Playoff Predictions:
ASFC Championship:
@ 
For the fourth year in a row, the Otters and the Outlaws meet in the ASFC Chamionship, although this time it will be played in Orange County. The Outlaws' offseason scandal devastated their roster and made the Otters the new powerhouse in the ASFC, but the Outlaws managed to stay competitive and make it back to the playoffs. This game has the making of a shootout as it pits the Outlaw's #1 scoring offense (436 points) against the Otter's #3 scoring offense (421 points). However, the difference maker is on defense as the Otters boast the #1 scoring defense (261 points) while the Outlaws hold the #7 scoring defense (431 points). The Outlaws' high powered offense will run into a brick wall in the Otters' defense while the Otter's offense will tear apart the Outlaws' porous defense. The Otters also have home field advantage and swept the Outlaws this season and so I expect them to advance to the Ultimus for the second year in a row.
Prediction: 20 38
NSFC Championship:
@ 
The NSFC Championship returns to Yellowknife but this time the Hawks are the visitors. The Wraiths had an impressive season with both the #2 scoring offense (433 points) and the #2 scoring defense (310) points. The Hawks also put up good numbers as they are tied for the #4 scoring offense (405 points) and have the #4 scoring defense (339 points). However, I think the Wraiths have the edge with both a better defense and a better offense. The teams split their series this season with both winning at home and I think the Wraiths' home field advantage will be the key to their victory as they return to the Ultimus.
Prediction 20 27
NSFL Championship: @
The Wraiths and Otters meet in the Ultimus for the second year in a row. The Wraiths have a slight edge on offense while the Otters have a big edge on defense. Both teams will score points but I think the Otters' suffocating defense along with home field advantage will be the key in this matchup. The Otters repeat and the ASFC continues its Ultimus dominance.
Prediction: 24 30
Playoff Series MVP:
In the biggest games of the year, teams generally look to their quarterback to step up and lead the team to victory. That is exactly what Matt Akselsen did for the Wraiths in the NSFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Hawks. Akselsen had one of the best passing performances we have ever seen in the playoffs as he completed 28 of 45 passes for 486 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, and a passer rating of 121.2. However, he wasn't just playing safe to avoid mistakes as he averaged an impressive 17.4 yards per completion. What's most impressive about his performance is looking at the receiving stats. Akselsen didn't just feed one good receiver, he spread the ball out and made everyone look like a star as 3 Wraiths players had over 100 receiving yards and 2 more had over 50 receiving yards and all 3 passing touchdowns were to different receivers. Akselsen did everything the Wraiths could ask for in that playoff game as he made big plays, avoided mistakes, and spread the ball around so it was impossible for the Hawks to cover everybody. The Hawks never stood a chance with Akselsen playing in such good form and he is the reason the Wraiths are advancing to the Ultimus game for the second year in a row.
Root for the Underdog:
Coming into the Ultimus Game, the Wraiths are underdogs against the Otters. However, calling them an underdog sells short just how good this Wraiths team is. They finished the season 10-4, the first time an NSFC team has held double digit wins, with the #2 scoring offense and the #2 scoring defense. They were one of the 3 teams to beat the Otters this season as they dominated them 34-14 in Week 11, though the game took place in Yellowknife, however the Wraiths were still competitive in Orange County in a 26-20 loss. While the Otters' pass defense is statistically much better than their run defense, I think the Wraith's key on offense will be to assert themselves through the air. The passing attack has fueled the Wraiths all season long and they shouldn't dramatically change the formula in the most important game of the year. Additionally, the Otters have been unable to slow down Matt Akselsen this season as he posted a passer rating over 100 in both games against the Otters this season. What can the Wraiths due to slow down the Otters' high powered offense? With 13 fumbles recovered and 19 interceptions, the Wraiths' defense has forced a league leading 32 turnovers this season. The closest threat to a home loss the Otters faced in the regular season came against the lowly Yeti when they were able to forced Mike Boss into throwing 5 interceptions. While Boss is unlikely to have another outlier performance like that, the Yeti showed that the best way to shut down the Otters is to keep the ball out of their hands. If the Wraiths can get some turnovers, either by forcing Boss to make mistakes and intercepting some passes or by stripping the ball from ballcarriers, they can keep the Otters' offense off the field and allow their own offense to control the game. It may be a longshot, after all the Otters have a perfect record at home this season for a reason, however if any team has a chance to dethrone the Otters, it's the Wraiths who appear to be equally stacked in their own right.
Unsung Hero:
Most people pay attention to the Otters for their gaudy offensive numbers and flashy offensive playmakers. However, their success is just as equally owed to their stout defense. This year in the playoffs, they went against the highest scoring offense and the second highest scoring offense in consecutive games. However, they held both of these teams to less than 20 points and held two top quarterbacks to passer ratings of less than 70. The driving force of this defense is the pass rush that got 29 more sacks than any other team this season. This makes sense with the Otters having some big names at linebacker including Angus Winchester, Julian O'Sullivan, and Ian Bavitz. However, neither of those players led the Otters in sacks this postseason. The unsung hero of this Otters playoff run is rookie defensive lineman Ryan Sierra. Sierra's 3 sacks were more than any other Otters player had during this postseason. This is especially considering that Sierra was previously an offensive lineman so this is his first season ever playing defense. While he may not be one of the flashier names on the Otters, Sierra made a huge impact on their impressive defensive performance and is certainly one of the heroes of this championship run.
