ALPHA
1. Stockholm Dynamites (Previous: 1)
-What was said about them: Close win against Helsinki. Scary close. I still think this is the best team in BBB7, when they play Athens coming up they will have the chance to prove it.
-What has changed?: Two cake wins and another coming up this week. Then they need to get down to business with four good teams in a row. Two of those teams could give them a good enough game to maybe send shockwaves through these power rankings.
-Prediction: Conference champion.
-Projected final record: 16-0
2. Athens Devils (Previous: 2)
-What was said about them: Flawlessly finished up their run through the middle of the playoff pack in Alpha. Impressed in every contest. This team is legit, and I think they are secure in their #2 spot on this list for quite some time.
-What has changed?: Took care of business against two lesser teams. The Cologne game could be tough, but I think Athens has the muscle to hold them off. The Stockholm game makes their season if they win, and would set up a delicious rematch probably in the playoffs.
-Prediction: Top four.
-Projected final record: 15-1
3. Helsinki Hitmen (Previous: 3)
-What was said about them: Figured they would lose to Stockholm. Did not see it being as close as it was. Helsinki earned my respect with that game. Like Stockholm, an easy upcoming slate of games means I think that they will stay in this spot for quite some time.
-What has changed?: Still look like an excellent team. Athens against Helsinki could be the most evenly matched game of high level teams Alpha will see all season, but that is further down the road. Helsinki gets four more free wins, to set up a 12-1 vs. 12-1 clash for that game.
-Prediction: Top four.
-Projected final record: 14-2
4. South Beach Sea Hawks (Previous: 6)
-What was said about them: Played Athens to a very close game, and I think that bodes well for their chances in the games coming up against Dusseldorf and Barcelona. If they can win those I think they have a very good shot at a top four seed.
-What has changed?: Their game against Athens did show how good they were, and they expressed it by really beating the crap out of Barcelona and Dusseldorf. My hat is off to them, they have earned their position on this chart, but the only way they move higher is by beating Stockholm. Lets see how they play when they have no upward mobility and have teams like Cologne gunning for them.
-Prediction: Top four contender.
-Projected final record: 13-3
5. Cologne Ghosts (Previous: 5)
-What was said about them: Nothing new to report. Took care of business against teams they should have beaten. Two more gimmies, then a nice little four game jaunt that will determine their seeding.
-What has changed?: Sadly another boring couple of games for Cologne, but that changes quickly with the stretch that makes or breaks their season. I think they can win at least two of those games. If they do then they have a good shot at a top four seed, and at the very least won't move down from this spot. From the looks of it, it looks like Cologne and South Beach will play each other in week 13 as well as week 1 of the playoffs, but it is their first game that determines who will get the home field for it.
-Prediction: Top four contender.
-Projected final record: 12-4
6. Dusseldorf Noobs (Previous: 4)
-What was said about them: Split their crucial two game set. Lost to Athens but played well in the game, and then blew out Barcelona. The game against Athens showed how solid Dusseldorf is. The game against Barcelona showed how overrated Barcelona is.
-What has changed?: Still look to me like a solid, but not spectacular team. In the awful Alpha conference this year, that is good enough for a playoff lock. Still have Cologne, Helsinki, and Stockholm to play, so even with a win in one of those games they can kiss a home playoff game goodbye.
-Prediction: Playoffs.
-Projected final record: 11-5
7t. Barcelona Dare devils (Previous: 8)
-What was said about them: I am more disappointed in their 4 point win against Burlington than I am their shutout loss to Dusseldorf. The loss makes them look like a low seeded playoff team. The win makes them look like they are barely playoff caliber. If Alpha weren't so bad after the top eight, I'd say Barcelona is playing bad enough to miss the playoffs. They need to win convincingly against Liverpool to assure me that they are playoff bound.
-What has changed?: Big Liverpool game looms large, if they win they play the winner of the Helsinki/Athens game in round 1, if they lose they play Stockholm. I'd call this a big game if they want to make anything out of their season.
