2019 World League Conference Championships
Conference Championship Games
WEST
The 2019 Western Conference Championship is a rematch of the 2018 Game between the AF#14 City of Champions (8-6-0) and the AF#53 Mexico Aztecs (8-5-0). Last season, City of Champions were the Cinderella story of the World League, going from a last place 2017 finish to the #1 seed in the 2018 Western Conference playoffs, and then rolling over Mexico 89-49 at home in the frozen tundra of Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium on their way to World Bowl 7. The Aztec’s, though are this year’s #1 seed and will host the Championship at Estadia Azteca where whether won’t be the factor it was in 2018. It’s the 2nd Western Conference Championship to be held in Mexico City in 3 years and the Aztecs’ third consecutive trip to the Conference Game.
|
City of Champions Rollers |
VS | Mexico Aztecs |
| AF#14 | AF RANK |
AF#53 |
|
8-6-0 |
RECORD | 8-5-0 |
| 50-59-0 | ALL TIME |
52-46-0 |
|
6-4-0 |
HEAD TO HEAD | 4-6-0 |
| OVER/UNDER:
177 |
|
|
|
+13 |
SPREAD | -13 |
| W 154 | FINAL |
69 |
EAST
Milan’s San Siro Stadium has hosted a long list of iconic matches in its nearly 100 year history, and the city is abuzz as it prepares to host one more that’s destined to be an instant legend. The AF#5 Milan Wild Boars (11-2-0) turned around a nearly last in the league 2018 showing, and through aggressive offseason trading and a stellar draft have dominated World League headlines through the 2019 season. They’ve stumbled only twice – an unexpected upset in week 8 to League Rookie Toronto, and in their season finale to the team they’ll be facing in the Eastern Conference Championship. The AF#6 Old England Patriots (11-3-0) are the 2018 Eastern Conference winners and defending World Champions, and despite playing in the Boars’ media shadow all season, managed to outscore them on the season by about 20 points and defeated their rival and 2019 Regular Season points leader AF#2 London Falling (8-4-0) to get to the Championship. England is the home to this year’s World Bowl 8 and the Patriots would like to be playing more than just host to the event. Having beaten Milan 88-79 in Week 13, they’ll need to beat them one more time to get there. This one may be the most highly anticipated match in World League history.
|
Milan Wild Boars |
VS | Old England Patriots |
| AF#5 | AF RANK |
AF#6 |
|
11-2-0 |
RECORD | 11-3-0 |
| 22-17-0 | ALL TIME |
76-39-0 |
|
1-2-0 |
HEAD TO HEAD | 2-1-0 |
| OVER/UNDER:
186 |
|
|
|
+10 |
SPREAD | -10 |
| 105 | FINAL |
W 114 |
Wild Card Round
In the Western Conference, defending Conference Champion the City of Champions Oilers (7-6-0) are playing host to the Western Points Wild Card Youngstown Mafia (6-7-0) at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium where they are undefeated in the post season. The weather is expected to be clear, but cold with a high of only 12 degrees farenheit (-11 celcius), and fans expect the temperature to be tougher than any 12th man on Youngstown in their first ever playoff appearance.
Western Conference Wild Card Game
|
City of Champions |
VS | Youngstown Mafia |
|
AF#16 |
AF RANK | AF#70 |
|
7-6-0 |
RECORD | 6-7-0 |
|
49-59-0 |
ALL TIME |
14-12-0 |
| 2-1-0 | HEAD TO HEAD |
1-2-0 |
| +8 | SPREAD |
-8 |
| W 138 | FINAL |
78 |
| GAMECENTER |
|
Eastern Conference Wild Card Game
Across the water in the Eastern Conference, London is buzzing as the oldest and fiercest rivalry in the World League prepares for one more playoff showdown. The Old England Patriots (10-3-0) and rival London Falling (9-4-0) have faced off lots over the seasons, but only once before have they met in the playoffs, and that was last year in the Eastern Conference Championship Game – England won that one in route to their World Championship. This year’s Wild Card Match, though not a Conference Championship, has English World League fans thrilled none-the-less, particularly Patriots fans who will be hosting London again at Emerates Stadium, same as last year, and expecting the same results. The Falling though, 2019’s total scoring leader, have set a League Regular Season Scoring Record with their 1,513 points, are going to be hard to stop.
|
Old England Patriots |
VS | London Falling |
|
AF#5 |
AF RANK | AF#1 |
| 10-3-0 | RECORD |
9-4-0 |
|
75-39-0 |
ALL TIME | 63-52-0 |
| 6-4-0 | HEAD TO HEAD |
4-6-0 |
|
+1 |
SPREAD |
-1 |
| W 117 | FINAL |
115 |