Pick Ems

The Boys are Back…some movement in the Standings after another meh week.

And Away We Go..

Pick Ems, Week 20

Coming off another lackluster well which gave us Ross going 1-6

Muffler Mike 3-4, Gary and Shawn with 2-5 and surprise, The Philly Phenom, Kevin posted a 4-3 mark.

So, as we went to the home stretch.

Ross looking to go wire to wire, holds a 66-42 mark.

The Phenom moves to within two games, 64-44, Gary and Shawn right behind with 63-45 marks and The Great Mufflerini sits at 52-56.

Another seven game slate…just when we thought the playoff picture would be made clear, San Diego, Buffalo, Halifax all drop at least one game.

Panther City ran into a Buzzsaw in Calgary, who are becoming the team no one wants to play in a one game series.

Have San Diego and Buffalo been figured out? Or, have they run up against desperate opponents?

We can debate all week…that’s what makes the Creator’s Game the best game on earth.

Onward and hopefully, upward we start with the Philadelphia Phenom, Kevin Neibauer…
Kevin making his picks early as he has a scheduled appointment at a Local Charm school…an extensive review of his manners or, lack there of.

Friday- PCLC- San Diego.

I have been flipping a coin on this one…as of now, I am at the 37th flip

San Diego.

The Seals will surely be in an ill state of mind.

Conventional wisdom is, they don’t want to lose at home again..

If they take stock in social media comments, look for a chippy, physical battle

Saturday- We start with a potential classic.

Two teams that should meet up in the first round.

Halifax- Toronto

Toronto

The Rock are,.too me at least, sneaking under the radar ..they have bested Buffalo and man-handed San Diego.

Halifax, while dangerous, seem to have cohesion issues with deadline moves…the game of the week.

Buffalo-Georgia

Another for the multiple coin tosses.

Gotta go with The Bandits….they have to be embarrassed about the New York loss

Who was the guy in the Matt Vince jersey? I can count the number of bad outings he had on one finger ..Bounce Back Buffalo

Philadelphia-Albany

Another puzzler…Going with Philadelphia .

The Wings saved their hopes with the San Diego game…all the teams in front of them will perhaps, open the door for them… Albany has their number.

Paul Day commented after the Albany win in Philly…”their transition game is like no other…very tough to play against.”

Since then, the transition game may have been figured out…Kyle Jackson and Ben McIntosh combine for seven goals.

Rochester-New York.

Riptide

Rochester simply is in disarray and, to be honest, would be foolish to win this and risk losing the number two pick…(Logan Wisnauskas??).

Colorado-Saskatchewan.

The Mammoth are in…Ryan Lee will have a big game but ..

Going with the spoilers, Saskatchewan.

Calgary-Vancouver.

Calgary

Curtis Dickson.and Jesse King are in a different zone…

Neither Warriors goalie is in the class of CDB.

Time for “Muffler” Mike.

Mike has been sitting back allowing everyone to build a lead…months after he bought beach front property in Nebraska.

PCLC @ SD
San Diego. The Seals can’t be happy about losing both the division lead and the faith of many pundits that they would be lifting the NLL Cup at season’s end. Some of that faith gets restored with a convincing win against Panther City.

HFX @ TOR
Toronto. Halifax has been reeling since the trade deadline. The Rock pray Georgia wins this weekend to set up the most improbable of matchups with Buffalo in Week 22.

BUF @ GA
Georgia. The Swarm answer Toronto’s prayers with a razor-thin victory at the Hive, while also retaining an outside shot at the #3 Seed in the East.

PHI @ ALB
Albany. A desperation game for both teams, with the Wild Card spot hanging in the balance. FireWolves squeak out another tight, low-scoring win to keep playoff hopes alive.

ROC @ NY
New York. This game will provide some intrigue as it relates to the future. Can the Riptide offense continue to click without Crawford? What will Rochester’s biggest needs be as their young core continues to gel?

COL @ SASK
Colorado. The Rush are rejuvenated, but the Mammoth can’t pass up the chance to stay on top in the West and avoid a first-round game against longtime playoff nemesis Calgary.

CGY @ VAN
Vancouver. It’s now or never for the Warriors, who need to show that it’s not “same old, same old” with regard to being a playoff-caliber team.

Up to Canada and the Canuck Savant, Gary Groob.

PCLC vs. SD

PCLC Wins.

Timing is everything! The Panther City club is having fun, the SD Seals are experiencing hardship for really rhe first time in their history. Injuries, and travel have had a part to play in their spin, but against a team that can score a lot, I don’t think the Seals will fare that well.

Halifax vs. Toronto
Toronto wins.