-Prediction: Playoffs.
-Projected final record: 10-6
7t. Liverpool SEA Fusion (Previous: 7)
-What was said about them: Playoff hopes are looking good. I am interested in seeing how they perform against a very good Athens team in two weeks.
-What has changed?: Did not play well against Athens, but then again, no team has save for South Beach. This season is going to end with a playoff berth most likely or at worst just missing it, so no matter what happens it is still a marked improvement over last year for Liverpool.
-Prediction: Playoff contender.
-Projected final record: 8-8
9. Burlington Blue Devils (Previous: 9)
-What was said about them: Almost beat Barcelona, almost lost to Norwich. That is very conflicting to me. I think they can dream of playoffs now, but they have to play some more teams the way they played Barcelona, and not the way they played Norwich.
-What has changed?: Two losses against good teams, with another coming up this week pretty much ends the playoff race in Alpha, unless Burlington manages to knock off Liverpool in their game together.
-Prediction: Playoff contender.
-Projected final record: 7-9
10. Glasgow Vultures (Previous: 10)
-What was said about them: Playoff hopes? Maybe next year. Stockholm next game.
-What has changed?: Will need to work hard on their team to ensure playoffs next year, still has holes. Beating Norwich this week is necessary to save face on season. Could also play spoiler to Burlington down the road.
-Prediction: Outside looking in.
-Projected final record: 7-9
11. Norwich Nighthawks (Previous: 11)
-What was said about them: Couldn't beat Burlington. If you cant beat fringe playoff teams, you don't deserve to be in them yourself.
-What has changed?: Nothing to report.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 5-11
12. Mannheim Spartans (Previous: 13)
-What was said about them: Shut out Flat Packed. Hung 7 on a playoff team. That means they move to the top of the bottom four.
-What has changed?: Scored 7 on Stockholm which is more than can be said about other teams in the bottom, so they move up a spot again!
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 5-11
13. The Fantasy Helmet Project (Previous: 12)
-What was said about them: Tooled on Flat Packed. 3 playoff teams loom ahead.
-What has changed?: Gave Liverpool a game. I thought they could grow as a team and give teams scares toward the end of the season. I think their slow build efforts will finally begin to bear fruit next season.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 3-13
14. Hamburg Vipers (Previous: 14)
-What was said about them: Fourteen points on Helsinki moves them up another spot! Congrats!
-What has changed?: Followed the 14 points on Helsinki up with a tight win over Gonadian. Hey, it's the little things that count.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 2-14
15. Gonadian Knights (Previous: 15)
-What was said about them: Seven points on Stockholm? Man those Dynamites are slipping!
-What has changed?: Will not win another game all season.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 1-15
16. Flat Packed Monkey (Previous: 16)
-What was said about them: Just as soon as I mention that their CPU guys are doing alright, they get shut out twice in a row by fellow awful teams.
-What has changed?: They will not win a game all season.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 0-16
Thoughts on Alpha: South Beach is playing extremely well. Top eight teams are pretty solid in their spots, and I don't expect much seeding change from the current standings. Burlington is pretty much the only party-crasher left and that is a stretch, although they could upset Liverpool and sneak in.
ZETA
1. Lyon Winemakers (Previous: 1)
-What was said about them: Two dominating wins in a row, one against a team everyone thought would be awful, another against a team that is surprisingly awful. Chambersburg up next, big game for Lyon, bigger game for Chambersburg.
-What has changed?: Big win against Chambersburg to give Lyon space on them in seeding. Can for all intents and purposes clinch the top seed this week with a win against Berlin in what will be the game of the year for Zeta.
-Prediction: Conference champion.
-Projected final record: 16-0
2. Berlin Blitz (Previous: 2)
-What was said about them: Smoked Chambersburg, to secure their place as at least the second best team in Zeta. Took care of a pesky Palermo team as well. All is looking well for Berlin now, they have a stat padding game coming up against Capeside, then a tuneup against Reading, before the game of the year for Zeta.
