2020 SGL Playoffs: Round 1 Preview

 

Alright. It feels like yesterday a beer cart was arriving in the SGL Draftroom, and this weekend begins the playoffs. Now here's what you came here for. The 2020 SGL Playoffs are here, and I'm excited to walk through these matchups. 

1. Norwich City Dragons (10-3) Proj: 126.8
vs
8. Blaster's Hound Dogs (7-6) Proj: 136.4

This is an old rivalry in the SGL. A rematch of the 2012 SGL Championship. The Dragons bested the Hounds in week 10, 127.7-92.3. The Dragons have held a commanding grip on the 1 seed all season- at one point winning 6 in a row. The Dragons are 9-6 all-time against the Hounds, and though both teams are part of the original 6, this will be only the second time they've faced each other in the playoffs. The Hounds have essentially been in the playoffs the last 2 weeks, finding themselves in must-win games and rising to the occasion.

[X]- Factor: Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins. If Kyler’s shoulder is healthy and he can run successfully, the Dragons of weeks 1-12 could reappear. 

4. Walter's Wizards (7-6) Proj: 138.1
vs
5. Stull's Skulls (7-6) Proj: 118.9

This round 1 matchup is a rematch of last week’s game where we saw the Wizards officially clinch a playoff berth and winning record. In week 2 of this year, the Skulls got their first-ever franchise win against the Wizards, bringing their record to 1-7. This is the Skulls’ worst W/L against an SGL opponent. This Wizards and Skulls rivalry goes back to 2012 when the Skulls tried to court a young Bitsy Prudhomme. The Skulls have posted their third consecutive winning season and have made the playoffs every year since being reinstated in 2018. The Wizards are remarkable back in the playoffs this year after starting the season 0-4, and in doing so, the Wizards are the first team to lose the first 4 games of the season and still make the playoffs. The last time the Wizards have missed the playoffs was 2017. The Wizards have missed the playoffs 2 times in their history. The Skulls missed the playoffs both of their years in ‘12 & ‘13.

[X]- Factor: Russell Wilson. If Russell can cook like he was up until the last few weeks, they might not have to rely as much on Chris Carson(Wizard)- who’s just now getting healthy. A great Russell game against the Jets could lead to big stack potential. Wilson + Lockett once stacked for 82 in week 7.

3. CDMX Bulldogs (8-5) Proj: 117.3
vs
6. Sobey’s Snappin’ Peas Proj: 128.1

The experts are circling this one for a possible round 1 upset! The CDMX Bulldogs are hobbling into the playoffs. After starting the season 5-0, the Bulldogs have been shaky the last 8 weeks. In those 8 weeks, only posting over 120 twice and posting less than 105 4 times. Last week they lost to the Swans, but they had already clinched. That wasn’t the worst news of the week, though. CMC was declared OUT for the game this Sunday. The Peas have been RED HOT lately. In week 10, they had just lost their 5th game out of 6 and were 4-6. They looked nearly a lock for the RR, but they controlled their own destiny down the stretch and beat their final 3 opponents averaging 147 points and eliminating Boister’s Beasts in a must-win situation last week. They are the first expansion team to ever make the playoffs their first year.  

[X]- Factor: Deshaun Watson. Watson has been keeping the Bulldogs in these games the last 3 weeks, scoring over 30 points twice. He faces a struggling Bears team where he will have to do everything for the Texans. If the Bulldogs are going to compete, they need Watson to hit 30. 

2. Gardner’s Fire Ants (8-5) Proj: 123.3 Vs
7. Jack’s Mint Juleps (7-6) Proj: 112.3

The Fire Ants have been a top team all year, but they’ve been a little shaky of late- losing 2 out of 3 and only posting over 115 once. With Kamara's demise, the Fire Ants have relied heavily on Justin Jefferson and Travis Kelce to carry them to the promised land. This game looked a lot more appealing last week when the Juleps had Antonio Gibson. Now the Juleps are trotting out Latavius Murray in his place. The Juleps had been on a big hot steak as well but laid an egg last week, losing to the Dragons and only posting 76 points. The Juleps have traditionally had the Fire Ants number with an all-time record of 7-3 against the Fire Ants. The last time these teams met in the playoffs was 2017, and the Fire Ants won a tight game 132-129.

[X]- Factor: Juju(Fire Ant) vs. Claypool(Julep). These Steelers receivers have sometimes boomed this year, and if one of these booms, it’s likely the other won’t. I think this game comes down to Sunday Night Football.