Disclaimer: These are not done by spreadsheet or formula - they are my own subjective rankings, but I try to be fair and go by wins/losses, strength of schedule, and trends if any.
Alpha
1) Chester Romans [3-0] - The Romans have won their first 3 games by a combined score of 499-5. Their opponents' combined record is not terrible either - they're 3-3 in the remainder of their games. The strength of this team is their defense - they lead the league in hurries, forced fumbles AND interceptions. Their next opponent will be their first real test - the Gothenberg Geats.
2) Berlin Wall Crushers [3-0] - The Wall Crushers are another dominant team led by a very stout defense - they have pitched 2 shutouts this season. Their strength of schedule leaves something to be desired, but there is no doubt that this team is for real. The Wall Crushers don't clash with the Romans until the last game of the regular season, so if nothing changes until then it will be a truly epic finish to the Alpha season.
3) Birmingham Swamp Monkeys [3-0] - The Swamp Monkeys do already have a quality win on their schedule, a tough-fought, acrimonious 16-13 victory over the Gothenberg Geats. They face a great opponent in the New Cologne Bears next week, and have prospects to move up if they can pull off a convincing win.
4) Yugoslavian Roid Pushers [3-0] - The Roid Pushers are one of the early surprises of Season 12, and have already made noise in their new league. Their 31-24 victory over the established Body Snatchers was impressive. Their matchup in 2 weeks against the New Cologne Bears looms large, and they should be able to overlook the Shannon Slammin Cocks next week without much danger.
5) Gothenberg Geats [2-1] - The Geats suffered heartbreak at the hands of the Swamp Monkeys in week 2, but rebounded strong with a crushing defeat of the Magic Mushrooms. They face off against the #1 Chester Romans next week. The good news - a win here puts them right back on track. The bad news - a 2-2 start will be tough to rebound if they hope to meet lofty preseason expectations.
6) Niagara Falls Body Snatchers [2-1] - The Body Snatchers are in the midst of a critical early-season stretch. After losing to the Roid Pushers, they need to beat the Maine Maddogs this week in order to have some momentum for when the #2 Wall Crushers come to town.
7) New Cologne Bears [2-1] - The Bears had the misfortune of facing one of the toughest promoted teams in the league in their week 1 intraconference matchup, and got their asses handed to them by the Vorkuta Yellowhammers. Since then, they have posted 2 rather unimpressive wins, and frankly are hanging onto this spot solely due to lofty preseason expectations. They face a tough stretch here, as they face the Swamp Monkeys and the Roid Pushers in their next two games. They need to win one of two or fans may begin to question the wisdom of buying season tickets.
8) Maine Maddogs [2-1] - The Maddogs have the levels to compete in this league, but their desire leaves something to be questioned. They played down to the level of their competition in a surprisingly close week 2 win over the 0-3 London Milk Men. Let's see how they fare against another 2-1 team in the #6 Body Snatchers next week.
9) Southcity Regulators [2-1] - The Regulators only loss has come at the hands of the #1 Romans, but boy was it an ugly loss. Their two wins have not told much, as they were over pretty terrible teams. The Southcity Regulators should be tested this week at the hands of the London Mighty Milk Men. Are they up to the challenge?
10) London Mighty Milk Men [0-3] - This newly promoted team had a rough opening week; However, they are by far the most impressive of the 0-3 teams, as they only lost to the #8 Maddogs by a single point. They get a chance to notch their first win this week against the #9 Regulators, and start moving toward the playoff half of the rankings.
11) Lagos Dirty Water [1-2] - It's either all or its nothin with Lagos. They have played in no close games, getting shut out twice while smashing the Magic Mushrooms 70-7. They'll be 2-2 after this week, where they should thrash the Tampa Bay Lunatics. That probably won't do much for them in the rankings though.
12) Paris Vikings [0-3] - The Vikings haven't yet played anybody seeded below #8 in either league. Sadly, that doesn't change, as they face the #2 Wall Crushers this week. Let's hope they don't lose heart, as they should pick up some wins in the latter half of the season.
13) Rome Legion [0-3] - The Legion have also had a rough go of it so far, but face good prospects to put one in the W column this week, as they face the #14 Magic Mushrooms. Although they're only one spot ahead, the gap here is fairly large and I expect a double-digit victory for the Legion.
14) Rhein Main Magic Mushrooms [0-3] - This newly promoted team is likely to have a tough go of it all season. With a team average of lvl 44, they just don't have the levels to compete in this league. This will be a good proving ground for them to try and innovate tactically, and if they stick around till next season, they should be ready to make a serious go of it then.
15) Shannon Slammin Cocks [0-3] - Old, established team who likes to lurk at the bottom. Not much of a threat to anybody.
