Here it is folks - last ladder of the year. Where do we all end up? We'll know tomorrow night.
#1 Minnesota Stunners (global 122) vs #84 Journeyman (global 131) Osprey Orphans - the perfect end to what has been a disastrous second half of the season for the Stunners. We've just taken a beating in the league championship game - and we are 1-5 in our last 6 ladder games. It hasn't been pretty. On the other side - we've got Pallow and Stobie's Orphans - who through no fault of their own -- were inexplicably started at the bottom of the ladder. They've been crushing the hopes and dreams of rookie teams in the ladder most season - and now they have a chance (maybe) to influence who comes away with the sophomore #1 ladder trophy. Given that the stunners have been losing to seasoned teams...I don't see we could stand much of a chance vs a journeyman team.
Prediction: Stunners 7 - Orphans 24
#2 Victorious Secret (global 132) vs #4 Yorick Gravediggers (global 137) - Yorick has just lost their championship game - and lost their last ladder vs the Stunners. Yorick is supposedly folding up shop at the end of the season due to the (I'm semi-quoting Xav here) 'failed attempt at a run focused qb because corndog and stuff and things'. This is lucky #7 meeting for the two squads.
Prediction: VS wins 31-10
#3 Nebraska Cornhuskers (global 135) vs #6 (tied) Philadelphia Continentals (global 142) - A matchup of two teams who've just won their league champsionships! One in Adams - the other in Wilson. The classing run heavy vs pass heavy teams. They've also each recently knocked off Rhode Island and Tampa Bay in ladder matches. Looks to be a great match up. The real question: can Nebraska's run focus (on O and D...thanks a lot Adams!) transition to consistently beating top passing teams? We'll see.
Prediction: Nebraska wins 21-20
#5 D'Haran Empire (global 139) vs #9 Tampa Bay Tuskenraiders (global 145) - Well - D'Haran is a heavy running team who has lost 3 of their last 4. Tampa Bay just beat Yorick in their league championship game. I say advantage looks to be going tampa's way.
Prediction: Tampa Bay wins 24-14
#6 (tied) Alpine Affineurs (global 142) vs #8 Gatling Valley Pirates (global 144) - Two league champs facing off. Both won fairly close playoff games to grab the trophy. Both have really played well this season -- both have been teams no one would want to face here late. Two will enter - only 1 will leave. Both teams could really have a shot to jump into a top 5 spot and hoist a top 5 trophy. I'm looking forward to watching this one.
Prediction: Gatling wins 38-35
#10 Compton Con Men (global 146) vs #13 Rhode Island Falcons (global 152) I'll go with Compton 28-21
So - Globally the sophomore top 10 class currently ranks from 122-146
Stunners @ 122
Victorious @ 132
Nebraska @ 135
Yorick @ 137
D"Haran @ 139
Alpine @ 142
Philadelphia @ 142
Gatling @ 144
Tampa Bay @ 145
Compton @ 146
Do the Stunners have enough lead to stay #1 even with a journeyman beat down? (i guess probably yes?)
Will Yorick or D'Haran be bumped from the top 5 in the final week after being in the top 5 for basically 2 seasons?
What is your prediction for how the top 5 shakes out?
#1 Minnesota Stunners (global 122) vs #84 Journeyman (global 131) Osprey Orphans - the perfect end to what has been a disastrous second half of the season for the Stunners. We've just taken a beating in the league championship game - and we are 1-5 in our last 6 ladder games. It hasn't been pretty. On the other side - we've got Pallow and Stobie's Orphans - who through no fault of their own -- were inexplicably started at the bottom of the ladder. They've been crushing the hopes and dreams of rookie teams in the ladder most season - and now they have a chance (maybe) to influence who comes away with the sophomore #1 ladder trophy. Given that the stunners have been losing to seasoned teams...I don't see we could stand much of a chance vs a journeyman team.
Prediction: Stunners 7 - Orphans 24
#2 Victorious Secret (global 132) vs #4 Yorick Gravediggers (global 137) - Yorick has just lost their championship game - and lost their last ladder vs the Stunners. Yorick is supposedly folding up shop at the end of the season due to the (I'm semi-quoting Xav here) 'failed attempt at a run focused qb because corndog and stuff and things'. This is lucky #7 meeting for the two squads.
Prediction: VS wins 31-10
#3 Nebraska Cornhuskers (global 135) vs #6 (tied) Philadelphia Continentals (global 142) - A matchup of two teams who've just won their league champsionships! One in Adams - the other in Wilson. The classing run heavy vs pass heavy teams. They've also each recently knocked off Rhode Island and Tampa Bay in ladder matches. Looks to be a great match up. The real question: can Nebraska's run focus (on O and D...thanks a lot Adams!) transition to consistently beating top passing teams? We'll see.
Prediction: Nebraska wins 21-20
#5 D'Haran Empire (global 139) vs #9 Tampa Bay Tuskenraiders (global 145) - Well - D'Haran is a heavy running team who has lost 3 of their last 4. Tampa Bay just beat Yorick in their league championship game. I say advantage looks to be going tampa's way.
Prediction: Tampa Bay wins 24-14
#6 (tied) Alpine Affineurs (global 142) vs #8 Gatling Valley Pirates (global 144) - Two league champs facing off. Both won fairly close playoff games to grab the trophy. Both have really played well this season -- both have been teams no one would want to face here late. Two will enter - only 1 will leave. Both teams could really have a shot to jump into a top 5 spot and hoist a top 5 trophy. I'm looking forward to watching this one.
Prediction: Gatling wins 38-35
#10 Compton Con Men (global 146) vs #13 Rhode Island Falcons (global 152) I'll go with Compton 28-21
So - Globally the sophomore top 10 class currently ranks from 122-146
Stunners @ 122
Victorious @ 132
Nebraska @ 135
Yorick @ 137
D"Haran @ 139
Alpine @ 142
Philadelphia @ 142
Gatling @ 144
Tampa Bay @ 145
Compton @ 146
Do the Stunners have enough lead to stay #1 even with a journeyman beat down? (i guess probably yes?)
Will Yorick or D'Haran be bumped from the top 5 in the final week after being in the top 5 for basically 2 seasons?
What is your prediction for how the top 5 shakes out?
Madison is THE super league 
