Lion
Pigs vs Mountaineers:
This should be a great game. The Pigs have been riding "high on the hog" (sorry) all season long, and this is their first serious test. Tanzania had some early season wins against Detroit, the Pygmys, and Chad that looked very good at the time . . . but all three of those teams have been struggling so far this season. The Pigs also have three solid wins. I'm going with Pretoria in a battle.
Headhunters vs Crusaders:
In my opinion, the Crusaders have been playing above their talent for a couple of straight games, with surprising wins over Detroit and the Death Squad. The Headhunters, on the other hand, have been playing exactly to their talent . . . which is simply outstanding. Cape Town will battle hard, but in the end just won't have enough.
Greats vs Drive-By:
A game between one of last season's best in AAA vs. one of last season's best in AA. And despite Detroit's solid talent, the simply will not be able to hang with Alexandria. It pains me to type this, but the Greats run away with this one.
Devils vs Pygmys:
Another game between a AAA stud and a former AA stud. The Devils, despite a loss in week 2 to the Greats, just look stacked. Must be some of that Ethiopian Voodoo. I know that the Death Squad is not accustom to losing (they had a ridiculous win streak going through last season), but this game is one they will drop. Devils win by double digits.
Cheetahs vs Peckerwoods:
After slapping around both the Hyenas and Crusaders, the Peckerwoods ran into two rough opponents in the Devils and Greats, losing both. The Cheetahs also dropped two games to very solid teams, so both are coming into this game trying to prove they belong in the upper crust. In what should be one of the best games of the night, I think the Peckerwoods take it.
Scorpions vs Vikings:
Both teams need a win in this game to avoid dropping below .500. Neither have played particularly challenging schedules, either, so they need to rack up as many wins as possible before getting into the "grind". They seem fairly evenly matched, but the Vikings handled G-Vegas while the Scorpions couldn't. Vikings in a close one.
Predators vs Little Fish:
Total beat-down and stat-padding game. Have fun, guys.
G-Vegas vs Banghazi:
The Pirates really need a win in week 5, and the Lions will be more than happy to give it to them. Another crazy blowout.
Elephant
Raiders vs Revenge:
Tusken climbed to the top of the stack in the Elephant conference, and shows no signs of slipping this week. The Revenge, an early season pick for one of the conference top teams, has struggled a bit and I don't see them getting back on track against the Raiders.
Texans vs Nightmares:
Well....one thing is guaranteed . . . after this week there will be one less undefeated team. In the game of the week in Elephant, two of the top teams go at it. The Texans and Nightmares have comparable talent, have played similar schedules (although the Texans has been a bit stouter), and have very similar margins of victory. I'm predicting a Texans win, but this one could obviously go either way.
E'ci vs Crocs:
All the suspense and drama of a bug hitting your windshield on the highway. Woo hoo.
MaRAWK!!o vs Carthage:
One of my "upset" pics for the week. The Mercenaries have looked very good this season, but dropped a couple of games to a couple of their conference's best. The RAWKers haven't been slack, but most of the damage they've done has been against a couple of very weak teams. The Mercs take this one down.
The Wild vs OchoCinco:
The OchoCinco must have done something to piss off Bort, as their early schedule has been a bear. And their record shows it. Losing in week 5 will drop them to 1-4, putting them in a pretty deep hole. The Wild, on the other hand, have had an easier go of it . . . but they have taken care of their last two games. Hard game to call, so I'm going with the team on a winning streak.
Hyenas vs Magic:
The Hyenas move back above .500 and get a cupcake this week....their focus should be on the Drunks in week 6.
Drunks vs Eagles:
For a team who desperately needs a win, the Eagles game is coming at just the right time. Again, they should be focusing on the Hyenas game already.
Shikakas vs Tigers:
I have to hand it to Algeria . . . they threw out a prediction in the preseason of going into game 5 sitting at 0-4. It just wasn't their team they were talking about. Sitting in an already HUGE hole, they simply have to start digging out this week. The Shikakas will put up a fight, but not nearly enough of one . . . the Tigers get win #1.
