For want of a FDC! - I'll be updating this throughout the day as I get time...but for now...
Rankings:
1 - Woodridge Lumberjacks - What were you expecting? Jesus?
2 - Berlin Blitzkrieg - A fairly balanced schedule overall - their performance this week against Toledo and the Vikings will cement them in the top 3 or see them drop hard.
3 - Valhalla Vikings - Vikings have been loving the changes this season - but with an inactive O-line and several tough opponents coming + a week 16 game against a revitalized Scorgasms, can they hold onto their beloved 3rd place?
4 - Toledo Swords - I may smack them for their lucky break against the Vikings, but they've earned this spot - whether they can keep it with a very tough schedule is yet to be seen.
5 - Aberdeen Wrecking Crew - 2 surprising losses keep them from an undefeated season. Like most teams, the hardest part of their schedule is still to come. They're the only team to beat Woodridge, so expect them to make a hard push at 3rd place with convincing wins against Toledo and the HEAT. If they can beat the Vikings...well...we may have another contender for the bowl this season.
6 - Fightin' Texas Aggies - A team that always seems to have the same problems the Vikings do, they've hung in there this season against some pretty tough competition. They've broken away from a pass first offense and are showing that their run game is to be taken seriously. A rough stretch between weeks 13-15 is softened by closing with Assassins and Sandford. Look for them in the playoffs.
7 - Lake Charles Who Dats - Another team who's visit to the playoffs are still very much in question - They've got AWC and Woodridge to look forward to, and a good Stampede team in Week 16. They've got 3 games left in the season that they should win - they're going to have to peel off a few more from the "underdog" category to stay in this position.
8 - E-City Mercenaries - A shutout win against Carthage will hopefully transition into a strong showing the next few weeks as they go to fight Monarchs, LCWD, and Toledo. Their home stretch doesn't bring any comfort as they finish the season with the Vikings, FTA, and the Pimps visiting. They're going to need to pull a rabbit out of their hat to stay in the playoffs.
9 - Stuttgart Nighthawks - They've been on skids the past few weeks, and their next game against Valhalla doesn't look to deliver salvation. A week 16 against Valencia should help a bit, but if they want to keep playoff hopes alive, they're going to need to win at Berlin.
10 - London Monarchs - It pains me to rank the Monarchs this low, but with 3 tough games remaining this season - LJacks, Meatballs, and E-City - they're going to need to peel off at least 1 of those 3, and nail down the rest of their games if they want to have a chance at the playoffs.
11- Carthage Army Of Darkness - At this point they're safely out of playoff contention. Hopefully they'll be able to use their last games to nail down tactics to help them compensate for a fairly spotty roster. Their QB, WR, and LB positions have you screaming "where's the beef!?"
12 - Wembley Warriors - Like their brothers, the Monarchs, this team does not deserve to be ranked this low, but the #'s don't lie. The good news for them is that most of their remaining games are winnable, and if they play their cards right, they'll break .500.
13 - Nice Dauphins - They'll avoid relegation this season - but on paper they should be one of the top teams in the league. Just goes to show that levels aren't everything. They'll need to tighten up their tactics and depth if they want to avoid relegation next season
14 - Blackpool Mountain Lions - Their game this week determines whether or not they earn relegation this season or the next. Can Joe deliver them another season and give them time to improve their game?
15 - Lyon Sharks - Jackoz's efforts to rebuild Lyon may of stalled - but a win this week can give him another season of the golden goose of recruitment - "Pro League team recruiting"
16 - European Assassins - Welp. Legalbama has tried very hard to rebuild the Assassins, but between the weak depth and the chemistry hit, it's too little, too late. They'll be looking for vengeance in AAA next season.
-------------------------------Game 10 Previews-------------------------------
Woodridge Lumberjacks vs Nice Dauphins - I...honestly don't know what to say about this. It'll be a good day for Nice if they can keep the Lumberjacks' high powered offense below 75.
