I will be doing just the west this time, and Yeti Pirate is doing the east. It was too much doing both conferences every time, and I rather put out quality rankings for one conference then half ass both conferences. Yeti also has very good write ups, so it eases the burden and still keeps the quality of the power rankings. We will switch conferences every set of rankings so teams get two perspectives every 2 sets. Thanks Yeti.
#1 Reno 911
Previous Ranking 2
Pros: a 7 game win streak, a win against the only undefeated team that remained in the west, and quality wins so far against the mustangs, owls, and the Apollos has Reno looking towards a 15-1 record. I don't see any team left on their schedule who can put up a fight. Sadly, not even my Tokers. Since the Oakyville loss, they've shown an amazing ability to win close games. They beat mustangs, owls, dogs, and Apollos by a combined 10 points!
Cons: Sometimes they have a habbit of playing to their opponents level. A lot of close wins this season. They need to hope they don't go the other way come playoff time.
#2 Omaha Dogs 9-1
Previous Ranking 1
Pros: Theres no way I was dropping them below 2. This is still the team that gave the mustangs the biggest spanking they've received all season. If they didn't go 0-2 on field goals, this team would be 10-0, not 9-1.
Cons: While Reno has the benefit of having an easy schedule the rest of the way, Omaha doesn't. Their next 3 opponents are all playoff teams. Apollos, Owls, and Wildcats. 15-1 won't be so easy for this team
#3 Albuquerque Mustangs 8-2
Previous Ranking 3
Pros: In my opinion, they're a close lock to finish 14-2. Oakyville, Chat, and Grizzlies are quality teams, but I feel the Mustangs are on another tier. An amazing defense that controls games is what gets this team going.
Cons: They had high expectations coming into this game. I think an upset against one of the 3 teams I mentioned would start giving people serious doubt about whether they are championship caliber or not. Hopefully they don't fall asleep.
#4 Houston Apollos 8-2
Previous Ranking 6
Pros: Once again, I underestimated these guys by putting them at 6th. They've made a habit of proving me wrong. I keep thinking chemistry is everything, and they keep proving me wrong. Nice win over Orly has this team believing they could steal one against Omaha. To top it off, I see them winning every game after Omaha. When the worst case scenario is 13-3, you know you've had a nice season. In my opinion, the most improved team of the season.
Cons: If they lose against Omaha, that puts them at 0-3 against the top 3 teams. Even tho making it to the second round would be a nice accomplishment even if it meant losing to one of those 3 teams, I still think the owner wants it all.
#5 Orly Owls 7-3
Previous Ranking 4
Pros: Still a top team in the conference and still capable of upsetting a big team. They lost by 3 to the #1 team right now no more then 4 days ago. If they didn't miss that fg, the game would have gone to overtime. They're a lock for the playoffs, and a nightmare first round opponent for any top team.
Cons: 2 game losing streak can't be good for morale, even if it is against two top teams. Matthew Shanahan needs to do better then 3.4 yards a carry in a big game like that, and their passing game can't be throwing away 2 interceptions.
#6 Oakyville Nungas 7-3
Previous Ranking 7
Pros: The win streak is now 4, they blew out a quality team, and Joe Starr looked like a Starr in the process. Oakyville dominated the game with their defense more then their offense, and that is what surprises me the most. They caused Kenny Palmer, one of the better qbs in the conference, to throw 2 picks, and completely shut down the run game.
Cons: They have the lowest chemistry of all the playoff teams and still have 3 tough games remaining on their schedule.
#7 Chattanooga Quarantine 7-3
Previous Ranking 5
Pros: Still virtually a lock to make the playoffs, and still maintaining perfect chemistry.
Cons: Up next: After the 7 game winning streak was over, the bleeding began. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop anytime soon. up next, the mustangs.
#8a Carolina Bar Stars 6-4
Previous Ranking 8
Pros: No change here as they handled their business against Wyoming and prevented any chance of an upset. Marty Williams and Raphael Taylor also stopped yelling "look at my build everyone". Pretty nice when things are looking up going into an important stretch in your schedule.
Cons: They still need to pull 2 or 3 upsets against some really tough competition underway.
#8b San Francisco Wildcats 6-4
Previous Ranking 8
Pros: The final playoff spot is far from locked, but they are in the drivers seat. Lets see if they are as hungry as Carolina, because they still have quality opponents on their schedule. Its the San Fran and Carolina game which might be huge.
Cons: Only 2 automatic wins left on their schedule
#10 Washington Bulls 5-5
Previous Ranking 12
Pros: The fact that they're 5-5 after that major overhaul is a miracle. They might not be the 10th best team, but the owner deserves recognition and credit for a job well done so far.
Cons: They may have won the last game of their season.
Best of the rest
#11 - Wyoming- valiant effort against Carolina. I actually see them being 7-9 this season, maybe even 8-8.
