FAT DADDY CA$H’S CORNER
Week 4
After a week off, the Rankings and Predictions are back! Some great games are on tap for this week so let’s get to the action!
FDC
Power Rankings: Week 4
Zeta Conference:
1. Berlin Ballers (3-0)
Last Week: 1
Three Weeks into the season and three sweatless wins for the defending Champs. With lopsided wins against Ice & Fire and Sevilla, QB Dmitri Makarov has emerged as a playmaker for the offense. With a 105.3 QB rating 1,063 yards 5 TDs and just 1 INT, Markarov has led the balanced attack while the still dominating defensive unit does the rest. While a big game with the Musketeers loom, most people in WEPL will be watching with anxious eyes to see the results of the Ballers’ forthcoming scrimmage against MEM.
2. Black Forest Mercenaries (1-0):
Last Week: 5 (+3)
In the first three weeks of the season BFM has blanked the Philharmonics, dominated the Meatballs and edged out the Destroyers making for the most impressive opening to the season for any team in WEPL. Defeating three playoff teams, two in blow out fashions, has boosted the Merc’s stock and put them firmly in the top 3 teams in Zeta. While the early going has been impressive, a tough game with the Pimps is on deck to close out the first quarter of the season.
3. Korb Destroyers (2-1):
Last Week: 2 (-1)
Korb gets bumped down a spot after their narrow 1 point loss to the Mercs. While it’s true there’s another 3-0 team out there, Korb still has one of most talented rosters and coaching staffs in the biz. With the league’s top ranked defensive unit paving the way, Korb is still in line for a top seed and a very deep playoff run. Week 4’s match up with the Meatballs will be a big game as it offers Korb a chance to bounce back from their lone loss and get back on the winning track before tangling with the Pimps and Black Knights.
4. Lyon Dynasty (3-0):
Last Week: 9
The Dynasty get the biggest bump in the rankings this week from 9 to 4 thanks to their hot 3-0 start. Sporting the league’s 11th ranked offense and 6th ranked defense, Lyon has cruised with wins over Sevilla and a convincing thumping of the Musketeers. While skeptics may scoff at Lyon’s opening schedule and call it soft, you can’t control who you play – thus, as one of only three 3-0 teams, they deserve to be in the Top 4. A brutal stretch lies ahead though with four straight games against the Roughnecks, Meatballs, Ballers and Longnecks loom. If the Dynasty can emerge from that scrum 2-2 or 3-1 they would have to become serious contenders for a title run.
5. Rivals Mainboard Pimps (2-1):
Last Week 8 (+3)
The Pimps rebounded from their 45-40 loss to the Monarchs in Week 1 with back to back wins over the Scorgasms and rival Annihilators. While the 51-3 drubbing of Multiple is nothing to write home about, the 34-26 thumping of Antwerp is impressive. The Pimps found their running game in the win while their new QB Para b00n connected on 30 of his 39 pass attempts for 279 yards and 2 TDs. While other teams have struggled to run the football, the Pimps currently boast the league’s number 1 ranked rushing attack and 2nd ranked offensive unit overall. If they can find a way to keep those numbers up against the Black Forest Mercenaries this week, the Pimps could soon find themselves sitting in the Top 4 of the rankings.
6. Stockholm Meatballs (2-1):
Last Week: 4 (-2)
After getting blown out by the Mercs in Week 2, and looking utterly lost in the process, the Meatballs bounced back and stole victory from the jaws of defeat against Rotterdam. The shootout win not only kept the Meatballs’ winning streak against the Roughnecks in tact, it allowed its fans to breathe a sigh of relief as the offense finally woke up. Still, things aren’t all that rosey in Stockholm at the moment as their offense ranks 17th and their normally stout defense a lowly 15th. With Korb and Lyon up next, followed by the Pimps and Ballers, Stockholm has to get healthy fast in order to stay afloat in the playoff race. Going 2-2 or 1-3 over the next four games would be disastrous for a team with high aspirations in Season 7.
7. Antwerp Annihilators: (1-2):
Last Week: 6 (-1)
You might argue that a team that loses two in a row should suffer a bigger drop than Antwerp got – and normally you’d be right. But when both loses come at the hands of Korb and the Pimps and your team continues to sport the league’s number 1 ranked offense and 11th ranked defense, I make an exception. It’s no secret now that the Annihilators have turned a corner since their inauspicious Season 6 debut. However, they can’t be satisfied with just playing better. Now they need to start piling up the Ws. With a string of rookie teams on deck, it’s time for the Annihilators to prove they belong in the Top 8.
8. Rotterdam Roughnecks (1-2):
Last Week: 3 (-5)
The Roughnecks must hate Meatballs. The narrow 1 point loss to Stockholm in Week 3 was a game they should have won had it not been for the Sim Gods forcing 3 costly fumbles – two of which were returned for TDs. While the game was fun to watch, it put Rotterdam in a slight hole after their impressive opening win over the Wujax. Now, with Lyon, Berlin and PPP on deck it’s almost desperation time for the powerful Roughnecks. They need to win 2 of these next 3 games to have a shot at a Top 4 seed come playoff time. Going 0-3 will put the Roughnecks in big, big hole.
9. Grass Root Divots (2-1):
Last Week: 15 (+6)
Making me eat my words, the Divots have atoned for their pre-season woes by ripping off two impressive wins over the Longnecks and the Rippers. With the rebuilding Multiple up next, a third win is more than likely putting the Divots at a comfy 3-1 potentially. While it seems the Divots have finally “started”, the road is about to get a lot tougher and we’ll soon see just how good these Divots really are. With a brutal stretch upcoming against Antwerp, BFM, Korb and the Pimps, the Divots will have plenty of chances to make some real noise and make me look bad once again.
