Need advice for a 12-team league. (1 Viewer)

[Titans_fan]

I am the commissioner of a formerly 14-team league that is retracting down to 12-teams. Trying to figure out the best scenario for divisions and playoff teams.

My inital thought was 3 division with 4 teams each. Each division winner makes the playoffs and 1 wild-card team. The team with the most total points gets in if that team didn't win a division. Otherwise, the team with the best record of the non-division winners makes it as a wild-card team.

Another owner suggested the following. 4 divisions with 3 teams each and 8 teams making the playoffs. I think 8 is WAY too many, but what about 6? 4 division winners and 2 wild-card teams, with the same criteria (total points vs. record) stated above. 2 teams recieve bye first round of playoffs.

Looking for input on how some other 12-team leagues are run. I think this is probably the most common league size, so I think some new or interesting approaches would be a worthy topic.

TIA!

 

[cdwood]

My preference for 12 team leagues is to have 3 divisions of 4 teams, makes for an easy 14 week regular season with 2 weeks of playoffs. The winner from each division plus 1 wild card team make the playoffs. If there are 2 teams with the identical record for the wild card team, give it to the team that scored the most points during the regular season.

 

[Ray Pollett]

In the 12 teamers I do we use 3 divisions of 4. 3 division winners and next 3 best teams as wild cards. Season weeks 1-13. 2 teams with best record have a bye first week of playoffs(week 14). Winners of the 2 games first week play one of the teams on bye the first week(week 15). Final week the 2 winners in wek 15 play for championship in week 16.

 

[flranger]

If you can talk the guys into double headers, I'd recommend:

3 divisions of 4 teams

play 1 team first week

weeks 2-13 play two each

you end up with 3 games against each team in your division, 2 against each team in the other divisions (total of 25 games).

Footballguys schedule generator has this option. If looking for a league that allows doubleheaders, try fanball.com.

At that point, we chose to go 8 in the playoffs, but you could just as easily do 6. I enjoy 8 as it keeps it interesting for everyone. Sure it devalues the regular season a little, but if that was all that mattered then there would be no need for the playoffs.

I liken it to the NFL............if regular season was all that mattered then the Steelers were a nobody last year. Let as many as reasonable in the playoffs, give everyone hope.

Good luck.

 

[Marc Levin]

I like ours - 12 teams, 3 divisions of four each, division winners get in automatically, seeded one through three by records and then tie breakers.

The next two WCs = best records regardless of division, and then tibreakers.

The last WC spot is the team that is not otherwise in the playoffs but has the most overall points.

The alternative is to have three divisions of four each and switch to overall points determining 1-6 getting in.