-What has changed?: Smacked Reading around, putting the last nail in Reading's playoff coffin. Shot at #1 comes up this week.
-Prediction: Top four.
-Projected final record: 14-2
3. Chambersburg Trojans (Previous: 4)
-What was said about them: Got rolled by Berlin, but not going to punish them that much. Won't punish them much for whatever happens against Lyon next game. Losing to Baden will not be tolerated by the rankings though, although they are still in line for a home playoff game even with losses in their next two games.
-What has changed?: Lost to Lyon but played an excellent game against Baden, pushing them probably permanently out of the top four seeds, and at the same time cementing a playoff home game for themselves. Game against Atlanta in two weeks is fairly important for seeding purposes, but I can feel comfortable favoring them in every game from here on out.
-Prediction: Top four.
-Projected final record: 14-2
4. Atlanta 404 (Previous: 5)
-What was said about them: Looked good in taking care of Stockholm, but looked bad against Middlesbrough who I would not have thought was in the same class as Atlanta. The Denver game will be interesting, although it seems Denver has fallen so far from last season that this can't even be a rubber match for them based on their split last season.
-What has changed?: Keep on scraping by, beating teams they need to beat, but not doing it with any comfortable margin. I don't know how they are game planning for these teams but it does not seem to be working very well. Have a lethal end of the season stretch where we can finally actually see if Atlanta's record is justified or not.
-Prediction: Top four contender.
-Projected final record: 12-4
5. Baden Bandits (Previous: 4)
-What was said about them: Big game against Chambersburg coming up after this next game to give them a chance to assert themselves as a top four team in Zeta again. That game is sandwiched by games against two awful teams.
-What has changed?: Failed to make a dent in Chambersburg and will pay for it with a critical hit to their home game in the playoffs chances. Just as soon as they shake the dust off that game, they have Lyon and Berlin coming up to further knock them down.
-Prediction: Top four contender.
-Projected final record: 11-5
6t. Palermo Panthers (Previous: 10)
-What was said about them: Did alright against Berlin, but I still don't think they are going to scrape into the playoffs. What would change my mind would be wins against Stockholm and Reading coming up.
-What has changed?: They answered their call to arms by me, and took care of business in dominating fashion against two other teams who were ahead of them in seeding, Reading and Stockholm. Achieved a double whammy by increasing their own standing to get into the playoffs and dealing a destructive blow to the chances for the two teams it beat. Has three more games against fringe playoff teams coming up, I feel comfortable favoring them in all three.
-Prediction: Playoff contender.
-Projected final record: 9-7
6t. Birmingham Polipocs (Previous: 8t)
-What was said about them: I think this ranking is a little too generous. That being said they are in good position for the playoffs, so why not have them at #8. Big game against Atlanta is up next.
-What has changed?: Almost knocked off Atlanta which would have clinched them a playoff berth basically. Still in a very good spot for the playoffs as they basically control their own destiny here. Tough stretch of games coming up though, so they have no time to rest on their laurels after they dominate Sexinton this week.
-Prediction: Playoff contender.
-Projected final record: 10-6
8. Stockholm Lions (Previous: 6)
-What was said about them: Good win against Milan was exactly what they needed. They are 3-4 now but should be around .500 when Berlin comes to town.
-What has changed?: Should call their game against Reading as the Mediocre Bowl, as both of these teams are failing to meet their expectations badly. The Luxembourg loss might haunt Stockholm when it comes down to the last team out in playoff seeding time. That being said, if they can beat Reading this week, I can see them with a 9-7 or 8-8 record that might get them in the playoffs.
-Prediction: Playoff contender.
-Projected final record: 8-8
9. Middlesbrough Mayhem (Previous: 12t)
-What was said about them: Couldn't move them up higher than this this week, but they are making their playoff push and are a team on the rise when many others seem to be shaky or on the decline. Their close loss to Atlanta and win against Luxembourg were impressive. Need to take care of Milan this week.