10. PPP Longnecks (1-2):
Last Week: 7 (-3)
The Longnecks started the year 0-2 with upset losses to E-City and the Divots. They rebounded slightly in Week 3 by knocking off the pesky Ice & Fire 29-27. The win wasn’t the resounding drubbing that PPP had hoped for, but at this point, they’ll take all the wins they can get, no matter how ugly. The Longnecks running game, like all WEPL teams, has suffered greatly at the start of the season and the pressure will be on QB Levi Jackson and the coaching staff to adjust quickly. With two winnable games up next the Longnecks need to get above .500 before starting their run against Rotterdam, Lyon, Berlin and Stockholm – a stretch that will potentially make or break the ‘Necks’ playoff chances.
11. Paris Musketeers (1-2):
Last Week: 13 (+2)
The Musketeers have gone 1-1 over the past 2 weeks with a big win over the Roughnecks followed by a blowout loss to the Dynasty. The streaky nature of the Musketeers and their subsequent jump up in the rankings signifies just how muddled the bottom 6 spots are in Zeta. In particular slots 11-14 are so close that you could make a case for any of the remaining teams to get a nod. Still, I’m placing Paris here based on their talent and their impressive win over the Roughnecks. I have faith Paris can stack up some wins in the future, but with the Ballers on deck it most likely won’t start this week.
12. Ice & Fire (1-2):
Last Week: 10 (-2)
This might be too harsh of a drop for Ice & Fire considering their two losses came at the hands of Berlin (who beats everybody) and a narrow 2 point loss to the Longnecks who many pick to be a Top 5 club by the end of the season. Still, I had to give Paris the nod thanks to their win over Rotterdam and I couldn’t drop Ice & Fire behind the unknown commodities of the Rippers and Black Knights. The good news is Ice & Fire will have a chance to prove me right if they can knock off the Rippers in Week 4 and get to .500.
13. London Rippers (1-2):
Last Week 14 (+1)
The Rippers are still stumbling a bit in their WEPL debut. While they aren’t staggering as much as a drunken hobo with a fresh bottle of hooch, they are more like a toddler who just had a sip of his dad’s whiskey. Over the course of their first 3 games, the Rippers have faced only fellow rookie WEPL teams and emerged with a 1-2 record. Their only win came at the expense of the Black Knights while they got pounded by the Divots and Grizzlies. I really don’t know what to make of the Rippers yet – it could be they are struggling to adjust to the sim changes like some other prominent teams, or it could be that they are just a middle of the road team in Season 7. Games against Ice & Fire and Sevilla will give them a chance to cut their teeth against some WEPL veterans
14. Edinburgh Black Knighs (1-2):
Last Week 11 (-3)
The Black Knights got their first win of the year at the expense of the rebuilding Scorgasms. The 59-14 win was nice for stats but doesn’t do much to improve the Knights standings in Zeta at the moment. After a close loss to the Blitz in Week 1, the Knights followed up with a stinker against the Rippers, casting doubt about where they really belong in these rankings. With the Annihilators, BFM, Korb, Pimps, Stockholm and Divots all up next, the Knights are staring a potential 1-8 start to their WEPL careers right in the face. Of course, since I am still uncertain about the Knights, it is possible they can steal 2 or 3 of those 5 games and put themselves in position to make a late season run.
15. Sevilla Naranjas (0-3):
Last Week: 12 (-3)
Sevilla is a team in trouble. They are stuck in a freefall that began at the end of Season 6. Their losing streak (including the playoffs) reached 10 games with their 38-13 point loss to the Ballers in Week 3. Yikes! While it’s true the Naranjas have had a brutal schedule to open (facing both the Ballers and Dynasty early on), they just haven’t looked sharp enough to warrant me placing them any higher. The truth of the matter is the Naranjas still have plenty of talent and also have a soft closing schedule meaning there is still time to put a run together despite their 0-3 start. But before we can start believing in that miracle, we need to see Sevilla knock off the Longnecks this week.
16. Multiple Scorgasms (0-3):
Last Week: 16
It’s official. The Scorgasms are truly rebuilding. While it’s a shame to see a great franchise start off 0-3, it’s great to see the Scorgasms actually trying to rebuild and remain competitive rather than just auction off the team. And, with the capabilities of the front office, it’s not hard to imagine Multiple making some signings and maybe getting an upset win or two later on in the season. Kudos to the Scorgasms – I just hope the season isn’t too painful down the stretch.
Alpha Conference:
1. Black Watch (3-0):
Last Week: 2 (+1)
Black Watch has picked up where they left off last year as three weeks into the season they sit on the top of the heap with a 3-0 record, the leagues number 4 ranked defense and 3rd ranked rushing attack. With impressive wins over the Divots and Nighthawks, the Watch have looked close to flawless to open the season. Thanks to the Monarchs’ slight stumble last week, they took over the top spot and could remain here for quite some time.
2. London Monarchs (2-1):
Last Week: 1 (-1)
How can I keep London in the top 2 when there are 4, count ‘em 4, 3-0 clubs left in Alpha? Truth is, I’m not sure myself. I’m playing a hunch here. While the Monarchs got upset by the 3-0 Grizzlies last week, I’m not certain if the Grizzlies would win a rematch. And as hot as E-City is at the moment, I’d still place my money on the Monarchs in a head to head showdown. Same with the Deam Bolts. Of course the beauty of the Corner is that when I make predictions like this you all get to tell me how wrong I was when they inevitably come crashing down.
3. Graz Grizzlies (3-0):
Last Week: 9 (+6)
The Grizzlies have looked impressive to open the season. The win over the Monarchs in Week 3 certainly got all the press, but their wins over the Rippers and Dragons were just as impressive. With perhaps the league’s most balanced offense (ranked 5th in the run and 9th in the pass) and a defense ranked 9th in WEPL, the Grizzlies certainly have teeth. A huge match-up with the undefeated Dream Bolts is just the warm up act for the showdown with Black Watch in Week 5.
