Garçon represent the deep threats for Loud Noises!!!

The rest of the line-up for Shane's team includes (including players on IR):

• RB - Marcel Reese (Raiders); Daniel Thomas (Dolphins); Kendall Hunter (49ers); David Wilson (Giants); Ryan Williams (Cardinals)
• WR - Mike Wallace (Steelers); Kendall Wright (Titans); Darrius Heyward-Bay (Raiders)
• TE - Dwayne Allen (Colts)
• DST - Eagles

For Ryan's remaining players, these are the options (including players on IR):

• QB - Chad Henne (Jaguars); Christian Ponder (Vikings)
• RB - Ronnie Hillman (Broncos); LeSean McCoy (Eagles); Vick Ballard (Colts); Fred Jackson (Bills)
• WR - Antonio Brown (Steelers); Cecil Shorts (Jaguars); Danario Alexander (Chargers); Danny Amendola (Rams)
• TE - Greg Olsen (Panthers); Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)

In the other game ...

Sports has its storied rivalries ...

but ...

NOTHING COMPARES TO

THE MEGATONS (7-3-3) (+2.5)

 vs

PREDATORS (8-5)

WEEK 4: 145-127 - The MEGATONS def Predators 

WEEK 7: 152-144 - Predators def The MEGATONS

PREVIEW

These two teams are the *classic* rivalry match-up in the BCFFL. They slugged it out a couple of times this season and split their series, much like the Delta Marauders and Loud Noises!!! Both games were tightly played and this weekend's Wildcard game figures to be no different.

Both Derrick and Andrew are BCFFL Originals, former champions, savvy owners, and will do anything to make sure they get the victory every single weekend. To have this game in the Wildcard round almost feels like a rip-off. But that's the way the cookies crumbled this year with these two teams. So when the final whistle blows on Monday night, it will be the end of the line for one of these two teams for this season.

For The MEGATONS, Josh Freeman (Bucs) and Andy Dalton (Bengals) are the signal-callers. Josh will play at the Big Sombrero against Philly while Dalton hosts the Dallas Cowboys this weekend. Both Cincy and Dallas are in the playoff hunt so this game should be a good one.

The Predators counter with this year's #1 draft pick, Aaron Rodgers, home against Detroit. He's been hotter than the Devil's drawers lately and playing at home this week while vying for playoff position should only help the Predators. Russell Wilson of the Seahawks may have played his way into the Predators line-up as well. The Seahawks QB will host Arizona this weekend. But you never know which direction the Predators will go with their line-up.

Other key match-ups include the deadly combination of Ray Rice (Ravens), CJ Spiller (Bills), and Chris Johnson (Titans) at running back for The MEGATONS going up against the Predators' Alfred Morris (Redskins), DeMarco Murray (Cowboys), and Beanie Wells (Cardinals).

At WR, the Predators send out Julio Jones (Falcons), Dez Bryant (Cowboys), and Andre Johnson (Texans) against The MEGATONS' Demaryius Thomas (Broncos) and Jordy Nelson (Packers). Nelson left the game injured last weekend, so it'll be interesting to see how Andrew counters that with his bench arsenal.

At TE, it's Aaron Hernandez (Pats/Megatons) vs Dallas Clark (Bucs/Predators). PK is between Stephen Gostkowski (Pats/Megatons) against Lawrence Tynes (Giants/Predators). And DST is The MEGATONS' Bengals against the Predators' Browns.

The way these two owners maneuver the waiver wire, you just can't be sure who's playing exactly until game time. The rest of the line-up for Andrew's team includes (including players on IR):

• QB - Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
• RB - Jacquizz Rodgers (Falcons); Javon Ringer (Titans)
• WR - Torrey Smith (Ravens); Dwayne Bowe (Chiefs); Denarius Moore (Raiders); Sidney Rick (Seahawks)
• TE - Jason Witten (Cowboys)
• PK - Shaun Suisham (Steelers)
• DST - Giants

For Derrick's remaining players, these are the options (including players on IR):

• QB - Nick Foles (Eagles); Michael Vick (Eagles)
• RB - Bryce Brown (Eagles); Felix Jones (Cowboys); James Starks (Packers); Rashard Mendenhall (Steelers); Rashad Jennings (Jaguars); Jalen Parmele (Jaguars); Maurice Jones-Drew (Jaguars)
• WR - Santana Moss (Redskins); Lance Moore (Saints); 
• DST - Buccaneers; Panthers

GOOD LUCK, EVERYONE!