Last One In, First One Out

by Alana Klein

This weekend’s games

• Oceanside Stealth @ Michigan Arsenal
  • This time it counts for Michigan, but they’ve already clinched the tiebreakers over Beaumont &/or Washington. This is also Oceanside’s last chance to get that elusive 2nd win. It would have to be a great feeling for Oceanside to bookend their season with a final W.
    
• Beaumont Renegades @ Minnesota Monsters
  • In what once seemed like a snowball’s chance in hell, Beaumont controls their own destiny. If the Renegades can pull off the upset, they get the 6-seed. If they lose, Washington stumbles in through the back door. Being locked in at 3, Minnesota could very well rest their starters, which would no doubt make things easier for Beaumont.

PLAYOFFS?! Don’t talk about playoffs!

I realize that Michigan has already clinched the 5-seed, but I chose to show how the tiebreaker scenarios work (which includes a potential 3-team tie).

Scenario 1: Michigan & Beaumont both win

• Records would be: Michigan (6-6), Beaumont (5-7), Washington (5-7)
• Michigan gets the 5 based on overall record.
• Beaumont gets the 6 based on head-to-head margin of victory over Washington (lost 1st game by 1 point, won 2nd game by 7).

Scenario 2: Michigan wins & Beaumont loses (the simplest scenario!)

• Records would be: Michigan (6-6), Washington (5-7), Beaumont (4-6)
• Michigan gets the 5 based on overall record.
• Washington gets the 6 based on overall record.

Scenario 3: Michigan loses & Beaumont wins (AKA the triple-threat cage match)

• Records would be: Michigan (5-7), Beaumont (5-7), Washington (5-7)
• Michigan gets the 5 based on best “net total points” (points scored – points allowed). [The head-to-head records are skipped because Beaumont & Michigan did not play each other.]
• Beaumont gets the 6 based on head-to-head margin of victory over Washington (lost 1st game by 1 point, won 2nd game by 7). [With Michigan advancing, the tiebreakers revert back to the 2-team tiebreaker.]

Scenario 4: Michigan & Beaumont both lose

• Records would be: Michigan (5-7), Washington (5-7), Beaumont (4-6)
• Michigan gets the 5 based on head-to-head record vs. Washington (won only meeting).
• Washington gets the 6 based on overall record