4. Woodridge Lumberjacks (2-1):
Last Week: 5 (+1)
Another controversial pick here, I know. While the Dream Bolts and E-City are 3-0 and might deserve to be ranked here, the quality of their wins does not impress me enough to overlook what I consider to be the more talented roster of the WuJax. Of course, E-City will have a chance to make me eat my words as the WuJax battle the Mercs in Week 4 in what should be a great game. Still, the WuJax have rebounded from their Week 1 loss to the Roughnecks with two straight dominating victories against the Philharmonic and Red Bandits. A win over E-City would set up the Lumberjacks for a great run as they have a soft second quarter schedule.
5. E-City Mercenaries (3-0):
Last Week: 4 (-1)
I know, I know. How do I drop an undefeated team one spot? It’s not E-City’s fault really, it has more to do with making room for the Grizzlies who I feel have played a tougher schedule and bumping the WuJax up one spot based on talent. Still, despite the slight, the Mercs have looked impressive in the first three weeks as they have put up some great numbers. With the WuJax up next, the Mercs will have a real shot to validate their 3-0 start as well as put themselves in great position as far as a Top 4 seed goes. I can’t wait for that game.
6. Paris Dream Bolts (3-0):
Last Week: 10 (+4)
Paris boasts the league’s top ranked offensive unit and is averaging an incredible 59 points a game. Their defense hasn’t been a slouch either as they are currently ranked 14th in WEPL. So why do I have them ranked 6th? The short answer is stats can be misleading. Despite the high flying nature of their offense, those numbers have come at the expense of the defensively deficient Lake Charles Who Dats, Aggies and Naranjas. This week’s show down with the undefeated Grizzlies will show us a lot more about how good the Dream Bolts truly are than any of those previous 3 wins.
7. Paris Philharmonic (1-2):
Last Week: 8 (+1)
Paris gets a bump and a slight edge over the 2-1 Blitz thanks to their strength of schedule. Their opening week shutout at the hands of BFM was alarming – until BFM continued to embarrass people in Zeta. Paris’s Week 2 loss to the WuJax was not fun either, but then again it’s the WuJax. The Philharmonic got back on track by whooping the Dragons 32-17 in Week 3 and will have a chance to do more damage against the Red Bandits in Week 4. Getting back to .500 will be key for Paris as a big Week 5 showdown with the Monarchs looms. A one-sided loss to the Monarchs would raise some alarm bells once again in the city of lights.
8. Berlin Blitzkrieg (2-1):
Last Week: 3 (-5)
Berlin slides down the charts a bit thanks to their less than impressive 1-1 run over tha past two weeks. When they opened their season with a narrow, 1 point win over the rookie Black Knights I was willing to write it off as rust. But subsequent games have shown me that Berlin, while still a good team, has had the gap closed on them somewhat. A gritty 2 point win over AWC was nice but last weeks 9 point loss to the Nighthawks was somewhat disconcerting. Still, the Blitz are 2-1 and clearly can play with anyone in WEPL. It’s far too early to be overly concerned about their slow start, but with Lake Charles and the Aggies up next it would be reassuring to see the Blitz put up some big offensive numbers against those suspect defenses.
9. Stuttgart Nighthawks (1-2):
Last Week: 11 (+2)
The Nighthawks rebounded from their Week 1 loss to the Annihilators by playing Black Watch tough in a 29-17 point loss and then by upsetting the Blitz 35-26 last week. The big win for the Nighthawks put this playoff team back on the right track as their passing game suddenly found its rhythm. With two winnable games on tap, Stuttgart could get above .500 before their match-up with the WuJax in Week 6.
10. Fightin’ Texas Aggies (1-2):
Last Week: 6 (-4)
As feared, the Aggies opening 55-10 win over Multiple has lost its luster as the Aggies have dropped their last two games. Fortunately, the Aggies lost narrowly to the Monarchs and then got blown out by the undefeated Dream Bolts. The quality of opponents faced is reassuring somewhat to the Aggie fans, but with brutal games coming up against Black Watch and the Blitz, the outlook is bleak.
11. Toulouse Aviators (1-2):
Last Week: 13 (+2)
The Aviators get a bump thanks to the freefalling Dragons and Wrecking Crew more than due to their own performance on the field. While their Week 3 victory over Aberdeen was something to be celebrated, the 1 sided loss to the Mercs was not. The next three weeks will be telling for this rookie club as they will face the clawing Nighthawks, unpredictable Who Dats and Aggies. If the Aviators are serious about pushing for the playoffs this season they will simply have to go 2-1 or 3-0 over this stretch to be considered viable playoff contenders. Any less will be detrimental to their chances as their schedule only gets harder as the season wears on.
12. Dinas Red Bandits (1-2):
Last Week: 15 (+3)
The Red Bandits, like the Aviators, owe this bump in the rankings to the poor performances of AWC and Dresden more than their own record. Over the last 9 games (including last season), the Red Bandits have been a lowly 1-8 – their lone win coming at the expense of the winless Warriors in Week 2. That is a sobering trend for this club which had high hopes of turning the corner in Season 7. The 55-6 drubbing they were dealt by the WuJax puts into specific relief how far the Red Bandits need to go before they can be considered a title threat.
13. Dresden Dragons (1-2):
Last Week: 7 (-6)
As impressed as I was with the Dragon’s after their Week 1 win over the Musketeers, I’m equally horrified now after two lopsided losses to the Grizzlies and Philharmonic. My pick to be the surprise rookie team in Alpha now looks like a wasted one. The Dragons have looked lost the past two games and things are only going to get tougher as they face the Monarchs, Dream Bolts, Black Watch and Blitz all in a row over the next 4 weeks. Ouch!
