Article Courtesy of Ted Sevransky, A Professional Sports Handicappers featured on Touthouse.com
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With the AFL entering the final week of the regular season, very little has been determined when it comes to the playoffs. Eight teams are in contention for the six postseason berths still available, three in each conference. And each of the two conference titles is up for grabs, with homefield edge throughout the playoffs still to be determined this weekend. Amazingly, all eight games on tap for the final weekend of the regular season hold some playoff implications – there isn’t a meaningless season finale on the board.

I’ll be going through the playoff scenarios for each of those eight games right here. It is important to note the starting times for the eight games (six on Saturday, two on Sunday), because the outcome of early games could have a dramatic effect on the intensity (or lack thereof) in later games. Most Arena Football games take between two and a half and three hours to complete

Columbus Destroyers (8-7) at Cleveland Gladiators (3-12)
Saturday, 7:00 pm ET
Columbus is out of the playoffs, after reaching the Arena Bowl last year. Cleveland’s playoff scenario is very simple – a win and they’re in, a loss and they’ll probably be out. The Gladiators will get a home game in the first round of the playoffs next weekend with the following scenario: Cleveland Gladiators win + New York Dragons loss + New Orleans VooDoo loss.

Grand Rapids Rampage (5-10) at New Orleans VooDoo (8-7)
Saturday, 7:00 pm ET
This is the only game where both teams are fighting for a playoff spot. Grand Rapids can get in with a win, or an LA loss at Tampa Bay. They’ll earn a home game in the first round of the playoffs next weekend with the following scenario: Grand Rapids Rampage win + Utah Blaze loss + Colorado Crush loss. New Orleans is in with a win, or they can still get in with a Cleveland loss if they lose the game themselves. The VooDoo get a home playoff game next weekend if they win and either New York or Cleveland wins as well.

Los Angeles Avengers (5-10) at Tampa Bay Storm (7-8)
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET
Tampa Bay had the best record within the ultra-competitive Southern Division, but they have no chance to reach the postseason after last week’s loss at San Jose. LA stayed alive in the playoff race with a win over Kansas City last week. The Avengers need a win here AND a loss from one of these three teams: Grand Rapids, Colorado or Utah in order to earn a playoff berth. They’ll get a first round home game if they win and both Colorado and Grand Rapids lose.

Kansas City Brigade (3-12) at Colorado Crush (5-10)
Saturday, 8:00 pm ET
Kansas City is out. Colorado gets in to the playoffs with a win or a loss by either Grand Rapids or LA. If the Crush win and Utah loses, Colorado will host a first round playoff game next weekend.

Utah Blaze (5-10) at Arizona Rattlers (8-7)
Saturday, 10:00 pm ET
Only two of the six teams that have already clinched playoff spots know their status heading into this weekend. Arizona is one of those two teams, having clinched the #3 seed in the American Conference. They’ll get a home playoff game next weekend, then hit the highway should they survive and advance to the following week. This game against Utah is absolutely meaningless for the Rattlers. Utah, on the other hand, is in need of a win here to clinch their spot. The Blaze can also earn a playoff spot even in defeat if either Colorado or Grand Rapids goes down to defeat as well.

Georgia Force (10-5) at San Jose SaberCats (10-5)
Saturday, 10:30 pm ET
Georgia joins Arizona as the only two teams that know their playoff status completely heading into Week 17. The Force won the Southern Division last week earning them a first round bye and a second round home game. They’ll be the #2 seed in the National Conference, unable to catch Philly or Dallas for the #1 seed. This game is completely meaningless for the Force. San Jose has already clinched the Western Division title and a first round playoff bye. But the Sabercats are locked in a tight battle with Chicago for the #1 seed in the American Conference, needing a win and a Rush loss to clinch that spot.

Philadelphia Soul (12-3) at New York Dragons (8-7)
Sunday, 3:00 pm ET
Philly can clinch the Eastern Division title and home field advantage throughout the National Conference playoffs with a win here or a Dallas loss. If the Soul lose and Dallas wins, Philly will be relegated to the #3 seed in the National Conference, losing out on their bye week and forced into action with a home game next weekend to open up the playoffs. New York needs a win just as much, if not more. If the Dragons can win, they’re in – it’s just that simple. If they don’t win here, New York can still back into the playoffs with a loss from either Cleveland or New Orleans. They’ll earn a first round home game with a win and a New Orleans loss; otherwise, they’ll be hitting the highway for the opening round.

Dallas Desperados (12-3) at Chicago Rush (10-5)
Sunday, 4:00 pm ET
Chicago will know their situation by kickoff. If San Jose won on Saturday night, Chicago will need a win to clinch the #1 seed in the American Conference. If San Jose lost on Saturday night, Chicago has already clinched that #1 seed, and this game becomes a meaningless season finale prior to their bye week. Dallas will be either the #1 seed or the #3 seed in the National Conference. The Desperados can earn that #1 seed if they win here and Philly loses to New York. If the Soul beat the Dragons, this game is meaningless for Dallas, but they won’t know the outcome of that game before they take the field.

Orlando Predators (9-7) vs. No One
The Predators have a bye for Week 17. They currently sit with the #4 seed in the National Conference, but could be out of the playoffs entirely depending on the action this weekend. Orlando needs at least one of the other three teams in contention to lose: Cleveland, New York or New Orleans. If all three win, the Predators are out.