16) Tampa Bay Lunatics [0-3] - Sure shot for demotion. Time to get some teams who'll actually try up here.
Zeta
1) Vorkuta Yellowhammers [3-0] - The Yellowhammers have been dominant in every game they've played this season. They drew a fairly tough Alpha opponent in the New Cologne Bears but took them out easily. The Gulf Coast Gators are also not a team to be trifled with, but the Yellowhammers did just that. They have earned this spot - can they keep it?
2) Virginia George Washingtons [3-0] - The George Washingtons have been nearly as impressive as the Yellowhammers. However, their schedule has not been as tough, and they did not dominate the Gulf Coast Gators quite as much as Vorkuta did. Still, this is an impressive opening for a promoted team and they will be fighting for the #1 seed all season.
3) Lisbon Crusaders [3-0] - Lisbon's victory over Alpha power Berlin Wall Crushers at the end of the preseason was no fluke, ladies and gentlemen. Their early schedule has been fairly easy with exception of their Alpha opponent Maine Maddogs, but the Crusaders have cruised easily. They face an undefeated team today in a bid to move further up these rankings.
4) Kaohsiung Casino Royale B&B [3-0] - Kaohsiung at #4? Say it ain't so! Kaohsiung is undefeated but hasn't justified my #1 preseason ranking in recent weeks. They barely pulled out a victory over the Warsaw Warlords last week, a game that any team bidding for #1 should have won by a decent margin. They have the talent to get back to #1, but will they put in the time gameplanning? We'll find out.
5) Bergen Berserk [3-0] - The Berserk have looked great in their first 3 games, but they haven't played anyone. They lucked into the second-worst team in Alpha, and have played two of the worst teams in Zeta. They face off against Kaohsiung in 2 weeks, but probably shouldn't overlook the Grudge this week.
6) GT Avalanche [3-0] - Like Bergen, the Avalanche are undefeated due to a really easy opening schedule. It is hard to prove oneself when the other team is so much weaker. The Avalanche will be tested to the extreme this week against the Lisbon Crusaders, and will certainly move up a few spots with a win.
7) Warsaw Warlords [1-2] - The Warlords were more impressive in a loss than many teams have been in a win, holding a powerful Kaosiung team to only 19 points and nearly pulling the upset in last week's Game of the Week. They should get an easy win over the Tallahassee Noles this week and start trekking up the rankings.
8) Glasgow Tigers [1-2] - Glasgow had the misfortune of opening with both preseason #1s in Alpha's Wall Crushers and Zeta's Casino Royale B&B. They got their first win against the Tallahassee Noles last week, and face a tough but winnable game this week versus the Gulf Coast Gators. Fortunately, after the Gators, the Tigers get an easy stretch to rack up wins and move up the rankings.
9) GulfCoast Gators [1-2] - After an average Alpha opponent (who they beat), the GulfCoast Gators opened with #1 and #2 Vorkuta and Virginia. Tough! Things get easier (but not much) this week when they face off against the Glasgow Tigers, and then next week when they meet the Warlords. This could easily spell a 1-4 start for the Gators so let's hope they get some breaks!
10) Galway Grudge [1-2] - The Grudge earned this spot after a tough win over the BEDLAM ASYLUM SHOCKERS last week. They probably can't play with Bergen this week, but they should definitely be in the game the following week against Legends of the Five Rings.
11) BEDLAM ASYLUM SHOCKERS [1-2] - BEDLAM lost a close one to the Grudge last week, but they are still better than a number of teams in this league. They will lose big this week to Kaohsiung, but should get a win next week over the Noles.
12) Legends of the 5 Rings [0-3] - Legends of the 5 Rings have faced a pretty tough opening sequence - they're better than 0-3. They can start to rebound this week against Amsterdam XXX.
13) Somerset Scrumpers [0-3] - Like Legends of the 5 Rings, Somerset is only winless due to a decent opening schedule. Unfortunately, they have a brutal next 4 weeks and sadly, their season may be over before it started. They really needed to get a win in week 1.
14) Amsterdam XXX [1-2] - The XXX lucked into playing a terrible Alpha team in week 1. They may have a chance this week against Legends of the 5 Rings, but they won't be favored.
15) Tallahassee Noles [1-2] - Like the XXX, the Noles got a win courtesy of playing the very worst team in Alpha in week 1. They've got high leveled players, but with a roster of about 30 human players, they just don't have enough players to be a threat. Their next win looks to be many weeks away.
16) The Boozehounds [0-3] - This team has given up and has gone slowbuild with all lvl 1s. Any team that doesn't score 255 on these guys should be banned from the playoffs.