14. Aberdeen Wrecking Crew (0-3):
Last Week: 12 (-2)
DE Jimmy Johnson has only 2 sacks in the first 3 games of the season. Normally, a DE with 2 sacks in 3 games isn’t anything to be worried about. But when you have put up 159 sacks the past two seasons alone, it’s cause for alarm. Despite the wealth of talent on the AWC roster, they have yet to put it all together and now I’m beginning to wonder if they ever will. Winnable games against the Warriors and Red Bandits are sandwiched around a showdown with the Wujax and should give the Wrecking crew a chance to get their first win of the year, but if they are going to push for a playoff spot they need to start playing up to the level of their talent.
15. Wembley Warriors (0-3):
The Warriors have stumbled out of the gate with bad losses in back to back weeks against the Red Bandits and E-City Mercs. At 0-3 the margin for error is now next to nothing and the Warriors will have to take advantage of the soft(er) schedule in the second quarter of the season if they hope to turn this thing around. Upcoming games against AWC, Nighthawks, Lake Charles and the Aggies are all must wins for this 0-3 club.
16. Lake Charles Who Dats (0-3):
Lake Charles has given up 138 points in the past two weeks … yikes! Sure it was to the undefeated Dream Bolts and Black Watch, but with defense like that Lake Charles could be looking at an 0-16 finish.
Week 4 Previews and Predictions:
Alpha Conference:
Stuttgart Nighthawks (1-2) at Toulouse Aviators (1-2):
This is a must win game for the Nighthawks while the Aviators are out to beat a playoff team from Season 6. The Nighthawks 1-2 record is deceiving and the Aviators are still an unknown commodity. Thus, I have to go with the Hawks here.
Nighthawks win 29-21
Fightin’ Texas Aggies (1-2) at Black Watch (3-0):
The Aggies need to get back on the winning track, but it will be tough against the focused Black Watch. Don’t look for an upset here …
Black Watch wins 39-17.
E-City Mercenaries (3-0) at Woodridge Lumberjacks (2-1):
E-City is taking this one personally. After being slighted in the rankings, the Mercs want to beat up on the WuJax and make a statement to WEPL. I don’t see it happening though as the WuJax are too tough right now.
Woodridge wins 33-32
Dresden Dragons (1-2) at London Monarchs (2-1):
I don’t envy the Dragons this week as they have to travel to London to face a Monarch team still stinging from their first loss of the season. This one could get ugly.
Monarchs win big 51-10
Lake Charles Who Dats (0-3) at Berlin Blitzkrieg (2-1):
Lake Charles can’t stop anyone on defense and can’t get their own offense going. That’s not good news as they head into Berlin who is looking to pick up an easy win to get to 3-1.
Berlin wins in a walk 48-17.
Dinas Red Bandits (1-2) at Paris Philharmonic (1-2):
With both teams needing a win badly this one could be interesting. The Red Bandits want to beat a quality opponent to end their horrific 1-8 streak while the Philharmonic are desperate to get to .500. As good as it sounds on paper, the Philharmonic are the better club.
Paris wins 33-13.
Zeta Conference:
Paris Musketeers (1-2) at Berlin Ballers (3-0):
Berlin wants to get to 4-0 and shouldn’t have a problem against the Musketeers. Still, Paris is better than their record and could easily give the Ballers a game. But in the end, Berlin has too much talent to be denied.
Berlin wins 37-17
Edinburgh Black Knights (1-2) at Antwerp Annihilators (1-2):
Antwerp has turned the corner while the Black Knights are still finding their footing. That should make for a pretty one sided affair in Antwerp this week.
Antwerp wins 45-20
Rivals Mainboard Pimps (2-1) at Black Forest Mercenaries (3-0):
Another great game in Zeta this week pits the undefeated Mercs against the always dangerous Pimps. This one should be a dandy to watch as the Pimps try to find a way to run the ball on the fierce defense of the Mercs. While I’m tempted to call an upset here, I just can’t see the Mercs dropping this one.
Mercs win 26-20
Korb Destroyers (2-1) at Stockholm Meatballs (2-1):
Korb has owned Stockholm the past two times they played, and I don’t see that changing this time around as Korb has been playing great while Stockholm has been struggling. This has the potential to be a good one, but I think Korb is too hot right now.
Korb wins 39-24
Grass Roots Divots (2-1) at Multiple Scorgasm (0-3):
The Divots get a chance to pad their stats against the rebuilding Multiple squad.
Divots win 55-13
Sevilla Naranjas (0-3) at PPP Longnecks (1-2):
This is as close to a must win as you can get for the Longnecks this early in the year. The Longnecks must avoid going 1-3 and have to take advantage of a struggling Sevilla team to boost their own morale. I think they get it done this week.
PPP wins 20-17
Ice & Fire (1-2) at London Rippers (1-2):
This one should be a good one and better a better game than both teams’ records indicate. For the Rippers it’s their first shot at a veteran WEPL club while for Ice & Fire it’s a chance to get to .500 and shake off their slow start. I expect a defensive turnover to be the difference here.
Ice & Fire escape with a 29-27 win
Games Of The Week:
Graz Grizzlies (3-0) at Paris Dream Bolts (3-0):
This is one of two great games in Alpha this week and easily could have been the pick for Game of the Week. Both undefeated clubs are out to prove they are for real in Alpha. The Dream Bolts high flying offense will try to avoid being shut down by the Grizzlies hard hitting D. I gotta go with the better defense in this one …
Graz wins a close one, 33-27.
Rotterdam Roughnecks (1-2) at Lyon Dynasty (3-0):
This game has the potential to be a barn burner as the red-hot Dynasty tangle with the Roughnecks who are still stinging from their Week 3 loss. While I think the Dynasty are for real, I have a hunch the Roughnecks are due for a big win.