Woodridge will start to coast halfway through the 2nd quarter. 85-10
Valhalla Vikings vs Stuttgart Nighthawks - Stuttgart has a very solid team with few holes to attack. Valhalla looks to put them to the test as they try to increase their streak to 5. A win for Stuttgart would go a long way to improving their playoff hopes and put Valhalla's top tier status into serious question. Valhalla needs to win here, and if you'll permit me to stroke my ego a bit, I say that...
Valhalla wins 31-17
Aberdeen Wrecking Crew vs Lake Charles Who Dats - This one should be marked for AWC, but with their history of losing to underdog teams, and LCWD's habit of keeping their games close, this really could go either way.
Aberdeen seals the deal with a score late in the 4th, 28-17
** Game of the Week** Berlin Blitzkrieg vs Toledo Swords - Toledo invites Berlin over for a match that should reshape the Top 5 teams in Alpha. On paper, Berlin has the #2 ranked offense and defense in the conference, but Toledo has taken out higher ranked teams before. Could Toledo silence all doubts with a win here, or does Berlin end the Toledo's march through Alpha's best and brightest.
Helluin's pick? Berlin - 24-17
Fightin' Texas Aggies vs Wembley Warriors - Wembly needs a win here to get their season back on track. While both teams rank similarly in pts allowed/scored, I like FTA for the win here.
FTA will pull this one out very late - 24-21
Carthage Army of Darkness vs European Assassins - Carthage travels to Europe for a sunday off against the rebuilding Assassins. Expect blood.
...I'm not even going to bother.
E-City Mercenaries vs London Monarchs - If the Monarchs are going to win an underdog game the rest of the season - this'll be it. E-City travels to London in style as they try to keep their momentum going. They had better be prepared - as a lot of teams have found out, Monarch's ranking is very deceptive.
London wins this one in overtime - 24-21
Lyon Sharks vs Blackpool Mountain Lions - This'd be game of the weak if I didn't feel so dirty admitting it. Whoever loses this game is doomed to relegation. So, alpha teams...who do YOU want to have another chance to redeem themselves?
I like Lyon - but I think Blackpool pulls this out with a better showing on offense. 31-14
Rankings:
1 - Woodridge Lumberjacks - What were you expecting? Jesus?
2 - Berlin Blitzkrieg - A fairly balanced schedule overall - their performance this week against Toledo and the Vikings will cement them in the top 3 or see them drop hard.
3 - Valhalla Vikings - Vikings have been loving the changes this season - but with an inactive O-line and several tough opponents coming + a week 16 game against a revitalized Scorgasms, can they hold onto their beloved 3rd place?
4 - Toledo Swords - I may smack them for their lucky break against the Vikings, but they've earned this spot - whether they can keep it with a very tough schedule is yet to be seen.
5 - Aberdeen Wrecking Crew - 2 surprising losses keep them from an undefeated season. Like most teams, the hardest part of their schedule is still to come. They're the only team to beat Woodridge, so expect them to make a hard push at 3rd place with convincing wins against Toledo and the HEAT. If they can beat the Vikings...well...we may have another contender for the bowl this season.
6 - Fightin' Texas Aggies - A team that always seems to have the same problems the Vikings do, they've hung in there this season against some pretty tough competition. They've broken away from a pass first offense and are showing that their run game is to be taken seriously. A rough stretch between weeks 13-15 is softened by closing with Assassins and Sandford. Look for them in the playoffs.
7 - Lake Charles Who Dats - Another team who's visit to the playoffs are still very much in question - They've got AWC and Woodridge to look forward to, and a good Stampede team in Week 16. They've got 3 games left in the season that they should win - they're going to have to peel off a few more from the "underdog" category to stay in this position.
8 - E-City Mercenaries - A shutout win against Carthage will hopefully transition into a strong showing the next few weeks as they go to fight Monarchs, LCWD, and Toledo. Their home stretch doesn't bring any comfort as they finish the season with the Vikings, FTA, and the Pimps visiting. They're going to need to pull a rabbit out of their hat to stay in the playoffs.
