Hey there all, I'm back tonight to update my power rankings after an intense first couple of games in EE A #5 Zeta conference. In case you didn't catch my first batch of rankings they can be found on the league forum. I will be basing this week's rankings initially on my preseason projections and then factoring in the first two regular season games. Anyway enough with the small talk it's time for some power rankings!
1. Hungary Hungry Hippos
Record: 2-0-0
Previous Rank: #1
High Rank: #1
Low Rank: #1
The Hippos retain the top spot in my power rankings after two very impressive wins to start the season. Hungary disposed of two solid teams in Sofia and Barcelona and look like one of the elite teams in Zeta this year. With the balanced roster the Hippos possess other teams within the conference will be hard pressed to try and pull off the upset. Expect Hungary to be at or near the top of the rankings for much of the year.
2. Belgrade Bears
Record: 2-0-0
Previous Rank: #2
High Rank: #2
Low Rank: #2
The Bears also remain stationary in the rankings this week after posting two early victories. Belgrade appears to be a very solid team with almost no weaknesses. Even though their matchup with the Hippos is still a few weeks off I am sure both teams will be eagerly anticipating that game. Belgrade has no intention of losing the #2 slot anytime soon.
3. Brown Bay Packers
Record: 2-0-0
Previous Rank: #4
High Rank: #3
Low Rank: #4
Brown Bay moves up a slot due to their undefeated early season record. While the Packers opponents haven't been exactly amazing, you can't fault them for going about their business by handling the Minotaurs and Phalanx. The Packers have a chance to prove that they belong in the discussion of elite Zeta teams by performing well in their upcoming games. Weeks 4 through 7 should prove whether they are championship contenders or pretenders.
4. River City Ransom
Record: 2-0-0
Previous Rank: #5
High Rank: #4
Low Rank: #4
Not much seperates Brown Bay from River City at 4 and 5 respectively. This is a team who is looking very strong at the moment after coming up with a thrilling win over the Inquisition. The Ransom are one of those teams that also has a brutal stretch coming up in the next few weeks that will test their mettle. The Ransom will be a tough matchup for all Zeta teams and could prove to be a team who establishes themselves near the top of the rankings at the end of the season.
5. Sofia Falcons
Record: 1-1-0
Previous Rank: #3
High Rank: #3
Low Rank: #5
The Falcons stand at 1-1 on the season after a first game loss to the top ranked Hippos. Their second game saw them fair better against Odessa with a solid win. This is a good team that still needs to work on some things before they can be considered a true championship threat.
6. Spanish Inquisition
Record: 1-1-0
Previous Rank: #7
High Rank: #6
Low Rank: #7
The Inquisition lost a heartbreaker today against River City, being defeated by a 4th quarter field goal. This is another quality team that looks playoff bound if they can work out some minor kinks. They could threaten a lot of the better teams in Zeta and prove to be one of this season's sleeper teams.
7. Athens Gods
Record: 2-0-0
Previous Rank: #8
High Rank: #7
Low Rank: #8
Athens continues to get no respect in my power rankings and I am not really sure why. I guess I am not quite sold yet on just how good this team actually is. A competitive showing next game against RCR will do wonders for their ranking. Until then I am sure they will continue to prove me wrong by playing smart, quality football. Currently they will remain a fringe team looking to announce to the rest of the conference that they will not be overlooked.
8. Barcelona Chupacabras
Record: 0-2-0
Previous Rank: #6
High Rank: #6
Low Rank: #8
Barcelona easily had the toughest schedule to start the season by squaring off against the top two teams in Zeta. The Chupacabras took hard luck losses in both of them and currently reside near the bottom of the standings as a result. I fully expect this team to rebound however and be a tough opponent in the future. The Chupacabras look like they have too strong of a squad to do anything but win games from here on out.
9. Bengen Storm
Record: 1-1-0
Previous Rank: #11
High Rank: #9
Low Rank: #11
It is hard to get a good read on the Storm considering their only win came against the Jazz. I still think this is a decent team with a shot at qualifying for the playoffs. That being said I will need to see more from this team before I will be able to accurately place them in my rankings. Their test against the Packers should be a good place to start.
10. Warsaw Sabotage
Record: 1-1-0
Previous Rank: #13
High Rank: #10
Low Rank: #13
The Sabotage (formerly UN Determined) won a nailbiter over Moscow in week one but could not follow it up with another W in week two. This is a team that could contend in the future with a long shot at making the playoffs. Unfortunately for Warsaw they face the Hippos next week in what is a very tough matchup. Only time will tell as to whether this team will move up or down in the rankings.
