Hello and welcome to this week's Power Rankings for Eastern Europe AA #4.
First off, a quick apology for not getting to the Week 14 Power Rankings. I found myself busy almost the entire day and barely had time to do my scouting report for my team's matchup earlier today. Ce la vie.
So, here we are, 1 week from AA4's first ever playoffs and the picture is just about complete. The Krakow Cows and the Odessa Falcons have sewn up the #1 seed for their respective conferences, while everyone else jockies for the all important home games, and the millions in revenue that they generate for a team to upgrade in the offseason.
In Alpha, 3 teams vie for the #8 spot, all of them currently 7-8, with the London Dolphins, a team that previous had looked to be on the downward spiral before snapping off a 3-game winning streak, holding on to the spot with just their fingertips.
In Zeta, the France Fire currently holds the #8 seed by a mere 1 game. A loss by them and a win by either the Belgium Warthogs or the Haquenau Coyotes could put their playoff hopes in jeapordy.
One game left. Who wins? Who loses? Which teams go to the golf course? Which teams head to the war room? The answers will be revealed to us all on the morrow.
Originally posted by
My Power Rankings rely heavily on recent history to determine where you stand. A good record is also paramount but there might even be a bit of a disparity between teams with similar records depending on how tough their recent opponents have been.
Note: I'll continue to use my current system for the rest of Season 2 but beginning with Season 3 I'll be using a slightly modified system which will take last 4 Margin of Victory weighted against the W% of each specific team you faced in order to get a better feel for how well a team is performing. This should eliminate mathematical ties. And don't worry, you essentially get a 0 modifier by blowing out teams with no wins or 1 win.
So, without further ado:
The Top Ten
1. Odessa Falcons (15-0) Last Week (LW): #1
At 15-0, the Falcons are one of two teams in AA4 that have yet to lose a game. More importantly, even against some of the best teams in AA4, the Falcons have not blinked. Armed with one of the best quarterbacks in Eastern Europe, the Odessa Falcons have put everyone on notice: They are getting promoted, come hell or high water, and let no team stand in their way, lest they face the wrath of the Falcons. Next game is against the Fehervar Enthroners, a solid Alpha team, but one which the Falcons should have little trouble controlling.
2. Krakow Cows (15-0) LW: #2
The second of the unbeaten teams remaining, the Cows stand alone at the top of Alpha conference, holding firm to a 2-game lead that gives them the Alpha #1 seed for the entirety of the playoffs. The Cows host Zeta's Haguenau Coyotes this week, a team that must win in order to have a chance at making the playoffs. Unfortunately for the Coyotes, these Cows have teeth.
3. Warsaw Warriors (14-1) LW: #3
In week 15's game of the week, the Warriors went head to head with the Tricity Hares in a battle for Zeta's #2 playoff seed. The Warriors came out and dominated the Hares, holding them to less than 200 yards of offense and a commanding 34-10 victory. They finish out the season against the hapless Florida Buccaneers.
4. Minsk Ninjas (13-2) LW: #6
The Ninjas jump to the #4 spot thanks in large part to their recent Strength of Schedule. Despite this, GLB has them listed in the #3 spot for Alpha, which is the only ranking that really matters. They face Zeta creampuffs, the Sidney Tire Irons in their last game of the season, which just might be the type of momentum they're hoping for as they head into the playoffs.
5. Dallas Smoke Stacks (13-2) LW: #5
The Smoke Stacks remain in the #5 spot and have been here for so long that they've set up tents and fired up the barbecue pit. Their recent stretch of games against easy opponents has done little to threaten Dallas' current 12-game winning streak, which is just how they want it. A final game against the Belgium Warthogs, who have to win in order to remain in the playoff hunt, should be easy, but one can never be too sure.
6. Tricity Hares (13-2) LW: #4
Despite only fielding two losses on the season, both came against the top 2 teams in Zeta, and that leaves many to wonder if they're capable of winning the big games. In neither game were they able to put up much of a fight, so despite thier record, it doesn't look like they have much of a chance in the playoffs after the first round. They face off against the London Dolphins this week, in a game that actually has playoff implications for the Alpha conference.
