After looking closely at the NBA Playoffs this year, I have concluded that the PFFL conferences are very similar to the NBA conferences. The Western Conference is considerably tougher than the Eastern Conference because they have three juggernaut teams that are vying for a trip to the Finals: the Warriors, the Spurs, and the Thunder. At the risk of ruffling some feathers, the IRON Conference is the tougher conference because VAPOR and ZIP ‘EM UP are proven champions that will certainly have something to say about who advances to the big dance.

Only one team will be able to advance to the Spring 2016 Championship game.

WHO’S IT GONNA BE?

For the answer to this question, take a gander at my playoff predictions for the IRON conference.

(4) VENOM vs. (5) AZTECS: Both of these teams are challenged on both sides of the ball. The AZTECS have not scored a point in half of their regular season games. For the season the team is averaging a woeful 4.8 points per game. Ironically one of their losses was a 28-0 shutout to VENOM. Overall, VENOM is a veteran team who despite its losing history will be good enough to defeat the rookie AZTECS.

Prediction: VENOM 18 AZTECS 7

(3) MEAN MACHINE vs. (6) GREEN MACHINE: Once again the wild card bracket features another game between two teams that have been losing at a high clip this season. In the final week of the regular season, the MEAN  just barely defeated the GREEN 14-12. The significance of this game is that MEAN MACHINE was able to get the victory without Wide Receiver Jakob Martin (31 catches, 11 TDs) who is undeniably their number one option on offense. According to my sources, Martin’s availability for the postseason has been upgraded from doubtful to questionable. If he plays then the MEAN will justify the end of GREEN MACHINE’s season.

Prediction: MEAN MACHINE 15 GREEN MACHINE 12

(1) WRENIS PINCKLES vs. (4) VENOM: When these teams met during the regular season WRENIS PINKLES beat VENOM in a close game, 14-7. Even in a winning effort the PINKLES did not play up to their potential. Specifically, Quarterback Cory Blotzer was underwhelming as he completed seven of 12 passes for just one TD and one pick. In fairness to the passer, he did rush for the PINKLES’ second TD. Ultimately this game rests squarely on Blotzer’s shoulders.

Prediction: WRENIS PINKLES 19 VENOM 13

(2) LET’S GET PREGNANT vs. (3) MEAN MACHINE: In Week 3 MEAN MACHINE earned a close victory over LET’S GET PREGNANT (LGP) 21-14. MEAN Quarterback Waylon Coleman was exceptional. The passer completed 17 of 19 passes for four TDs and zero picks. While the MEAN should feel pretty good about their ability to duplicate their first performance against LGP, I do not believe that Coleman is capable of performing at a high level in the postseason.

Prediction: LGP 15 MEAN MACHINE 13

ROUND 1

(1) VAPOR vs. (8) LGP: VAPOR is on a quest to win five career championships with the PFFL. As great as PRIMETIME has been over the years VAPOR has been more consistent as of late as far as championship contention is concerned. LGP is no match for the VAPOR, especially in VAPOR’s first playoff game. Fatigue will set in for the LGP after playing one Wild Card game before they do battle with the defending champs. VAPOR’s 33-10 victory against the PINKLES in Week 3 is a sign of the outcome of this first round matchup.

Prediction: VAPOR 32 LGP 9

(4) YGFT vs. (5) PUCK U: This first round match reminds me of when the Clippers and Spurs met in the first round of last year’s NBA playoffs. Primarily, the series between those teams was compelling because most fans didn’t expect two talented teams to have to face each other in opening  round. Nevertheless, since these teams will be playing each other on Sunday let’s revisit what happened the last time these teams played each other.

YGFT 32 PUCK U 0!

While I would caution against making the assumption that this game will be a repeat of the first game, I do feel that YGFT has the upperhand against PUCK U going into the playoffs. Since YGFT’s roster is basically the VULTUREZ without Lance Brunsell, they have enough All-Stars to get the job done against PUCK U.

