AAA PLAYOFF BECOME CRYSTAL CLEAR AFTER FRIDAY NIGHT GAMES

Posted: Saturday, June 7, 2008

By: Jared Neumeier

RMFL – When the final gun sounded to end play Friday night in Ravsten Stadium, Idaho Falls, the AAA play-off picture had finally become crystal clear.

The other special Friday night contest, another big rivalry in which the Bitterroot Blaze reacquainted themselves with former dominance over the Missoula Phoenix, the AAA playoffs took on a whole new light.

The Mustangs defeat of Pocatello eliminated any chance that the Utah Shock or Utah Wolverines would not draw a first round bye. The Shock/Wolverines tilt Saturday night will be for the #1 and #2 seed. The winner will simply be home hosting the lower seed from the quarterfinal round… of course, in today’s RMFL, there is no guarantee that will be an advantage, but they are both now guaranteed a home semi-final game on June 21st.

The Idaho Falls Mustangs clinched the #3 seed. They will host either the Utah Heat or Missoula on June 14^th. If the Cache Valley Bears beat the Utah Heat, the Mustangs will draw the Missoula Phoenix in round 1. If the Heat beat the Bears, they win a trip to Idaho Falls to open the playoffs. No matter if the Cache Valley Bears are involved in a multi-team tie-breaker at 5-3 or not, there would not be a head to head solution to resolve the ties. The Mustangs come into the process strong, having defeated the Bears and the Predators, however, losing to the Phoenix. The Predators beat the Phoenix and the Bears, however, losing to the Mustangs. The Bears only played the Mustangs and Predators and lost both contests. The Phoenix beat the Mustangs and lost to the Predators. Regardless of Saturday’s results, the Mustangs have clinched the next tie breaker, strength of schedule, and therefore the #3 seed

By virtue of the Missoula Phoenix loss and the Pocatello Predators hold on to the #4 spot and will also host a game on June 14^th. If the Cache Valley Bears win, the Predators will host the Bears. If the Utah Heat defeat the Bears, the Predators will host the Missoula Phoenix. The Predator clinch a tie-breaker with what could be the remaining 5-3 teams (Cache Valley and Missoula), having beaten them both head-to-head.

The Cache Valley Bears, although not having a head to head game with Missoula hold the Strength of Schedule advantage over the Phoenix no matter how the Saturday games turn out and, if they win, would vault into the #5 spot and play in Pocatello. So for the Bears, win and they are #5, lose and they are out.

The Missoula Phoenix will be either #5 (if Heat beat Bears) or #6 (if Bears beat Heat) at Idaho Falls if the Cache Valley Bears win. The Phoenix will be in Pocatello if the Utah Heat win Saturday night.

The Utah Heat would play at Idaho Falls if they can defeat the Bears in Logan Saturday night.