It’s Semifinal Week! This weekend we can expect top-tier football games, which the ELF Live Show hosts predict will be super exciting. The matchup between Rhein Fire and Stuttgart Surge (Sunday, 15.15 CET) not only brings together two high-class franchises but also serves as a rematch of last season's Championship Game.

According to ELF expert Matt Bressington, we could be in for a game just as high-level as last season. "Both rosters have barely changed. I mean, they are Championship Game rosters, so why would they?"

"Stuttgart's defense is definitely better than last year"

However, he believes it will again be difficult for the Surge to come up with a successful game plan against Rhein Fire’s strong and versatile defense. "They tried to force Rhein Fire into relying on one strength on offense - Jadrian (Clark). But Jadrian proved in last year’s Championship Game that he could handle it, so it’s going to be tough for the Surge to plan against that."

There has, however, been a significant upgrade in the Surge’s defense, which should give Stuttgart even more hope. "Their defense is definitely better than last year; they’ve got Fettig and Raheem, both All-Star defensive backs." Despite this reinforcement, Bressington chose Rhein Fire in the Pick'em, saying: "I think Rhein Fire is gonna win this game."

Tune in!

The next ELF Live show will take place on Tuesday at 12 PM, where host Nick Alfieri and ELF expert Matt Bressington will recap the semifinals and discuss the MVP nominees. If you want to join in, tune in on our YouTube, Twitch, or Instagram channels.

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