11. Moscow Maniacs
Record: 1-1-0
Previous Rank: #15
High Rank: #11
Low Rank: #15
Moscow had a huge (and somewhat surprising) win over Macedonian this morning. The Maniacs hope that they can continue to pull off these kind of wins and avoid falling back to earth in the near future. That just might happen however with matches against Belgrade and Hungary on tap next.
12. Crete Minotaurs
Record: 1-1-0
Previous Rank: #12
High Rank: #12
Low Rank: #12
Crete is a team that is very similar to Bengen only for the fact that the only club they have beaten is the Jazz. The Minotaurs have a relatively light schedule coming up so this is their chance to prove that they deserve a higher spot on this list.
13. Boston Piggers
Record: 0-2-0
Previous Rank: #10
High Rank: #10
Low Rank: #13
The Piggers laid an egg in their first two games this season with two tough losses to quality teams. I had thought that this was a squad that would climb the rankings early in the season but those two losses set them back some. The season is young, however, and there is still plenty on time for the Piggers to overcome their early season woes.
14. Odessa Pipers
Record: 0-2-0
Previous Rank: #9
High Rank: #9
Low Rank: #14
The Pipers probably didn't deserve to fall this far in the rankings but due to their current record I couldn't justify putting them any higher. Odessa played good opponents in Athens and Sofia and could not notch a win in either match. The Pipers are in a similar situation to Boston in regards that they can easily move up if they collect a couple of wins in their next few games.
15. Macedonian Phalanx
Record: 0-2-0
Previous Rank: #14
High Rank: #14
Low Rank: #15
The Phalanx were not overly impressive in their first two games. They struggled against the Maniacs today and were beaten by eight. The Phalanx have some work to do if they plan on being competitive this year.
16. New Orleans Jazz
Record: 0-2-0
Previous Rank: #16
High Rank: #16
Low Rank: #16
Ah yes, the Jazz. New Orleans still has a roster comprised entirely on CPU's and will be beaten every single week until that changes. Not much else to see here.
Well thanks for reading and remember that the rankings will be back after week 4. Until then, I wish everyone good luck in their upcoming games.
1. Hungary Hungry Hippos
Record: 2-0-0
Previous Rank: #1
High Rank: #1
Low Rank: #1
The Hippos retain the top spot in my power rankings after two very impressive wins to start the season. Hungary disposed of two solid teams in Sofia and Barcelona and look like one of the elite teams in Zeta this year. With the balanced roster the Hippos possess other teams within the conference will be hard pressed to try and pull off the upset. Expect Hungary to be at or near the top of the rankings for much of the year.
2. Belgrade Bears
Record: 2-0-0
Previous Rank: #2
High Rank: #2
Low Rank: #2
The Bears also remain stationary in the rankings this week after posting two early victories. Belgrade appears to be a very solid team with almost no weaknesses. Even though their matchup with the Hippos is still a few weeks off I am sure both teams will be eagerly anticipating that game. Belgrade has no intention of losing the #2 slot anytime soon.
3. Brown Bay Packers
Record: 2-0-0
Previous Rank: #4
High Rank: #3
Low Rank: #4
Brown Bay moves up a slot due to their undefeated early season record. While the Packers opponents haven't been exactly amazing, you can't fault them for going about their business by handling the Minotaurs and Phalanx. The Packers have a chance to prove that they belong in the discussion of elite Zeta teams by performing well in their upcoming games. Weeks 4 through 7 should prove whether they are championship contenders or pretenders.
4. River City Ransom
Record: 2-0-0
Previous Rank: #5
High Rank: #4
Low Rank: #4
Not much seperates Brown Bay from River City at 4 and 5 respectively. This is a team who is looking very strong at the moment after coming up with a thrilling win over the Inquisition. The Ransom are one of those teams that also has a brutal stretch coming up in the next few weeks that will test their mettle. The Ransom will be a tough matchup for all Zeta teams and could prove to be a team who establishes themselves near the top of the rankings at the end of the season.
5. Sofia Falcons
Record: 1-1-0
Previous Rank: #3
High Rank: #3
Low Rank: #5
The Falcons stand at 1-1 on the season after a first game loss to the top ranked Hippos. Their second game saw them fair better against Odessa with a solid win. This is a good team that still needs to work on some things before they can be considered a true championship threat.
