Well, we lost PRJ and his rankings, so I guess I'll fill in for now.
Top Ten
#1 - Cypriot Freedom (1-0) - Cypriot is coming off a very good season, in which they made it to the CCG, but lost in a closely fought battle. As the only returning team to play in a CCG and now with a very good win over EEA, they get the top spot in my initial rankings for the season. Next opponent - Gold Coast Michelin Men (Prediction - Cypriot wins by 30)
#2 - Sin City Assassins (1-0) - I believe in ranking teams based on their results as much as on their potential. Sin City had what I consider the second best win of the week, as they beat a very good Gold Coast Viper team by 30. Demoting WL teams usually are in the mix, so I think Sin City is a good choice for #2 in this first ranking. Next opponent - VOLGOGRAD BLACK ARMY (Prediction - Sin City wins by 24)
#3 - Devonport Devils (1-0) - We have the highest Effective Level of the teams with at least 40 players, and we beat an Oregon team that looks to be a Zeta playoff team by 73. Thus, I am ranking us at #3. We'll see where we end up as things go along. Next opponent - Boston Bulldogs (Prediction - Devonport wins by 30)
#4 - Asau Pirates (1-0) - Asau has the highest EL of the Zeta teams with at 40 players, and were in the top 2 of everyone's season predictions for Zeta. They took care of business against a sub-par Alpha team, so I see no reason to not rank them as the top Zeta team now. Next opponent - Saipan Sin-Eaters (Prediction - Asau wins by 14)
#5 - Eastern European Alliance (0-1) - EEA had by far the best loss of Week 1. They played Cypriot pretty close and thus I am not counting that loss very much against them. It may irritate the other 3 Zeta teams that won and are ranked below them, but their opponents were not as good as EEA's. You guys will get your shot to prove me wrong anyway. Next opponent - Tasmanian Muskrats (Prediction - EEA wins in a blowout {70+})
#6 - Banzai Pipeline 'Nites (1-0) - There are alot of teams that look very similar to me at this point. It's hard to differentiate these teams at this point, as they either played poor opponents or played teams of a similar caliber closely. Thus, I guess I'll go lazy and use EL to help me out. BPN has the 2nd highest EL in Alpha and crushed the team formerly known as Razorback Nation. They played above their EL last season, which leads me to believe they will do well this season. Next opponent - Florida BeachDogZ (Prediction - BPN gets alot more blowout adjusted stats as they win by 70+)
#7 - Death Dealers (1-0) - Death is who you think they are (to borrow from Dennis Green), but that does not make them very easy to beat. I know preseason scrims are for testing, but they beat two good teams in the preseason, and destroyed a crappy Zeta team in Week 1. This pick is as much out of respect for last season, but I think they deserve a high ranking until someone beats them. Next opponent - Urban Super Dogs (Prediction - Death by a ton)
#8 - Sumatra Sea Hawks (1-0) - Maybe I am underestimating their week 1 opponent, but I really am surprised Sumatra did not win by a ton more than they did. Much like Death, this ranking is based on respect for their historical performances. Next opponent - IC Incinerators (Prediction - Sumatra by 10)
#9 - Bora Bora Bangaroos (1-0) - This team was mostly overlooked in the preseason talk, but two seasons ago they were a top 4 Alpha team. They know how to win, and are in the top 8 of the league EL rankings. They beat an Indianola team that appears to be a solid playoff team in Zeta, so I am rewarding them with a top 10 spot. They will have to work to keep it tho, as they play a 6th Street team next who just missed the top 10. Next opponent - 6th Street Savage Swarm (Prediction - Bora Bora by 3)
#10 - Gold Coast Vipers (0-1) - Much like EEA above, Gold Coast had a tough week 1 draw. They lost, but that does not mean they are not a top 10 team. I believe they are a top 4 Zeta team, and thus I am giving them the last spot in my top 10. Next opponent - Oberon Bulls (Prediction - GCV by 50)
The Rest of the Pack
#11 - 6th Street Savage Swarm (1-0)
#12 - IC Incinerators (1-0)
#13 - Gold Coast Michelin Men (1-0)
#14 - Offtopica Miracle (1-0)
#15 - Indianola Longhorn Legends (0-1)
#16 - Saipan Sin-Eaters (0-1)
#17 - Boston Bulldogs (1-0)
#18 - Oregon Ducks (0-1)
#19 - Stockholm Black Death (0-1)
#20 - Volgograd Black Army (1-0)
#21 - San Diego Supa Chargers (1-0)
#22 - Hong Kong Voodoo (0-1)
#23 - 8 Mile Assault (0-1)
#24 - Oberon Bulls (0-1)
#25 - Addict Nation (0-1)
#26 - Florida BeachDogZ (0-1)
#27 - Tasmanian Muskrats (0-1)
#28 - Warriors of Oceania (0-1)
#29 - Fortaleza Prowlers (0-1)
#30 - Urban Super Dogs (1-0)
#31 - Motown Legends (0-1)
#32 - Tasmanian Devils (0-1)
Top Ten
