The twelfth season of Fantasy League Football kicks off with an Eastern Division battle between the defending division champion Jody's C.W.O.T. and the Naughty Figs.

2007 was a bittersweet year for the Colossal Waste of Time. While they indeed won their record fifth Eastern Division title, they also lost their record fifth Super Bowl, being once again pummeled by the Anderson Brewmeisters 35-7. Even though they've yet to prove they can win the big game, they have solidified themselves as annual contenders for the crown. The past three seasons have produced three winning records, three Championship Week berths, and two Super Bowl appearances. Already sporting a stout backfield with Carson Palmer, Steven Jackson, Earnest Graham, and Frank Gore, Jody used the 2008 draft to bolster the receiving corps and rebuild the defense, using a first-round pick on the Bears.

For as good as the C.W.O.T. have been over the past three years, the Naughty Figs have been just a bad, finishing the the last three seasons as the Number 8, 9, and 8 seed, respectively. Their combined regular season record during that run is 14-25, the worst in the league by a half game (the second-worst is revealed further down). It's a tired refrain, but the Figs have only been to the playoffs once in their eight seasons in the FLF. Hoping to turn all that around, the Figs come into 2008 with upgraded defense and special teams and a new signal-caller behind center. Former C.W.O.T.-er Jay Cutler replaces long-time Fig Matt Hasselbeck and will get the start against his former team.

The FIgs have dropped five of their last six against the Pewter & Black, but that lone victory came during Kickoff Weekend a year ago. The Figs are hoping that sliver of history repeat itself while Jody tries to shake off its Super Bowl hangover and post its first opening week win since 2005.

victims of the bye week: none

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The first interdivisional matchup of the new season pits the Piana Raze against the Sims Stereco. Two seasons ago, these two clubs met during Championship Week, with the Raze winning and advancing to (and ultimately winning) the Super Bowl. While the Raze returned to the playoffs last season, the Stereco fell hard and fast from that 2006 run, finishing the regular season with only four wins and landing themselves in the 2007 Draft Bowl.

The silver lining of last season's disappointing campaign was their Draft Bowl victory over The Pimps, which allowed the Stereco to select Darren McFadden with the first overall pick. Sims also traded for Brandon Jacobs in the offseason to further strengthen a running game that had only one real threat in Joseph Addai.

The Raze also made an offseason trade, dealing Ryan Grant and the Giants defense to the Abstract Machines for Ben Roethlisburger, Marvin Harrison, and the Ravens D. Big Ben is a welcome addition to the Raze offense, which started four different QBs – with very little success – last season. Piana also carries six running backs into the new season, hoping one or two will emerge to bolster a weakening ground game.

victims of the bye week: none

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The defending Western Division Champion Thomas' Bock Boys host the Abstract Machines in the first of two Western Division tilts on the Week 1 slate. It's also the only matchup of the week featuring two playoff teams from a year ago.

Indeed, the Machines made the playoffs last season for the fifth consecutive year (and third straight as the No. 5 seed). Yet Tom Brady and company were doubled up out of the postseason by P.W.O.P. in the Wild Card Round, 65-32. The Machines retooled in the offseason by trading for Ryan Grant and the Giants D, and then drafted several young receivers for increased depth at that position.

The Bock Boys were the story of the 2007 season. In 2006 they were Draft Bowl losers sporting a 3-10 final record; a year later they went 10-3 to win the West and lock up the No. 1 overall seed. Their dream season came to an end during Championship Week, however, when the Anderson Brewmeisters knocked them off 27-21 in Bockville. The core last year's team returns intact, with the offensive reigns being handed over to David Garrard.

The Bock Boys went a very impressive 7-1 against their divisional opponents last season. That one loss, however, was at the hands of the Machines right here at Bockyard Stadium.

victims of the bye week: none

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Pirk's Wicked Oil Profiteer$ visit the Hellhole and the Irwin Hellions in the second Western Division battle. The fortunes of these two franchises have turned noticeably, with the Profiteer$ making the playoffs each of the past two seasons, and the Hellions – owners of three Lombardi trophies – currently on a two-year postseason drought.

Last season, P.W.O.P. used a late season surge to go from 3-6 to 7-6 and into the franchise's second-ever Championship Week appearance. Jody's C.W.O.T. crushed the Profiteer$' Super Bowl aspirations with a 52-2 beating, however. Knowing Tony Romo and a talented receiving corps can only take them so far, Pirk drafted four running backs. Seizing an opportunity, they even traded their first round selection (Kevin Smith) the the Hellions in exchange for multiple picks.

Much like P.W.O.P., Irwin is in desperate need of a stronger running game, hence the Smith trade. Also like their Oil Town rivals, they too drafted three other running backs. Time will tell if any of these selections pan out, but if the Hellions are to break back into the postseason picture for the first time since 2005, they certainly need at least to.

victims of the bye week: none

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The defending Super Bowl Champion Anderson Brewmeisters host The Pimps in the opening weekend's Game of the Week. These two teams were separated by just two-and-a-half games in the final Eastern Division standings last season, but one sneaked into the playoffs as the No. 6 seed (and won it all) while the other hosted the Draft Bowl.

In fact, the 2007 Brewmeisters needed season-ending wins over the Figs and Stereco to secure a winning record and make it to the dance before blitzing through Piana, Thomas, and Jody to win their first league title since 1999. The very powerful core of Peyton Manning, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Brian Westbrook return, and the champs added Plaxico Burress to an already formidably receiving corps. The biggest question of the season: Can the Brew Krew make it to unprecedented three straight Super Bowls?

The Pimps are looking to fight their way out of the Eastern Division cellar. Like the Figs, they've missed out on the playoffs in each of the past three seasons (although, record-wise, they're a half-game better at 14-24-1 over that span). Thankfully, things are looking up for the Feathered Ones. Adrian Peterson has emerged as force in the backfield, and The Pimps now sport the deepest contingent of QBs in the league. Perhaps hoping to capture some of that Super Bowl magic, they drafted two players – Derek Anderson and Kevin Curtis – who were Brewmeisters last season. Will they provide the inside information that will allow The Pimps to stuns the champs? Only one way to find out...

Let the games begin.

victims of the bye week: none

back to scoreboard