Ok, I guess I'll spice up the forum a little bit and give the Western conference a thread since they all seem to be about the Eastern these days....
Power Rankings
1. Pasadena Fighting Hellfish - (6-0) - There's really not too much to be discussed here. They're rolled through all competition, including my #3 and #4 ranked teams in the conference, and boast the most potent passing attack in the conference. They will stay at #1 until someone challenges them for the spot. Look for their Week 12 matchup with Missouri to determine who gets the #1 seed in the playoffs.
2. Missouri Partisan Rangers - (6-0) - Undefeated this season, but haven't really faced any stiff competition other than JC Brawlers. That will change for the 2nd half of the season as Missouri will find itself with matchups against New Orleans, Pasadena, Radio City, Sandy Hook, and Riverhead. The Week 12 matchup with Pasadena will likely determine who gets the #1 seed in the playoffs, but Missouri still has the potential to drop even further than that with a loss to one of the previously mentioned teams.
3. JC Brawlers - (4-2) - While the Brawlers might seem to be merely a middle-of-the-pack team at first glance due to their 4-2 record, it is important to keep in mind that their losses came to very strong Pasadena and Missouri teams. Further, they actually managed to give Pasadena a game, something no one else has been able to do this season. Look for JC to rebound from their loss to Pasadena in time for games against Sandy Hook, Radio City, and Riverhead all in a row. I expect them to make it comfortably into the playoffs with a #3 or #4 seed.
4. New Orleans Bulldogs - (5-1) - Only one loss, but it came in blowout fashion at the hands of Pasadena. The Bulldogs passed tests against Sandy Hook and Riverhead the past 2 weeks, but they are not done yet. Notable games remaining include @ Missouri, @ Radio City, and vs. JC. I expect the Bulldogs to slide into the playoffs if they can manage to win 1 or 2 of the games mentioned.
5. Riverhead Rampage - (4-2) - Riverhead looked less than stellar at the beginning of the season, but managed to pull of a big win against Radio City in Week 4 and secure themselves the #5 spot. They gave New Orleans everything they could handle, but came up just short in a 37-45 loss. A win in an upcoming game against Pasadena would rocket this team up the rankings, but I doubt they pull it off. Still the Rampage could be a team to watch when the playoffs roll around.
6. Radio City Irrelevants - (5-1) - Radio City has had a fairly easy schedule so far as they have only faced two worthwhile opponents. Unfortunately, they lost one of them. The win in Week 3 over Sandy Hook will likely come in handy when the playoffs roll around, but the loss to Riverhead might end up hurting them. Regardless, Radio City will also be a team to watch in the first round of the playoffs.
7. Sandy Hook Proving Grounds - (4-2) - Sandy Hook has only played 2 worthwhile games and lost both of them. The game @ Pasadena looms on the horizon, potentially offering a chance for redemption. However, it looks like Sandy Hook might stay as one of the bubble teams until the end of the season.
8. Cedar Rapids River Rats - (3-3) - Cedar Rapids managed to give Radio City a decent game last week, but came up just short. It seems they will continue to be a bubble team and compete with 2 or 3 other teams for the 8th, and final, playoff spot.
9. Orlando Knights - (2-4)
10. Rosemead Enzo - (3-3)
11. Roswell Invaders - (0-6)
12. San Jose Spartans - (2-4)
13. Pewntenheimer Pewnts - (1-5)
14. Heaven & Hell - (1-5)
15. Golden Gate Trolls - (0-6)
15. Tiananmen Tanks - (0-6)
Game of the Week:
1. Radio City Irrelevants @ Missouri Partisan Rangers
One of the biggest tests for Missouri between now and their game against Pasadena, the Radio City Irrelevants look to upset the heavily favored Rangers and earn their way into the elite of the Western Conference.
My pick: Rangers by 17
Power Rankings
1. Pasadena Fighting Hellfish - (6-0) - There's really not too much to be discussed here. They're rolled through all competition, including my #3 and #4 ranked teams in the conference, and boast the most potent passing attack in the conference. They will stay at #1 until someone challenges them for the spot. Look for their Week 12 matchup with Missouri to determine who gets the #1 seed in the playoffs.
2. Missouri Partisan Rangers - (6-0) - Undefeated this season, but haven't really faced any stiff competition other than JC Brawlers. That will change for the 2nd half of the season as Missouri will find itself with matchups against New Orleans, Pasadena, Radio City, Sandy Hook, and Riverhead. The Week 12 matchup with Pasadena will likely determine who gets the #1 seed in the playoffs, but Missouri still has the potential to drop even further than that with a loss to one of the previously mentioned teams.
3. JC Brawlers - (4-2) - While the Brawlers might seem to be merely a middle-of-the-pack team at first glance due to their 4-2 record, it is important to keep in mind that their losses came to very strong Pasadena and Missouri teams. Further, they actually managed to give Pasadena a game, something no one else has been able to do this season. Look for JC to rebound from their loss to Pasadena in time for games against Sandy Hook, Radio City, and Riverhead all in a row. I expect them to make it comfortably into the playoffs with a #3 or #4 seed.
4. New Orleans Bulldogs - (5-1) - Only one loss, but it came in blowout fashion at the hands of Pasadena. The Bulldogs passed tests against Sandy Hook and Riverhead the past 2 weeks, but they are not done yet. Notable games remaining include @ Missouri, @ Radio City, and vs. JC. I expect the Bulldogs to slide into the playoffs if they can manage to win 1 or 2 of the games mentioned.
5. Riverhead Rampage - (4-2) - Riverhead looked less than stellar at the beginning of the season, but managed to pull of a big win against Radio City in Week 4 and secure themselves the #5 spot. They gave New Orleans everything they could handle, but came up just short in a 37-45 loss. A win in an upcoming game against Pasadena would rocket this team up the rankings, but I doubt they pull it off. Still the Rampage could be a team to watch when the playoffs roll around.
6. Radio City Irrelevants - (5-1) - Radio City has had a fairly easy schedule so far as they have only faced two worthwhile opponents. Unfortunately, they lost one of them. The win in Week 3 over Sandy Hook will likely come in handy when the playoffs roll around, but the loss to Riverhead might end up hurting them. Regardless, Radio City will also be a team to watch in the first round of the playoffs.
7. Sandy Hook Proving Grounds - (4-2) - Sandy Hook has only played 2 worthwhile games and lost both of them. The game @ Pasadena looms on the horizon, potentially offering a chance for redemption. However, it looks like Sandy Hook might stay as one of the bubble teams until the end of the season.
8. Cedar Rapids River Rats - (3-3) - Cedar Rapids managed to give Radio City a decent game last week, but came up just short. It seems they will continue to be a bubble team and compete with 2 or 3 other teams for the 8th, and final, playoff spot.
9. Orlando Knights - (2-4)
10. Rosemead Enzo - (3-3)
11. Roswell Invaders - (0-6)
12. San Jose Spartans - (2-4)
13. Pewntenheimer Pewnts - (1-5)
14. Heaven & Hell - (1-5)
15. Golden Gate Trolls - (0-6)
15. Tiananmen Tanks - (0-6)
Game of the Week:
1. Radio City Irrelevants @ Missouri Partisan Rangers
One of the biggest tests for Missouri between now and their game against Pasadena, the Radio City Irrelevants look to upset the heavily favored Rangers and earn their way into the elite of the Western Conference.
My pick: Rangers by 17