-What has changed?: Continue their solid playoff push with a drubbing of Milan. Their season rests on the next two games, if they can win those they absolutely end the playoff hopes of the teams they'd beat and ensure their own entry into the dance.
-Prediction: Playoff contender.
-Projected final record: 8-8
10. Denver Hounds (Previous: 11)
-What was said about them: Day 14. That is how many days it took me to officially say that the season 7 version of Denver sucks balls and disappoints me greatly. 5 losses already with some tough games looming won't cut it in Zeta this season.
-What has changed?: Spoiled Luxembourg's season, but they still have tough games coming up and I won't be favoring them in many of them.
-Prediction: Outside looking in.
-Projected final record: 6-10
11. Reading Armed Centaurs (Previous: 7)
-What was said about them: Two big wins inch them closer to .500, but a dangerous Palermo team awaits, followed by Berlin and Stockholm back to back. will they be .500 at the end of that little run of games? If not the playoffs probably won't happen.
-What has changed?: Played decently in their two losses, but that doesn't win them any points as they needed to win. They seem to be trading a lot of players with the plan to bring higher level ones on board, but i think that it is far too little far too late, and their season is already going down the toilet. However if they do make moves my prediction for their end of season will be altered.
-Prediction: Outside looking in.
-Projected final record: 5-11
12. Luxembourg Lightning Bolts (Previous: 8t)
-What was said about them: Ugh. Lost the two games they really should have won. They are a confusing as all hell team to predict, it just goes to show you how even the teams are in the 6-12 spots in Zeta. Must win against a reeling Denver team up next.
-What has changed?: Lost against Denver, and that is when I was able to say "season over" for Luxembourg. They needed to win against the teams close to them, now Denver, Birmingham, Middlesbrough, Reading, and Palermo all have tiebreakers against them. They needed wins in most of those games because they play five of the next six games against the five best teams in Zeta.
-Prediction: Outside looking in.
-Projected final record: 6-10
13. Milan Eagles (Previous: 12t)
-What was said about them: Couldn't win either of their games the past two weeks, so I will be dropping the "contender" from their prediction, but I will drop the word "playoff" from it as well.
-What has changed?: Kept losing against fringe playoff teams. Brutal schedule as well. Wait til next year I guess.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 4-12
14. Southampton Shadows (Previous: 14)
-What was said about them: Beat Capeside, but still bad.
-What has changed?: At least they can count on at least one more win this season.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 2-14
15. Sexintown Rubbers (Previous: 15)
-What was said about them: Still awfully awful. Can't play Capeside soon enough.
-What has changed?: So lucky that they got a week 1 win over the worst Alpha has to offer. Will get another against the worst Zeta has to offer.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 1-15
16. Capeside Minutemen (Previous: 16)
-What was said about them: Still think it would take an act of god for them to score a point this season.
-What has changed?: God shined down and had them drop 10 on Berlin. Then lost 199-0 to Lyon.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 0-16
Thoughts on Zeta: #1 seed will be determined in the Lyon/Berlin clash. Playoff picture starting to shake out as some teams find it impossible to separate themselves from mediocrity and keep losing games they should win. Reading looked like one of the best teams in Zeta this season, and has turned out to be one of the worst.
picks:
Stockholm at Fantasy Helmet
Cologne at Athens
Helsinki at Gonadian
South Beach at Burlington
Flat Packed at Dusseldorf
Liverpool at Barcelona
Norwich at Glasgow
Hamburg at Mannheim
Lyon at Berlin **GAME OF THE WEEK**
Atlanta at Southampton
Luxembourg at Chambersburg
Baden at Capeside
Palermo at Middlesbrough
Sexintown at Birmingham
Reading at Stockholm
Milan at Denver
1. Stockholm Dynamites (Previous: 1)
-What was said about them: Close win against Helsinki. Scary close. I still think this is the best team in BBB7, when they play Athens coming up they will have the chance to prove it.
