2025 Northeast Conference Bracket Preview

We go from the Elite Eight to the Terrific Twelve this season as Battle Bowl has been expanded. Hence, we’ll be getting more first time matches. Gordon Pepper will break down the Northeast Conference.

For those of you who liked my Top 50’s – thank you. For those of you who hated them…well…you may not enjoy yourself any more here, but let’s break down the bracket.

Last Year
Posts-Season District Records
NJ Shore: 10-4
PA South: 8-5
NWNJ: 5-3
NENJ: 2-4
NJ South: 1-5

The narrative has traditionally been that the New Jersey Northwest rules the playoffs…that is until last year, when Train Wreck said ‘Bleep the Narrative’ and got all the way to the title match. They were joined at Battle Bowl by Secret Society, and the expanded playoff system means that a third team will be joining the party. Can the NJNW (which has migrated into New Jersey North) get back to their dominance? Or will this season continue the parity that was enjoyed in 2024?

QUADRANTS RANKED BY DIFFICULTY

Hardest Quadrant: #1 (Top)
If you’re a new team making their debut, this is almost as ugly as it gets. The #1 seed Hills Have Eyes may wind up playing the National Runner Up Train Wreck in the second round. Meanwhile, Murder Inc (who has won the whole thing before) is awaiting the winner of that potential match-up….but who wouldn’t be salivating a match between them and ex district mates Pocket Kingz in round 2?

First Round Match to Watch: Pocket Kingz Vs. Usual Suspects

Medium Quadrant: #2 (Middle)
The bottom half of this quadrant is absolutely filthy. If Secret Society wants to get back to the promised land, they need to defeat either a Bullet Proof team that wants to take the next step, or a Da Garden Foundation team that has already been there (and has a lot of shiny titles to show for it). And that’s only if they can defeat AC Express, who has World Champion Keith Perry waiting to lead his team to glory.

The top four teams in this quadrant have had a tremendous amount of success in the regular season but has either had a bad draw or have choked and cooked the chicken worse than Colonel Sanders with a flamethrower. One of those teams will be able to shed that label off of themselves with a nice run.

First Round Match to Watch: Secret Society Vs. AC Express

Wide Open Quadrant: #2 (Middle)
Like the top Quadrant, we see a potential of two ex NWNJ teams going after each other in round 2. This time, it’s X-It Woundz (who are annoyed they didn’t make the Top 50, so watch out), Vs. Dead Flush (who won the NJ Central) though Dead Flush can’t overlook Dysfunctional Bowlers and Raul Renteria, who holds a lot of WCS gold.

The other side of the Quadrant features four ‘relatively’ new teams. I say relatively because some of them have had a taste of the post-season, but not as much success as the bottom half of this quadrant. For one of those teams, that narrative will change after this weekend.

First Round Match to Watch: Dysfunctional Bowlers Vs. Dead Flush

Sleeper Team: Every year I always ask why X-It Woundz is seeded so low, as if they play just to get in and then turn it up come July. I have that same vibe this year as well.

Hot Take: The top teams were gone at the end of round 2 last season. Expect that trend to hold, with the chalk being obliterated.