#1 - Cypriot Freedom (1-0) - Cypriot is coming off a very good season, in which they made it to the CCG, but lost in a closely fought battle. As the only returning team to play in a CCG and now with a very good win over EEA, they get the top spot in my initial rankings for the season. Next opponent - Gold Coast Michelin Men (Prediction - Cypriot wins by 30)
#2 - Sin City Assassins (1-0) - I believe in ranking teams based on their results as much as on their potential. Sin City had what I consider the second best win of the week, as they beat a very good Gold Coast Viper team by 30. Demoting WL teams usually are in the mix, so I think Sin City is a good choice for #2 in this first ranking. Next opponent - VOLGOGRAD BLACK ARMY (Prediction - Sin City wins by 24)
#3 - Devonport Devils (1-0) - We have the highest Effective Level of the teams with at least 40 players, and we beat an Oregon team that looks to be a Zeta playoff team by 73. Thus, I am ranking us at #3. We'll see where we end up as things go along. Next opponent - Boston Bulldogs (Prediction - Devonport wins by 30)
#4 - Asau Pirates (1-0) - Asau has the highest EL of the Zeta teams with at 40 players, and were in the top 2 of everyone's season predictions for Zeta. They took care of business against a sub-par Alpha team, so I see no reason to not rank them as the top Zeta team now. Next opponent - Saipan Sin-Eaters (Prediction - Asau wins by 14)
#5 - Eastern European Alliance (0-1) - EEA had by far the best loss of Week 1. They played Cypriot pretty close and thus I am not counting that loss very much against them. It may irritate the other 3 Zeta teams that won and are ranked below them, but their opponents were not as good as EEA's. You guys will get your shot to prove me wrong anyway. Next opponent - Tasmanian Muskrats (Prediction - EEA wins in a blowout {70+})
#6 - Banzai Pipeline 'Nites (1-0) - There are alot of teams that look very similar to me at this point. It's hard to differentiate these teams at this point, as they either played poor opponents or played teams of a similar caliber closely. Thus, I guess I'll go lazy and use EL to help me out. BPN has the 2nd highest EL in Alpha and crushed the team formerly known as Razorback Nation. They played above their EL last season, which leads me to believe they will do well this season. Next opponent - Florida BeachDogZ (Prediction - BPN gets alot more blowout adjusted stats as they win by 70+)
#7 - Death Dealers (1-0) - Death is who you think they are (to borrow from Dennis Green), but that does not make them very easy to beat. I know preseason scrims are for testing, but they beat two good teams in the preseason, and destroyed a crappy Zeta team in Week 1. This pick is as much out of respect for last season, but I think they deserve a high ranking until someone beats them. Next opponent - Urban Super Dogs (Prediction - Death by a ton)
#8 - Sumatra Sea Hawks (1-0) - Maybe I am underestimating their week 1 opponent, but I really am surprised Sumatra did not win by a ton more than they did. Much like Death, this ranking is based on respect for their historical performances. Next opponent - IC Incinerators (Prediction - Sumatra by 10)
#9 - Bora Bora Bangaroos (1-0) - This team was mostly overlooked in the preseason talk, but two seasons ago they were a top 4 Alpha team. They know how to win, and are in the top 8 of the league EL rankings. They beat an Indianola team that appears to be a solid playoff team in Zeta, so I am rewarding them with a top 10 spot. They will have to work to keep it tho, as they play a 6th Street team next who just missed the top 10. Next opponent - 6th Street Savage Swarm (Prediction - Bora Bora by 3)
#10 - Gold Coast Vipers (0-1) - Much like EEA above, Gold Coast had a tough week 1 draw. They lost, but that does not mean they are not a top 10 team. I believe they are a top 4 Zeta team, and thus I am giving them the last spot in my top 10. Next opponent - Oberon Bulls (Prediction - GCV by 50)
The Rest of the Pack
#11 - 6th Street Savage Swarm (1-0)
#12 - IC Incinerators (1-0)
#13 - Gold Coast Michelin Men (1-0)
#14 - Offtopica Miracle (1-0)
#15 - Indianola Longhorn Legends (0-1)
#16 - Saipan Sin-Eaters (0-1)
#17 - Boston Bulldogs (1-0)
#18 - Oregon Ducks (0-1)
#19 - Stockholm Black Death (0-1)
#20 - Volgograd Black Army (1-0)
#21 - San Diego Supa Chargers (1-0)
#22 - Hong Kong Voodoo (0-1)
#23 - 8 Mile Assault (0-1)
#24 - Oberon Bulls (0-1)
#25 - Addict Nation (0-1)
#26 - Florida BeachDogZ (0-1)
#27 - Tasmanian Muskrats (0-1)
#28 - Warriors of Oceania (0-1)
#29 - Fortaleza Prowlers (0-1)
#30 - Urban Super Dogs (1-0)
#31 - Motown Legends (0-1)
#32 - Tasmanian Devils (0-1)
i don't know if plankton (planton) or devonport (davenport) get murdered more often in this forum