9 - Stuttgart Nighthawks - They've been on skids the past few weeks, and their next game against Valhalla doesn't look to deliver salvation. A week 16 against Valencia should help a bit, but if they want to keep playoff hopes alive, they're going to need to win at Berlin.
10 - London Monarchs - It pains me to rank the Monarchs this low, but with 3 tough games remaining this season - LJacks, Meatballs, and E-City - they're going to need to peel off at least 1 of those 3, and nail down the rest of their games if they want to have a chance at the playoffs.
11- Carthage Army Of Darkness - At this point they're safely out of playoff contention. Hopefully they'll be able to use their last games to nail down tactics to help them compensate for a fairly spotty roster. Their QB, WR, and LB positions have you screaming "where's the beef!?"
12 - Wembley Warriors - Like their brothers, the Monarchs, this team does not deserve to be ranked this low, but the #'s don't lie. The good news for them is that most of their remaining games are winnable, and if they play their cards right, they'll break .500.
13 - Nice Dauphins - They'll avoid relegation this season - but on paper they should be one of the top teams in the league. Just goes to show that levels aren't everything. They'll need to tighten up their tactics and depth if they want to avoid relegation next season
14 - Blackpool Mountain Lions - Their game this week determines whether or not they earn relegation this season or the next. Can Joe deliver them another season and give them time to improve their game?
15 - Lyon Sharks - Jackoz's efforts to rebuild Lyon may of stalled - but a win this week can give him another season of the golden goose of recruitment - "Pro League team recruiting"
16 - European Assassins - Welp. Legalbama has tried very hard to rebuild the Assassins, but between the weak depth and the chemistry hit, it's too little, too late. They'll be looking for vengeance in AAA next season.
-------------------------------Game 10 Previews-------------------------------
Woodridge Lumberjacks vs Nice Dauphins - I...honestly don't know what to say about this. It'll be a good day for Nice if they can keep the Lumberjacks' high powered offense below 75.
Woodridge will start to coast halfway through the 2nd quarter. 85-10
Valhalla Vikings vs Stuttgart Nighthawks - Stuttgart has a very solid team with few holes to attack. Valhalla looks to put them to the test as they try to increase their streak to 5. A win for Stuttgart would go a long way to improving their playoff hopes and put Valhalla's top tier status into serious question. Valhalla needs to win here, and if you'll permit me to stroke my ego a bit, I say that...
Valhalla wins 31-17
Aberdeen Wrecking Crew vs Lake Charles Who Dats - This one should be marked for AWC, but with their history of losing to underdog teams, and LCWD's habit of keeping their games close, this really could go either way.
Aberdeen seals the deal with a score late in the 4th, 28-17
** Game of the Week** Berlin Blitzkrieg vs Toledo Swords - Toledo invites Berlin over for a match that should reshape the Top 5 teams in Alpha. On paper, Berlin has the #2 ranked offense and defense in the conference, but Toledo has taken out higher ranked teams before. Could Toledo silence all doubts with a win here, or does Berlin end the Toledo's march through Alpha's best and brightest.
Helluin's pick? Berlin - 24-17
Fightin' Texas Aggies vs Wembley Warriors - Wembly needs a win here to get their season back on track. While both teams rank similarly in pts allowed/scored, I like FTA for the win here.
FTA will pull this one out very late - 24-21
Carthage Army of Darkness vs European Assassins - Carthage travels to Europe for a sunday off against the rebuilding Assassins. Expect blood.
...I'm not even going to bother.
E-City Mercenaries vs London Monarchs - If the Monarchs are going to win an underdog game the rest of the season - this'll be it. E-City travels to London in style as they try to keep their momentum going. They had better be prepared - as a lot of teams have found out, Monarch's ranking is very deceptive.
London wins this one in overtime - 24-21
Lyon Sharks vs Blackpool Mountain Lions - This'd be game of the weak if I didn't feel so dirty admitting it. Whoever loses this game is doomed to relegation. So, alpha teams...who do YOU want to have another chance to redeem themselves?
I like Lyon - but I think Blackpool pulls this out with a better showing on offense. 31-14
Last edited Aug 20, 2008 15:04:08