Roughnecks get the upset 45-40
Week 4
After a week off, the Rankings and Predictions are back! Some great games are on tap for this week so let’s get to the action!
FDC
Power Rankings: Week 4
Zeta Conference:
1. Berlin Ballers (3-0)
Last Week: 1
Three Weeks into the season and three sweatless wins for the defending Champs. With lopsided wins against Ice & Fire and Sevilla, QB Dmitri Makarov has emerged as a playmaker for the offense. With a 105.3 QB rating 1,063 yards 5 TDs and just 1 INT, Markarov has led the balanced attack while the still dominating defensive unit does the rest. While a big game with the Musketeers loom, most people in WEPL will be watching with anxious eyes to see the results of the Ballers’ forthcoming scrimmage against MEM.
2. Black Forest Mercenaries (1-0):
Last Week: 5 (+3)
In the first three weeks of the season BFM has blanked the Philharmonics, dominated the Meatballs and edged out the Destroyers making for the most impressive opening to the season for any team in WEPL. Defeating three playoff teams, two in blow out fashions, has boosted the Merc’s stock and put them firmly in the top 3 teams in Zeta. While the early going has been impressive, a tough game with the Pimps is on deck to close out the first quarter of the season.
3. Korb Destroyers (2-1):
Last Week: 2 (-1)
Korb gets bumped down a spot after their narrow 1 point loss to the Mercs. While it’s true there’s another 3-0 team out there, Korb still has one of most talented rosters and coaching staffs in the biz. With the league’s top ranked defensive unit paving the way, Korb is still in line for a top seed and a very deep playoff run. Week 4’s match up with the Meatballs will be a big game as it offers Korb a chance to bounce back from their lone loss and get back on the winning track before tangling with the Pimps and Black Knights.
4. Lyon Dynasty (3-0):
Last Week: 9
The Dynasty get the biggest bump in the rankings this week from 9 to 4 thanks to their hot 3-0 start. Sporting the league’s 11th ranked offense and 6th ranked defense, Lyon has cruised with wins over Sevilla and a convincing thumping of the Musketeers. While skeptics may scoff at Lyon’s opening schedule and call it soft, you can’t control who you play – thus, as one of only three 3-0 teams, they deserve to be in the Top 4. A brutal stretch lies ahead though with four straight games against the Roughnecks, Meatballs, Ballers and Longnecks loom. If the Dynasty can emerge from that scrum 2-2 or 3-1 they would have to become serious contenders for a title run.
5. Rivals Mainboard Pimps (2-1):
Last Week 8 (+3)
The Pimps rebounded from their 45-40 loss to the Monarchs in Week 1 with back to back wins over the Scorgasms and rival Annihilators. While the 51-3 drubbing of Multiple is nothing to write home about, the 34-26 thumping of Antwerp is impressive. The Pimps found their running game in the win while their new QB Para b00n connected on 30 of his 39 pass attempts for 279 yards and 2 TDs. While other teams have struggled to run the football, the Pimps currently boast the league’s number 1 ranked rushing attack and 2nd ranked offensive unit overall. If they can find a way to keep those numbers up against the Black Forest Mercenaries this week, the Pimps could soon find themselves sitting in the Top 4 of the rankings.
6. Stockholm Meatballs (2-1):
Last Week: 4 (-2)
After getting blown out by the Mercs in Week 2, and looking utterly lost in the process, the Meatballs bounced back and stole victory from the jaws of defeat against Rotterdam. The shootout win not only kept the Meatballs’ winning streak against the Roughnecks in tact, it allowed its fans to breathe a sigh of relief as the offense finally woke up. Still, things aren’t all that rosey in Stockholm at the moment as their offense ranks 17th and their normally stout defense a lowly 15th. With Korb and Lyon up next, followed by the Pimps and Ballers, Stockholm has to get healthy fast in order to stay afloat in the playoff race. Going 2-2 or 1-3 over the next four games would be disastrous for a team with high aspirations in Season 7.
7. Antwerp Annihilators: (1-2):
Last Week: 6 (-1)
You might argue that a team that loses two in a row should suffer a bigger drop than Antwerp got – and normally you’d be right. But when both loses come at the hands of Korb and the Pimps and your team continues to sport the league’s number 1 ranked offense and 11th ranked defense, I make an exception. It’s no secret now that the Annihilators have turned a corner since their inauspicious Season 6 debut. However, they can’t be satisfied with just playing better. Now they need to start piling up the Ws. With a string of rookie teams on deck, it’s time for the Annihilators to prove they belong in the Top 8.
8. Rotterdam Roughnecks (1-2):
Last Week: 3 (-5)
The Roughnecks must hate Meatballs. The narrow 1 point loss to Stockholm in Week 3 was a game they should have won had it not been for the Sim Gods forcing 3 costly fumbles – two of which were returned for TDs. While the game was fun to watch, it put Rotterdam in a slight hole after their impressive opening win over the Wujax. Now, with Lyon, Berlin and PPP on deck it’s almost desperation time for the powerful Roughnecks. They need to win 2 of these next 3 games to have a shot at a Top 4 seed come playoff time. Going 0-3 will put the Roughnecks in big, big hole.
9. Grass Root Divots (2-1):
Last Week: 15 (+6)
Making me eat my words, the Divots have atoned for their pre-season woes by ripping off two impressive wins over the Longnecks and the Rippers. With the rebuilding Multiple up next, a third win is more than likely putting the Divots at a comfy 3-1 potentially. While it seems the Divots have finally “started”, the road is about to get a lot tougher and we’ll soon see just how good these Divots really are. With a brutal stretch upcoming against Antwerp, BFM, Korb and the Pimps, the Divots will have plenty of chances to make some real noise and make me look bad once again.
