By R.E. Porter
Associate Web Press
NASHVEGAS—Seven weeks ago, the West Nashville Beelzebubbas were 0-4 and their playoffs prospects looked dim, their chances for a Jorge division championship even dimmer. The Village Green were doing a little better than the Beelzebubbas with a 2-2 mark, but they already were two games behind the Fidalgo Island Sea Hogs and the Corsairs in the race for the Linardo division crown.
But since then, the 'Bubbas and The Green have been the two hottest teams in the NFFA, each winning six of their last seven games and now tied for the lead in their respective division. The 'Bubbas (6-5) are tied with the East Nashville Black Dogs (6-5), another hot team. The Black Dogs have won five games in that same stretch and currently hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the 'Bubbas. The Green (8-3) are tied with the Corsairs (8-3), who have gone 3-3 since a 5-0 start. The Green hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Jorge division
As the league finishes the regular season with three weeks of intradivision play, the division races and the wild-card picture have come into focus. In the Jorge division, either the Black Dogs or Beelzebubbas will win the division, as the Cambridge Animals (3-8) and the 12th Avenue Bakers (1-9) have already been eliminated from not only the race for the division title, but also from the chase for one of the two wild-card playoff berths. The division winner likely will not be decided until the final weekend when the 'Bubbas visit the Dogs in the East Nasty.
Linardo division
In the Linardo division, the picture is a little fuzzier. Despite losing four of their last seven games, the Sea Hogs (7-4) trail The Green and the Corsairs by only one game. The Atlanta Smack Daddies (5-6), the defending NFFA champs, have been eliminated from the division race after losing five of the last seven, but still are mathematically in the hunt for a wild card berth. In the midst of all the furor over Dave the Animal's curse on the 12th Avenue Bakers, the "curse" of the champion has been overlooked — no NFFA champion has been able to repeat, and most have not even made the playoffs to defend their crown. But even if they don't make the playoffs, the Smack Daddies could spoil the postseason plans of one or more of their division rivals.
The Curse Bowl
Speaking of DTA's curse on the Bakers, the teams from Cambridge and 12th Avenue may not be headed to the playoffs, but it seems they're going "bowling." The Animals travel to play the Bakers on the final weekend of the regular season in what has been dubbed "The Curse Bowl."
Success of rookie owners
"Goody" Goodridge, owner of The Village Green, is poised to continue the success new owners have enjoyed in their first year in the NFFA. Every rookie owner has made the playoffs since the league split into two divisions in 2004.
Key upcoming head-to-head contests
Week 12: Sea Hogs @ Corsairs; The Green @ Smack Daddies.
Week 13: Corsairs @ The Green; Smack Daddies @ Sea Hogs.
Week 14: Beelzebubbas @ Black Dogs; Sea Hogs @ The Green; Smack Daddies @ Corsairs; The Curse Bowl — Animals @ Bakers.
But since then, the 'Bubbas and The Green have been the two hottest teams in the NFFA, each winning six of their last seven games and now tied for the lead in their respective division. The 'Bubbas (6-5) are tied with the East Nashville Black Dogs (6-5), another hot team. The Black Dogs have won five games in that same stretch and currently hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the 'Bubbas. The Green (8-3) are tied with the Corsairs (8-3), who have gone 3-3 since a 5-0 start. The Green hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Jorge division
As the league finishes the regular season with three weeks of intradivision play, the division races and the wild-card picture have come into focus. In the Jorge division, either the Black Dogs or Beelzebubbas will win the division, as the Cambridge Animals (3-8) and the 12th Avenue Bakers (1-9) have already been eliminated from not only the race for the division title, but also from the chase for one of the two wild-card playoff berths. The division winner likely will not be decided until the final weekend when the 'Bubbas visit the Dogs in the East Nasty.
Linardo division
In the Linardo division, the picture is a little fuzzier. Despite losing four of their last seven games, the Sea Hogs (7-4) trail The Green and the Corsairs by only one game. The Atlanta Smack Daddies (5-6), the defending NFFA champs, have been eliminated from the division race after losing five of the last seven, but still are mathematically in the hunt for a wild card berth. In the midst of all the furor over Dave the Animal's curse on the 12th Avenue Bakers, the "curse" of the champion has been overlooked — no NFFA champion has been able to repeat, and most have not even made the playoffs to defend their crown. But even if they don't make the playoffs, the Smack Daddies could spoil the postseason plans of one or more of their division rivals.
The Curse Bowl
Speaking of DTA's curse on the Bakers, the teams from Cambridge and 12th Avenue may not be headed to the playoffs, but it seems they're going "bowling." The Animals travel to play the Bakers on the final weekend of the regular season in what has been dubbed "The Curse Bowl."
Success of rookie owners
"Goody" Goodridge, owner of The Village Green, is poised to continue the success new owners have enjoyed in their first year in the NFFA. Every rookie owner has made the playoffs since the league split into two divisions in 2004.
Key upcoming head-to-head contests
Week 12: Sea Hogs @ Corsairs; The Green @ Smack Daddies.
Week 13: Corsairs @ The Green; Smack Daddies @ Sea Hogs.
Week 14: Beelzebubbas @ Black Dogs; Sea Hogs @ The Green; Smack Daddies @ Corsairs; The Curse Bowl — Animals @ Bakers.
