Big Deke Energy (-120)
Red Eyed Peas (-120)
Over 8.0 (-120)
Under 8.0 (-120)
Notes: An elite matchup between two of the elite teams in the league. You may say “of course, they’re in the final four” but sometimes the best teams dont make it due to a combination of attendance, injuries, luck and general cursing from the gods. But this time they did and we can all rejoice. The initial power ranks had yellow ranked 3rd and red all the way down at 7th, but yellow finished 4th (but would have been 2nd with just one more point) while red finished 1st. This is probably the line with the greatest disparity between public opinion and the actual listed odds possibly in playoff history.
Generally when you see a difference that stark it’s because of injury/absence but both teams should be at full strength tonight and while three times as many people picked red as yellow to advance, I have this game as a dead heat. Both teams boast depth but in different ways; red has more depth in terms of more good players and less newbies, but yellow has more elite men at the top. Lady-wise, the disparity is stark: red has Cara and Cherie, two of the best ladies in the league’s history and likely the best tandem of all time while yellow’s ladies are solid but not at that level, especially if Lily ghosts Mel. And both teams have underappreciated, probably underrated goalies as Corey has had one of this best seasons ever for yellow while Jacob Green won his first ever #1 goalie award this season for red. This is going to be an absolute war and I could really see it going either way. Yellow I think has a better team top-to-bottom and more high-end skill, but red has the edge in experience, leadership and playoff know-how. I’m staying away but if you absolutely must, yellow would be the pick.
Bluebies (-2.0 Goals) (-250)
On Tuesdays We Wear Pink (+2.0 Goals) (+165)
Over 7.5 Goals (EVEN)
Under 7.5 Goals (-145)
Notes: This was set to be one of the most exciting games of the playoffs, a rematch of pink cooking a shorthanded blue team on a cold Friday night that ended in a haze of shots at Dorrian’s and lots of sex for everybody (I assume). But tonight pink will be without their top two draft picks as both Stern and Jo are out of town. So is pink cooked? Probably, but not so fast. They still have Jeff Green in net, Hilary’s work trip was cancelled and they have a lot of speed and grit, as pink teams usually do. And, as Jake reminded me earlier this week, they also have a lot of players who have won the D5 cup before. Still…the public wasn’t giving them much of a chance before and they certainly won’t be doing so now.
The key for each time will be in net where two of the league’s best face off: Jeff Green for pink and Let’s Go Phelps for blue. Pink does have a lot of speed and could cause problems for the Bluebies but i think a full strength blue team is going to be too much for an undermanned squad. Bluebies by twobies. Don’t worry, that’s the last time I get to make that joke.
Bluebies (-120)
Big Deke Energy (+200)
Red Eyed Peas (+200)
On Tuesdays We Wear Pink (+1000)
Over 5.5 Goals (EVEN)
Under 5.5 Goals (-145)
Notes: Public opinion has red as the favorite with blue slightly lagging behind. Somehow, very few people picked yellow and even less picked pink, even before the absence news came out.
Pink would be right up there with the other teams had they iced a full squad. Without their big scorers, however, they’re getting 10 to 1 and it’s pretty even between the other three teams. Should be a night to remember. See ya @ Dorrian’s.
BONUS LINES
Grand Salami (Total Goals On The Night)
Over 20.0 (-110)
Under 20.0 (-130)
Will Anyone Score A Hat Trick?
Yes (+150)
No (-240)
Who Will Score More Points Tonight?
Ryan Levine + Tarnow (+140)
Corey + Chad (-200)
Who Will Score More Points Tonight?
Brita (-120)
Cherie (-120)
Will Any Game Go To OT?
Yes (+165)
No (-250)