Let's see how things are going...
First, we have the Yoppas, Turtles, Vampires, Cats, and Blaze. All are innactive, CPU, or just never filled a roster. Those teams are bad, and at this point, if you lose to them, you should feel bad (early losses can be forgiven as flukes). They shan't be mentioned again in this breakdown.
Two quick notes - first, ladder rankings may be different between when I started writing this and when you read it (my team is simming as I type). Second, my predictions may not add up - I'm predicting a team "to win 2 out of 3 tough games left", without actually saying which ones, because I'm not picking the specifics (so the math may not work out). These are impressions, based on gut/quick scouting.
Alpha Division
Colorado 14ers
Current record:10-5-1 (6-1-1 league), #42 in the tier
An early favorite, they've had some minor struggles, but most of them outside the league. That week 1 tie stings a bit, and I'm shocked they aren't higher up the ladder. There've been some roster shakeups, even an Assistant GM hired and fired...it's got to be interesting in there.
Tough games left: 4 (Seattle, Band, Niger, NY)
Prediction: I think they take 2 of their remaining tough games, hold serve vs the scrubs, and squeak out a win in the division.
Niger Mambas
Current record: 7-9 (5-3 league), #123
The opposite of Colorado - doing a lot better than predicted early on, though that success is mostly in league (ladder matches aren't kind to the Mamabas, they've lost 6).
Tough games left: 2 (Colorado, NY)
Prediction: If they want to make the playoffs, they need to beat NY in their rematch. I don't think they'll be sneaking up on anyone in league from this point out, though, and I think they'll finish just outside the playoffs. If they hang onto most of the roster, next season can be a good one for them.
New York Firetails
Current record 10-5-1 (5-3 league), #42
To be honest, I expected more of the Firetails. They're only good win in league was vs Seattle - the other 4 wins were against the dregs of the league. Solid ladder play shows they can hang with the better teams around here.
Tough games left: 4 (Band, Sharks, Colorado, Niger)
Prediction: They'd need to win 3 out of those 4 tough games to lock up a playoff spot. While I had them actually winning the league in preseason, I think they're only getting 2 and going to fall just shy of the playoffs. Again, a good squad, but the numbers say it's a tough road.
Beta
Seattle Sea hawks
Current record: 10-6 (6-2 league), #52
Seattle's winning when it matters- sweeping a decent division the first time though and a few nice ladder wins, and that Firetails loss was a tight one that they could have won.
Tough games left: 3 (Colorado, Cabos, Richmond)
Prediction: I see them going 2 out of 3 in their remaining real games and taking the division.
Richmond Redskins
Current record: 10-6 (5-3 league), #58
Richmond's had a nice season, though they've had a good amount of innactives to cut and juggle. Wins vs NY, Colorado, and Niger say they're for real.
Tough games left: 3 (Band, Seattle, Cabos)
Prediction: They're getting hot at the right time. I think 2 out of 3 for the wildcard
Los Cabos Sharks
Current record: 9-7 (5-3 league), #72
The second best offense in the league, and coming off an impressive win vs my team. However, that's the only win they have vs the league's talent to this point. They definitely have the talent to stick around for a while.
Tough games left: 3 (Seattle, Richmond, NY)
Prediction: They probably need to win both the Richmond and NY games to make the playoffs. I don't see it happening. I can see them taking one, but not both, and the one they lose, that's the wildcard team. Arslan can fight me on this in his prediction thread
Gamma
The Band of the Red Hand
Current record: 10-4-2 (6-3 league), #40
Top defense in the league, with my offense dragging along as an albatros. Some nice wins in the ladder, but some painful losses with Niger and Cabos
Tough games left: 3 (NY, Richmond, Colorado)
Prediction: Gamma's a joke of a division still, even if we drop a few of these games, we've got it sewed up.
First, we have the Yoppas, Turtles, Vampires, Cats, and Blaze. All are innactive, CPU, or just never filled a roster. Those teams are bad, and at this point, if you lose to them, you should feel bad (early losses can be forgiven as flukes). They shan't be mentioned again in this breakdown.
Two quick notes - first, ladder rankings may be different between when I started writing this and when you read it (my team is simming as I type). Second, my predictions may not add up - I'm predicting a team "to win 2 out of 3 tough games left", without actually saying which ones, because I'm not picking the specifics (so the math may not work out). These are impressions, based on gut/quick scouting.
Alpha Division
Colorado 14ers
Current record:10-5-1 (6-1-1 league), #42 in the tier
An early favorite, they've had some minor struggles, but most of them outside the league. That week 1 tie stings a bit, and I'm shocked they aren't higher up the ladder. There've been some roster shakeups, even an Assistant GM hired and fired...it's got to be interesting in there.
Tough games left: 4 (Seattle, Band, Niger, NY)
Prediction: I think they take 2 of their remaining tough games, hold serve vs the scrubs, and squeak out a win in the division.
Niger Mambas
Current record: 7-9 (5-3 league), #123
The opposite of Colorado - doing a lot better than predicted early on, though that success is mostly in league (ladder matches aren't kind to the Mamabas, they've lost 6).
Tough games left: 2 (Colorado, NY)
Prediction: If they want to make the playoffs, they need to beat NY in their rematch. I don't think they'll be sneaking up on anyone in league from this point out, though, and I think they'll finish just outside the playoffs. If they hang onto most of the roster, next season can be a good one for them.
New York Firetails
Current record 10-5-1 (5-3 league), #42
To be honest, I expected more of the Firetails. They're only good win in league was vs Seattle - the other 4 wins were against the dregs of the league. Solid ladder play shows they can hang with the better teams around here.
Tough games left: 4 (Band, Sharks, Colorado, Niger)
Prediction: They'd need to win 3 out of those 4 tough games to lock up a playoff spot. While I had them actually winning the league in preseason, I think they're only getting 2 and going to fall just shy of the playoffs. Again, a good squad, but the numbers say it's a tough road.
Beta
Seattle Sea hawks
Current record: 10-6 (6-2 league), #52
Seattle's winning when it matters- sweeping a decent division the first time though and a few nice ladder wins, and that Firetails loss was a tight one that they could have won.
Tough games left: 3 (Colorado, Cabos, Richmond)
Prediction: I see them going 2 out of 3 in their remaining real games and taking the division.
Richmond Redskins
Current record: 10-6 (5-3 league), #58
Richmond's had a nice season, though they've had a good amount of innactives to cut and juggle. Wins vs NY, Colorado, and Niger say they're for real.
Tough games left: 3 (Band, Seattle, Cabos)
Prediction: They're getting hot at the right time. I think 2 out of 3 for the wildcard
Los Cabos Sharks
Current record: 9-7 (5-3 league), #72
The second best offense in the league, and coming off an impressive win vs my team. However, that's the only win they have vs the league's talent to this point. They definitely have the talent to stick around for a while.
Tough games left: 3 (Seattle, Richmond, NY)
Prediction: They probably need to win both the Richmond and NY games to make the playoffs. I don't see it happening. I can see them taking one, but not both, and the one they lose, that's the wildcard team. Arslan can fight me on this in his prediction thread
Gamma
The Band of the Red Hand
Current record: 10-4-2 (6-3 league), #40
Top defense in the league, with my offense dragging along as an albatros. Some nice wins in the ladder, but some painful losses with Niger and Cabos
Tough games left: 3 (NY, Richmond, Colorado)
Prediction: Gamma's a joke of a division still, even if we drop a few of these games, we've got it sewed up.