10. PPP Longnecks (1-2):
Last Week: 7 (-3)
The Longnecks started the year 0-2 with upset losses to E-City and the Divots. They rebounded slightly in Week 3 by knocking off the pesky Ice & Fire 29-27. The win wasn’t the resounding drubbing that PPP had hoped for, but at this point, they’ll take all the wins they can get, no matter how ugly. The Longnecks running game, like all WEPL teams, has suffered greatly at the start of the season and the pressure will be on QB Levi Jackson and the coaching staff to adjust quickly. With two winnable games up next the Longnecks need to get above .500 before starting their run against Rotterdam, Lyon, Berlin and Stockholm – a stretch that will potentially make or break the ‘Necks’ playoff chances.
11. Paris Musketeers (1-2):
Last Week: 13 (+2)
The Musketeers have gone 1-1 over the past 2 weeks with a big win over the Roughnecks followed by a blowout loss to the Dynasty. The streaky nature of the Musketeers and their subsequent jump up in the rankings signifies just how muddled the bottom 6 spots are in Zeta. In particular slots 11-14 are so close that you could make a case for any of the remaining teams to get a nod. Still, I’m placing Paris here based on their talent and their impressive win over the Roughnecks. I have faith Paris can stack up some wins in the future, but with the Ballers on deck it most likely won’t start this week.
12. Ice & Fire (1-2):
Last Week: 10 (-2)
This might be too harsh of a drop for Ice & Fire considering their two losses came at the hands of Berlin (who beats everybody) and a narrow 2 point loss to the Longnecks who many pick to be a Top 5 club by the end of the season. Still, I had to give Paris the nod thanks to their win over Rotterdam and I couldn’t drop Ice & Fire behind the unknown commodities of the Rippers and Black Knights. The good news is Ice & Fire will have a chance to prove me right if they can knock off the Rippers in Week 4 and get to .500.
13. London Rippers (1-2):
Last Week 14 (+1)
The Rippers are still stumbling a bit in their WEPL debut. While they aren’t staggering as much as a drunken hobo with a fresh bottle of hooch, they are more like a toddler who just had a sip of his dad’s whiskey. Over the course of their first 3 games, the Rippers have faced only fellow rookie WEPL teams and emerged with a 1-2 record. Their only win came at the expense of the Black Knights while they got pounded by the Divots and Grizzlies. I really don’t know what to make of the Rippers yet – it could be they are struggling to adjust to the sim changes like some other prominent teams, or it could be that they are just a middle of the road team in Season 7. Games against Ice & Fire and Sevilla will give them a chance to cut their teeth against some WEPL veterans
14. Edinburgh Black Knighs (1-2):
Last Week 11 (-3)
The Black Knights got their first win of the year at the expense of the rebuilding Scorgasms. The 59-14 win was nice for stats but doesn’t do much to improve the Knights standings in Zeta at the moment. After a close loss to the Blitz in Week 1, the Knights followed up with a stinker against the Rippers, casting doubt about where they really belong in these rankings. With the Annihilators, BFM, Korb, Pimps, Stockholm and Divots all up next, the Knights are staring a potential 1-8 start to their WEPL careers right in the face. Of course, since I am still uncertain about the Knights, it is possible they can steal 2 or 3 of those 5 games and put themselves in position to make a late season run.
15. Sevilla Naranjas (0-3):
Last Week: 12 (-3)
Sevilla is a team in trouble. They are stuck in a freefall that began at the end of Season 6. Their losing streak (including the playoffs) reached 10 games with their 38-13 point loss to the Ballers in Week 3. Yikes! While it’s true the Naranjas have had a brutal schedule to open (facing both the Ballers and Dynasty early on), they just haven’t looked sharp enough to warrant me placing them any higher. The truth of the matter is the Naranjas still have plenty of talent and also have a soft closing schedule meaning there is still time to put a run together despite their 0-3 start. But before we can start believing in that miracle, we need to see Sevilla knock off the Longnecks this week.
16. Multiple Scorgasms (0-3):
Last Week: 16
It’s official. The Scorgasms are truly rebuilding. While it’s a shame to see a great franchise start off 0-3, it’s great to see the Scorgasms actually trying to rebuild and remain competitive rather than just auction off the team. And, with the capabilities of the front office, it’s not hard to imagine Multiple making some signings and maybe getting an upset win or two later on in the season. Kudos to the Scorgasms – I just hope the season isn’t too painful down the stretch.
Alpha Conference:
1. Black Watch (3-0):
Last Week: 2 (+1)
Black Watch has picked up where they left off last year as three weeks into the season they sit on the top of the heap with a 3-0 record, the leagues number 4 ranked defense and 3rd ranked rushing attack. With impressive wins over the Divots and Nighthawks, the Watch have looked close to flawless to open the season. Thanks to the Monarchs’ slight stumble last week, they took over the top spot and could remain here for quite some time.
2. London Monarchs (2-1):
Last Week: 1 (-1)
How can I keep London in the top 2 when there are 4, count ‘em 4, 3-0 clubs left in Alpha? Truth is, I’m not sure myself. I’m playing a hunch here. While the Monarchs got upset by the 3-0 Grizzlies last week, I’m not certain if the Grizzlies would win a rematch. And as hot as E-City is at the moment, I’d still place my money on the Monarchs in a head to head showdown. Same with the Deam Bolts. Of course the beauty of the Corner is that when I make predictions like this you all get to tell me how wrong I was when they inevitably come crashing down.
3. Graz Grizzlies (3-0):
Last Week: 9 (+6)
The Grizzlies have looked impressive to open the season. The win over the Monarchs in Week 3 certainly got all the press, but their wins over the Rippers and Dragons were just as impressive. With perhaps the league’s most balanced offense (ranked 5th in the run and 9th in the pass) and a defense ranked 9th in WEPL, the Grizzlies certainly have teeth. A huge match-up with the undefeated Dream Bolts is just the warm up act for the showdown with Black Watch in Week 5.
