Parity Playoff Predictions: Semifinal Edition

Quarterfinals are in the books with two favourites advancing and two underdogs clinching thrilling universe point wins. How did my predictions fare? And who are the new favourites in the updated bracket? Read on!

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Week 10 (Jan. 21): Quarterfinals

[QF] prediction: Big Love (19) vs. Moneyball (16)
Result: Big Love (21) vs. Moneyball (15)

[QF] prediction: An Andréa's Fault (22) vs. Uncorked (20)
Result: An Andréa's Fault (21) vs. Uncorked (13)

[QF] prediction: #goals (19) vs. Flaccid Member(ship) (15)
Result: #goals (16) vs. Flaccid Member(ship) (17) *universe*

[QF] prediction: Hot or Not (24) vs. cRyan till the throws come home (13)
Result: Hot or Not (16) vs. cRyan till the throws come home (17) *universe*

[5th play-in] prediction: Badgers (20) vs. ikneebriated (26)
Result: Badgers (16) vs. ikneebriated (22)

The Effectiveness Ratings methodology goes 3-2 in Week 10, although the two incorrect predictions were decided by just one goal. My pre-tournament pick, Hot or Not, were caught off guard by an inspired cRyan squad in a game that saw back-and-forth lead changes. Allan Godding made an early bid for playoff MVP by throwing or catching five of his team's last six goals, including the game winner. In the other upset, Flaccid trailed most of their game before clawing back to win on universe. Ashlin Kelly showed true playoff grit by scoring three of her team's final four goals, including the game winner.

Week 11 (Jan. 28): Semifinals

[SF] Big Love (19) vs. An Andréa's Fault (21)
[SF] Flaccid Member(ship) (18) vs. cRyan till the throws come home (17) *universe*
[5th SF] Uncorked (15) vs. Hot or Not (23)
[5th SF] #goals (22) vs. ikneebriated (21)
[7th play-in] Moneyball (25) vs. Badgers (16)

The game to watch in Week 11 is the semifinal between Flaccid and cRyan, which my analysis indicates will to go to universe. Flaccid has a slight edge, but it's basically a coinflip between two teams that have already shown they can deliver under pressure. In the other semi, An Andréa's Fault is forecast to advance in a close game over Big Love. Hot or Not and #goals should advance to the 5th place final after being knocked out of the championship bracket, but ikneebriated is threatening to slay giants after starting the playoffs underseeded.

Week 12 (Feb. 4): Finals

[1st] An Andréa's Fault (23) vs. Flaccid Member(ship) (15)
[3rd] Big Love (20) vs. cRyan till the throws come home (15)
[5th] Hot or Not (21) vs. #goals (16)
[7th] Uncorked (18) vs. Moneyball (19)
[9th] ikneebriated (28) vs. Badgers (20)

Flaccid's Cinderella run ends with a one-sided loss to An Andréa's Fault, who cruise to the championship. Big Love takes third while Hot or Not wins out the consolation bracket. Moneyball edges out Uncorked to beat seed. Badgers' sad season ends with another loss to ikneebriated.

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With Hot or Not out of the championship picture the field is more even, but of the remaining teams An Andréa's Fault is the clear favourite followed by Big Love. Whether Flaccid and cRyan can keep up the playoff magic remains to be seen.