Pigs vs Mountaineers:
This should be a great game. The Pigs have been riding "high on the hog" (sorry) all season long, and this is their first serious test. Tanzania had some early season wins against Detroit, the Pygmys, and Chad that looked very good at the time . . . but all three of those teams have been struggling so far this season. The Pigs also have three solid wins. I'm going with Pretoria in a battle.
Headhunters vs Crusaders:
In my opinion, the Crusaders have been playing above their talent for a couple of straight games, with surprising wins over Detroit and the Death Squad. The Headhunters, on the other hand, have been playing exactly to their talent . . . which is simply outstanding. Cape Town will battle hard, but in the end just won't have enough.
Greats vs Drive-By:
A game between one of last season's best in AAA vs. one of last season's best in AA. And despite Detroit's solid talent, the simply will not be able to hang with Alexandria. It pains me to type this, but the Greats run away with this one.
Devils vs Pygmys:
Another game between a AAA stud and a former AA stud. The Devils, despite a loss in week 2 to the Greats, just look stacked. Must be some of that Ethiopian Voodoo. I know that the Death Squad is not accustom to losing (they had a ridiculous win streak going through last season), but this game is one they will drop. Devils win by double digits.
Cheetahs vs Peckerwoods:
After slapping around both the Hyenas and Crusaders, the Peckerwoods ran into two rough opponents in the Devils and Greats, losing both. The Cheetahs also dropped two games to very solid teams, so both are coming into this game trying to prove they belong in the upper crust. In what should be one of the best games of the night, I think the Peckerwoods take it.
Scorpions vs Vikings:
Both teams need a win in this game to avoid dropping below .500. Neither have played particularly challenging schedules, either, so they need to rack up as many wins as possible before getting into the "grind". They seem fairly evenly matched, but the Vikings handled G-Vegas while the Scorpions couldn't. Vikings in a close one.
Predators vs Little Fish:
Total beat-down and stat-padding game. Have fun, guys.
G-Vegas vs Banghazi:
The Pirates really need a win in week 5, and the Lions will be more than happy to give it to them. Another crazy blowout.
Elephant
Raiders vs Revenge:
Tusken climbed to the top of the stack in the Elephant conference, and shows no signs of slipping this week. The Revenge, an early season pick for one of the conference top teams, has struggled a bit and I don't see them getting back on track against the Raiders.
Texans vs Nightmares:
Well....one thing is guaranteed . . . after this week there will be one less undefeated team. In the game of the week in Elephant, two of the top teams go at it. The Texans and Nightmares have comparable talent, have played similar schedules (although the Texans has been a bit stouter), and have very similar margins of victory. I'm predicting a Texans win, but this one could obviously go either way.
E'ci vs Crocs:
All the suspense and drama of a bug hitting your windshield on the highway. Woo hoo.
MaRAWK!!o vs Carthage:
One of my "upset" pics for the week. The Mercenaries have looked very good this season, but dropped a couple of games to a couple of their conference's best. The RAWKers haven't been slack, but most of the damage they've done has been against a couple of very weak teams. The Mercs take this one down.
The Wild vs OchoCinco:
The OchoCinco must have done something to piss off Bort, as their early schedule has been a bear. And their record shows it. Losing in week 5 will drop them to 1-4, putting them in a pretty deep hole. The Wild, on the other hand, have had an easier go of it . . . but they have taken care of their last two games. Hard game to call, so I'm going with the team on a winning streak.
Hyenas vs Magic:
The Hyenas move back above .500 and get a cupcake this week....their focus should be on the Drunks in week 6.
Drunks vs Eagles:
For a team who desperately needs a win, the Eagles game is coming at just the right time. Again, they should be focusing on the Hyenas game already.
Shikakas vs Tigers:
I have to hand it to Algeria . . . they threw out a prediction in the preseason of going into game 5 sitting at 0-4. It just wasn't their team they were talking about. Sitting in an already HUGE hole, they simply have to start digging out this week. The Shikakas will put up a fight, but not nearly enough of one . . . the Tigers get win #1.