Prediction: YGFT 22 PUCK U 14

(3) ZIP EM UP vs. (6) DARKWINGS: Unfortunately PRIMETIME...I mean ZIP EM UP and the DARKWINGS never played during the regular season because the DARKWINGS forfeited their scheduled game. The kicker is that the DARKWINGS were still able to play in another game against GREEN MACHINE on the same day that they were supposed to play against ZIP EM UP. Apparently ZIP EM UP noticed and as a result the team was not pleased with the DARKWINGS for misleading ZIP EM UP into thinking that the WINGS were “too injured” to play against them.

On Sunday ZIP EM UP will get their revenge on the DARKWINGS. A solid game by Jeff combined with an all-world receiving corps will result in a big day for ZIP EM UP.

Prediction: ZIP EM UP 27 DARKWINGS 7

(2) BLUNT FORCE vs. (7) WRENIS PINKLES: In all of the articles that I have written about BLUNT FORCE, I highlighted the contributions of All-Stars Jeremy Molinaro and James Fletcher to helping the team compensate for the loss of All-Star Quarterback Steve Chockla. While these guys deserve all of the accolades that they have received this season, another player has been the unsung hero for the FORCE. QB Dustyn Pastors completed 67 percent of his passes for 26 TDs and just one interception. Pastors also rushed for four more touchdowns. The PINKLES quest for a championship will end after they play the FORCE on Sunday.

Prediction: BLUNT FORCE 23 WRENIS PINKLES 14

(1) VAPOR vs. (4) YGFT: A 34-0 win over YGFT should give VAPOR supreme confidence heading into their playoff game. On top of shutting a high-powered offense down , VAPOR handed YGFT its only loss of the season. Cornell Mack passed for four TDs and rushed for another. Rookie QB Ryan Cunningham played the worst game of his PFFL career. A 29.1 percent QB rating is not going to cut it against the elite talent of VAPOR. Offensively YGFT will not be able to compete in a shootout with VAPOR because VAPOR’s offense is a finely-tuned machine; however, YGFT’s defense could play a pivotal role in giving them a chance to win the game.

VAPOR is the better team and they will prove it again this Sunday.

Prediction: VAPOR 27 YGFT 17

(2) BLUNT FORCE vs. (3) ZIP EM UP: In Week 1 ZIP EM UP beat the brakes off of BLUNT FORCE to the tune of 32-6. Jeff Bollinger compiled a 100.5 QB rating with three TDs. Then-QB Steve Chockla struggled to deliver the goods on offense for the FORCE. All-Stars Bruce Thornton, Kenny Ashmore, Jason Scott and CJ Baker are simply too gifted for the FORCE to overcome.

Prediction: ZIP EM UP 29 BLUNT FORCE 13

(1) VAPOR vs. (3) ZIP EM UP: Both of these teams are the only teams that have an elite championship pedigree. If VAPOR and ZIP EM UP were in opposite conferences then I would easily pick both teams to advance to the league championship game. Unfortunately the road to the big dance will unfortunately come to a painful end for one of these elite teams. During the regular season, ZIP EM UP gutted out an impressive 20-18 win over VAPOR to give the reigning champs their only loss of the season. Defensively, ZIP EM UP was sensational limiting VAPOR to just six points in the second half. VAPOR will look to blitz everyone’s favorite “side-arm passer” Jeff Bollinger into committing turnovers. The loss of Ed Tozzi this season will greatly impact VAPOR’s ability to corral the elite receiving trio of Kenny Ashmore, Bruce Thornton, and CJ Baker.

Even though Cornell Mack is arguably the league’s best player, I feel that he might try to overcompensate for his defense’s inability to stop ZIP EM UP’s freakishly talented wide receivers.

Pressure busts pipes.

Prediction: ZIP EM UP will defeat VAPOR in OT 25-19.