Table Rankings:
1: Minnesota Skulls (8-1)
Well, they're #1 again... Can they be knocked off again this season or is it 15-1 and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs? (if they make it past round 1
) I think that it's the former. The biggest game in my absence was definitely with long-time rivals, the Rahls. A 3rd Quarter KR was the difference between the 2 sides really, the Skulls are slipping closer back to the pack, but i think they are still just ahead.
2: Albuquerque Isotopes (8-1)
The Topes have made a big name for themselves this season but a 16-0 was always going to be tough even with the Skulls out of the way. A scoreless second half that game cost them dearly. Rebounding to convincingly beat a strong Wedgies side shows that they aren't planning on slumping any time soon. Rohn Jiggins no longer tops the league in rush yards but the fact that his partner in crime, Thomas Roden has nearly a 1000 yards probably contributes more to this that a slow-down.
3: Fort Richardson Redskins (8-1)
They have beaten the Aces, Gunslingers and Topes this season but lost their undefeated record in week 8 against the Beavers. It was a very close game that could have gone either way. The top of BBB#5 West is extremely interesting this season as results between the teams are so close that 1 TD a game, here or there could mean the difference between 15-1 and 10-6. The Redskins should finish closer to the first number, but the Skulls and Rahls are still to come.
4: Birmingham Beavers (8-1)
The Beavers deserve a top 4 spot but it isn't assured... The Rahls are waiting just below them ready to snatch their position should they stumble. Beating the Redskins could have jumped them ahead of the Fort Richardson outfit. Emmitt Smithers is a quality RB and is looking to top the league in Rush yards this season. They need to get more out of their WR corps to go deep this season, Sticky Palms is looking like Steve Smith out there (not as in he punched Anwar Phillips, but he's the clear 1 with little support). Benching Eugene Lockhart in crunch games could also allow Para b00n to dominate through the air.
5: San Antonio Rahls (8-1)
Currently sat in 5th and with a nightmare second half schedule to the season playing 6 of the top 8 teams in the final 7 weeks (the other 2 are themselves and the Skulls). The Rahls should be strong enough to win out but will have to be careful as they could find themselves in 7th or 8th with top 2 talent if the get the gameplans wrong. I think top 2 is possible, top 4 likely.
6: Las Vegas Aces (7-2)
The Aces are in a league of their own, well not literally. They aren't quite up there with the top 5 team yet, but i think they are a step above the rest of the league. They have a straightforward inter-conference game, I can't see anything other than 11-5. They could make a splash in the playoffs though.
7: Raleigh Fighting Tigers (6-3)
The Tigers are currently sat on top of the bubble at the moment which is the difference between 7th place and no playoffs. Losing to the Aces game 1 looks to have put 6th beyond them, making sure they make the playoff now has to be #1 priority.
8: Atomic Wedgies (5-4)
Currently in the middle of the bubble... The Wedgies have been a solid outfit for the last 3 seasons and definitely need to be watched in the playoffs. They're on a 2 game slide that could be 4 by the time they meet the Tigers for the 7th, 8th or 9th spot...
9: San Antonio Gunslingers (3-6)
It started so well this season? The Gunslingers are a quandry, they may miss the playoffs for the second straight season despite being loaded with talent... If they make it in though, they could mix it with the big boys if luck is on their side...
10: Miami Breakers (3-6)
They have very talented players on both sides of the ball... In any other BBB league they'd be in the play-offs, maybe even dominate a couple, here I see them winning 2 more games MAX this season. With some good off-season recruiting in a couple of areas and this team could suddenly become a force.
11: Ditka's Army (3-6)
3 straight!! The Army and Bajek have waited and bided their time and it's paid off. They must be feeling sweet right now... They should sleep through the Skulls game and focus on trying to overcome the Extreme to win a franchise record 4 games... (I'm guessing here, but it prob is a record)..
12: Java Monkeys (2-7)
They won a couple of games and Weasel got excited... Then they lost another game that they would have hoped to win against the Army and then they were introduced to the Skulls... Getting 2 wins in the BBB#5 in your first season as a gutted team is no mean feat however and they could still get 2 more!
13: Austin Extreme (2-7)
The Extreme actually could win 4 of their remaining games in conference and have a shot in the inter-conference game to make it 5. Koboh Wrath leads the team in every sense of the word... could it be to a 7-9 season?
14: Saint Louis Lowriders (1-8)
At least they've got a win. That's about the only positive for them this season as they struggle to field a competitive team. ACES was unlucky to inherit the team in the condition it was in, in the league it was in. I think he should bring in a GM or 2, that he trusts and are good to help recruit and gameplan next year to turn the team around.
15: Death Valley Vikings (0-9)
Dawg Schroeder has 117 tackles already... That is not a good sign... The Vikings spend most of their time on defence, and their offence has become anaemic, failing to score in 3 games straight. They will look to beat down on Saint Louis and Flathead to lift themselves to 14th before the season is out though. Like ACES, Ghaleon needs some help to recruit a full and competitive roster.
16: Flathead Just Go Krazy (0-9)
The poster child of BBB#5 (re: front page) is causing quite the stir this season. On the forums. They have signed low level players and are waiting to make a big noise next season rather than wasting money on over payed-under talented players, it could pay off. However, I will reserve judgement until I actually see it next season.
Quick Picks:
The Rahls will have 3x 1000 yard rushers by the end of game 12, let alone the end of the season... It shows the importance of having a strong O-Line to creating a strong running attack.
The playoff seedings this season will be massively impacted by inter-conference games, some teams will feel aggrieved if they lose a spot vs one of the top teams in the East, while a rival of theirs gets a tomato can in the corresponding fixture...
The starters -v- backups debate will rage on... Points scored decides seedings so some teams will leave their starters out their longer to rack up big scores, whilst teams that balance XP and get lower scores will lose out... Will the difference in XP make so much difference now players in the top teams are progressing more slowly... The teams who balanced out PT and XP in the last 2 seasons will have the definite advantage as they will not only have better depth in the tougher games but they will have their second string putting up points at the same rate as the starters in the softer games.
Will splits in the league continue next season? (1-5) (6-9) (10-13) (14-16) or will teams be able to overcome boundaries and step up a level (like the Topes this season) or will recruiting be even more difficult next season, and will players snub BBB leagues causing some teams that don't have players locked up in contracts or owned by 1 or 2 agents to slide backwards... I think the 4 tier league will still exist, but 1 or 2 teams may move between boundaries...
