Here's my take on the races in the East:
* = Clinched Playoffs
Columbus (11-0) * - Should be a lock as the #1 seed. Needs to lose 2 of their next 5 to not get the #1 seed.
Near Lock #1 Seed
Naperville (10-1) * - Still a few tricky games left for them with New Orleans, Milwaukee, and SNK left. Even dropping a game should let them win the #2 seed. I don't expect them to lose any.
Near Lock #2 Seed
Indianapolis (9-2) - With a win already over Milwaukee, Indy already has a fairly easy schedule left. A big game upcoming is New Orleans, and a win from New Orleans could move Indy down a few slots. Maine and Detroit also are upset potentials on their schedule. Indy should have the #3, but could slip to the 4 with a few upsets.
Big Favorite #3, could slip to #4
Milwaukee (9-2) - Milwaukee has a killer schedule coming up. They end with Sin City, Naperville, and EZ. If they win 2/3 of those games, it's a huge victory. I expect them to go 1-3. This would still be good enough to put them in the #4 seed. The win over New Orleans was big for them. If Indy slips up, and Milwaukee wins their big games, they can move to a #3.
Big Favorite for #4, could rise to #3 with luck
New Orleans (8-3) New Orleans has several tough games coming up with every team capable of beating them. Naperville and Indy should be favorites over them. Detroit and Maine should be underdogs, but capable of a win. LilWeezyAna matches up fairly evenly with them. I'm expecting them to go 2-3, although 3-2 won't be enough to move them up any higher. New Orleans should be a solid #5 seed unless they lose or win 4 of the games.
Solid #5 seed. Could move to #4 or #6
Sin City (7-4) Sin City has dropped 3 of their last 4, but face 3 games that they will be big favorites and 2 games they will be big dogs. Even going 3-2, they should make the #6 seed. An early win over St. Louis should give them the edge they need even with struggling.
Solid #6 seed. Could move to #5 with luck.
Maine (5-6) Maine has had more heartbreak this season. Maine's end of the season could be even more heartbreak. St. Louis and Tulsa will be challenging teams for them, and the St. Louis game could make the difference for Maine this season. Indy and New Orleans are games where they will be significant underdogs. I have a 3 way tie predicted for 8th, and Maine just barely missing out. An upset of St. Louis should put them into the playoffs.
Barely out of playoffs
Martha's Vineyard (5-6) Thanks to Maine's loss, Martha's is in the running for making the playoffs. Martha's has 1 game they will be a big favorite, 1 game as a small favorite, 1 game as a small underdog, and 2 games as big underdog. If they can win 3, they will make the playoffs. If they win 2, they can make the playoffs if they put up a lot of points and win the tiebreaker.
Barely in, by the closest margins, as the #8 seed.
New York Launch (5-6) The Launch faces Milwaukee, Columbus, St. Louis, and Minnesota along with the cross-town rival Mustangs. The Launch will be big underdogs in each of the first 4 games, and even the Mustangs could give them a scare. The Launch will need to win 4 of the next 5 to make the playoffs. I don't see that happening.
Likely out
St. Louis (5-6) St. Louis is in good shape to make the #7 seed. They are favorites in each of their last 5 games, although Maine and the Launch are upset potentials. Even if they drop one of the games, they should make the playoffs.
Likely in, #7 seed. Could slip to #8 with a loss
New York Mustangs (4-7) Games against Red River, New York Launch, Martha's Vineyard, and Sin City left. They will likely need to win 4 games to have a shot at the playoffs, and possibly 5.
Likely out
Detroit (4-7) Detroit has turned things around after a slow start and has an outside shot of making the playoffs. With games against New Orleans and Indianapolis left, they likely will drop at least those 2. However, their other three games are winnable. If they finish 7-9 and put up a lot of points, they could steal the #8 seed.
Likely out, outside shot of #8 seed
Dutch Harbor (3-8)
Likely Out
Red River (2-9)
Likely Out
Cleveland (1-10)
Likely Out *May be mathematically eliminated, not sure)
Pittsburgh (0-11)
Out
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