We'll we've danced the first two warm up steps, by and large we've gotten little hints and indications of who may have made major strides, who has slid some , and who is ready to compete. A couple teams have shown some promise more than we expected some of them have shown some unanticipated weaknesses. I hate to overemphasize anything this early; but week 3 promises to tell us who is contender and who is a pretender.
Game of the Week
D'Haran Empire vs. Stark Dire Wolves
With the all time record 4-0 in favor of the Empire this would seem like an odd choice, but all 4 games have been won by less than a TD. Last season saw an overtime thriller to start of the series and a 7-3 defensive slobber knocker in the rematch. The Empire are boasting their new SuperStar blocking back, just for those who thought their ground and pound attack wasn't good enough but the men of Stark have always been built to stop the run and done a pretty good job against the Empire all in all. I know what the Empire offense is going to do , I know what the Stark Defense is going to do: To me this comes down to Stark's offense against the Empire Defense. That point will determine if the Empire comes out with a 3-0 lead of the Division or if Gamma starts with a (potential) 3-way tie at 2-1.
Next Best Game
Alpine Affleurs vs. Texas A&M
The Aggies shocked the world, themselves(to some degree), and me by launching a 17-16 upset of Victorious Secret. The big difference for A&M was the time of possession, they didn't let the Secret on the field. Meanwhile Alpine was rebounding from an opening week loss to the same Secret by taking care of Shangri-la. A&M has never beaten Alpine, in fact they've been blown out in 3 of 4 contests (including a 40 point facial on one occasion). For all its faults one thing I do love about GLB2's replication of real football is there are two basic ways to beat the passing game: Option 1 - Outgun them, A&M can't do that; Option 2: Keep them off the field. A&M got 35 minutes plus time of possession last week, if they crank it up to 38 they are in business, anything less than that and its Alpine vs. the winner of VO and Dragons early.
Others Worth Watching
Victorious Secret vs. Sharli-la Dragon's Revenge
This really deserves a spot within the top 2, but both being Madison Newcomers to me swayed me to list this third. The two have never played each other, not a league game, not a ladder game, not a scrimmage - so history won't give us any preamble here. You have to expect neither team is particularly interested in starting 1-2. There are too many good teams in Alpha now (and way too many in Gamma) to start 1-2 and expect to claim the division, not saying its impossible just highly improbable. I'd have to say that whomever losses here losses more than the winner wins. In fact, I'll make a bold prediction and say the best the loser of this can possibly do is the wild card. Making up an effective two games in either Alpha or Gamma just seems like too big of leap to me.
Gwilce Lions vs. Shell City Shockers
Shell City has a chance to start 3-0 and really put a stamp on BETA as the team that should be the champs. There is a real possibility that the winner and loser of this game may go 0-8 against the rest of the league so victory here is key; I know thats a bold prediction but the talent level in Alpha and Gamma is outstanding, Alpha used to have a couple whipping boys you could at least breath against but no more. Now that the other two divisions are stacked equally, its hard to see the loser here making up enough ground to overtake the winner - in that sense maybe this is the biggest game of the week, Winner is my choice for BETA champs.
Factory of Sadness vs. Rhode Island Falcons
To say that the Factory is having offensive difficulties would be a huge understatement. Shutout in back to back games in season play they did put up 72 against a sseasoned team. That's probably level of competition but hopefully they also burned whatever playbook they were running before, took the ashes to the caldron of Mordor and had the Hobbit toss them into the pit in order to destroy such evil. However, I don't think even the one ring can save them against the Falcons whose passing attack is still too potent for the Factory to handle. I'm waiting to see if they put up 14, I'd call that a morale victory which would give them hope for a solid(non-playoff) season and something to build on for Season 6.
Snoozer
Tortuga Pirates vs. Charlotte Strikers
Tortuga gets the CPU game followed by a winnable match against the Factory(though I'd still favor the Factory). Then gets amped up on with matchups against Stark, VS, Shangril-la, Alpine, Rhode Island, D'Haran, and Texas A&M before seeing the CPU Strikers again. That's a potential 7 game losing streak; with 1 loss already I expect them to be keeping a closer eye Gwilce vs. Shell City than what the CPU tomato can does and look for their future to be determined by the winner of that game. A Gwilce win gives them a 3 way tie and possibility to be a 3 time division winner. Shell City wins and its katy bar the doors time for the Pirates.