6. Spanish Inquisition
Record: 1-1-0
Previous Rank: #7
High Rank: #6
Low Rank: #7
The Inquisition lost a heartbreaker today against River City, being defeated by a 4th quarter field goal. This is another quality team that looks playoff bound if they can work out some minor kinks. They could threaten a lot of the better teams in Zeta and prove to be one of this season's sleeper teams.
7. Athens Gods
Record: 2-0-0
Previous Rank: #8
High Rank: #7
Low Rank: #8
Athens continues to get no respect in my power rankings and I am not really sure why. I guess I am not quite sold yet on just how good this team actually is. A competitive showing next game against RCR will do wonders for their ranking. Until then I am sure they will continue to prove me wrong by playing smart, quality football. Currently they will remain a fringe team looking to announce to the rest of the conference that they will not be overlooked.
8. Barcelona Chupacabras
Record: 0-2-0
Previous Rank: #6
High Rank: #6
Low Rank: #8
Barcelona easily had the toughest schedule to start the season by squaring off against the top two teams in Zeta. The Chupacabras took hard luck losses in both of them and currently reside near the bottom of the standings as a result. I fully expect this team to rebound however and be a tough opponent in the future. The Chupacabras look like they have too strong of a squad to do anything but win games from here on out.
9. Bengen Storm
Record: 1-1-0
Previous Rank: #11
High Rank: #9
Low Rank: #11
It is hard to get a good read on the Storm considering their only win came against the Jazz. I still think this is a decent team with a shot at qualifying for the playoffs. That being said I will need to see more from this team before I will be able to accurately place them in my rankings. Their test against the Packers should be a good place to start.
10. Warsaw Sabotage
Record: 1-1-0
Previous Rank: #13
High Rank: #10
Low Rank: #13
The Sabotage (formerly UN Determined) won a nailbiter over Moscow in week one but could not follow it up with another W in week two. This is a team that could contend in the future with a long shot at making the playoffs. Unfortunately for Warsaw they face the Hippos next week in what is a very tough matchup. Only time will tell as to whether this team will move up or down in the rankings.
11. Moscow Maniacs
Record: 1-1-0
Previous Rank: #15
High Rank: #11
Low Rank: #15
Moscow had a huge (and somewhat surprising) win over Macedonian this morning. The Maniacs hope that they can continue to pull off these kind of wins and avoid falling back to earth in the near future. That just might happen however with matches against Belgrade and Hungary on tap next.
12. Crete Minotaurs
Record: 1-1-0
Previous Rank: #12
High Rank: #12
Low Rank: #12
Crete is a team that is very similar to Bengen only for the fact that the only club they have beaten is the Jazz. The Minotaurs have a relatively light schedule coming up so this is their chance to prove that they deserve a higher spot on this list.
13. Boston Piggers
Record: 0-2-0
Previous Rank: #10
High Rank: #10
Low Rank: #13
The Piggers laid an egg in their first two games this season with two tough losses to quality teams. I had thought that this was a squad that would climb the rankings early in the season but those two losses set them back some. The season is young, however, and there is still plenty on time for the Piggers to overcome their early season woes.
14. Odessa Pipers
Record: 0-2-0
Previous Rank: #9
High Rank: #9
Low Rank: #14
The Pipers probably didn't deserve to fall this far in the rankings but due to their current record I couldn't justify putting them any higher. Odessa played good opponents in Athens and Sofia and could not notch a win in either match. The Pipers are in a similar situation to Boston in regards that they can easily move up if they collect a couple of wins in their next few games.
15. Macedonian Phalanx
Record: 0-2-0
Previous Rank: #14
High Rank: #14
Low Rank: #15
The Phalanx were not overly impressive in their first two games. They struggled against the Maniacs today and were beaten by eight. The Phalanx have some work to do if they plan on being competitive this year.
16. New Orleans Jazz
Record: 0-2-0
Previous Rank: #16
High Rank: #16
Low Rank: #16
Ah yes, the Jazz. New Orleans still has a roster comprised entirely on CPU's and will be beaten every single week until that changes. Not much else to see here.
Well thanks for reading and remember that the rankings will be back after week 4. Until then, I wish everyone good luck in their upcoming games.
Last edited Aug 9, 2008 22:25:54
