Hello everyone and welcome back to another fun filled season. I hope you all survived the winter and are ready to shed those extra pounds.
There have been a couple of changes to MFL this offseason. We had Terry and Jon host the league’s second annual refereeing seminar and we had a great attendance with many new referees coming into the league.
Teams will now be penalized at the start of games if their roster numbers set on the site don’t match the numbers they are wearing, though we’re giving a grace period of the first week.
The MFL has also created a women’s division and it should be a great season. The only rule difference is the size of ball allowed.
Division Breakdown
This time of year, I would normally tell you a bit about each team and what player to keep an eye on, but this season we have a total of 61 teams and it would take me 3 weeks to complete all that.
Division 1
D1 has 5 teams in it this season with only Busch Boys new to the division, but all have played in D1 before. The division is 5 teams and I have to assume that either 4 make it with 1v4 and 2v3 or only 3 will make it with 1 getting a bye to final and 2v3. I am picking Master Chiefs vs Outlaws Finals.
Division 2
This is our smallest division with only 4 teams in it. When it comes to playoffs, my bet it’s done like Brossard seasons ago. Where week 10 will be 1v2 winner goes to finals and 3v4 where winner plays loser of 1v2 with a shot to go to finals. Knights vs Respect in the finals.
Division 3
This is the division that might give you the best games of the year. There are 13 teams in this division and my guess is 7 or 8 make the playoffs, either 1 team gets a game off of no one does. Do not miss games, Phoenix vs RawSauce (Nick wants his rematch @ QB), Sooners 45 vs Villains as both teams are stacked with athletes, and then how do you forget about Jason as he sneaks his way back into D3 with Red Cats as they take on La Horde and their killer defense? Finals Bines vs Villains.
Division 4
This has to be the largest division in MFL history with 22 teams split into 2 conferences. I am personally not a fan of the 2 conferences. I would have much rather seen 2 separate divisions. The league could have had 2 divisions 1 of 8 teams with a rating over 790 and 14 teams that are under. The next closest team to the 790 is sitting at a 769 rating. I know ratings are not the only thing to go off of and I know from seeing the rosters most teams are comparable. Do not miss games: MTL Cessnas vs Sour Peeps and Improbables vs 28-3 from the Terry conference and from Willie’s you have Bear hood vs Mustard Tigers where we finally get to see who wins in a fight between a bear and a Tiger, and we also have the Action Squad vs Tropic Thunder rematch of winter’s wild card game. Playoffs are going to be 6 teams per conference with top 2 get a game off or 7 teams with only the top team getting the bye. I prefer the 6 teams, but I get that 7 teams means winning conference means more. Finals Mustard Tigers vs Bouchers.
Division 5
We are now using D5 as a beginner division and any team needed to be approved to play in it. There are 12 teams this season with 8 making it to the playoffs. With the substantial change in cap for this division there are very few highly rated players and the ones that are up there have a weaker support around them. Teams like Titans, Jungle Squad and Slot Machine make that leap and join teams like Binettes, Big Booties, and Soonies 45 as top team. Finals will be Secret Agents vs Titans. I know, not what you expected, but watch and see, I will be right.
Women’s
This is a first for MFL and it will be exciting to see how it all plays out. There are 5 teams and all 5 will make the playoffs. From the rosters that I have seen and looked over them, there is a bunch of flag experience as players, but not much QB experience. Right now, my finals are Drama Queens vs Déesses du Drapeau.
The season starts this weekend and it will be exciting to see how week 1 goes.
Predictions
The past few seasons the media team of Terry, Willie, Jon, and I have been making picks to see who gets the most games right. Most years it has come down to the last few games and even once to a forfeit the last week that is how close its been. We have not talked about it yet this season, but I am sure everyone will be making their picks again. Just in case they do not make their picks I will be doing my picks and I’ll also be flipping a coin to see who does better. Now to my picks and like always they are in bold and for the coin toss heads is home tails is away.
