How to set up the playoffs?

[niblet]

What are your opinions on how the playoffs in fantasy football should be set up?

Let's say it's a 12 team league, with 2 divisions (A and B), each with 6 teams. The top 2 teams from each division go to the playoffs In which of the following ways should the playoff matchups be set?

-#1 seed of A vs #2 seed of A, #1 seed of B vs #2 seed of B
-#1 seed of A vs #2 seed of B, #1 seed of B vs #2 seed of A
-Overall #1 vs overall #4, overall #2 vs overall #3 (I don't see the point of divisions if it is done this way)
-Other (specify)

[Infidel]

-#1 seed of A vs #2 seed of B, #1 seed of B vs #2 seed of A

Makes the most sense to me. But I think you should consult the ultimate authority of such issues............the BCS. They'll clarify it to everyone's satisfaction.

[Matthias]

-Overall #1 vs overall #4, overall #2 vs overall #3 (I don't see the point of divisions if it is done this way)

I'd do it this way.

The point of the divisions would be that the top two from each division qualify for the playoffs. So it determines who gets in, but then once you're in, you do normal seeding.

[Kilroy]

Division winner with best overall record is #1 seed, other division winner is #2, "Wildcard" with best record is #3, other "Wildcard" is #4.

#1 vs. #4
#2 vs. #3

[tclangham]

#1 seed of A vs #2 seed of B, #1 seed of B vs #2 seed of A

I like this the best. The reason is in the first round of the playoffs you dont have to play someone in your division. Plus there are division bragging rights if the teams in your division make it too the next round.

[benb18a]

I like having a bye better, to reward the teams that were tops in the league. If it's a 12 team or more league, I would prefer a 6 team playoff. But then again that wouldn't work too well with all the studs being rested in week 17. Looks like it's 1 seed vs. 4, 2 vs. 3

[dream_017]

Start playoffs in week 14

Division winners receive first round bye.

Teams 2 & 3 from each division play (week 14)

Winners advance to play the division winner (week 15)

Winner of those games play for the championship (week 16)

[BrutallyHuge]

#1 seed of A vs #2 seed of B, #1 seed of B vs #2 seed of A

I like this the best. The reason is in the first round of the playoffs you dont have to play someone in your division. Plus there are division bragging rights if the teams in your division make it too the next round.

I concur. Also, it's more like real football. NFC meets AFC in the SuperBowl and not before that point.

[Bloody Sox]

Having only 4 out of 12 teams is too few... you end up with half the league out of the mix by Week 9 and you end up with huge mismatches because teams aren't even trying.

With two divisions, I like the division winners getting byes, the next best four teams (regardless of division) getting the other playoff spots. Those four teams get matched by record (best vs. worst, two middle teams), then just bracket from there.

However, this year we did something different. I wanted to keep as many teams interested as long as possible, give lots of teams a chance but still reward regular season success. We did three divisions of 4 teams each. Division winners and Top 5 wildcards get in. Seed by record 1-8, then playoffs like this:

Week 13: 1-4, 2-3, 5-8, 6-7. Losers of 5-8 and 6-7 are eliminated.
Week 14: Losers of 1-4 and 2-3 vs. Winners of 5-8 and 6-7. Winners of 1-4 and 2-3 get byes.
Week 15: Winners of 1-4 and 2-3 get winners from Week 14.
Week 16: Super Bowl.

In this way, the division winners and top wildcard either get a bye or second chance in Week 14, but a low seed can go on a big run and win it all.