Game of the Week
D'Haran Empire vs. Stark Dire Wolves
With the all time record 4-0 in favor of the Empire this would seem like an odd choice, but all 4 games have been won by less than a TD. Last season saw an overtime thriller to start of the series and a 7-3 defensive slobber knocker in the rematch. The Empire are boasting their new SuperStar blocking back, just for those who thought their ground and pound attack wasn't good enough but the men of Stark have always been built to stop the run and done a pretty good job against the Empire all in all. I know what the Empire offense is going to do , I know what the Stark Defense is going to do: To me this comes down to Stark's offense against the Empire Defense. That point will determine if the Empire comes out with a 3-0 lead of the Division or if Gamma starts with a (potential) 3-way tie at 2-1.
Next Best Game
Alpine Affleurs vs. Texas A&M
The Aggies shocked the world, themselves(to some degree), and me by launching a 17-16 upset of Victorious Secret. The big difference for A&M was the time of possession, they didn't let the Secret on the field. Meanwhile Alpine was rebounding from an opening week loss to the same Secret by taking care of Shangri-la. A&M has never beaten Alpine, in fact they've been blown out in 3 of 4 contests (including a 40 point facial on one occasion). For all its faults one thing I do love about GLB2's replication of real football is there are two basic ways to beat the passing game: Option 1 - Outgun them, A&M can't do that; Option 2: Keep them off the field. A&M got 35 minutes plus time of possession last week, if they crank it up to 38 they are in business, anything less than that and its Alpine vs. the winner of VO and Dragons early.
Others Worth Watching
Victorious Secret vs. Sharli-la Dragon's Revenge
This really deserves a spot within the top 2, but both being Madison Newcomers to me swayed me to list this third. The two have never played each other, not a league game, not a ladder game, not a scrimmage - so history won't give us any preamble here. You have to expect neither team is particularly interested in starting 1-2. There are too many good teams in Alpha now (and way too many in Gamma) to start 1-2 and expect to claim the division, not saying its impossible just highly improbable. I'd have to say that whomever losses here losses more than the winner wins. In fact, I'll make a bold prediction and say the best the loser of this can possibly do is the wild card. Making up an effective two games in either Alpha or Gamma just seems like too big of leap to me.
Gwilce Lions vs. Shell City Shockers
Shell City has a chance to start 3-0 and really put a stamp on BETA as the team that should be the champs. There is a real possibility that the winner and loser of this game may go 0-8 against the rest of the league so victory here is key; I know thats a bold prediction but the talent level in Alpha and Gamma is outstanding, Alpha used to have a couple whipping boys you could at least breath against but no more. Now that the other two divisions are stacked equally, its hard to see the loser here making up enough ground to overtake the winner - in that sense maybe this is the biggest game of the week, Winner is my choice for BETA champs.
Factory of Sadness vs. Rhode Island Falcons
To say that the Factory is having offensive difficulties would be a huge understatement. Shutout in back to back games in season play they did put up 72 against a sseasoned team. That's probably level of competition but hopefully they also burned whatever playbook they were running before, took the ashes to the caldron of Mordor and had the Hobbit toss them into the pit in order to destroy such evil. However, I don't think even the one ring can save them against the Falcons whose passing attack is still too potent for the Factory to handle. I'm waiting to see if they put up 14, I'd call that a morale victory which would give them hope for a solid(non-playoff) season and something to build on for Season 6.
Snoozer
Tortuga Pirates vs. Charlotte Strikers
Tortuga gets the CPU game followed by a winnable match against the Factory(though I'd still favor the Factory). Then gets amped up on with matchups against Stark, VS, Shangril-la, Alpine, Rhode Island, D'Haran, and Texas A&M before seeing the CPU Strikers again. That's a potential 7 game losing streak; with 1 loss already I expect them to be keeping a closer eye Gwilce vs. Shell City than what the CPU tomato can does and look for their future to be determined by the winner of that game. A Gwilce win gives them a 3 way tie and possibility to be a 3 time division winner. Shell City wins and its katy bar the doors time for the Pirates.
Edited by william78 on Jul 13, 2014 00:07:53
Edited by william78 on Jul 12, 2014 23:52:29
Edited by william78 on Jul 12, 2014 23:37:38