7. London Head Hunters (12-3) LW: #7
The Head Hunters are in a similar position as the Hares: Unable to win the big games. Despite this, this London team is doing everything they can to gear up and get their motors running as they roll into the playoffs. They face off against the Leceister Lynxes this week, who should prove to be no barrier towards a 13-win season.
8. Fehervar Enthroners (11-4) LW: #8
The Enthroners are the sole owners of Alpha conferences #4 seed, and will have home field advantage when they and the Tallaght Outlaws meet again in a rematch of their week 14 conference. Their win over the Outlaws makes sure that they outrank the Outlaws, even should they lose this week against Zeta's #1 team, the Odessa Falcons.
9. Volgograd Berserks (10-5) LW: #10
The Berserks move up a spot to #9 as they seek to close out the season with a 6-game winning streak. They put that streak on the line against the Moscow Bears this week, a team that struggles against teams of equal or better quality, and who are just barely holding on to Alpha's #7 seed.
10. Grodno Buckaroos (10-5) LW: #11
The Buckaroos move up into the Top Ten with a 4-game winning streak against struggling teams. That they've won against the teams they're supposed to win against speaks volumes about a team that could very well be a contender next year. They close out the season on the road against the Charleston Roadwarriors.
Holding on to a Playoff Spot
11. Tallaght Outlaws
12. Carluke Cobras
13. Moscow Bears
14. London Dolphins
15. France Fire
16. International Players
Fighting for a Playoff Spot
17. Bratislava Vampires
18. Moscow Vandals
19. Baker Mountain Bucks
20. Haquenau Coyotes
21. Belgium Warthogs
22. NISSA Dauphins
Need Improving
23. C-Town Hoodlums
24. St. Petersberg Storm
25. Leicester Lynxes
26. Subotica Scorpions
27. Florida Buccaneers
28. Prague Panthers
You'd be Relegated if you weren't already at the bottom
29. Charleston Roadwarriors
30. Chernobyl Radionuclides
31. Sydney Tire Irons
32. Warsaw Cossacks
First off, a quick apology for not getting to the Week 14 Power Rankings. I found myself busy almost the entire day and barely had time to do my scouting report for my team's matchup earlier today. Ce la vie.
So, here we are, 1 week from AA4's first ever playoffs and the picture is just about complete. The Krakow Cows and the Odessa Falcons have sewn up the #1 seed for their respective conferences, while everyone else jockies for the all important home games, and the millions in revenue that they generate for a team to upgrade in the offseason.
In Alpha, 3 teams vie for the #8 spot, all of them currently 7-8, with the London Dolphins, a team that previous had looked to be on the downward spiral before snapping off a 3-game winning streak, holding on to the spot with just their fingertips.
In Zeta, the France Fire currently holds the #8 seed by a mere 1 game. A loss by them and a win by either the Belgium Warthogs or the Haquenau Coyotes could put their playoff hopes in jeapordy.
One game left. Who wins? Who loses? Which teams go to the golf course? Which teams head to the war room? The answers will be revealed to us all on the morrow.
Originally posted by
My Power Rankings rely heavily on recent history to determine where you stand. A good record is also paramount but there might even be a bit of a disparity between teams with similar records depending on how tough their recent opponents have been.
Note: I'll continue to use my current system for the rest of Season 2 but beginning with Season 3 I'll be using a slightly modified system which will take last 4 Margin of Victory weighted against the W% of each specific team you faced in order to get a better feel for how well a team is performing. This should eliminate mathematical ties. And don't worry, you essentially get a 0 modifier by blowing out teams with no wins or 1 win.
So, without further ado:
The Top Ten
1. Odessa Falcons (15-0) Last Week (LW): #1
At 15-0, the Falcons are one of two teams in AA4 that have yet to lose a game. More importantly, even against some of the best teams in AA4, the Falcons have not blinked. Armed with one of the best quarterbacks in Eastern Europe, the Odessa Falcons have put everyone on notice: They are getting promoted, come hell or high water, and let no team stand in their way, lest they face the wrath of the Falcons. Next game is against the Fehervar Enthroners, a solid Alpha team, but one which the Falcons should have little trouble controlling.
