I don't have time to do these often now but had time today so thought I'd put one up. I'm going to mix it up here and merge the two conferences for once.
1. Green Bay Maulers 10-0 - Green Bay has mauled, abused, manhandled, whatever you want to call it they've done it, every team they've faced thus far. They haven't had any games decided by less than two TD's and only two games decided by less than three TD's. You simply can't run on this team because they will make you cough it up time and time again. Can someone close the gap on them before the end of the season? Maybe... but right now this is the clear cut best team in USAPL and GLB.
2. Monmouth Evil Monkeys 9-1 - I think MEM likes losing their first game of the season every season to give teams in the West a sliver of hope. Hope is pretty much all they can do though as MEM has rolled through every team they've played since thier opening day loss. Their closest game in that time span was 12 points. That being said, however, the tough part of their schedule is coming up as they face a brutal end of season stretch that includes Compton, San Diego, Washington, Minnesota, and Honolulu. They might lose one of those - no more.
3. Cincinnati Shockers 9-1 - the Shockers continued where they left off last season and other than a blow out loss to Green Bay in week 3, the team has managed to do what no other team in the East but Green Bay has done in winning 9 games. They've had some close calls in 7 point wins over the Royals and Hammer and a 3 point squeaker against the Naturals, but a sign of a good team is winning the close ones.
4. Las Vegas Gamblers 8-2 - the defending USAPL champions have bounced back from a moderately rough 3-2 start with 5 straight wins where they have not allowed an offensive touchdown. Granted this was the soft part of their schedule as their 5 opponents were a combined 9-41 but three shutouts and 13 points, in this high scoring season, is impressive, crappy teams or not. Their schedule takes a definite turn as the next six teams they face all are .500 or better.
5. Minnesota Marauders 8-2 - I had a feeling this season was going to be a good one for the Marauders and thus far they haven't let me down with impressive wins against the Lightning and Wolfpack and narrow losses to two tough teams in Compton and Honolulu. Galk and his boys should cruise into the playoffs with at least one home game, if not more.
6. Washington Wolfpack 8-2 - I think any team I am associated with is stuck with having a slow start. The Wolfpack had a rough going of it early with losses to San Diego and Minnesota to start out 4-2 before reeling off four straight to get to where they currently are. They've beaten some quality teams thus far in Compton, Honolulu, and Lincoln and should be battling for a home field spot as well.
7. ***Official*** Footballguys 7-3 - I think the OFG's take the same drugs the Gamblers do, because for the second straight season they started off slow at 0-2 before storming back to win 7 of their last 8. Home of the fastest player in GLB (just watch Blazing one game and you'll see wht I mean), the OFG's have a brutal six game stretch that will define whether this team is for real or not. Shockers, Golfers, Gamblers, Gurupies, Royals, Maulers. Ouch.
8. Compton Vikings 8-2 - after a 1-2 start, it looked like the Vikings were bound to repeat their season 8 failures. Someone, however, forgot to tell the Vikings that as they have since won 7 straight including wins over Minnesota, Honolulu, and Lincoln. I'm still not convinced this team is for real, but seven straight wins in USAPL is enough to delude me temporarily. We'll find out how good they are in two sims. Regardless, their schedule is pretty favorable and they should be right there with Washington, Minnesota, and Chicago in the fight for a home play off game.
9. Honolulu Hurricane Warriors 7-3 - this once dominant team still has the talent to contend and they still manage to pull off some impressive victories as evidenced by wins over San Diego and Minnesota. For a while it seemed like they were struggling a bit to find their identity, but the pieces have started to fall together and the team looks like it's going to make a legitimate run here at the end of the season. Of course, MEM will smash that run in week 16, but at least they'll have fun until then.
10. Northwest Arkansas Naturals 7-3 - any team that loses to DDL should automatically be excluded from the Power 10 but an impressive 44 point victory over the previously one loss Golfers propels the team into the top 10. The team is more than a one game wonder though as they have beaten the likes of the Bullets and OFG's and hung tough with the Shockers only losing by 3. We'll find out more over the next four sims just how good NAN is as they take on the Gamblers, Gurupies, Royals, and Maulers.