Alpha
1) Chester Romans [3-0] - The Romans have won their first 3 games by a combined score of 499-5. Their opponents' combined record is not terrible either - they're 3-3 in the remainder of their games. The strength of this team is their defense - they lead the league in hurries, forced fumbles AND interceptions. Their next opponent will be their first real test - the Gothenberg Geats.
2) Berlin Wall Crushers [3-0] - The Wall Crushers are another dominant team led by a very stout defense - they have pitched 2 shutouts this season. Their strength of schedule leaves something to be desired, but there is no doubt that this team is for real. The Wall Crushers don't clash with the Romans until the last game of the regular season, so if nothing changes until then it will be a truly epic finish to the Alpha season.
3) Birmingham Swamp Monkeys [3-0] - The Swamp Monkeys do already have a quality win on their schedule, a tough-fought, acrimonious 16-13 victory over the Gothenberg Geats. They face a great opponent in the New Cologne Bears next week, and have prospects to move up if they can pull off a convincing win.
4) Yugoslavian Roid Pushers [3-0] - The Roid Pushers are one of the early surprises of Season 12, and have already made noise in their new league. Their 31-24 victory over the established Body Snatchers was impressive. Their matchup in 2 weeks against the New Cologne Bears looms large, and they should be able to overlook the Shannon Slammin Cocks next week without much danger.
5) Gothenberg Geats [2-1] - The Geats suffered heartbreak at the hands of the Swamp Monkeys in week 2, but rebounded strong with a crushing defeat of the Magic Mushrooms. They face off against the #1 Chester Romans next week. The good news - a win here puts them right back on track. The bad news - a 2-2 start will be tough to rebound if they hope to meet lofty preseason expectations.
6) Niagara Falls Body Snatchers [2-1] - The Body Snatchers are in the midst of a critical early-season stretch. After losing to the Roid Pushers, they need to beat the Maine Maddogs this week in order to have some momentum for when the #2 Wall Crushers come to town.
7) New Cologne Bears [2-1] - The Bears had the misfortune of facing one of the toughest promoted teams in the league in their week 1 intraconference matchup, and got their asses handed to them by the Vorkuta Yellowhammers. Since then, they have posted 2 rather unimpressive wins, and frankly are hanging onto this spot solely due to lofty preseason expectations. They face a tough stretch here, as they face the Swamp Monkeys and the Roid Pushers in their next two games. They need to win one of two or fans may begin to question the wisdom of buying season tickets.
8) Maine Maddogs [2-1] - The Maddogs have the levels to compete in this league, but their desire leaves something to be questioned. They played down to the level of their competition in a surprisingly close week 2 win over the 0-3 London Milk Men. Let's see how they fare against another 2-1 team in the #6 Body Snatchers next week.
9) Southcity Regulators [2-1] - The Regulators only loss has come at the hands of the #1 Romans, but boy was it an ugly loss. Their two wins have not told much, as they were over pretty terrible teams. The Southcity Regulators should be tested this week at the hands of the London Mighty Milk Men. Are they up to the challenge?
10) London Mighty Milk Men [0-3] - This newly promoted team had a rough opening week; However, they are by far the most impressive of the 0-3 teams, as they only lost to the #8 Maddogs by a single point. They get a chance to notch their first win this week against the #9 Regulators, and start moving toward the playoff half of the rankings.
11) Lagos Dirty Water [1-2] - It's either all or its nothin with Lagos. They have played in no close games, getting shut out twice while smashing the Magic Mushrooms 70-7. They'll be 2-2 after this week, where they should thrash the Tampa Bay Lunatics. That probably won't do much for them in the rankings though.
12) Paris Vikings [0-3] - The Vikings haven't yet played anybody seeded below #8 in either league. Sadly, that doesn't change, as they face the #2 Wall Crushers this week. Let's hope they don't lose heart, as they should pick up some wins in the latter half of the season.
13) Rome Legion [0-3] - The Legion have also had a rough go of it so far, but face good prospects to put one in the W column this week, as they face the #14 Magic Mushrooms. Although they're only one spot ahead, the gap here is fairly large and I expect a double-digit victory for the Legion.
14) Rhein Main Magic Mushrooms [0-3] - This newly promoted team is likely to have a tough go of it all season. With a team average of lvl 44, they just don't have the levels to compete in this league. This will be a good proving ground for them to try and innovate tactically, and if they stick around till next season, they should be ready to make a serious go of it then.
15) Shannon Slammin Cocks [0-3] - Old, established team who likes to lurk at the bottom. Not much of a threat to anybody.
16) Tampa Bay Lunatics [0-3] - Sure shot for demotion. Time to get some teams who'll actually try up here.
