Down the stretch we go! Playoff picture is starting to get a bit clearer and I'll try and go through potential seedings/scenarios.
1. Queen City Black Cats: can they continue to go wire to wire? Their team name may be their biggest obstacle as it has been known to jinx them a bit in the playoffs. Got a couple challenges vs Niagara and Algoma but with them as potential playoff opponents there may be some posturing in these games. Otherwise, if this team can continue to stay focused on both sides of the ball they'll be difficult to beat.
2. Manitoba Matadors big 3rd quarter wins vs Niagara and Algoma has this team pull away and have the inside track on the #2 seed..... has a solid challenge in the season finale vs Raging Alcoholics but provided they don't stumble in the next 3 games that game may not mean much as they'll have the 2 seed wrapped up. Very stout defense and a star at QB in Trent Edwards is what fuels this squad.
3. Algoma Arena Rockers: team that currently has the inside track on the 3 seed and played a very nice game vs Manitoba albeit in a loss..... scoring the most vs the stout Manitoba D all year. Hard to predict their playoff seeding with Thunder Bay, QC, and Niagara among their final 3 games. If they can win 2 out of 3, I see them staying at the 3 spot..... if not they could tumble. Will be interested to see how this team turns it up once they get some 72 EQ in like they've talked about.
4. Raging Alcoholics: 4-6 seeding is probably the most jumbled and I'm going to give the slight nod here to Raging.... they're final game vs Manitoba will determine where they may be seeded, very conceivable they could be in a 3 way tie with Niagara/Thunder Way and win out. I think this team has put whatever early season issues they had behind them and will be a dangerous team in the playoffs.
5. Niagara Maulers: probably one of the more inconsistent teams to get a read on...... lost a battle vs Manitoba and then Puvi with a very convincing win but then got a big W vs Thunder Bay recently. Will have 2 tough games vs QC and Algoma and likely will need to take 1 of 2 to vie for a home playoff game but should be safe and who knows they may have some tricks up their sleeves for the playoffs.
6. Thunder Bay Wolverines: got a tough one today vs Algome and they'll have to figure out how to score some points as they've had a hard time offensively vs QC and Niagara. Still firmly entrenched in the playoffs and also will be a team that can be dangerous and probably saving their best for the playoffs as well.
First 6 spots are pretty safe but the 7/8 spot is definitely jumbled with teams playing each other to fight for those last 2 spots.
7 BSoDF: no one seems to be able to stop this all pass offense led by Zeke Bratkowski. Games vs Siberian and Yorkshire are huge in terms of controlling their own destiny for a playoff spot...... we'll see if the 0cares comes back to bite them or is their talent just too good to overcome. I'm gonna give these guys the nod.
8. Puvi Musketeers: this may not bode well for them after I've put them back in the playoff race instead of giving them some motivation...... they've come back to life with huge wins over Niagara and Algoma to show that they DO have the talent to be a playoff team, it just comes down to care level and if they can execute. Definitely got a chance to win out and finish 9-7 but got a trap game vs the Sabertooths and the season finale vs Siberian will be huge as well.
9. Siberian Express: giving them the nod here over Yorkshire with their big win over them. However, they have a very tough schedule with Alcoholics/Matadors and then matchups with BSoDF and Puvi to decide if they get in or not. 9 wins is the goal... they get there they should be safe but 8 wins may not be enough.
10. Yorkshire Rippers: have done well their first season in Pro but the close lose vs Siberian really hurts. Last 4 games are brutal with QC, Alcoholics, and Niagara... not to mention BSoDF in the finale. Will need to win 1 to at least stay in the hunt but will likely need help if they only get one.... best chance is for this team to find a way to sneak out another W and get to 9 wins. But overall a solid season.
11. Thunder Bay Sabertooths: - sat well at .500 at the halfway point but an 0-4 3rd quarter takes them out of the running. Certainly has some growing/work to do to climb to one of the elite teams in the East but this team has a bright future if they can keep their young nucleus together. Should be a solid force next year.
12-16
Choppin Broccoli
Bortland Nerfalots
Dallas Knights - should be able to avoid demotion actually with their head to head game vs Hub as a 2nd win and their win over Vancouver
Vancouver Rain
Hub City
Hoping to see some solid new teams join CPL next year.
Good luck to everyone in the final stretch!
