Various disclaimers: yup, there is still some recruiting to do that could change this. Yes, there are formulas, but no I don't use formulas, just my opinion. If you don't like my opinion (or even if you do), feel free to post your comments below.
1. Montana Grizzlies: Last season: Went a very impressive 13-3 last season in USA A8 but was upset at home by eventual champion Red River in the first round. Outlook: the Grizzlies look to be as much of a threat as last year and certainly have the horses to win it all.
2. Furious George Last season: after losing their season finale to Martha’s Vineyard, they steamrolled everyone in the playoffs. Outook: loaded for bear and should compete for a top 3 seed and probably win at least one playoff game.
3. Maine Hawks Last season: went 11-5 in USA A8 after having gone undefeated in BBB the season before and lost to the Makos in a close game. Outlook: look to have very solid depth and should compete for a home playoff game, possibly winning a playoff game or two.
4. Martha’s Vineyard Ballbusters Last season finally escaped BBB after going 16-0 in the regular season and losing the division title game against Furious George. Outlook: seem to have the talent to compete for a home playoff game, but certainly at least make the playoffs.
5. Welsh Dragons Last season: won the whole show last season in BBB, rolling along undefeated. Outlook: being an undefeated BBB team doesn’t out for a lot in A (read Maine Hawks) but they should definitely make the playoffs and possibly compete for a home game. Assuming their huge amount of inactive players is a product of the offseason, their depth looks pretty good.
6. Atlanta Wolves Last season: used their first season in USA A8 to go 10-6, make the playoffs and upset the Gremlins in the first round before falling to the Makos. Outlook: loaded enough to make another run into the playoffs and perhaps to some damage once they get there.
7. Vice City Mambas Last season: used their air raid offense to just miss the playoff in USA A8 at 8-8. Outlook: very solid returning cast, dangerous offense will have them taking that step into the playoff this time around, although probably not with a home game.
8. Buffalo Beasts Last season: the USA A8 feel good story of the season, coming back from a miserable start to make the playoffs at 9-7 and almost upset the mighty Hammerheads in the first round. Outlook: seem to be a solid continuation and with their solid levels they should once again make the playoffs but their lack of depth will keep them from being a postseason threat.
9. Da NOLA Brah!!! K&B Purples Last season: reached USA A8 through a slow build strategy and won 4 games because they were mainly out-leveled. Their levels have caught up a bit this time around and they should be more competitive and fight for a lower playoff seed.
10. Manhattan Massacre: Last season: fought hard and went 7-9 in USA A8, missing the playoffs. Outlook: solid overall cast and I suspect them to have a bit of a resurgence this season and possibly make the playoffs.
11. Detroit Diablos Last season: Lost in BBB conference finals to fellow promoted team, Welsh Dragons. Outlook: Detroit has some depth problems in relation to the top teams in the division and lack levels in a few spots, but will fight for a playoff berth.
12. Detroit Outlaws Last season: went 15-1 in BBB and lost in the second round of the playoff to the Diablos. Outlook: are in a bit of the same boat as Da NOLA level-wise, but a season behind. They will have great difficulty competing against the top teams but should roll some of the softies.
13. Pittsburgh Powerhouse Last season: Went 3-13 last season in USA A8. They look to be about as good as last season (in relative terms). Outlook: I expect 3-5 wins this time around.
14. Bowdoin Polar Bears Last season: went 4-12 in USA A8. Outlook: do not have what they need to threaten for the playoff and appear to have fallen below Pittsburgh in overall depth.
15. Houghton Gremlins: Sad to see a very good team go CPU, but that is the way of Houghton this season.
16. New Orleans Poison: a traditionally very good BBB 16 team also competed well in USA A8 last season but they have a plan to go slow-build. They’ll be back, just not for a few seasons.
1. Montana Grizzlies: Last season: Went a very impressive 13-3 last season in USA A8 but was upset at home by eventual champion Red River in the first round. Outlook: the Grizzlies look to be as much of a threat as last year and certainly have the horses to win it all.
2. Furious George Last season: after losing their season finale to Martha’s Vineyard, they steamrolled everyone in the playoffs. Outook: loaded for bear and should compete for a top 3 seed and probably win at least one playoff game.
3. Maine Hawks Last season: went 11-5 in USA A8 after having gone undefeated in BBB the season before and lost to the Makos in a close game. Outlook: look to have very solid depth and should compete for a home playoff game, possibly winning a playoff game or two.
4. Martha’s Vineyard Ballbusters Last season finally escaped BBB after going 16-0 in the regular season and losing the division title game against Furious George. Outlook: seem to have the talent to compete for a home playoff game, but certainly at least make the playoffs.
5. Welsh Dragons Last season: won the whole show last season in BBB, rolling along undefeated. Outlook: being an undefeated BBB team doesn’t out for a lot in A (read Maine Hawks) but they should definitely make the playoffs and possibly compete for a home game. Assuming their huge amount of inactive players is a product of the offseason, their depth looks pretty good.
6. Atlanta Wolves Last season: used their first season in USA A8 to go 10-6, make the playoffs and upset the Gremlins in the first round before falling to the Makos. Outlook: loaded enough to make another run into the playoffs and perhaps to some damage once they get there.
7. Vice City Mambas Last season: used their air raid offense to just miss the playoff in USA A8 at 8-8. Outlook: very solid returning cast, dangerous offense will have them taking that step into the playoff this time around, although probably not with a home game.
8. Buffalo Beasts Last season: the USA A8 feel good story of the season, coming back from a miserable start to make the playoffs at 9-7 and almost upset the mighty Hammerheads in the first round. Outlook: seem to be a solid continuation and with their solid levels they should once again make the playoffs but their lack of depth will keep them from being a postseason threat.
9. Da NOLA Brah!!! K&B Purples Last season: reached USA A8 through a slow build strategy and won 4 games because they were mainly out-leveled. Their levels have caught up a bit this time around and they should be more competitive and fight for a lower playoff seed.
10. Manhattan Massacre: Last season: fought hard and went 7-9 in USA A8, missing the playoffs. Outlook: solid overall cast and I suspect them to have a bit of a resurgence this season and possibly make the playoffs.
11. Detroit Diablos Last season: Lost in BBB conference finals to fellow promoted team, Welsh Dragons. Outlook: Detroit has some depth problems in relation to the top teams in the division and lack levels in a few spots, but will fight for a playoff berth.
12. Detroit Outlaws Last season: went 15-1 in BBB and lost in the second round of the playoff to the Diablos. Outlook: are in a bit of the same boat as Da NOLA level-wise, but a season behind. They will have great difficulty competing against the top teams but should roll some of the softies.
13. Pittsburgh Powerhouse Last season: Went 3-13 last season in USA A8. They look to be about as good as last season (in relative terms). Outlook: I expect 3-5 wins this time around.
14. Bowdoin Polar Bears Last season: went 4-12 in USA A8. Outlook: do not have what they need to threaten for the playoff and appear to have fallen below Pittsburgh in overall depth.
15. Houghton Gremlins: Sad to see a very good team go CPU, but that is the way of Houghton this season.
16. New Orleans Poison: a traditionally very good BBB 16 team also competed well in USA A8 last season but they have a plan to go slow-build. They’ll be back, just not for a few seasons.
Last edited Apr 20, 2009 07:38:34
