[Editor’s note: These 11th hour game previews are brought to you by Backseat Coach, who – no lie – wrote them on his iPhone while we were travelling to Chicago this morning. That’s skill.]
The fourth round of the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) playoffs are the conference championships. There are 4 teams remaining; 3 teams (Boston, Chicago, and Dallas) reached the conference championships last year. This is the first time the central Cal War Angels have reached a conference championship game.
Boston Militia (10-0) vs Chicago Force (10-0)
July 20, 2013, 7 p.m. ET, Lazier Field, Evanston, Ill.
Audio stream: http://www.chicagoforcefootball.com/live.asp
In-game updates: @chicagoforce @bostonmilitia @backseatcoach
Current line: none
Massey prediction: Chicago 60 – Boston 44
Both of these teams have been to the conference championship before, and in the past two seasons, they have met each other in this game. Against each other, each team is 1-1.
The Militia seeks redemption for last year’s dramatic one-point loss.
With their status as a perpetual also-ran becoming more solidified following a loss to the San Diego Surge in last year’s WFA Championship game, the Force are desperate to win its first championship, especially now that franchise quarterback Sami Grisafe has announced this season will be her last playing football.
But when it comes to picking a winner, none of that matters, because I’m a complete homer.
Backseat Coach picks: Boston Militia
Central Cal War Angels (11-0) vs Dallas Diamonds (10-0)
July 20, 2013, 8 p.m. ET, Pennington Field, Bedford, Tex.
In-game updates: unknown
Current line: None
Massey prediction: None
The Dallas Diamonds are distinguished as one of women’s football’s most successful franchises, winning a record 4 league championships in 5 years. But since winning its last ring in 2008, Dallas has failed to reach the big game, due in part to the emergence of strong western teams like the the San Diego Surge who knocked the Diamonds out of the playoffs consecutively in 2011 and 2012.
This year, with the Surge now out of the way having fallen in the league quarterfinals, Dallas sees its opportunity to get to their first chance at a WFA championship. And unlike recent seasons, they get to play the conference championship game at home.
Only thing is the Central Cal War Angels stand in their way. The War Angels have thus far been very impressive, and have thoroughly dominated its competition, including a solid victory last week over the Diamonds’ nemesis the San Diego Surge.
While there is something a bit shadowy about the War Angels that leaves a kernel of doubt in my mind that they seem too good to be true, there is no logical reason to doubt them on the field of on this game.
Backseat Coach picks: Central Cal War Angels
Last Round’s Results
Boston Militia 58, DC Divas 34
Chicago Force 84, Atlanta Phoenix 0
Dallas Diamonds 35, St. Louis Slam 20
Central Cal War Angels 40, San Diego Surge 14
Backseat Coach’s win-loss record in playoffs: 18-4
Massey Predictions and Zermelo Ratings by John Spatz, EZ Football Rankings.
Point spreads by Steve Mark, courtesy of New York Sharks.
