Agent Smith has returned.  These are his Semi’s predictions

Silver vs. Jade

Many observers feel THIS is really the league championship game.  The winner of this game should easily take down the winner of the Gold / Azure matchup and march into immortality.

Just like last week this game is going to be decided by attendance (Jade!).  If Jade has their full complement of players I believe they will knock off the league’s number one rated team.  Jade has the height advantage with David Goldsmith and top to bottom Jade’s supporting cast is more athletic and faster than that of the AISSS.  In addition Jade’s ladies are more skillful and comfortable with the disc.  Kek’s squad won’t go down without a fight but if Jade can keep the ill advised scoobers to a minimum, Gainesville will be saying YES to the Biomass.  Jade leaps into the championship game 11-7.

Gold vs. Azure

These two teams are quite similar and played virtually even in the last regular season contest.  This game is truly a “pick em” but I am going to place my faith in Crazy Nick’s crew.  Nick’s team seems to just find a way to win no matter what the circumstance.  In their playoff contest against Deep Blue, they were short a few of their usual male bodies but still found a way to win.  I am not as much of a hater of Azure as the Skunk but I think Gold’s plethora of handlers will be the difference.  Against the zone defense a team can never have too many handlers and Gold’s mix of Tom, Nick, Colin and Doug will have the recipe to carve up the Azure zone.  Gold wins the distinction of the getting to lose in the championship by taking down Azure 11-8.

Black vs. Red

The Nighthawks have shown great character almost defeating Navy shorthanded in the regular season and winning a tough scrappy game against the Lieutenant in the first round of the playoffs.  However, true grit will not be enough to advance to the B bracket championship game.

Zack was embarrassed with his team’s on field performance and emotional breakdown against the Ogres.  He will be out to prove that only he can win a disc each and every season.  The Nighthawks will put up a good fight but Red’s veterans won’t be caught flat footed again.  KJ and Khan will show renewed discipline with the disc and Laz’s crazy antics will be infectious and create a motivated Red Rum.  Red will move closer to more discs for Zack with an 11-6 victory.

Navy vs. Deep Blue

I think Patrick’s team might be a disappointment this week.  He was able to secure his full roster for the first time all season in last week but fell short to Gold.  Will TJ, Casey and D Tox make appearances for a lowly B bracket game?  My guess is probably not. 

On the other sideline, Showkiller’s crew will be out in full force.  There is nothing he would like more than to advance in the B bracket championship game and take down Zack.  The only thing better would be if he could step on the Lieutenant along the way.  Phil will throw a plethora of confusing defenses against Allie and use his dependable bodies of Terza, Lu and Blunden to take care of business.  In a game that will end with an Allen Lu flick to a wide open Sockie in the corner of the end zone, Navy will get the win 11-5.

Forest versus Royal

Dare I pick the Lieutenant?  He did win chump discs last season with a virtually savage crew.  Oh, wait a minute, that crew had Rob Brice.  Silly me!

Royal is most likely going to continue their free fall and take a one way trip to 12th place in the final Skunk rankings.  Not to say, they won’t be simultaneously motivated by the Lieutenant’s zest for world domination as well as nauseated by the daily scouting reports he emails this week.  However, it will all be in vain.  Pilgrim’s crew has been knocking on the door to some big wins all season.  He could almost taste the sweet spoils of red rum until the carpet was yanked out from under him.  But Pilgrim’s crew, is a motivated bunch and has more depth and players comfortable with the disc than the Lieutenant.  Forest will stomp on Royal 11-6.

Maroon versus White. 

Finally!  The definitive answer on whether Falk’s philosophy of drafting nice people who get along is successful or outrageously stupid.  I am leaning towards the later because this IS the C bracket.

Meanwhile Lee’s fortunes are hitched to one Joel Crandall.  If Joel can get his whole team involved and use some discretion when launching the 50 yard hucks, White has a good chance to win this game.  The Ragsdales are wonderful, Captain Lee, Sebastian, and Ponz are competent and some of his noobs have gotten much better over the course of the season.

Maroon’s fortunes are contingent upon their mental approach to this game.  Knowing you have the talent to win the C bracket and having the “I will push an elderly cripple down a flight of stairs” attitude towards winning are two separate things.  Captain Falk is no John Calipari. 

If Maroon’s veterans of Nan, Goldstein and Bertolucci step up they should win the Underachiever Bowl and a date with forest after an 11-8 victory.