-What has changed?: Two cake wins and another coming up this week. Then they need to get down to business with four good teams in a row. Two of those teams could give them a good enough game to maybe send shockwaves through these power rankings.
-Prediction: Conference champion.
-Projected final record: 16-0
2. Athens Devils (Previous: 2)
-What was said about them: Flawlessly finished up their run through the middle of the playoff pack in Alpha. Impressed in every contest. This team is legit, and I think they are secure in their #2 spot on this list for quite some time.
-What has changed?: Took care of business against two lesser teams. The Cologne game could be tough, but I think Athens has the muscle to hold them off. The Stockholm game makes their season if they win, and would set up a delicious rematch probably in the playoffs.
-Prediction: Top four.
-Projected final record: 15-1
3. Helsinki Hitmen (Previous: 3)
-What was said about them: Figured they would lose to Stockholm. Did not see it being as close as it was. Helsinki earned my respect with that game. Like Stockholm, an easy upcoming slate of games means I think that they will stay in this spot for quite some time.
-What has changed?: Still look like an excellent team. Athens against Helsinki could be the most evenly matched game of high level teams Alpha will see all season, but that is further down the road. Helsinki gets four more free wins, to set up a 12-1 vs. 12-1 clash for that game.
-Prediction: Top four.
-Projected final record: 14-2
4. South Beach Sea Hawks (Previous: 6)
-What was said about them: Played Athens to a very close game, and I think that bodes well for their chances in the games coming up against Dusseldorf and Barcelona. If they can win those I think they have a very good shot at a top four seed.
-What has changed?: Their game against Athens did show how good they were, and they expressed it by really beating the crap out of Barcelona and Dusseldorf. My hat is off to them, they have earned their position on this chart, but the only way they move higher is by beating Stockholm. Lets see how they play when they have no upward mobility and have teams like Cologne gunning for them.
-Prediction: Top four contender.
-Projected final record: 13-3
5. Cologne Ghosts (Previous: 5)
-What was said about them: Nothing new to report. Took care of business against teams they should have beaten. Two more gimmies, then a nice little four game jaunt that will determine their seeding.
-What has changed?: Sadly another boring couple of games for Cologne, but that changes quickly with the stretch that makes or breaks their season. I think they can win at least two of those games. If they do then they have a good shot at a top four seed, and at the very least won't move down from this spot. From the looks of it, it looks like Cologne and South Beach will play each other in week 13 as well as week 1 of the playoffs, but it is their first game that determines who will get the home field for it.
-Prediction: Top four contender.
-Projected final record: 12-4
6. Dusseldorf Noobs (Previous: 4)
-What was said about them: Split their crucial two game set. Lost to Athens but played well in the game, and then blew out Barcelona. The game against Athens showed how solid Dusseldorf is. The game against Barcelona showed how overrated Barcelona is.
-What has changed?: Still look to me like a solid, but not spectacular team. In the awful Alpha conference this year, that is good enough for a playoff lock. Still have Cologne, Helsinki, and Stockholm to play, so even with a win in one of those games they can kiss a home playoff game goodbye.
-Prediction: Playoffs.
-Projected final record: 11-5
7t. Barcelona Dare devils (Previous: 8)
-What was said about them: I am more disappointed in their 4 point win against Burlington than I am their shutout loss to Dusseldorf. The loss makes them look like a low seeded playoff team. The win makes them look like they are barely playoff caliber. If Alpha weren't so bad after the top eight, I'd say Barcelona is playing bad enough to miss the playoffs. They need to win convincingly against Liverpool to assure me that they are playoff bound.
-What has changed?: Big Liverpool game looms large, if they win they play the winner of the Helsinki/Athens game in round 1, if they lose they play Stockholm. I'd call this a big game if they want to make anything out of their season.