Division 1
Busch Boys vs Outlaws Coin Outlaws
- Height
Master Chiefs vs A-Team Coin Master Chiefs
- Physical
Division 2
Knights vs Respect Coin Respect
- Speed
Pocket Rockets vs KOLB Coin Pocket Rockets
- Jon makes every throw look easy
Division 3
Super Friends vs Bines Coin Bines
- Chemistry
Double Dippers vs Sooners 45 Coin Sooners 45
- Diego running
TDs and Beers vs RawSauce Coin TDs and Beer
- Chemistry
La Horde vs Villains Coin Villains
- Speed
Iron Wolves vs Tigres Coin Iron Wolves
- Experience
Division 4
Mustard Tigers vs Action Squad Coin Mustard Tigers
- Tyler is going to feast on Gold.
Phoenix vs Sour Peeps NA Coin
- I do not pick my teams games.
Bandits vs MTL Cessnas Coin MTL Cessnas
- Stronger QB
Drama Club vs Mimosa Crew Coin Mimosa Crew
- Better defense.
Legendaries vs Free Agent #1 Coin Legendaries
- Experience
Tropic Thunder vs KC Chiefs Coin KC Chiefs
- Experience
Warriors vs Hawks Coin Warriors
- This is just Nomades trying to sneak under the radar.
28-3 vs Systèmes Urbains Coin 28-3
- Nico is throwing so Systeme Urbains will have 12 picks on defense to go with 18 sacks all in the first half. (ed’s note: got dang, son)
100 Genies vs Villains Coin Villains
- Speed
Division 5
Soonies 45 vs Free Agent #2 Coin Soonies 45
- Experience
Binnettes vs Nothing but D Coin Binnettes
- Organized
Titans vs Free Agent #1 Coin Free Agent #1
- Knowledge
Secret Agents vs Sniffers Coin Sniffers
- They will have the best player on the field.
Women’s
Crazy B’s vs Déesses du Drapeau Coin Crazy B’s
- Florence and Daphné will be unstoppable.
Free Agent vs Tigres Coin Tigers
- They have a roster.
There are my picks for week 1. I’m sure that a bunch of them are wrong since it’s week 1 and I don’t know all the teams yet, but as the weeks go on it will get easier and easier. At the end of the day, I just can’t lose to the coin or I might consider retiring (ed’s note: go coin!). Thought about it and I just can’t retire if I lose. (ed’s note: heartbreaker!) What would I do all weekend if I wasn’t at football?
Power Rankings
We haven’t even played a game yet and I already have my rankings. It’s week 1 and my rankings are based off your team roster as of May 1, 2024. The more I know about a team the easier it is to rank them. Now let’s see how I have the teams going into the season.
Division 1
#1- Master Chiefs
#2- Outlaws
#3- A-Team
Division 2
#1- Knights
#2- Respect
#3- KOLB
Division 3
#1- Double Dippers
#2- Villains
#3- Thunder Buddies
Division 4
Babalis
#1- Sour Peeps
#2- Bouchers
#3- Phoenix
Power
#1- Mustard Tigers
#2- Mimosa Crew
#3- Tropic Thunder
Division 5
#1- Secret Agents
#2- Titans
#3- Big Booties
Women
#1- Drama Queen
#2- Déesses du Drapeau
#3- Tigres
This is how I see the ranking as of today, but next week I can bet you they look different.
Final Thoughts
Only a couple of days until we all get back out there and after years of being banged up and hurt, I am finally healthyish, so you all better watch out.
Since last season, I’ve lost weight, been kneed in the head, punched in the face, and I was even stabbed (ed’s note: I said I was sorry!).
I do have a witness to the stabbing, but I survived and will be back better than ever (ed’s note: after meeting Kevin, the witness agreed to state under oath that Kevin was, in fact, the stabber).
I have also decided to stop being a nice guy on the field and will start to play seriously this season. I will be talking silly talk and backing it up. I’m going to be Andrew just bigger, stronger, and I’d say faster, but don’t want him to feel inferior to me in multiple ways (ed’s note: or potentially die from laughter).
With this being week 1 and no one playing for the last few weeks or months, you know someone is going to over do it and pull a muscle. This is your reminder that it’s week 1, so take it easy. You still have 9 more games plus playoffs, so don’t get injured in week 1. (ed’s note: nuts to that! Go all out! You only live once, so make it as short and painful as possible!)
Before you go, remember that we are playing a game that is meant to bring us fun and joy, so go out enjoy your time on the field and don’t kill anyone. See you all Saturday.