1980 World Bowl VII Preview

Can the Memphis Showboats repeat? Can the New Orleans VooDoo prevent yet another loss by the National Conference?

Those are the questions we face heading into Tuesday's World Bowl VII.

Gregory Shea, Memphis

Memphis could become the second team to win back-to-back World Bowls. The Detroit Wheels won World Bowls III and IV.  The Showboats defeated the New Jersey Generals, 34-31, in World Bowl VI.

The only World Bowl victory for the National Conference came in the league's very first season, when the Florida Blazers beat the Chicago Blitz. Oakland's win in World Bowl II began a string of five consecutive victories for the American Conference.

The VooDoo made it to World Bowl III, but lost, 45-0, to the Detroit Wheels.

The only previous meeting of the Showboats and VooDoo came during the 1977 regular season. Memphis won, 36-24, behind 152 yards rushing from Gregory Shea.

The Showboats defeated the Detroit Wheels, 41-27, in this season's American Conference championship game. Antonio Wilson, last year's World Bowl MVP, threw five TD passes and Gregory Shea rushed for 116 yards.

New Orleans halted the Washington Federals' Cinderella run with a 40-28 win in the National Conference championship game. The VooDoo scored the first 19 points of the second half after the teams had fought to a 21-21 tie at intermission.The New Orleans defense twice sacked Washington QB Joe Richardson for safeties.

Memphis RG Jeremy Contreras and LDE Tyler Helton are injured. New Orleans WLB Ramon Boldt (hand) is questionable.