4. Woodridge Lumberjacks (2-1):
Last Week: 5 (+1)
Another controversial pick here, I know. While the Dream Bolts and E-City are 3-0 and might deserve to be ranked here, the quality of their wins does not impress me enough to overlook what I consider to be the more talented roster of the WuJax. Of course, E-City will have a chance to make me eat my words as the WuJax battle the Mercs in Week 4 in what should be a great game. Still, the WuJax have rebounded from their Week 1 loss to the Roughnecks with two straight dominating victories against the Philharmonic and Red Bandits. A win over E-City would set up the Lumberjacks for a great run as they have a soft second quarter schedule.
5. E-City Mercenaries (3-0):
Last Week: 4 (-1)
I know, I know. How do I drop an undefeated team one spot? It’s not E-City’s fault really, it has more to do with making room for the Grizzlies who I feel have played a tougher schedule and bumping the WuJax up one spot based on talent. Still, despite the slight, the Mercs have looked impressive in the first three weeks as they have put up some great numbers. With the WuJax up next, the Mercs will have a real shot to validate their 3-0 start as well as put themselves in great position as far as a Top 4 seed goes. I can’t wait for that game.
6. Paris Dream Bolts (3-0):
Last Week: 10 (+4)
Paris boasts the league’s top ranked offensive unit and is averaging an incredible 59 points a game. Their defense hasn’t been a slouch either as they are currently ranked 14th in WEPL. So why do I have them ranked 6th? The short answer is stats can be misleading. Despite the high flying nature of their offense, those numbers have come at the expense of the defensively deficient Lake Charles Who Dats, Aggies and Naranjas. This week’s show down with the undefeated Grizzlies will show us a lot more about how good the Dream Bolts truly are than any of those previous 3 wins.
7. Paris Philharmonic (1-2):
Last Week: 8 (+1)
Paris gets a bump and a slight edge over the 2-1 Blitz thanks to their strength of schedule. Their opening week shutout at the hands of BFM was alarming – until BFM continued to embarrass people in Zeta. Paris’s Week 2 loss to the WuJax was not fun either, but then again it’s the WuJax. The Philharmonic got back on track by whooping the Dragons 32-17 in Week 3 and will have a chance to do more damage against the Red Bandits in Week 4. Getting back to .500 will be key for Paris as a big Week 5 showdown with the Monarchs looms. A one-sided loss to the Monarchs would raise some alarm bells once again in the city of lights.
8. Berlin Blitzkrieg (2-1):
Last Week: 3 (-5)
Berlin slides down the charts a bit thanks to their less than impressive 1-1 run over tha past two weeks. When they opened their season with a narrow, 1 point win over the rookie Black Knights I was willing to write it off as rust. But subsequent games have shown me that Berlin, while still a good team, has had the gap closed on them somewhat. A gritty 2 point win over AWC was nice but last weeks 9 point loss to the Nighthawks was somewhat disconcerting. Still, the Blitz are 2-1 and clearly can play with anyone in WEPL. It’s far too early to be overly concerned about their slow start, but with Lake Charles and the Aggies up next it would be reassuring to see the Blitz put up some big offensive numbers against those suspect defenses.
9. Stuttgart Nighthawks (1-2):
Last Week: 11 (+2)
The Nighthawks rebounded from their Week 1 loss to the Annihilators by playing Black Watch tough in a 29-17 point loss and then by upsetting the Blitz 35-26 last week. The big win for the Nighthawks put this playoff team back on the right track as their passing game suddenly found its rhythm. With two winnable games on tap, Stuttgart could get above .500 before their match-up with the WuJax in Week 6.
10. Fightin’ Texas Aggies (1-2):
Last Week: 6 (-4)
As feared, the Aggies opening 55-10 win over Multiple has lost its luster as the Aggies have dropped their last two games. Fortunately, the Aggies lost narrowly to the Monarchs and then got blown out by the undefeated Dream Bolts. The quality of opponents faced is reassuring somewhat to the Aggie fans, but with brutal games coming up against Black Watch and the Blitz, the outlook is bleak.
11. Toulouse Aviators (1-2):
Last Week: 13 (+2)
The Aviators get a bump thanks to the freefalling Dragons and Wrecking Crew more than due to their own performance on the field. While their Week 3 victory over Aberdeen was something to be celebrated, the 1 sided loss to the Mercs was not. The next three weeks will be telling for this rookie club as they will face the clawing Nighthawks, unpredictable Who Dats and Aggies. If the Aviators are serious about pushing for the playoffs this season they will simply have to go 2-1 or 3-0 over this stretch to be considered viable playoff contenders. Any less will be detrimental to their chances as their schedule only gets harder as the season wears on.
12. Dinas Red Bandits (1-2):
Last Week: 15 (+3)
The Red Bandits, like the Aviators, owe this bump in the rankings to the poor performances of AWC and Dresden more than their own record. Over the last 9 games (including last season), the Red Bandits have been a lowly 1-8 – their lone win coming at the expense of the winless Warriors in Week 2. That is a sobering trend for this club which had high hopes of turning the corner in Season 7. The 55-6 drubbing they were dealt by the WuJax puts into specific relief how far the Red Bandits need to go before they can be considered a title threat.
13. Dresden Dragons (1-2):
Last Week: 7 (-6)
As impressed as I was with the Dragon’s after their Week 1 win over the Musketeers, I’m equally horrified now after two lopsided losses to the Grizzlies and Philharmonic. My pick to be the surprise rookie team in Alpha now looks like a wasted one. The Dragons have looked lost the past two games and things are only going to get tougher as they face the Monarchs, Dream Bolts, Black Watch and Blitz all in a row over the next 4 weeks. Ouch!