1. Queen City Black Cats: can they continue to go wire to wire? Their team name may be their biggest obstacle as it has been known to jinx them a bit in the playoffs. Got a couple challenges vs Niagara and Algoma but with them as potential playoff opponents there may be some posturing in these games. Otherwise, if this team can continue to stay focused on both sides of the ball they'll be difficult to beat.
2. Manitoba Matadors big 3rd quarter wins vs Niagara and Algoma has this team pull away and have the inside track on the #2 seed..... has a solid challenge in the season finale vs Raging Alcoholics but provided they don't stumble in the next 3 games that game may not mean much as they'll have the 2 seed wrapped up. Very stout defense and a star at QB in Trent Edwards is what fuels this squad.
3. Algoma Arena Rockers: team that currently has the inside track on the 3 seed and played a very nice game vs Manitoba albeit in a loss..... scoring the most vs the stout Manitoba D all year. Hard to predict their playoff seeding with Thunder Bay, QC, and Niagara among their final 3 games. If they can win 2 out of 3, I see them staying at the 3 spot..... if not they could tumble. Will be interested to see how this team turns it up once they get some 72 EQ in like they've talked about.
4. Raging Alcoholics: 4-6 seeding is probably the most jumbled and I'm going to give the slight nod here to Raging.... they're final game vs Manitoba will determine where they may be seeded, very conceivable they could be in a 3 way tie with Niagara/Thunder Way and win out. I think this team has put whatever early season issues they had behind them and will be a dangerous team in the playoffs.
5. Niagara Maulers: probably one of the more inconsistent teams to get a read on...... lost a battle vs Manitoba and then Puvi with a very convincing win but then got a big W vs Thunder Bay recently. Will have 2 tough games vs QC and Algoma and likely will need to take 1 of 2 to vie for a home playoff game but should be safe and who knows they may have some tricks up their sleeves for the playoffs.
6. Thunder Bay Wolverines: got a tough one today vs Algome and they'll have to figure out how to score some points as they've had a hard time offensively vs QC and Niagara. Still firmly entrenched in the playoffs and also will be a team that can be dangerous and probably saving their best for the playoffs as well.
First 6 spots are pretty safe but the 7/8 spot is definitely jumbled with teams playing each other to fight for those last 2 spots.
7 BSoDF: no one seems to be able to stop this all pass offense led by Zeke Bratkowski. Games vs Siberian and Yorkshire are huge in terms of controlling their own destiny for a playoff spot...... we'll see if the 0cares comes back to bite them or is their talent just too good to overcome. I'm gonna give these guys the nod.
8. Puvi Musketeers: this may not bode well for them after I've put them back in the playoff race instead of giving them some motivation...... they've come back to life with huge wins over Niagara and Algoma to show that they DO have the talent to be a playoff team, it just comes down to care level and if they can execute. Definitely got a chance to win out and finish 9-7 but got a trap game vs the Sabertooths and the season finale vs Siberian will be huge as well.
9. Siberian Express: giving them the nod here over Yorkshire with their big win over them. However, they have a very tough schedule with Alcoholics/Matadors and then matchups with BSoDF and Puvi to decide if they get in or not. 9 wins is the goal... they get there they should be safe but 8 wins may not be enough.
10. Yorkshire Rippers: have done well their first season in Pro but the close lose vs Siberian really hurts. Last 4 games are brutal with QC, Alcoholics, and Niagara... not to mention BSoDF in the finale. Will need to win 1 to at least stay in the hunt but will likely need help if they only get one.... best chance is for this team to find a way to sneak out another W and get to 9 wins. But overall a solid season.
11. Thunder Bay Sabertooths: - sat well at .500 at the halfway point but an 0-4 3rd quarter takes them out of the running. Certainly has some growing/work to do to climb to one of the elite teams in the East but this team has a bright future if they can keep their young nucleus together. Should be a solid force next year.
12-16
Choppin Broccoli
Bortland Nerfalots
Dallas Knights - should be able to avoid demotion actually with their head to head game vs Hub as a 2nd win and their win over Vancouver
Vancouver Rain
Hub City
Hoping to see some solid new teams join CPL next year.
Good luck to everyone in the final stretch!
Edited by rocklee711 on Feb 13, 2011 12:22:58
then i realized you have wolverines twice. i think you meant to put us in the.. 6 spot right? But in all seriousness we have epic 0 cares right now and just want QCBC to get out so we can beat all these scrubs next season.
