NLL Crystal Ball: Week 14

I went 4-1 last week. So I'm at 31-24 for the season. It's a pretty straightforward week for picks, which makes me nervous.

This Week's Picks

1. Minnesota at Philadelphia
1. Wings. The longer I think about this, the more I want to take the Swarm. Minnesota have no business winning this game, but a 2-0 weekend for Philadelphia seems preposterous. Plus, this seems like a week where everyone is going to pick the same thing and there are going to be surprises and if I want to increase my lead, then I need to pick the right surprises. 
2. Rochester at Calgary
1. Roughnecks. A Knighthawks win would be the biggest surprise of the week.
3. Edmonton at Toronto
1. Rock. Things seem to be Rosey, and Toronto is living up to its advanced Billings. Call me crazy, but I had Billings ahead of Leblanc for Rookie of the Year in 2010. I've always been a big fan of his game, because his shot and his pass are both precise.
4. Philadelphia at Buffalo
1. Wings. Second game in two days for Philadelphia versus a Buffalo team that seems to have had as many brawls as wins this season. One of those numbers will increase, and it won't the wins.

Favourites to Win the Cup
The opening round of the playoffs, if they started today, look like a bunch of blowouts in the making, but the division finals and finals all look like fantastic games.

1. (2) Calgary (would beat Edmonton, Colorado and Philadelphia)
1. By virtue of the divisional record tiebreaker, Calgary has overtaken Colorado for top spot in the league.
2. (1) Colorado (would beat Minnesota and lose to Calgary)
1. As of right now, that West Division final looks like it's shaping up to be the clash of the best teams in the league.
3. (3) Philadelphia (would beat Buffalo and Toronto before losing to Calgary)
1. The East is theirs to lose, and there's still a better than average chance that they will.
4. (5) Toronto (would beat Rochester and lose to Philadelphia)
1. They seems to have turned things around ... but as everyone knows, all it takes are three wins in a row at the exact right time.
5. (4) Minnesota (would lose to Colorado)
1. If they don't get Benesch back, they might end the season exactly where we all thought they would.
6. (6) Rochester (would lose to Toronto)
1. That Buffalo is within striking distance has got to be as discouraging as the fact that Philadelphia is still in striking distance.
7. (9) Edmonton (would lose to Calgary)
1. A playoff matchup with Calgary has got to be the last thing Edmonton wants.
8. (7) Buffalo (would lose to Philadelphia)
1. When they promoted the new rules, I called the 3-goal release "the anti-Goondits rule and figure that it costs Buffalo a game or two in 2012. I don't see anyone crying." Bang-on!
9. (8) Washington (not in the playoff picture)
1. They've been here most of the season. People thought I was crazy dropping them to the basement of the power-rankings in week five. You can't win the Championship Cup if you don't make the playoffs. It's that simple.

Magic Numbers
The league is finally on top of this, so there's not much point in my continuing with it.