14. Aberdeen Wrecking Crew (0-3):
Last Week: 12 (-2)
DE Jimmy Johnson has only 2 sacks in the first 3 games of the season. Normally, a DE with 2 sacks in 3 games isn’t anything to be worried about. But when you have put up 159 sacks the past two seasons alone, it’s cause for alarm. Despite the wealth of talent on the AWC roster, they have yet to put it all together and now I’m beginning to wonder if they ever will. Winnable games against the Warriors and Red Bandits are sandwiched around a showdown with the Wujax and should give the Wrecking crew a chance to get their first win of the year, but if they are going to push for a playoff spot they need to start playing up to the level of their talent.
15. Wembley Warriors (0-3):
The Warriors have stumbled out of the gate with bad losses in back to back weeks against the Red Bandits and E-City Mercs. At 0-3 the margin for error is now next to nothing and the Warriors will have to take advantage of the soft(er) schedule in the second quarter of the season if they hope to turn this thing around. Upcoming games against AWC, Nighthawks, Lake Charles and the Aggies are all must wins for this 0-3 club.
16. Lake Charles Who Dats (0-3):
Lake Charles has given up 138 points in the past two weeks … yikes! Sure it was to the undefeated Dream Bolts and Black Watch, but with defense like that Lake Charles could be looking at an 0-16 finish.
Week 4 Previews and Predictions:
Alpha Conference:
Stuttgart Nighthawks (1-2) at Toulouse Aviators (1-2):
This is a must win game for the Nighthawks while the Aviators are out to beat a playoff team from Season 6. The Nighthawks 1-2 record is deceiving and the Aviators are still an unknown commodity. Thus, I have to go with the Hawks here.
Nighthawks win 29-21
Fightin’ Texas Aggies (1-2) at Black Watch (3-0):
The Aggies need to get back on the winning track, but it will be tough against the focused Black Watch. Don’t look for an upset here …
Black Watch wins 39-17.
E-City Mercenaries (3-0) at Woodridge Lumberjacks (2-1):
E-City is taking this one personally. After being slighted in the rankings, the Mercs want to beat up on the WuJax and make a statement to WEPL. I don’t see it happening though as the WuJax are too tough right now.
Woodridge wins 33-32
Dresden Dragons (1-2) at London Monarchs (2-1):
I don’t envy the Dragons this week as they have to travel to London to face a Monarch team still stinging from their first loss of the season. This one could get ugly.
Monarchs win big 51-10
Lake Charles Who Dats (0-3) at Berlin Blitzkrieg (2-1):
Lake Charles can’t stop anyone on defense and can’t get their own offense going. That’s not good news as they head into Berlin who is looking to pick up an easy win to get to 3-1.
Berlin wins in a walk 48-17.
Dinas Red Bandits (1-2) at Paris Philharmonic (1-2):
With both teams needing a win badly this one could be interesting. The Red Bandits want to beat a quality opponent to end their horrific 1-8 streak while the Philharmonic are desperate to get to .500. As good as it sounds on paper, the Philharmonic are the better club.
Paris wins 33-13.
Zeta Conference:
Paris Musketeers (1-2) at Berlin Ballers (3-0):
Berlin wants to get to 4-0 and shouldn’t have a problem against the Musketeers. Still, Paris is better than their record and could easily give the Ballers a game. But in the end, Berlin has too much talent to be denied.
Berlin wins 37-17
Edinburgh Black Knights (1-2) at Antwerp Annihilators (1-2):
Antwerp has turned the corner while the Black Knights are still finding their footing. That should make for a pretty one sided affair in Antwerp this week.
Antwerp wins 45-20
Rivals Mainboard Pimps (2-1) at Black Forest Mercenaries (3-0):
Another great game in Zeta this week pits the undefeated Mercs against the always dangerous Pimps. This one should be a dandy to watch as the Pimps try to find a way to run the ball on the fierce defense of the Mercs. While I’m tempted to call an upset here, I just can’t see the Mercs dropping this one.
Mercs win 26-20
Korb Destroyers (2-1) at Stockholm Meatballs (2-1):
Korb has owned Stockholm the past two times they played, and I don’t see that changing this time around as Korb has been playing great while Stockholm has been struggling. This has the potential to be a good one, but I think Korb is too hot right now.
Korb wins 39-24
Grass Roots Divots (2-1) at Multiple Scorgasm (0-3):
The Divots get a chance to pad their stats against the rebuilding Multiple squad.
Divots win 55-13
Sevilla Naranjas (0-3) at PPP Longnecks (1-2):
This is as close to a must win as you can get for the Longnecks this early in the year. The Longnecks must avoid going 1-3 and have to take advantage of a struggling Sevilla team to boost their own morale. I think they get it done this week.
PPP wins 20-17
Ice & Fire (1-2) at London Rippers (1-2):
This one should be a good one and better a better game than both teams’ records indicate. For the Rippers it’s their first shot at a veteran WEPL club while for Ice & Fire it’s a chance to get to .500 and shake off their slow start. I expect a defensive turnover to be the difference here.
Ice & Fire escape with a 29-27 win
Games Of The Week:
Graz Grizzlies (3-0) at Paris Dream Bolts (3-0):
This is one of two great games in Alpha this week and easily could have been the pick for Game of the Week. Both undefeated clubs are out to prove they are for real in Alpha. The Dream Bolts high flying offense will try to avoid being shut down by the Grizzlies hard hitting D. I gotta go with the better defense in this one …
Graz wins a close one, 33-27.
Rotterdam Roughnecks (1-2) at Lyon Dynasty (3-0):
This game has the potential to be a barn burner as the red-hot Dynasty tangle with the Roughnecks who are still stinging from their Week 3 loss. While I think the Dynasty are for real, I have a hunch the Roughnecks are due for a big win.
Roughnecks get the upset 45-40
Last edited Jan 8, 2009 11:40:07