-Prediction: Playoffs.
-Projected final record: 10-6
7t. Liverpool SEA Fusion (Previous: 7)
-What was said about them: Playoff hopes are looking good. I am interested in seeing how they perform against a very good Athens team in two weeks.
-What has changed?: Did not play well against Athens, but then again, no team has save for South Beach. This season is going to end with a playoff berth most likely or at worst just missing it, so no matter what happens it is still a marked improvement over last year for Liverpool.
-Prediction: Playoff contender.
-Projected final record: 8-8
9. Burlington Blue Devils (Previous: 9)
-What was said about them: Almost beat Barcelona, almost lost to Norwich. That is very conflicting to me. I think they can dream of playoffs now, but they have to play some more teams the way they played Barcelona, and not the way they played Norwich.
-What has changed?: Two losses against good teams, with another coming up this week pretty much ends the playoff race in Alpha, unless Burlington manages to knock off Liverpool in their game together.
-Prediction: Playoff contender.
-Projected final record: 7-9
10. Glasgow Vultures (Previous: 10)
-What was said about them: Playoff hopes? Maybe next year. Stockholm next game.
-What has changed?: Will need to work hard on their team to ensure playoffs next year, still has holes. Beating Norwich this week is necessary to save face on season. Could also play spoiler to Burlington down the road.
-Prediction: Outside looking in.
-Projected final record: 7-9
11. Norwich Nighthawks (Previous: 11)
-What was said about them: Couldn't beat Burlington. If you cant beat fringe playoff teams, you don't deserve to be in them yourself.
-What has changed?: Nothing to report.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 5-11
12. Mannheim Spartans (Previous: 13)
-What was said about them: Shut out Flat Packed. Hung 7 on a playoff team. That means they move to the top of the bottom four.
-What has changed?: Scored 7 on Stockholm which is more than can be said about other teams in the bottom, so they move up a spot again!
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 5-11
13. The Fantasy Helmet Project (Previous: 12)
-What was said about them: Tooled on Flat Packed. 3 playoff teams loom ahead.
-What has changed?: Gave Liverpool a game. I thought they could grow as a team and give teams scares toward the end of the season. I think their slow build efforts will finally begin to bear fruit next season.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 3-13
14. Hamburg Vipers (Previous: 14)
-What was said about them: Fourteen points on Helsinki moves them up another spot! Congrats!
-What has changed?: Followed the 14 points on Helsinki up with a tight win over Gonadian. Hey, it's the little things that count.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 2-14
15. Gonadian Knights (Previous: 15)
-What was said about them: Seven points on Stockholm? Man those Dynamites are slipping!
-What has changed?: Will not win another game all season.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 1-15
16. Flat Packed Monkey (Previous: 16)
-What was said about them: Just as soon as I mention that their CPU guys are doing alright, they get shut out twice in a row by fellow awful teams.
-What has changed?: They will not win a game all season.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 0-16
Thoughts on Alpha: South Beach is playing extremely well. Top eight teams are pretty solid in their spots, and I don't expect much seeding change from the current standings. Burlington is pretty much the only party-crasher left and that is a stretch, although they could upset Liverpool and sneak in.
ZETA
1. Lyon Winemakers (Previous: 1)
-What was said about them: Two dominating wins in a row, one against a team everyone thought would be awful, another against a team that is surprisingly awful. Chambersburg up next, big game for Lyon, bigger game for Chambersburg.
-What has changed?: Big win against Chambersburg to give Lyon space on them in seeding. Can for all intents and purposes clinch the top seed this week with a win against Berlin in what will be the game of the year for Zeta.
-Prediction: Conference champion.
-Projected final record: 16-0
2. Berlin Blitz (Previous: 2)
-What was said about them: Smoked Chambersburg, to secure their place as at least the second best team in Zeta. Took care of a pesky Palermo team as well. All is looking well for Berlin now, they have a stat padding game coming up against Capeside, then a tuneup against Reading, before the game of the year for Zeta.