2. Krakow Cows (15-0) LW: #2
The second of the unbeaten teams remaining, the Cows stand alone at the top of Alpha conference, holding firm to a 2-game lead that gives them the Alpha #1 seed for the entirety of the playoffs. The Cows host Zeta's Haguenau Coyotes this week, a team that must win in order to have a chance at making the playoffs. Unfortunately for the Coyotes, these Cows have teeth.
3. Warsaw Warriors (14-1) LW: #3
In week 15's game of the week, the Warriors went head to head with the Tricity Hares in a battle for Zeta's #2 playoff seed. The Warriors came out and dominated the Hares, holding them to less than 200 yards of offense and a commanding 34-10 victory. They finish out the season against the hapless Florida Buccaneers.
4. Minsk Ninjas (13-2) LW: #6
The Ninjas jump to the #4 spot thanks in large part to their recent Strength of Schedule. Despite this, GLB has them listed in the #3 spot for Alpha, which is the only ranking that really matters. They face Zeta creampuffs, the Sidney Tire Irons in their last game of the season, which just might be the type of momentum they're hoping for as they head into the playoffs.
5. Dallas Smoke Stacks (13-2) LW: #5
The Smoke Stacks remain in the #5 spot and have been here for so long that they've set up tents and fired up the barbecue pit. Their recent stretch of games against easy opponents has done little to threaten Dallas' current 12-game winning streak, which is just how they want it. A final game against the Belgium Warthogs, who have to win in order to remain in the playoff hunt, should be easy, but one can never be too sure.
6. Tricity Hares (13-2) LW: #4
Despite only fielding two losses on the season, both came against the top 2 teams in Zeta, and that leaves many to wonder if they're capable of winning the big games. In neither game were they able to put up much of a fight, so despite thier record, it doesn't look like they have much of a chance in the playoffs after the first round. They face off against the London Dolphins this week, in a game that actually has playoff implications for the Alpha conference.
7. London Head Hunters (12-3) LW: #7
The Head Hunters are in a similar position as the Hares: Unable to win the big games. Despite this, this London team is doing everything they can to gear up and get their motors running as they roll into the playoffs. They face off against the Leceister Lynxes this week, who should prove to be no barrier towards a 13-win season.
8. Fehervar Enthroners (11-4) LW: #8
The Enthroners are the sole owners of Alpha conferences #4 seed, and will have home field advantage when they and the Tallaght Outlaws meet again in a rematch of their week 14 conference. Their win over the Outlaws makes sure that they outrank the Outlaws, even should they lose this week against Zeta's #1 team, the Odessa Falcons.
9. Volgograd Berserks (10-5) LW: #10
The Berserks move up a spot to #9 as they seek to close out the season with a 6-game winning streak. They put that streak on the line against the Moscow Bears this week, a team that struggles against teams of equal or better quality, and who are just barely holding on to Alpha's #7 seed.
10. Grodno Buckaroos (10-5) LW: #11
The Buckaroos move up into the Top Ten with a 4-game winning streak against struggling teams. That they've won against the teams they're supposed to win against speaks volumes about a team that could very well be a contender next year. They close out the season on the road against the Charleston Roadwarriors.
Holding on to a Playoff Spot
11. Tallaght Outlaws
12. Carluke Cobras
13. Moscow Bears
14. London Dolphins
15. France Fire
16. International Players
Fighting for a Playoff Spot
17. Bratislava Vampires
18. Moscow Vandals
19. Baker Mountain Bucks
20. Haquenau Coyotes
21. Belgium Warthogs
22. NISSA Dauphins
Need Improving
23. C-Town Hoodlums
24. St. Petersberg Storm
25. Leicester Lynxes
26. Subotica Scorpions
27. Florida Buccaneers
28. Prague Panthers
You'd be Relegated if you weren't already at the bottom
29. Charleston Roadwarriors
30. Chernobyl Radionuclides
31. Sydney Tire Irons
32. Warsaw Cossacks
