 | No. 1 Jellypop Fighters 888 points 8-5-0 record |
| No. 4 T-Bird2 865 points 6-5-2 record |  |
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Locale: The Playpen, replete with mobiles hanging from the retractable roof and padding on all four walls!
Head-2-head: Who could forget the 73-70 win T-Bird2 pulled out in Week 2? In the all-time department, the Big 'Bird owns a 2-1 edge.
Postseason history: Inaugural postseason meeting between these two clubs. The Fightin' Jellies are coming of their first-ever playoff win and are looking to make their first Tech Bowl appearance at the expense of the team that won the first-ever Tech Bowl in 1996.
The line: Fighters by 2.
How Jellypop Fighters can win: If winter shows up. T-Bird2 has a preponderance of cold-weather players on his team. Chickens don't like it cold. They like it at about 400 degrees for 60 minutes, smothered in a hollandaise sauce (remembering to turn over after about 30 minutes). It doesn't hurt that the Rams are playing the clueless Panthers, either. Faulk and Holt should combine for about 40 points and 700 yards against that porous defense.
How T-Bird2 can win: If Donovan McNabb plays like Donovan the singer (he of "Mellow Yellow" fame). McNabb has had two 0-point outings this year and one 4-pointer. A stinker like that against the vaunted 49ers defense, which has recorded two shutouts in the last three weeks, would spell doom for the Fighters. Ricky Watters' broken ankle couldn't come at a better time for Shaun Alexander and T-Bird2, who continue to get as many breaks as the Tar Heels do from the referees (this year, it still won't matter, because they really suck).
Prediction: After eking into the semis thanks to a controversial tie against the Weatherbubbas, the T-Birds get their comeuppance. Fighters continue their quest to match Ron Batcho's record of an expansion team winning a Tech Bowl title in its second year.
What's next for the victor: Winner of No. 2 Gamblers vs. No. 6 Carolina Killers.
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Locale: Dave's Casino and Resort (OK, all they have are video poker machines, the only gambling legal in S.C.)
Head-2-head: The Killers won a battle for the ages in Week 4, 65-48. That's basically the theme for this rivalry: CK is 4-0 all-time.
Postseason history: They've never met in the playoffs. The Gambler is 1-1 in postseason play; da Killahs have a long and storied playoff history that climaxes with a Season II Tech Bowl title.
The line: Gamblers by 11.
How the Gamblers can win: It all depends on Peyton Manning. If he has another good passing game, that'll open it up for Dominic Rhodes. The Dolts are at home against the Jets, a team that should be grounded. With Rod Smith out of the lineup, Dave will have to choose wisely from among Hines Ward, Kevin Dyson, Joe Horn and Darrell Jackson. They are all capable receivers, but it's hard to imagine all four of them scoring points in the same week.
How Carolina Killers can win: The Broncos being off will cost the Gamblers the services of Rod Smith. Steve needs Dave to choose poorly for Smith's replacement. Corey Dillon must also grind up the Ravens' formerly vaunted D, just like the Steelers did last week. It wouldn't hurt if a few drunken Packers fans try to show the Browns that Cleveland isn't the only team with idiotic fans, and a wayward beer bottle mistakenly finds the noggin' of one Brett Favre.
Prediction: CK's miraculous run through the Tech Bowl playoffs ends in an avalanche of touchdowns from the Gamblers' deep lineup, setting up a Tech Bowl showdown for the ages between the league's top two teams in the Playpen.
What's next for the victor: Winner of No. 1 Jellypop Fighters vs. No. 4 T-Bird2.
