After Week 12 games, I'll start posting this for this season. I think 5 games left is a little too much to post, even though I think a lot of the top 7 placement will come down to 1 game (Dresden/London in week 16) and Mandi's next 3 games against Dresden, Malta, and Hollywood. Depending on how Mandi's does, Western Europe should be a solid 7, possibly 6th seed (thank God they won't likely be the 8th seed, as Dublin doesn't really want to play them in the playoffs).
It will be interesting to see which team we play in the 1 vs 8 matchup, as there are 4 teams at 5-6 right now (Birmingham, Maranello, Brighton, and Belgian). We have already beaten Birmingham and Maranello, and still have to play Brighton and Belgian. I think Belgian has the best gameplanning, and Maranello has the best personnel. I haven't really taken a good look at Brighton, so I'm not familiar with them but since we are playing them next, I will have a better idea on them tomorrow. I've watched Belgian since they were League Champs last season, so it was important to get a read on them. We've played Birmingham, who I think has not improved from last year's playoff team... while everyone around them has improved. They have good gameplanning, but I think they are somewhat inferior personnel wise. Maranello's gameplanning needs to improve, as they have a good roster.
Here's my week 11 prediction for 8th place:
Birmingham 8-8. Wins against Blackpool, Cork, and Sinsheim. Losses against Western Europe and London. Western Europe game is a key game for them.
Maranello 7-9. Win against Barcelona. Losses against Dresden, Malta, Hollywood. Brighton a toss up, but I'll go with Maranello's roster beating Brighton. Key games Brighton and Hollywood. They can make 8-8 with wins in those two games.
Brighton 6-10. Win against Jellystone. Losses against Dublin, Mandi's. Key games against Belgian and Maranello. Will be 8-8 if they can win against Belgian and Maranello. If they can find a way to beat Mandi's ALSO, they get the 8 seed, maybe even catch Western Europe for 7th. Don't think any of this will happen, though.
Belgian 7-9. Win against Jellystone. Losses to Malta, Hollywood, and Dublin. Key game against Brighton. They win against Brighton, and find a way to beat one of the playoff teams they will be playing, and they could be 8-8.
So I think we'll play Birmingham, thanks to their easier finishing schedule and tiebreakers against all 5-6 teams. I do think that, if another team steps it up, they can tie Birmingham, but Birmingham beat all 3 teams they are tied with, so they have tiebreakers against everyone at 5-6, and teams will need to end up ahead of them to get in.
It will be interesting to see which team we play in the 1 vs 8 matchup, as there are 4 teams at 5-6 right now (Birmingham, Maranello, Brighton, and Belgian). We have already beaten Birmingham and Maranello, and still have to play Brighton and Belgian. I think Belgian has the best gameplanning, and Maranello has the best personnel. I haven't really taken a good look at Brighton, so I'm not familiar with them but since we are playing them next, I will have a better idea on them tomorrow. I've watched Belgian since they were League Champs last season, so it was important to get a read on them. We've played Birmingham, who I think has not improved from last year's playoff team... while everyone around them has improved. They have good gameplanning, but I think they are somewhat inferior personnel wise. Maranello's gameplanning needs to improve, as they have a good roster.
Here's my week 11 prediction for 8th place:
Birmingham 8-8. Wins against Blackpool, Cork, and Sinsheim. Losses against Western Europe and London. Western Europe game is a key game for them.
Maranello 7-9. Win against Barcelona. Losses against Dresden, Malta, Hollywood. Brighton a toss up, but I'll go with Maranello's roster beating Brighton. Key games Brighton and Hollywood. They can make 8-8 with wins in those two games.
Brighton 6-10. Win against Jellystone. Losses against Dublin, Mandi's. Key games against Belgian and Maranello. Will be 8-8 if they can win against Belgian and Maranello. If they can find a way to beat Mandi's ALSO, they get the 8 seed, maybe even catch Western Europe for 7th. Don't think any of this will happen, though.
Belgian 7-9. Win against Jellystone. Losses to Malta, Hollywood, and Dublin. Key game against Brighton. They win against Brighton, and find a way to beat one of the playoff teams they will be playing, and they could be 8-8.
So I think we'll play Birmingham, thanks to their easier finishing schedule and tiebreakers against all 5-6 teams. I do think that, if another team steps it up, they can tie Birmingham, but Birmingham beat all 3 teams they are tied with, so they have tiebreakers against everyone at 5-6, and teams will need to end up ahead of them to get in.
