With 5 games to go I guess it is time to take a look at what the playoff picture might look like.
In
Graz Grizzlies - 11-0-0
Games left: ECM, WooJax, BW, Toulouse, AWC
As the 9th place team is 6 wins behind no way Graz misses the playoffs even if they gut today. Schedule down the road is not too tough, with just Woodridge being an upper echelon opponent. Black Watch, Aberdeen or E-City might make it close, but I doubt they lose more than 1 of these three games, likely none. Toulouse of course is a gimme.
Predicted finish: 15-1, 1st seed
Virtual lock
Paris Dream Bolts - 9-2-0
Games left: Toulouse, AWC, Belfast, Red Bandits, Sharks
With essentially three gutted teams left on the schedule the Bolts will just have to try in two games, and will be favored against both AWC and Belfast. They hold the tie breaker over Woodridge as well, so I have to give them the edge even if they should lose one more game down the road.
Predicted finish: 14-2, 2nd seed
Woodridge Lumberjacks - 9-2-0
Games left: PP, Graz, Turin, BW, Monarchs
A tougher finish than Paris, and their loss to Bonn could come into play as a tie breaker still as well. Still, I have to see them as the favorite in every game but the one against Graz for the remainder of the season.
Predicted finish: 13-3, 3rd seed
Bonn Dynamo - 8-3-0
Games left: AWC, Belfast, Bandits, Sharks, PP
Two gimme games and likely favorites against AWC and Belfast are in the hunt for at least one home playoff game, a loss to Paris could make things interesting though as far as tie breakers are concerned. Still, the Dynamos keep up the tradtion of first year teams having success in the conference.
Predicted finish: 12-4, 4th seed
On the bubble
Paris Philharmonic - 7-4-0
Games left: WooJax, Turin, Monarchs, Perkis, Bonn
The former WEPL champions have recovered from a poor start to the season and are on a 6 game winning streak. That will be tested against Woodridge, but thhree easier games following that should easily see them in the playoff. The week 17 matchup against Bonn could be for the right to host the other team in the first round of the playoffs.
Predicted finish: 11-5, 5th seed
Belfast Commandos - 7-4-0
Games left: Perkis, Bonn, PDB, WWW, ECM
Another newcomer who will likely make the playoffs, although their schedule down the stretch is not an easy one following the Perkis game. Again this is a candidate for a week 17 showdown for playoff position against E-City.
Predicted finish: 9-7, 7th seed
Aberdeen Wrecking Crew - 7-4-0
Games left: Bonn, PDB, WWW, ECM, Graz
Probably the toughest remaining schedule of all the bubble teams, and that surprise loss to London was a major setback for their playoff hopes. I don't see them winning against any of the teams currently above them in the standings, but they will limp into the playoffs.
Predicted finish: 8-8, 8th seed
E-City Mercenaries - 6-5-0
Games left: Graz, BW, Toulouse, AWC, Belfast
They might be a game behind, but they have their fate in their own hands with games against AWC, Belfast and BW still coming up. The early overtime loss to the now gutted Sharks might come back to haunt them yet. If they can win two out of three games against the direct competition they are in.
Predicted finish: 9-7, 6th seed
Outside chance
Black Watch - 5-6-0
Games left: WWW, ECM, Graz, WooJax, Toulouse
The next two games are key for Black Watch, as anything less than an 8-8 record will not suffice to make the playoffs and these teams are the direct competion for the bottom playoff seeds. I don't see them winning both of these games, the game against West Wales will probably determine thei exact position.
Predicted finish: 7-9, 9-11th seed
Will need a miracle
West Wales Wales Warriors - 4-7-0
Games left: BW, Toulouse, AWC, Belfast, Bandits
As disappointed as the Warriors have to be with their current standing following a tough 5 game stretch after a promising start to the season, they still have an outside chance to make the playoffs if they can win out, which although unlikely is not totally out of the question. Two more wins are essentially a gimme, and they would hold tie breakers over three of their direct competitors if they accomplish that feat, in the end though I reckon
Predicted finish: 7-9, 9-11th seed
Turin THUNDER - 4-7-0
Games left: Sharks, PP, WooJax, Monarchs, Perkis
Turin finish their first season neither here nor there, with a gutted team next, two top teams that I don't seem them with a chance against, and then two winnable but probably close games to finish the season. Due to beating Black Watch but losing to WWW I think we will end up with a three way tie sorted out by points scored.
