Introduction to the league:
National Minor Elite Champion: Vienna Ritterbrüder
After a more convincing run in the GLB Tourney, Vienna survived their playoff run with a 3 point victory over Brazilian followed by an overtime victory over Jericho. While they've earned the right to be top-ranked, the position is hardly secure.
Contender: Jericho Walls
Two seasons ago won the Regional Minor Tournament, but since then seemed to have faded a bit and be passed by Vienna. However, their overtime loss to Vienna in the playoffs may indicate this team will try to hang around for another season of minors glory before inevitably fading off to wherever the teams that will never be Pro powerhouses go.
Contender: Brazilian Farmers
This is a team that will be tough every season, in the minors and the Pros. A couple of seasons ago they won their Regional Minor league (although to be fair GLB decided to make two elite leagues that season and the other league was stacked while the one Brazilian was in was very weak). They also have been a good Pro team in the past. Vienna slipped by Brazilian by 3 points in the playoffs last season, so if Vienna fades at all, Brazilian could take advantage.
Contender: Great JPEGs
This team won 9 straight regular season games to end last season including impressive wins over Jericho and Brazilian, before a horrible AI blunder cost them in the playoffs. If this team can avoid future blunders, they may be hard to beat.
Pretender: Houston Gamblers
After a 2-14 record the last time this team was in Elite in S52, Houston spent 2 seasons hiding in the lower leagues where it racked up a 38 game win streak. In the tournament, after some initial favorable match ups, Houston was blown out by a really large margin both of the last two seasons, most recently by Vienna and previously by Jericho. I expect this team will wake up to reality on a more regular basis now it is back in Elite.
Rising Star: Corpus Christi Illegal Aliens
Now that we're getting closer to the end of build cycles, this team will begin to surpass teams it struggled with in the minors. It probably won't all happen this season but there should be a marked improvement. Last season Corpus Christi was 14 points away from beating Jericho in the playoffs and again 14 points away from beating Brazilian in the tournament, so even a little improvement could be dangerous.
Good Team: All The King's Men
They don't gameplan, else they'd be a Contender.
Average Teams:
Holland Pinoy All Stars - not even in Elite this season but better than some that are
Paris Smexies
Hostile Royal Takeover
Hispania Pride - also not even in Elite this season
The Dregs:
everyone else - gonna be a long season for these teams if they're in Elite
National Minor Elite Champion: Vienna Ritterbrüder
After a more convincing run in the GLB Tourney, Vienna survived their playoff run with a 3 point victory over Brazilian followed by an overtime victory over Jericho. While they've earned the right to be top-ranked, the position is hardly secure.
Contender: Jericho Walls
Two seasons ago won the Regional Minor Tournament, but since then seemed to have faded a bit and be passed by Vienna. However, their overtime loss to Vienna in the playoffs may indicate this team will try to hang around for another season of minors glory before inevitably fading off to wherever the teams that will never be Pro powerhouses go.
Contender: Brazilian Farmers
This is a team that will be tough every season, in the minors and the Pros. A couple of seasons ago they won their Regional Minor league (although to be fair GLB decided to make two elite leagues that season and the other league was stacked while the one Brazilian was in was very weak). They also have been a good Pro team in the past. Vienna slipped by Brazilian by 3 points in the playoffs last season, so if Vienna fades at all, Brazilian could take advantage.
Contender: Great JPEGs
This team won 9 straight regular season games to end last season including impressive wins over Jericho and Brazilian, before a horrible AI blunder cost them in the playoffs. If this team can avoid future blunders, they may be hard to beat.
Pretender: Houston Gamblers
After a 2-14 record the last time this team was in Elite in S52, Houston spent 2 seasons hiding in the lower leagues where it racked up a 38 game win streak. In the tournament, after some initial favorable match ups, Houston was blown out by a really large margin both of the last two seasons, most recently by Vienna and previously by Jericho. I expect this team will wake up to reality on a more regular basis now it is back in Elite.
Rising Star: Corpus Christi Illegal Aliens
Now that we're getting closer to the end of build cycles, this team will begin to surpass teams it struggled with in the minors. It probably won't all happen this season but there should be a marked improvement. Last season Corpus Christi was 14 points away from beating Jericho in the playoffs and again 14 points away from beating Brazilian in the tournament, so even a little improvement could be dangerous.
Good Team: All The King's Men
They don't gameplan, else they'd be a Contender.
Average Teams:
Holland Pinoy All Stars - not even in Elite this season but better than some that are
Paris Smexies
Hostile Royal Takeover
Hispania Pride - also not even in Elite this season
The Dregs:
everyone else - gonna be a long season for these teams if they're in Elite
Edited by Sly on Jun 29, 2016 12:14:53