-What has changed?: Smacked Reading around, putting the last nail in Reading's playoff coffin. Shot at #1 comes up this week.
-Prediction: Top four.
-Projected final record: 14-2
3. Chambersburg Trojans (Previous: 4)
-What was said about them: Got rolled by Berlin, but not going to punish them that much. Won't punish them much for whatever happens against Lyon next game. Losing to Baden will not be tolerated by the rankings though, although they are still in line for a home playoff game even with losses in their next two games.
-What has changed?: Lost to Lyon but played an excellent game against Baden, pushing them probably permanently out of the top four seeds, and at the same time cementing a playoff home game for themselves. Game against Atlanta in two weeks is fairly important for seeding purposes, but I can feel comfortable favoring them in every game from here on out.
-Prediction: Top four.
-Projected final record: 14-2
4. Atlanta 404 (Previous: 5)
-What was said about them: Looked good in taking care of Stockholm, but looked bad against Middlesbrough who I would not have thought was in the same class as Atlanta. The Denver game will be interesting, although it seems Denver has fallen so far from last season that this can't even be a rubber match for them based on their split last season.
-What has changed?: Keep on scraping by, beating teams they need to beat, but not doing it with any comfortable margin. I don't know how they are game planning for these teams but it does not seem to be working very well. Have a lethal end of the season stretch where we can finally actually see if Atlanta's record is justified or not.
-Prediction: Top four contender.
-Projected final record: 12-4
5. Baden Bandits (Previous: 4)
-What was said about them: Big game against Chambersburg coming up after this next game to give them a chance to assert themselves as a top four team in Zeta again. That game is sandwiched by games against two awful teams.
-What has changed?: Failed to make a dent in Chambersburg and will pay for it with a critical hit to their home game in the playoffs chances. Just as soon as they shake the dust off that game, they have Lyon and Berlin coming up to further knock them down.
-Prediction: Top four contender.
-Projected final record: 11-5
6t. Palermo Panthers (Previous: 10)
-What was said about them: Did alright against Berlin, but I still don't think they are going to scrape into the playoffs. What would change my mind would be wins against Stockholm and Reading coming up.
-What has changed?: They answered their call to arms by me, and took care of business in dominating fashion against two other teams who were ahead of them in seeding, Reading and Stockholm. Achieved a double whammy by increasing their own standing to get into the playoffs and dealing a destructive blow to the chances for the two teams it beat. Has three more games against fringe playoff teams coming up, I feel comfortable favoring them in all three.
-Prediction: Playoff contender.
-Projected final record: 9-7
6t. Birmingham Polipocs (Previous: 8t)
-What was said about them: I think this ranking is a little too generous. That being said they are in good position for the playoffs, so why not have them at #8. Big game against Atlanta is up next.
-What has changed?: Almost knocked off Atlanta which would have clinched them a playoff berth basically. Still in a very good spot for the playoffs as they basically control their own destiny here. Tough stretch of games coming up though, so they have no time to rest on their laurels after they dominate Sexinton this week.
-Prediction: Playoff contender.
-Projected final record: 10-6
8. Stockholm Lions (Previous: 6)
-What was said about them: Good win against Milan was exactly what they needed. They are 3-4 now but should be around .500 when Berlin comes to town.
-What has changed?: Should call their game against Reading as the Mediocre Bowl, as both of these teams are failing to meet their expectations badly. The Luxembourg loss might haunt Stockholm when it comes down to the last team out in playoff seeding time. That being said, if they can beat Reading this week, I can see them with a 9-7 or 8-8 record that might get them in the playoffs.
-Prediction: Playoff contender.
-Projected final record: 8-8
9. Middlesbrough Mayhem (Previous: 12t)
-What was said about them: Couldn't move them up higher than this this week, but they are making their playoff push and are a team on the rise when many others seem to be shaky or on the decline. Their close loss to Atlanta and win against Luxembourg were impressive. Need to take care of Milan this week.