Halifax has had a tough time recently, and the Rock who are healthier than they have been in years, are firing on all cylinders. Halifax is trying to clinch a playoff spot, but with the win Toronto keeps their hopes at the division alive, and clinch a home playoff game.

Buffalo vs. Georgia
Buffalo wins.

If the Bandits win, they win the east. Coming off a couple of losses, I think they right the ship in this game. Shayne Jackson’s status is still unknown, and he is a big part of the Swarm offense. Expect the Bandits to come out swinging!

Philadelphia vs. Albany
Albany wins.

Both teams have been inconsistent, but I give a slight edge to the teamwork on the FireWolves.

Rochester vs. New York
New York wins.

This will be an entertaining game even without Callum Crawford. New York is very deep offensively, and will show it.

Colorado vs. Saskatchewan

Colorado wins.

The Mammoth are priming for the playoffs, while the Rush are looking towards next year.

Calgary vs. Vancouver
Calgary wins.

Calgary is peaking at the right time. Vancouver is still a few players away, but will be a force in the next few years.

Out to San Diego and Ross McLoughlin who got his 8 Ball back from vacation

PCLC vs. SD

Winner San Diego

San Diego Seals got the monkey off their backs and clinched the playoffs albeit with some help. Look for the Seals to take it on PC, who has been either RED HOT or ICE COLD. Seals also should be more healthy than the last 4 games and are looking for a Series sweep vs PC to right the ship in time for the playoffs. Seals have a stingy defense that knows how to play.

Halifax vs. Toronto
Winner Halifax,

Look for the Thunderbirds to get a series sweep vs the Rock also this week. The Rock have not been able to beat the Thunderbirds this year and I don’t see why they would start now. The Rock did peak a few weeks ago and now look for this team to coast into the playoffs.

Buffalo vs. Georgia
Winner Buffalo

Bandits proved they are mortal, and that when the Refs call the game fair they get calls against them. Banditland might not like that, but last week was proof that you can’t just do whatever you want, you actually have to play lacrosse to win games also. I don’t think that the Swarm have the pieces to win against the Bandits though.

Philadelphia vs. Albany
Winner Albany

Albany is going to play HARD vs the Wings, this could potentially move the Firewolves into the playoffs, Wings escaped San Diego last week with a win, dont think thats going to happen again this week.

Rochester vs. New York
Winner New York

Connor Kearnan and Jeff Teat are one of the hottest 2 man situational players in the game right now. Rochester is playing for a draft pick spot expect them to drop… the ball. Rochester is still missing Rylan Hartley in the net and it shows.

Colorado vs. Saskatchewan

Winner Colorado

As much as I want the Rush to win, I don’t think it happens, I think Colorado takes this game, trying to stay ahead of the Seals. One thing is certain the Mammoth will not win next week…

Calgary vs. Vancouver
Winner Calgary

Vancouver without Hammer-Jackson is not the same team they were earlier this year. Calgary is not exactly peaking but they do have a much lighter schedule in the second half of the season.

Staying in the West and Shawn Slaght. Shawn spent a few days binge watching the Banana Splits and claims his ready for a big weekend.

I assume he means ….of lacrosse.

Panther City vs San Diego
Pick – Panther City

Earlier in the season, this game may have gone the other way. Simply put, Panther City has the hot hand while San Diego has been struggling down the stretch.

Halifax vs Toronto
Pick – Toronto

A similar scenario as the game above. The Rock are getting on a roll at the right time. Meanwhile, Halifax is regrouping. I can see the Rock winning by a pair of goals.

Buffalo vs Georgia
Pick – Buffalo

Yes, the Bandits are on a two-game losing skid, but this team is too good to let that get them down. Georgia has been playing better ball as of late. However, inconsistency has plagued them all year.

Philadelphia vs Albany
Pick – Albany

There’s way too much at stake for the Firewolves. A win and they are right back into the playoff picture. Philadelphia on the other hand has been underachieving and will struggle to stay in the playoff race.

Rochester vs New York
Pick – New York

Battle of the basement in the east. The difference is that the Riptide have shown flashes of brilliance, while Rochester hasn’t shown much all year. At this point, the Knighthawks should be playing for a high draft pick.

Colorado vs Saskatchewan
Pick – Colorado

Colorado has a lot riding on this game. They want to prove they deserve to be on the top of the West standing. The Rush got the new coach “bump” last week, but I just don’t know how long it will last.

Calgary vs Vancouver
Pick – Calgary

The Roughnecks have rattled off four straight wins and are starting to look like the championship caliber team they once were. Vancouver was done the exact oppose. Last week they got almost all of their offence from two guys. That ain’t going to cut it.