Week 15: semifinal previews

 Dublin Brawlers (7-7) vs. Just a Fantasy (10-4) 

at Warren High School Field, Gurnee, Ill.

Playoff records: Brawlers owner Herigodt (5-3); Fantasy owner Newton (8-8)

Head to head: Fantasy 50, Brawlers 43, week 12

The skinny: Newton earned his fourth division title in Finks history by winning the Bednarik Division, but it was his first since 2009. ... Both the Brawlers and Fantasy have won only one Finger Bowl title. Fantasy won in 2016 and the Brawlers in 2008. ... Brawlers reached the semifinals as the runner-up in the Gifford Division, winning the third tiebreaker over the Spotters to advance. ... What a difference a year makes. Fantasy lost seven consecutive games in 2019, but won seven consecutive matches in 2020. Fantasy's streak ended with a loss in Week 14. 

Projected starters: Brawlers -- Roethlisberger, A. Jones, Carson, Diggs, Metcalf, Crosby. Fantasy -- Herbert, Kamara, Drake, Adams, Jefferson, Carlson.

The pick: Fantasy 45, Brawlers 33

Lockport Distillers (9-5) vs. Chicago Heights Mafia (8-6)

at Sarff Field, Chicago Heights, Ill.

Playoff records: Distillers owner Cassidy (4-5-1); Mafia owner Goff (11-9)

Head to head: Distillers 33, Mafia 31, week 2

The skinny: The Finks League makes its playoff debut on the blue turf at the home of Bloom's Blazin Trojans. Mafia is in its first year as a franchise in the Finks League after dropping its longtime moniker of Serkus Act. ... Mafia owner Goff won the Gifford Division to claim his sixth division title in league history. ... The Distillers won the Finger Bowl in 2011, but Goff won four Finger Bowls in 2009-10, 2014 and 2017 as Serkus Act. With a win, Goff would add to his league record for playoff victories. He is the winningest owner in the playoffs and the only owner with double-digit playoff wins. ... The Distillers kept winning this season despite losing starting QB Brees NO to an injury. Meanwhile, the turning point to the season for Mafia was a Week-7, five-player trade for acquiring QB Rodgers GB from the Triangles. ... The Distillers had four different players this season to earn P.O.W. honors. Mafia star RB Henry TEN was one of two players this season to earn Finks P.O.W. honors at least two times. 

Projected starters: Distillers -- Goff, Cook, Montgomery, Hill, Thielen, McManus. Mafia -- Rodgers, E. Elliott, Henry, Thomas, Kupp, Zuerlein. 

The pick: Distillers 38, Mafia 35