-What has changed?: Continue their solid playoff push with a drubbing of Milan. Their season rests on the next two games, if they can win those they absolutely end the playoff hopes of the teams they'd beat and ensure their own entry into the dance.
-Prediction: Playoff contender.
-Projected final record: 8-8
10. Denver Hounds (Previous: 11)
-What was said about them: Day 14. That is how many days it took me to officially say that the season 7 version of Denver sucks balls and disappoints me greatly. 5 losses already with some tough games looming won't cut it in Zeta this season.
-What has changed?: Spoiled Luxembourg's season, but they still have tough games coming up and I won't be favoring them in many of them.
-Prediction: Outside looking in.
-Projected final record: 6-10
11. Reading Armed Centaurs (Previous: 7)
-What was said about them: Two big wins inch them closer to .500, but a dangerous Palermo team awaits, followed by Berlin and Stockholm back to back. will they be .500 at the end of that little run of games? If not the playoffs probably won't happen.
-What has changed?: Played decently in their two losses, but that doesn't win them any points as they needed to win. They seem to be trading a lot of players with the plan to bring higher level ones on board, but i think that it is far too little far too late, and their season is already going down the toilet. However if they do make moves my prediction for their end of season will be altered.
-Prediction: Outside looking in.
-Projected final record: 5-11
12. Luxembourg Lightning Bolts (Previous: 8t)
-What was said about them: Ugh. Lost the two games they really should have won. They are a confusing as all hell team to predict, it just goes to show you how even the teams are in the 6-12 spots in Zeta. Must win against a reeling Denver team up next.
-What has changed?: Lost against Denver, and that is when I was able to say "season over" for Luxembourg. They needed to win against the teams close to them, now Denver, Birmingham, Middlesbrough, Reading, and Palermo all have tiebreakers against them. They needed wins in most of those games because they play five of the next six games against the five best teams in Zeta.
-Prediction: Outside looking in.
-Projected final record: 6-10
13. Milan Eagles (Previous: 12t)
-What was said about them: Couldn't win either of their games the past two weeks, so I will be dropping the "contender" from their prediction, but I will drop the word "playoff" from it as well.
-What has changed?: Kept losing against fringe playoff teams. Brutal schedule as well. Wait til next year I guess.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 4-12
14. Southampton Shadows (Previous: 14)
-What was said about them: Beat Capeside, but still bad.
-What has changed?: At least they can count on at least one more win this season.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 2-14
15. Sexintown Rubbers (Previous: 15)
-What was said about them: Still awfully awful. Can't play Capeside soon enough.
-What has changed?: So lucky that they got a week 1 win over the worst Alpha has to offer. Will get another against the worst Zeta has to offer.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 1-15
16. Capeside Minutemen (Previous: 16)
-What was said about them: Still think it would take an act of god for them to score a point this season.
-What has changed?: God shined down and had them drop 10 on Berlin. Then lost 199-0 to Lyon.
-Prediction: Bottom third.
-Projected final record: 0-16
Thoughts on Zeta: #1 seed will be determined in the Lyon/Berlin clash. Playoff picture starting to shake out as some teams find it impossible to separate themselves from mediocrity and keep losing games they should win. Reading looked like one of the best teams in Zeta this season, and has turned out to be one of the worst.
picks:
Stockholm at Fantasy Helmet
Cologne at Athens
Helsinki at Gonadian
South Beach at Burlington
Flat Packed at Dusseldorf
Liverpool at Barcelona
Norwich at Glasgow
Hamburg at Mannheim
Lyon at Berlin **GAME OF THE WEEK**
Atlanta at Southampton
Luxembourg at Chambersburg
Baden at Capeside
Palermo at Middlesbrough
Sexintown at Birmingham
Reading at Stockholm
Milan at Denver
Last edited Jan 20, 2009 10:48:07
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