Predicted finish: 7-9, 9-11th seed
London Monarchs - 3-8-0
Games left: Bandits, Sharks, PP, Turin, WooJax
Is is fatigue, is it the declining invovement of Mike Rogers, the WEPL originals have fallen on hard times, and are probably closer to relegation than the playoffs for thefirst time in their existance. Two probably wins against gutted teams will make the record look a bit more respectable than it probably is, and a win over Turin is a possibility, but there has to be major disappointment in London about how this season went.
Predicted finish: 5-11, 12th seed
Thanks for the gut jobs
Team Perkis - 1-10-0
Games left: Belfast, Bandits, Sharks, PP, Turin
Two more gutted teams should see the Perkis triple their win total over the last 5 games, however I think there won't be any wins coming beyond that. The Perkis sure found their first year in the Pros a tough one, and who knows if they could have avoided relegation if not for several gutted teams. They can only hope that season 2 will go better for them, there is certainly some work to do here.
Predicted finish: 3-13, 14th seed
Relegation
Lyon Sharks - 4-7-0
Games left: Turin, Monarchs, Perkis, Bonn, PDB
The latest team to disband the Sharks made their return to WEPL a short one. At full strength they might have won three of their last 5, but with just fragments of a roster left in place I don't see another win coming.
Predicted finish: 4-12, 13th seed
Dinas Mawddwy Red Bandits - 1-10-0
Games left: Monarchs, Perkis, Bonn, PDB, WWW
They narrowly avoid the bottom run of the ladder due to their tie breaker against Toulouse and essentially having been gutted later in the season. After three season the Red Bandits say farewell.
Predicted finish: 1-15, 15th seed
Toulouse Aviators - 1-10-0
Games left: PDB, WWW, ECM, Graz, BW
The first team to be gutted the Aviators will be so far down the totem pole that even the other gutted teams will find it hard to still see them. Of course there will be no more wins an they will end their two year stay on WEPL.
Predicted finish: 1-15, 16th seed
In
Graz Grizzlies - 11-0-0
Games left: ECM, WooJax, BW, Toulouse, AWC
As the 9th place team is 6 wins behind no way Graz misses the playoffs even if they gut today. Schedule down the road is not too tough, with just Woodridge being an upper echelon opponent. Black Watch, Aberdeen or E-City might make it close, but I doubt they lose more than 1 of these three games, likely none. Toulouse of course is a gimme.
Predicted finish: 15-1, 1st seed
Virtual lock
Paris Dream Bolts - 9-2-0
Games left: Toulouse, AWC, Belfast, Red Bandits, Sharks
With essentially three gutted teams left on the schedule the Bolts will just have to try in two games, and will be favored against both AWC and Belfast. They hold the tie breaker over Woodridge as well, so I have to give them the edge even if they should lose one more game down the road.
Predicted finish: 14-2, 2nd seed
Woodridge Lumberjacks - 9-2-0
Games left: PP, Graz, Turin, BW, Monarchs
A tougher finish than Paris, and their loss to Bonn could come into play as a tie breaker still as well. Still, I have to see them as the favorite in every game but the one against Graz for the remainder of the season.
Predicted finish: 13-3, 3rd seed
Bonn Dynamo - 8-3-0
Games left: AWC, Belfast, Bandits, Sharks, PP
Two gimme games and likely favorites against AWC and Belfast are in the hunt for at least one home playoff game, a loss to Paris could make things interesting though as far as tie breakers are concerned. Still, the Dynamos keep up the tradtion of first year teams having success in the conference.
Predicted finish: 12-4, 4th seed
On the bubble
Paris Philharmonic - 7-4-0
Games left: WooJax, Turin, Monarchs, Perkis, Bonn
The former WEPL champions have recovered from a poor start to the season and are on a 6 game winning streak. That will be tested against Woodridge, but thhree easier games following that should easily see them in the playoff. The week 17 matchup against Bonn could be for the right to host the other team in the first round of the playoffs.
