In the absence of Plank's ranking I thought I would dust off the old write-up cap and take a crack at this weeks top games.
-WJ
OPL Top Ten Games Wk3
#1 - SoCal BDC (3-0) - This week gets kicked off right with a top 10 matchup that could have playoff implications later. So Cal comes into this one giving me no real reason to doubt that they are the better, more seasoned team on most fronts but the 'Nites are a well coached, well built and driven squad so I see a chance for an upset in this one. If Banzai can hang in for the first half and get some momentum early in the 3rd I feel like they could hang on for a narrow victory but I suspect it will require either a timely TO, STs or an extra dose of good fortune. On the other side of the coin, if So Cal starts rolling early it could get ugly and turn into a situation where the 'Nites will want the whole thing to be over at the half. I'm really hoping for a great game here and I suspect the final result will fall somewhere in the middle of the above scenarios so I am picking BDC by 24.
#2 - Devonport Devils (3-0) - What could be better than the So Cal/Banzai game you ask? Well, how about another top 10 matchup with what looks to be two still more evenly matched teams? The Devils will face Buda in a game that I can't see not coming down to playoff seeding. With both teams having played and defeated Kingston I do have somewhat of a baseline from which to make my assumptions for this game. I don't think one game can tell one all they need to know about any matchup but in this case I think the two games do show just about how far apart these two great teams are. This one could definitely go either way but I feel like Devonport has their system running a bit more smoothly at this point of the season. I expect the game to be tight but watch for the Devils to pull away in the latter part of the 3rd quarter. The Pests could prove me wrong but I am feeling like it will probably be
Devonport by 10.
#3 - Buda Pests (3-0) - The Pests have a great opportunity to move up in an ever increasingly tight top of OPLA. They definitely have the team to win this game but I am afraid they are going to come up a bit short against another very good team. I'm still picking Devils by 10.
#4 - Banzai Pipeline 'Nites (3-0) - It's pretty cool having the top 4 teams facing off against each other and the 'Nites are another team that5 wants to make the most of this opportunity. They are a great team in all aspects and while they are capable of finding a way to win tonight, I am sticking with So Cal by 24.
#5 - Asau Pirates (2-1) - OK, so there is no way we could get any better than looking at the top 4 from Alpha going at it, right? Wrong! This game matches up the top two teams from Zeta in another game that has little chance of not making a big difference for these teams come playoff time. Asau had a tough draw in Week 1 so they come into this game with a blemish on their record but imo they are still the top team in Zeta. GCV is a perennially solid team and have a serious chance to wrap up the #1 Seed here in Week 4. I don't think they are quite going to pull it off but I am prepared to be wrong in this one. I foresee the Vipers getting ahead early but giving up the lead midway through the 4th and falling by a single score. I'm gonna really enjoy watching this game and will say Pirates by 6.
#6 - Gold Coast Michelin Men (3-0) - I hate to get to my boys and feel let down by the matchup but it's hard to follow the top 3 games this week. Florida would like to get back to .500 and try to get into the postseason but it's not going to happen tonight. GCMM is no juggernaut but will have enough gass to win this game easily. I predict Michelin Men by 52.
#7 - Gold Coast Vipers (3-0) - The Vipers are another of the teams with a chance to make a real statement this week. As a lover of all things Gold Coast, I have to say I am leaning toward wanting top see GCV win this game but with that said I just don't see it happening tonight. The Vipers will make a great game of it but I see them going down to Asau by 6.
#8 - Kingston Uprising (1-2) - Kingston has had it as tough as anyone the last two weeks and have two Ls to show for it but before anyone forgets about them let's take a look at what they can do with a win tonight. The Uprising face a solid Holland team that has a chance to make the postseason if they get some breaks. That means this could also end up being an important game when playoff time comes down and due to the fact that OPLA is so top heavy I have a feeling at least two good Alpha teams are going to be looking at 5-8 instead of 1-4. Kingston is my heavy favorite in this one and to stay in the chase for a home playoff game they have to win so don't expect them to drop another one tonight. It's maybe not a lock but I am going with the Uprising by 41.
#9 - Hong Kong Voodoo (2-1) - The Voodoo dropped one to GCMM last week and quickly found themselves out of the top 8 in Alpha. They have a chance to get back into the playoff hunt but need to win the rest of their "should win" games. Fortunately for them tonight is a "should never lose" game and I expect Hong Kong to bounce back and take care of business. I wish All Good Things were the team they used to be but alas, they are not. This one shouldn't and won't be close as I see it being the Voodoo by 21.
#10 - Amsterdam Bulls (2-1) - The Bulls are a solid, young team that desperately needs to beat some teams above them to get true respect and a chance to move up in the top ten and luckily for them they face a short handed team tonight that should allow them to stay moving in the right direction until they get a chance to knock off one of the big boys. If Amsterdam can lay off the Ganja and stay focused they could find themselves playing at home in the postseason and in a relatively young and weak Zeta, the Bulls are set up to be a surprise team in the playoffs. Guam can play some good ball at times but I am going with Amsterdam by 49.