Zeta
1) Vorkuta Yellowhammers [3-0] - The Yellowhammers have been dominant in every game they've played this season. They drew a fairly tough Alpha opponent in the New Cologne Bears but took them out easily. The Gulf Coast Gators are also not a team to be trifled with, but the Yellowhammers did just that. They have earned this spot - can they keep it?
2) Virginia George Washingtons [3-0] - The George Washingtons have been nearly as impressive as the Yellowhammers. However, their schedule has not been as tough, and they did not dominate the Gulf Coast Gators quite as much as Vorkuta did. Still, this is an impressive opening for a promoted team and they will be fighting for the #1 seed all season.
3) Lisbon Crusaders [3-0] - Lisbon's victory over Alpha power Berlin Wall Crushers at the end of the preseason was no fluke, ladies and gentlemen. Their early schedule has been fairly easy with exception of their Alpha opponent Maine Maddogs, but the Crusaders have cruised easily. They face an undefeated team today in a bid to move further up these rankings.
4) Kaohsiung Casino Royale B&B [3-0] - Kaohsiung at #4? Say it ain't so! Kaohsiung is undefeated but hasn't justified my #1 preseason ranking in recent weeks. They barely pulled out a victory over the Warsaw Warlords last week, a game that any team bidding for #1 should have won by a decent margin. They have the talent to get back to #1, but will they put in the time gameplanning? We'll find out.
5) Bergen Berserk [3-0] - The Berserk have looked great in their first 3 games, but they haven't played anyone. They lucked into the second-worst team in Alpha, and have played two of the worst teams in Zeta. They face off against Kaohsiung in 2 weeks, but probably shouldn't overlook the Grudge this week.
6) GT Avalanche [3-0] - Like Bergen, the Avalanche are undefeated due to a really easy opening schedule. It is hard to prove oneself when the other team is so much weaker. The Avalanche will be tested to the extreme this week against the Lisbon Crusaders, and will certainly move up a few spots with a win.
7) Warsaw Warlords [1-2] - The Warlords were more impressive in a loss than many teams have been in a win, holding a powerful Kaosiung team to only 19 points and nearly pulling the upset in last week's Game of the Week. They should get an easy win over the Tallahassee Noles this week and start trekking up the rankings.
8) Glasgow Tigers [1-2] - Glasgow had the misfortune of opening with both preseason #1s in Alpha's Wall Crushers and Zeta's Casino Royale B&B. They got their first win against the Tallahassee Noles last week, and face a tough but winnable game this week versus the Gulf Coast Gators. Fortunately, after the Gators, the Tigers get an easy stretch to rack up wins and move up the rankings.
9) GulfCoast Gators [1-2] - After an average Alpha opponent (who they beat), the GulfCoast Gators opened with #1 and #2 Vorkuta and Virginia. Tough! Things get easier (but not much) this week when they face off against the Glasgow Tigers, and then next week when they meet the Warlords. This could easily spell a 1-4 start for the Gators so let's hope they get some breaks!
10) Galway Grudge [1-2] - The Grudge earned this spot after a tough win over the BEDLAM ASYLUM SHOCKERS last week. They probably can't play with Bergen this week, but they should definitely be in the game the following week against Legends of the Five Rings.
11) BEDLAM ASYLUM SHOCKERS [1-2] - BEDLAM lost a close one to the Grudge last week, but they are still better than a number of teams in this league. They will lose big this week to Kaohsiung, but should get a win next week over the Noles.
12) Legends of the 5 Rings [0-3] - Legends of the 5 Rings have faced a pretty tough opening sequence - they're better than 0-3. They can start to rebound this week against Amsterdam XXX.
13) Somerset Scrumpers [0-3] - Like Legends of the 5 Rings, Somerset is only winless due to a decent opening schedule. Unfortunately, they have a brutal next 4 weeks and sadly, their season may be over before it started. They really needed to get a win in week 1.
14) Amsterdam XXX [1-2] - The XXX lucked into playing a terrible Alpha team in week 1. They may have a chance this week against Legends of the 5 Rings, but they won't be favored.
15) Tallahassee Noles [1-2] - Like the XXX, the Noles got a win courtesy of playing the very worst team in Alpha in week 1. They've got high leveled players, but with a roster of about 30 human players, they just don't have enough players to be a threat. Their next win looks to be many weeks away.
16) The Boozehounds [0-3] - This team has given up and has gone slowbuild with all lvl 1s. Any team that doesn't score 255 on these guys should be banned from the playoffs.
Edited by tjking82 on Oct 19, 2009 10:39:27
Edited by tjking82 on Oct 19, 2009 10:38:54
Edited by tjking82 on Oct 19, 2009 10:22:39
Edited by tjking82 on Oct 19, 2009 10:22:28
Edited by tjking82 on Oct 18, 2009 17:15:07