ASFC Championship:
@ For the fourth year in a row, the Otters and the Outlaws meet in the ASFC Chamionship, although this time it will be played in Orange County. The Outlaws' offseason scandal devastated their roster and made the Otters the new powerhouse in the ASFC, but the Outlaws managed to stay competitive and make it back to the playoffs. This game has the making of a shootout as it pits the Outlaw's #1 scoring offense (436 points) against the Otter's #3 scoring offense (421 points). However, the difference maker is on defense as the Otters boast the #1 scoring defense (261 points) while the Outlaws hold the #7 scoring defense (431 points). The Outlaws' high powered offense will run into a brick wall in the Otters' defense while the Otter's offense will tear apart the Outlaws' porous defense. The Otters also have home field advantage and swept the Outlaws this season and so I expect them to advance to the Ultimus for the second year in a row.
Prediction:
20 38NSFC Championship:
@ The NSFC Championship returns to Yellowknife but this time the Hawks are the visitors. The Wraiths had an impressive season with both the #2 scoring offense (433 points) and the #2 scoring defense (310) points. The Hawks also put up good numbers as they are tied for the #4 scoring offense (405 points) and have the #4 scoring defense (339 points). However, I think the Wraiths have the edge with both a better defense and a better offense. The teams split their series this season with both winning at home and I think the Wraiths' home field advantage will be the key to their victory as they return to the Ultimus.
Prediction
20 27NSFL Championship:
@ The Wraiths and Otters meet in the Ultimus for the second year in a row. The Wraiths have a slight edge on offense while the Otters have a big edge on defense. Both teams will score points but I think the Otters' suffocating defense along with home field advantage will be the key in this matchup. The Otters repeat and the ASFC continues its Ultimus dominance.
Prediction:
24 30Quote:383 Words
Playoff Series MVP:
In the biggest games of the year, teams generally look to their quarterback to step up and lead the team to victory. That is exactly what Matt Akselsen did for the Wraiths in the NSFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Hawks. Akselsen had one of the best passing performances we have ever seen in the playoffs as he completed 28 of 45 passes for 486 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, and a passer rating of 121.2. However, he wasn't just playing safe to avoid mistakes as he averaged an impressive 17.4 yards per completion. What's most impressive about his performance is looking at the receiving stats. Akselsen didn't just feed one good receiver, he spread the ball out and made everyone look like a star as 3 Wraiths players had over 100 receiving yards and 2 more had over 50 receiving yards and all 3 passing touchdowns were to different receivers. Akselsen did everything the Wraiths could ask for in that playoff game as he made big plays, avoided mistakes, and spread the ball around so it was impossible for the Hawks to cover everybody. The Hawks never stood a chance with Akselsen playing in such good form and he is the reason the Wraiths are advancing to the Ultimus game for the second year in a row.
Quote:218 Words
Root for the Underdog:
Coming into the Ultimus Game, the Wraiths are underdogs against the Otters. However, calling them an underdog sells short just how good this Wraiths team is. They finished the season 10-4, the first time an NSFC team has held double digit wins, with the #2 scoring offense and the #2 scoring defense. They were one of the 3 teams to beat the Otters this season as they dominated them 34-14 in Week 11, though the game took place in Yellowknife, however the Wraiths were still competitive in Orange County in a 26-20 loss. While the Otters' pass defense is statistically much better than their run defense, I think the Wraith's key on offense will be to assert themselves through the air. The passing attack has fueled the Wraiths all season long and they shouldn't dramatically change the formula in the most important game of the year. Additionally, the Otters have been unable to slow down Matt Akselsen this season as he posted a passer rating over 100 in both games against the Otters this season. What can the Wraiths due to slow down the Otters' high powered offense? With 13 fumbles recovered and 19 interceptions, the Wraiths' defense has forced a league leading 32 turnovers this season. The closest threat to a home loss the Otters faced in the regular season came against the lowly Yeti when they were able to forced Mike Boss into throwing 5 interceptions. While Boss is unlikely to have another outlier performance like that, the Yeti showed that the best way to shut down the Otters is to keep the ball out of their hands. If the Wraiths can get some turnovers, either by forcing Boss to make mistakes and intercepting some passes or by stripping the ball from ballcarriers, they can keep the Otters' offense off the field and allow their own offense to control the game. It may be a longshot, after all the Otters have a perfect record at home this season for a reason, however if any team has a chance to dethrone the Otters, it's the Wraiths who appear to be equally stacked in their own right.
Quote:357 Words
Unsung Hero:
Most people pay attention to the Otters for their gaudy offensive numbers and flashy offensive playmakers. However, their success is just as equally owed to their stout defense. This year in the playoffs, they went against the highest scoring offense and the second highest scoring offense in consecutive games. However, they held both of these teams to less than 20 points and held two top quarterbacks to passer ratings of less than 70. The driving force of this defense is the pass rush that got 29 more sacks than any other team this season. This makes sense with the Otters having some big names at linebacker including Angus Winchester, Julian O'Sullivan, and Ian Bavitz. However, neither of those players led the Otters in sacks this postseason. The unsung hero of this Otters playoff run is rookie defensive lineman Ryan Sierra. Sierra's 3 sacks were more than any other Otters player had during this postseason. This is especially considering that Sierra was previously an offensive lineman so this is his first season ever playing defense. While he may not be one of the flashier names on the Otters, Sierra made a huge impact on their impressive defensive performance and is certainly one of the heroes of this championship run.
Quote:208 Words
![[Image: 24-win-MVP.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/h48H8mVk/24-win-MVP.png)
