Eastern Conference Elite 8 Rankings
1. Green Bay Maulers
Record: 10-0
Streak: W10
Season Notes: The Maulers are unstoppable. I mentioned before that the only way I seen them losing was if Bort nerfed forced fumbles. Well he kind of did and they still haven't missed a beat. They have already played there hardest part of their schedule and dominated. Lets look at the scores.
Week 2 vs OTR: 79-31
Week 3 vs. Cinnicnati Shockers: 61-30
Week 4 vs. Alpine Golfers: 63-16
Week 5 vs. Las Vegas Gamblers: 41-23
Week 6 vs. Indianapolis Gurupies: 36-16
Week 7 vs. Richey Royals: 68-35
Average Score vs playoff contenders (Week 2-7): Maulers: 58 Opponents: 25
3 Stats why they are going to be your Eastern Conference Champ:
Turnover Margin: +97, or +9.7 Per Game
Rushing Yards: 2,996 (2nd in East)
Rushing Yards Allowed:7.9 Per Game (1st in East)
3 Stats why they are not going to be your Eastern Conference Champ:
Passing Yardage Allowed: 293 Per Game (13th in East)
( I truly can't find anything else wrong. Even the Passing Yards Allowed is skewed due to teams forced to pass most of the game)
Season Prediction
Regular Season: 16-0
Playoffs: #1 Seed
2. Cincinnati Shockers
Record: 9-1
Streak: W7
Season Notes: The Shockers are a couple of bad bounces away from being 6-4 instead of 9-1. They have 3 wins by less than a touchdown, but as the old cliche goes, good teams find a way to win the close ones, bad teams lose them. The only blemish on the Shockers record is their week 2 match up against (#1) Maulers. I am a little worried that my #2 team in the rankings could lose by that much, but that is a testament to the Maulers and not a knock against the Shockers. The Shockers close out the season with a very tough schedule. 5 of their next 6 opponents would all make the playoffs if the season started today. I am guessing they would be happy to go 4-2 in their next 6. Wouldn't be surprised if they went 6-0.
3 Stats why they are going to be your Eastern Conference Champ:
Passing Yards: 3,967 or 397 YPG (2nd in East)
Defensive Interceptions: 29 (2nd in East)
Rushing Yards Allowed:36.4 Per Game (2nd in East)
3 Stats why they are not going to be your Eastern Conference Champ:
Passing Yardage Allowed: 266 Per Game (11th in East)
Passing Touchdowns Allowed: 17 (10th in East)
Special Teams 38.7 Yards Per Punt (14th in East)
Season Prediction
Regular Season: 14-2
Playoffs: #2 Seed
3. Las Vegas Gamblers
Record: 8-2
Streak: W5
Season Notes: The Gamblers fresh off of a USA PRO championship last season, started the year sluggish with a 3-2 record. The loss to Green Bay wasn't the problem, but losing to the Royals could cost the Gamblers some precious seeding in the playoffs. Since starting 3-2 the Gamblers have been nothing short of spectacular. Lets take a look
Week 6 vs Carolina Hammer: 30-6
Week 7 vs. CCCC: 255-0
Week 8 vs. Detroit Demon Lions: 50-0
Week 9 vs. Columbus Woodys: 117-7
Week 10 vs. Pittsburgh Steel: 66-0
That's right 5 straight games in which the stingy Gamblers defense has not allowed more than 1 touchdown in any of the games! To do that at the USA Pro level is unheard of. The Gamblers schedule toughens up the rest of the way as each of their remaining games is against a possible playoff team.
3 Stats why they are going to be your Eastern Conference Champ:
Rushing Yards: 3,303 or 330 YPG (1st in East)
Sacks: 44 (1st in East)
Points Allowed: 130 or 13.0 PPG (1st in East)
3 Stats why they are not going to be your Eastern Conference Champ:
Passing Yardage: 1415 or 142YPG (14th in East)
Offensive Fumbles: 19 (11th in East)
No Big Pass Play 11.1 Yards Per Completion(14th in East)
Season Prediction
Regular Season: 13-3
Playoffs: #3 Seed
4. Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Record: 7-3
Streak: W1
Season Notes: The Naturals are possibly the most debated team on where they should be ranked. They are 7-3 with BIG wins over OFG, OTR, and the Golfers. Critics say that they are just lucky now. Let's look at some of their wins.
Week 1: NAN 27 Freebirds 24
Week 3: NAN 52 Woodys 48
Week 4: NAN 52 Steel 47
Week 7: NAN 33 ***OFG*** 28
4 very close wins their that easily could have been losses. Some of them against non contenders. It seems that NAN likes to play to their competition. With that said their 3 losses are by a combined 7 points. So one could argue they could be 10-0. NAN put a lot of questions to rest last week when they dismantled the Alpine Golfers 66-22. Prior to that game the consensus was that the Golfers were better than NaN. Who knows where they will end up, but I think it is safe to say they are a very good team.