Predicted finish: 11-5, 5th seed
Belfast Commandos - 7-4-0
Games left: Perkis, Bonn, PDB, WWW, ECM
Another newcomer who will likely make the playoffs, although their schedule down the stretch is not an easy one following the Perkis game. Again this is a candidate for a week 17 showdown for playoff position against E-City.
Predicted finish: 9-7, 7th seed
Aberdeen Wrecking Crew - 7-4-0
Games left: Bonn, PDB, WWW, ECM, Graz
Probably the toughest remaining schedule of all the bubble teams, and that surprise loss to London was a major setback for their playoff hopes. I don't see them winning against any of the teams currently above them in the standings, but they will limp into the playoffs.
Predicted finish: 8-8, 8th seed
E-City Mercenaries - 6-5-0
Games left: Graz, BW, Toulouse, AWC, Belfast
They might be a game behind, but they have their fate in their own hands with games against AWC, Belfast and BW still coming up. The early overtime loss to the now gutted Sharks might come back to haunt them yet. If they can win two out of three games against the direct competition they are in.
Predicted finish: 9-7, 6th seed
Outside chance
Black Watch - 5-6-0
Games left: WWW, ECM, Graz, WooJax, Toulouse
The next two games are key for Black Watch, as anything less than an 8-8 record will not suffice to make the playoffs and these teams are the direct competion for the bottom playoff seeds. I don't see them winning both of these games, the game against West Wales will probably determine thei exact position.
Predicted finish: 7-9, 9-11th seed
Will need a miracle
West Wales Wales Warriors - 4-7-0
Games left: BW, Toulouse, AWC, Belfast, Bandits
As disappointed as the Warriors have to be with their current standing following a tough 5 game stretch after a promising start to the season, they still have an outside chance to make the playoffs if they can win out, which although unlikely is not totally out of the question. Two more wins are essentially a gimme, and they would hold tie breakers over three of their direct competitors if they accomplish that feat, in the end though I reckon
Predicted finish: 7-9, 9-11th seed
Turin THUNDER - 4-7-0
Games left: Sharks, PP, WooJax, Monarchs, Perkis
Turin finish their first season neither here nor there, with a gutted team next, two top teams that I don't seem them with a chance against, and then two winnable but probably close games to finish the season. Due to beating Black Watch but losing to WWW I think we will end up with a three way tie sorted out by points scored.
Predicted finish: 7-9, 9-11th seed
London Monarchs - 3-8-0
Games left: Bandits, Sharks, PP, Turin, WooJax
Is is fatigue, is it the declining invovement of Mike Rogers, the WEPL originals have fallen on hard times, and are probably closer to relegation than the playoffs for thefirst time in their existance. Two probably wins against gutted teams will make the record look a bit more respectable than it probably is, and a win over Turin is a possibility, but there has to be major disappointment in London about how this season went.
Predicted finish: 5-11, 12th seed
Thanks for the gut jobs
Team Perkis - 1-10-0
Games left: Belfast, Bandits, Sharks, PP, Turin
Two more gutted teams should see the Perkis triple their win total over the last 5 games, however I think there won't be any wins coming beyond that. The Perkis sure found their first year in the Pros a tough one, and who knows if they could have avoided relegation if not for several gutted teams. They can only hope that season 2 will go better for them, there is certainly some work to do here.
Predicted finish: 3-13, 14th seed
Relegation
Lyon Sharks - 4-7-0
Games left: Turin, Monarchs, Perkis, Bonn, PDB
The latest team to disband the Sharks made their return to WEPL a short one. At full strength they might have won three of their last 5, but with just fragments of a roster left in place I don't see another win coming.
Predicted finish: 4-12, 13th seed
Dinas Mawddwy Red Bandits - 1-10-0
Games left: Monarchs, Perkis, Bonn, PDB, WWW
They narrowly avoid the bottom run of the ladder due to their tie breaker against Toulouse and essentially having been gutted later in the season. After three season the Red Bandits say farewell.
Predicted finish: 1-15, 15th seed
Toulouse Aviators - 1-10-0
Games left: PDB, WWW, ECM, Graz, BW
The first team to be gutted the Aviators will be so far down the totem pole that even the other gutted teams will find it hard to still see them. Of course there will be no more wins an they will end their two year stay on WEPL.
Predicted finish: 1-15, 16th seed
Last edited Mar 19, 2009 07:38:44