#12 - Ambridge- Blowout loss to the mustangs and their upcoming game against Trojans could be their final win.
13-cali
14-16 - take your pick =)
#1 Reno 911
Previous Ranking 2
Pros: a 7 game win streak, a win against the only undefeated team that remained in the west, and quality wins so far against the mustangs, owls, and the Apollos has Reno looking towards a 15-1 record. I don't see any team left on their schedule who can put up a fight. Sadly, not even my Tokers. Since the Oakyville loss, they've shown an amazing ability to win close games. They beat mustangs, owls, dogs, and Apollos by a combined 10 points!
Cons: Sometimes they have a habbit of playing to their opponents level. A lot of close wins this season. They need to hope they don't go the other way come playoff time.
#2 Omaha Dogs 9-1
Previous Ranking 1
Pros: Theres no way I was dropping them below 2. This is still the team that gave the mustangs the biggest spanking they've received all season. If they didn't go 0-2 on field goals, this team would be 10-0, not 9-1.
Cons: While Reno has the benefit of having an easy schedule the rest of the way, Omaha doesn't. Their next 3 opponents are all playoff teams. Apollos, Owls, and Wildcats. 15-1 won't be so easy for this team
#3 Albuquerque Mustangs 8-2
Previous Ranking 3
Pros: In my opinion, they're a close lock to finish 14-2. Oakyville, Chat, and Grizzlies are quality teams, but I feel the Mustangs are on another tier. An amazing defense that controls games is what gets this team going.
Cons: They had high expectations coming into this game. I think an upset against one of the 3 teams I mentioned would start giving people serious doubt about whether they are championship caliber or not. Hopefully they don't fall asleep.
#4 Houston Apollos 8-2
Previous Ranking 6
Pros: Once again, I underestimated these guys by putting them at 6th. They've made a habit of proving me wrong. I keep thinking chemistry is everything, and they keep proving me wrong. Nice win over Orly has this team believing they could steal one against Omaha. To top it off, I see them winning every game after Omaha. When the worst case scenario is 13-3, you know you've had a nice season. In my opinion, the most improved team of the season.
Cons: If they lose against Omaha, that puts them at 0-3 against the top 3 teams. Even tho making it to the second round would be a nice accomplishment even if it meant losing to one of those 3 teams, I still think the owner wants it all.
#5 Orly Owls 7-3
Previous Ranking 4
Pros: Still a top team in the conference and still capable of upsetting a big team. They lost by 3 to the #1 team right now no more then 4 days ago. If they didn't miss that fg, the game would have gone to overtime. They're a lock for the playoffs, and a nightmare first round opponent for any top team.
Cons: 2 game losing streak can't be good for morale, even if it is against two top teams. Matthew Shanahan needs to do better then 3.4 yards a carry in a big game like that, and their passing game can't be throwing away 2 interceptions.
#6 Oakyville Nungas 7-3
Previous Ranking 7
Pros: The win streak is now 4, they blew out a quality team, and Joe Starr looked like a Starr in the process. Oakyville dominated the game with their defense more then their offense, and that is what surprises me the most. They caused Kenny Palmer, one of the better qbs in the conference, to throw 2 picks, and completely shut down the run game.
Cons: They have the lowest chemistry of all the playoff teams and still have 3 tough games remaining on their schedule.
#7 Chattanooga Quarantine 7-3
Previous Ranking 5
Pros: Still virtually a lock to make the playoffs, and still maintaining perfect chemistry.
Cons: Up next: After the 7 game winning streak was over, the bleeding began. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop anytime soon. up next, the mustangs.
#8a Carolina Bar Stars 6-4
Previous Ranking 8
Pros: No change here as they handled their business against Wyoming and prevented any chance of an upset. Marty Williams and Raphael Taylor also stopped yelling "look at my build everyone". Pretty nice when things are looking up going into an important stretch in your schedule.
Cons: They still need to pull 2 or 3 upsets against some really tough competition underway.
#8b San Francisco Wildcats 6-4
Previous Ranking 8
Pros: The final playoff spot is far from locked, but they are in the drivers seat. Lets see if they are as hungry as Carolina, because they still have quality opponents on their schedule. Its the San Fran and Carolina game which might be huge.
Cons: Only 2 automatic wins left on their schedule
#10 Washington Bulls 5-5
Previous Ranking 12
Pros: The fact that they're 5-5 after that major overhaul is a miracle. They might not be the 10th best team, but the owner deserves recognition and credit for a job well done so far.
Cons: They may have won the last game of their season.
Best of the rest
#11 - Wyoming- valiant effort against Carolina. I actually see them being 7-9 this season, maybe even 8-8.
#12 - Ambridge- Blowout loss to the mustangs and their upcoming game against Trojans could be their final win.
13-cali
14-16 - take your pick =)