-WJ
OPL Top Ten Games Wk3
#1 - SoCal BDC (3-0) - This week gets kicked off right with a top 10 matchup that could have playoff implications later. So Cal comes into this one giving me no real reason to doubt that they are the better, more seasoned team on most fronts but the 'Nites are a well coached, well built and driven squad so I see a chance for an upset in this one. If Banzai can hang in for the first half and get some momentum early in the 3rd I feel like they could hang on for a narrow victory but I suspect it will require either a timely TO, STs or an extra dose of good fortune. On the other side of the coin, if So Cal starts rolling early it could get ugly and turn into a situation where the 'Nites will want the whole thing to be over at the half. I'm really hoping for a great game here and I suspect the final result will fall somewhere in the middle of the above scenarios so I am picking BDC by 24.
#2 - Devonport Devils (3-0) - What could be better than the So Cal/Banzai game you ask? Well, how about another top 10 matchup with what looks to be two still more evenly matched teams? The Devils will face Buda in a game that I can't see not coming down to playoff seeding. With both teams having played and defeated Kingston I do have somewhat of a baseline from which to make my assumptions for this game. I don't think one game can tell one all they need to know about any matchup but in this case I think the two games do show just about how far apart these two great teams are. This one could definitely go either way but I feel like Devonport has their system running a bit more smoothly at this point of the season. I expect the game to be tight but watch for the Devils to pull away in the latter part of the 3rd quarter. The Pests could prove me wrong but I am feeling like it will probably be
Devonport by 10.
#3 - Buda Pests (3-0) - The Pests have a great opportunity to move up in an ever increasingly tight top of OPLA. They definitely have the team to win this game but I am afraid they are going to come up a bit short against another very good team. I'm still picking Devils by 10.
#4 - Banzai Pipeline 'Nites (3-0) - It's pretty cool having the top 4 teams facing off against each other and the 'Nites are another team that5 wants to make the most of this opportunity. They are a great team in all aspects and while they are capable of finding a way to win tonight, I am sticking with So Cal by 24.
#5 - Asau Pirates (2-1) - OK, so there is no way we could get any better than looking at the top 4 from Alpha going at it, right? Wrong! This game matches up the top two teams from Zeta in another game that has little chance of not making a big difference for these teams come playoff time. Asau had a tough draw in Week 1 so they come into this game with a blemish on their record but imo they are still the top team in Zeta. GCV is a perennially solid team and have a serious chance to wrap up the #1 Seed here in Week 4. I don't think they are quite going to pull it off but I am prepared to be wrong in this one. I foresee the Vipers getting ahead early but giving up the lead midway through the 4th and falling by a single score. I'm gonna really enjoy watching this game and will say Pirates by 6.
#6 - Gold Coast Michelin Men (3-0) - I hate to get to my boys and feel let down by the matchup but it's hard to follow the top 3 games this week. Florida would like to get back to .500 and try to get into the postseason but it's not going to happen tonight. GCMM is no juggernaut but will have enough gass to win this game easily. I predict Michelin Men by 52.
#7 - Gold Coast Vipers (3-0) - The Vipers are another of the teams with a chance to make a real statement this week. As a lover of all things Gold Coast, I have to say I am leaning toward wanting top see GCV win this game but with that said I just don't see it happening tonight. The Vipers will make a great game of it but I see them going down to Asau by 6.
#8 - Kingston Uprising (1-2) - Kingston has had it as tough as anyone the last two weeks and have two Ls to show for it but before anyone forgets about them let's take a look at what they can do with a win tonight. The Uprising face a solid Holland team that has a chance to make the postseason if they get some breaks. That means this could also end up being an important game when playoff time comes down and due to the fact that OPLA is so top heavy I have a feeling at least two good Alpha teams are going to be looking at 5-8 instead of 1-4. Kingston is my heavy favorite in this one and to stay in the chase for a home playoff game they have to win so don't expect them to drop another one tonight. It's maybe not a lock but I am going with the Uprising by 41.
#9 - Hong Kong Voodoo (2-1) - The Voodoo dropped one to GCMM last week and quickly found themselves out of the top 8 in Alpha. They have a chance to get back into the playoff hunt but need to win the rest of their "should win" games. Fortunately for them tonight is a "should never lose" game and I expect Hong Kong to bounce back and take care of business. I wish All Good Things were the team they used to be but alas, they are not. This one shouldn't and won't be close as I see it being the Voodoo by 21.
#10 - Amsterdam Bulls (2-1) - The Bulls are a solid, young team that desperately needs to beat some teams above them to get true respect and a chance to move up in the top ten and luckily for them they face a short handed team tonight that should allow them to stay moving in the right direction until they get a chance to knock off one of the big boys. If Amsterdam can lay off the Ganja and stay focused they could find themselves playing at home in the postseason and in a relatively young and weak Zeta, the Bulls are set up to be a surprise team in the playoffs. Guam can play some good ball at times but I am going with Amsterdam by 49.
Edited by Wolfpack Justice on May 20, 2011 15:58:56
Edited by Wolfpack Justice on May 20, 2011 15:55:54
Edited by Wolfpack Justice on May 20, 2011 15:11:22
Edited by Wolfpack Justice on May 20, 2011 15:09:06
Edited by Wolfpack Justice on May 20, 2011 14:59:28