3 Stats why they are going to be your Eastern Conference Champ:
Passing Yards: 4,314 or 431 YPG (1st in East)
Special Teams: 39.6 Average Punt Return (2nd in East)
Passing Touchdowns: 39 (2nd in East)
3 Stats why they are not going to be your Eastern Conference Champ:
Passing Yardage Allowed: 290 YPG (12th in East)
Points Allowed Per Game: 31.6 (10th in East)
Rushing Yardage 80.3 Per Game(14th in East)
Season Prediction
Regular Season: 11-5
Playoffs: #5 Seed
5. Alpine Golfers
Record: 8-2
Streak: L1
Season Notes: Golfers are kind of struggling lately. 2 weeks ago they beat a 2-8 Steel team by only 10. Last week they had no chance against Arkansas losing by over 40 points. Alpine has had there easy part of the schedule already and close the season out with some tough matchups. They could easily go 1-5 to close out the season. Matchups against Gamblers and Shockers will show how real this team is.
3 Stats why they are going to be your Eastern Conference Champ:
Turnover Margin: +22
Special Teams: 41.6 Average Kick Return with 6 TD's (1st in East)
Field Goals: 100% Accuracy (1st in East)
3 Stats why they are not going to be your Eastern Conference Champ:
Fumbles: 24 (14th in East)
Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 131 YPG Allowed (11th in East)
No Pressure 28 Hurries(14th in East)
Season Prediction
Regular Season: 12-4
Playoffs: #4 Seed
6. ***OFG****
Record: 7-3
Streak: W3
Season Notes: ***O*** started off the season slow once again, but have turned it on as of late. They have won the games were supposed to win. The loss against the Hammer really is going to hurt them come seeding time. Their schedule screams over rated. ***O*** still has to play: Shockers, Golfers, Gamblers, Gurupies, Royals, and Maulers. Who knows how they will finish up, but that sure is a hell of a stretch of games. Can Hulk keep them going? We will see.
3 Stats why they are going to be your Eastern Conference Champ:
Passing Yardage: 3768 or 377 YPG (3rd in East)
Rushing Yards Allowed: 75 Yards Per Game (4th in East)
Passing Defense: 175 Yards Allowed Per Game (1st in East)
3 Stats why they are not going to be your Eastern Conference Champ:
Fumbles: 24 (14th in East)
Special Teams: 24 Kickoff Return Average (15th in East)
Turnovers -1 Turnover Margin
Season Prediction
Regular Season: 9-7
Playoffs: #7 Seed
7. Indianapolis Gurupies
Record: 7-3
Streak: W4
Season Notes: Gurupies are on a nice little win streak right now, but it could be due to the competition. Since losing to the Maulers by 20 they have beat the Hammer, CCCC, DDL, and Woodys. All 4 of the those teams will not make the playoffs. Gurupies also have a tough remaining schedule to end the season. They still have to play NAN, Bullets, ***O****, OTR, and the Shockers. The Gurupies never really get blown out, but also keep their wins relatively close. 4 Points wins of Burbon and Richey and a 1 point win over the Hammer. They lose those games and they have no chance to make the playoffs.
3 Stats why they are going to be your Eastern Conference Champ:
Passing Yardage: 3379or 338 YPG (4th in East)
Turnover Ratio: +36
Passing Defense: 216 Yards Allowed Per Game (5th in East)
3 Stats why they are not going to be your Eastern Conference Champ:
Missed Tackles: 186 (15th in East)
Defensive Sacks: 8 (13th in East)
No Protection 33 Sacks Allowed (14th in East)
Season Prediction
Regular Season: 10-6
Playoffs: #6 Seed
8. Richey Royals
Record: 5-5
Streak: W3
Season Notes: Royals really got a bad draw early in the season. First 5 games they played the Marauders, Shockers, Golfers, Gamblers, Gurupies. They came out 1-4 with a Huge upset against the Gamblers. The 20-16 loss to the Gurupies might end up being the difference of them missing the playoffs. They should be 7-5 going into their game against NAN. If they can knock them off that week I see them making the playoffs.
3 Stats why they are going to be your Eastern Conference Champ:
Rushing: 7.8 Yards Per Carry (1st in East)
Fumbles: 8 (1st In East)
Passing Defense: 181 Yards Allowed Per Game (2nd in East)
3 Stats why they are not going to be your Eastern Conference Champ:
Rushing Yards Allowed: 164 YPG (12th in East)
Current Record: 5-5, early losses might keep them from playoffs (9th in East)
Season Prediction
Regular Season: 10-6
Playoffs: #7 Seed
That's all, hope y'all enjoy.
Last edited May 15, 2009 13:04:23