Others considered:
Chicago Hedgehogs 8-2
San Diego Lightning 7-3
Alpine Golfers 8-2
Indianapolis Gurupies 7-3
TSE's Strategy Guide
1. Green Bay Maulers 10-0 - Green Bay has mauled, abused, manhandled, whatever you want to call it they've done it, every team they've faced thus far. They haven't had any games decided by less than two TD's and only two games decided by less than three TD's. You simply can't run on this team because they will make you cough it up time and time again. Can someone close the gap on them before the end of the season? Maybe... but right now this is the clear cut best team in USAPL and GLB.
2. Monmouth Evil Monkeys 9-1 - I think MEM likes losing their first game of the season every season to give teams in the West a sliver of hope. Hope is pretty much all they can do though as MEM has rolled through every team they've played since thier opening day loss. Their closest game in that time span was 12 points. That being said, however, the tough part of their schedule is coming up as they face a brutal end of season stretch that includes Compton, San Diego, Washington, Minnesota, and Honolulu. They might lose one of those - no more.
3. Cincinnati Shockers 9-1 - the Shockers continued where they left off last season and other than a blow out loss to Green Bay in week 3, the team has managed to do what no other team in the East but Green Bay has done in winning 9 games. They've had some close calls in 7 point wins over the Royals and Hammer and a 3 point squeaker against the Naturals, but a sign of a good team is winning the close ones.
4. Las Vegas Gamblers 8-2 - the defending USAPL champions have bounced back from a moderately rough 3-2 start with 5 straight wins where they have not allowed an offensive touchdown. Granted this was the soft part of their schedule as their 5 opponents were a combined 9-41 but three shutouts and 13 points, in this high scoring season, is impressive, crappy teams or not. Their schedule takes a definite turn as the next six teams they face all are .500 or better.
5. Minnesota Marauders 8-2 - I had a feeling this season was going to be a good one for the Marauders and thus far they haven't let me down with impressive wins against the Lightning and Wolfpack and narrow losses to two tough teams in Compton and Honolulu. Galk and his boys should cruise into the playoffs with at least one home game, if not more.
6. Washington Wolfpack 8-2 - I think any team I am associated with is stuck with having a slow start. The Wolfpack had a rough going of it early with losses to San Diego and Minnesota to start out 4-2 before reeling off four straight to get to where they currently are. They've beaten some quality teams thus far in Compton, Honolulu, and Lincoln and should be battling for a home field spot as well.
7. ***Official*** Footballguys 7-3 - I think the OFG's take the same drugs the Gamblers do, because for the second straight season they started off slow at 0-2 before storming back to win 7 of their last 8. Home of the fastest player in GLB (just watch Blazing one game and you'll see wht I mean), the OFG's have a brutal six game stretch that will define whether this team is for real or not. Shockers, Golfers, Gamblers, Gurupies, Royals, Maulers. Ouch.
8. Compton Vikings 8-2 - after a 1-2 start, it looked like the Vikings were bound to repeat their season 8 failures. Someone, however, forgot to tell the Vikings that as they have since won 7 straight including wins over Minnesota, Honolulu, and Lincoln. I'm still not convinced this team is for real, but seven straight wins in USAPL is enough to delude me temporarily. We'll find out how good they are in two sims. Regardless, their schedule is pretty favorable and they should be right there with Washington, Minnesota, and Chicago in the fight for a home play off game.
9. Honolulu Hurricane Warriors 7-3 - this once dominant team still has the talent to contend and they still manage to pull off some impressive victories as evidenced by wins over San Diego and Minnesota. For a while it seemed like they were struggling a bit to find their identity, but the pieces have started to fall together and the team looks like it's going to make a legitimate run here at the end of the season. Of course, MEM will smash that run in week 16, but at least they'll have fun until then.
10. Northwest Arkansas Naturals 7-3 - any team that loses to DDL should automatically be excluded from the Power 10 but an impressive 44 point victory over the previously one loss Golfers propels the team into the top 10. The team is more than a one game wonder though as they have beaten the likes of the Bullets and OFG's and hung tough with the Shockers only losing by 3. We'll find out more over the next four sims just how good NAN is as they take on the Gamblers, Gurupies, Royals, and Maulers.
Others considered:
Chicago Hedgehogs 8-2
San Diego Lightning 7-3
Alpine Golfers 8-2
Indianapolis Gurupies 7-3
TSE's Strategy Guide
