For the first time since 1998, the FLF's League Championship Game will feature a battle between a division champion and a wild card. The second-seeded Piana Raze won the West for the first time since 1998 and dismissed the Irwin Hellions from playoff contention last week, while Thomas' Bock Boys entered the postseason as the No. 4 seed and have fought past P.W.O.P. and Jody to reach Houston.

The Raze rose from the ashes of consecutive Draft Bowls to post an 8-5 record and win the franchise its third Western Division Championship. The division title also won them a much-needed bye to open the postseason tournament. Having lost two straight to end the regular season, Piana rested up during Wild Card Week before stopping the streaking Hellions at En Fuego Field. Now the Raze will play in their second Super Bowl and face a divisional opponent whom they've already beaten twice this season.

Despite those two losses to Piana, it would be hard to argue against the Bock Boys as the Super Bowl VII favorite. They've certainly shown more pop along the way in reaching the league's title game. After suffering losses in Weeks 11 and 12, Thomas rebounded to beat the Machines in Week 13, and then upended the Profiteer$ and Colossal Waste of Time to run their winning streak to three. More impressively, their scoring has increased in each game along the way, from 47 to 51 and then to a season-best 55 last week.

Until last week, Piana hadn't won a playoff game since Super Bowl I. Yet they have won three different Draft Bowls in the seasons since to compile an impressive 6-2 postseason record (which includes a 1-0 mark on Super Sunday). Thomas finally broke past Championship Week after two previous unsuccessful attempts, and the Bockville faithful are heading to Houston in droves. Since the two clubs haven't met in seven weeks, let's see how they match up for Super Bowl VII:

QUARTERBACK

Daunte Culpepper was part of Thomas' inaugural draft class in 2000, and he was on the field for the franchise's opening game, a shocking 39-0 rout over the Raze at Bockyard Stadium. He has had a stellar fourth year, and while he has a tendency to cough up the ball occasionally, he has also hit double-digits in two of his last three games. Piana will counter with either Brad Johnson or one-time Bocker Jake Plummer, both of whom were picked up during the season. Each has been productive in the conservative, ground-based offense, but neither could match Culpepper's explosive potential. Advantage: Thomas

RUNNING BACKS

Two of the best will be on display for this one, as the Bock Boys' Priest Holmes and Piana's Jamal Lewis should each see plenty of carries. Holmes is arguably the league's MVP, and has scored 10 or more points in eight of his past nine starts. Lewis was Thomas' first ever draft pick (third overall in 2000), and he helped lead the Bock Boys to a Championship Week berth in their first year. A season later, he blew out his knee and was released, and he's been with the Raze since last year. Tiki Barber runs with Lewis in the Piana backfield and can be very productive when he hangs onto the ball. Thomas, meanwhile, can choose between Michael Pittman and Thomas Jones to back up Holmes. Jones is the favorite to get the start following his impressive 11-point outing last week. Advantage: Thomas

RECEIVERS

Piana has seven receivers on their active roster, but between injuries and gross under performance, the pickings are actually much slimmer. Season pickups Reggie Wayne and Santana Moss have worked their way into the starting lineup, but the third spot is up for grabs between Donald Driver, Marty Booker, and Johnnie Morton. Thomas has solid starters in Keenan McCardell and tight end Tony Gonzales, but David Boston, Andre Davis, and Curtis Conway are inconsistent at the third spot. Advantage: Even

KICKER

Jeff Wilkins is The Man. Thomas' placekicker leads the league in kicker scoring and has posted double-digit points in each of the last six weeks. Piana made an executive decision late in the season to dump an injured Jason Elam for a healthy Gary Anderson, who's scoring has slid during the season's second half. Advantage: Thomas

DEFENSE

Next to the running backs, this is the most intriguing matchup. Thomas finished the 2002 campaign with both the Eagle and Panther defenses, but salary considerations would force the Bock Boys to clear one off the roster before the draft. Piana swooped in and grabbed the Panthers defense in return for a third round draft pick. In their previous two meeting this season, Piana's Panthers have manhandled Thomas' Eagles twice, 17-7 in Week 4, and then 16-8 in Week 8. With obvious deficiencies on offense, Piana will need another big game from the former Bockers. Advantage: Piana

DR.P's SUPER BOWL ANALYSIS

I'm back, and I just want the record to show that I was half right in my Jody-Thomas Super Bowl prediction. Actually, we got that game a week early, and Thomas showed a lot of character going into the Vortex and blasting past the C.W.O.T.. My apologies to Piana, who I had penciled in at an improved but playoff-less 5-8. They're now 9-5 and have become pretty good at winning ugly games. I think they'll have to make this one as ugly as they can for a shot at the win. Just can't see them wanting to get into a race with the Boys from Bockville.

Of course, the Raze have already knocked off Thomas twice this year. But you know what they say: it's practically impossible to beat a team three times in a single season. The Machines couldn't do it against Irwin, but Thomas -- low and behold -- won a hat trick over P.W.O.P.. Honestly, I don't know if that strengthens the case for Piana or not. But I do know who has Priest Holmes, and that's good enough for me. Thomas 35, Piana 26.

Dr. P is a freelance fantasy football critic and is not affiliated with the FLF.

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