Columnist Sal DeFilippo: XFL contenders shooting for ‘Million Dollar’ opportunity

Sal DeFilippo

Friday, April 6, 2001 | 9:18 a.m.

Sal DeFilippo's pro football picks column appears Friday. Reach him at sal@ lasvegassun.com or 259-4076.

I'm not surprised that the XFL finally has given its championship game a name, removing the original working title, The Big Game at the End.

That had to go. But did it really take 9 1/2 weeks -- without Kim Basinger, might I add -- to carefully craft and sculp the precise metamorphosis of wording that has transformed the name of the XFL championship to ... The Million Dollar Game?

For those curious, the name stems from the million-dollar bonus that will be split by the team that wins the April 21 contest. And, to be fair, it does sound a heck of a lot better than The Twenty-Five Thousand Dollar Per Man Game.

The teams competing in TMDG aren't decided yet, obviously, but the playoff matchups are nearly set.

Orlando is in as the top seed. The Rage will host the San Francisco/Los Angeles loser; the winner will host either Chicago or New York/New Jersey. The Enforcers can reach postseason play with a win in their regular-season finale, or a loss by the Hitmen.

For the record

A 1-3 weekend against the number puts the season ledger at 17-17-2.

Saturday's games

SAN FRANCISCO +6 at Los Angeles -- Rematch from the season's opening week, when the Demons won on a last-second field goal. The winner is the Western Division champ. Too many points. Los Angeles 26, San Francisco 22.

MEMPHIS +4 1/2 at Las Vegas -- Neither team has much to play for, aside from the $2,500 per-man bonus for the winners. The Outlaws routed the Maniax earlier this season, but Memphis is finishing stronger behind Jim Druckenmiller. Memphis 22, Las Vegas 16.

Sunday's games

BIRMINGHAM +2 vs. New York/New Jersey -- The Thunderbolts' close the season by stopping their six-game skid. Birmingham 22, New York/New Jersey 12.

ORLANDO +1 at Chicago -- The Rage has the home-field advantage clinched, but the per-game bonus still gives the team something to play for. Orlando 21, Chicago 19.