Hedgehog’s Power Rankings – Week Ten
Teams should be thinking about the playoffs now. In the Western Conference, the picture looks crystal clear for the division leader. There’s a shock upset in the Eastern Conference that keeps the playoff picture in the East “dynamic.” Lots of teams in the middle get pushed to the brink as to whether their chances will survive the next two weeks.
As a side note, since I’ll be out for the majority of this upcoming weekend, do not expect rankings from me for Week 11. I’ll be back for Week 12 onwards.
Movers and Shakers:
Best Risers: In San Jose Pimpin Ain’t Easy and Flint Tropics (+5)
Biggest Drops: Cold Lake Wolverines and Saskatoon Guerillaz (-4)
Week Ten Power Rankings
The Contenders
1. (1/-) – Saskatchewan Sasquatches – (10-0)
-They’re out of the woods. Unless this team implodes, the Saskatchewan Sasquatches will cruise the next six weeks to retain the #1 spot in the Western Conference and home-field advantage deep into the playoffs. They’ve been doing it with a stellar passing performances and looks like they’ve upgraded their rushing game as well: adding the Lvl. 28 HB LA Chargers into their roster.
2. (2/-) – Queen City Black Cats – (10-0)
-The Black Cats changed it up this week by passing more in their win against the Destruction Bay Dragons. The #1 team in the Eastern Conference so far has a tough six games ahead of them: all due to the Salty Dogs next week and a back-to-back gauntlet of Hashishim and Husker Maniacs Weeks 14-15. Can the Black Cats, with their league leading rushing game, stay the top cats of the East come play-off time?
3. (3/-) – Halifax Hashishim – (9-1)
-The Assassins dispatch the Iqaluit Arctic Wolves easily and look to do the same against the Spartans in a pivotal game next week. They rise up to the #3 slot here due to their impressive rushing attack and also boasts one of the scariest defenses for a QB to face: most picks for a D this season, most hurries, #2 in sacks. They have two big games in the next six weeks: next week against the Spartans and massive opportunity against the Black Cats Week 13. Win those two and the Hashishim wil enter the playoffs as the #1 seed.
4. (5/+1) – Sudbury Spartans – (8-2)
-This team shouldn’t discounted as they attain the highest spot so far in these rankings. Punting the Cavaliers aside, the Spartans enter their toughest two-game stretch in the season: back-to-back against the Hashishim and Husker Maniacs. The Spartans welcome the Hashishim next week with the #1 pass attack in the Eastern Conference and dead-even with the Assassins in terms of rush yardage. Their next contest will be next week’s Eastern Conference Game of the Week.
5. (6/+1) –Cheyenne Mountain Air Force – (8-2)
-Cheyenne Mountain Air Force go one spot higher with their impressive win against the Red Deer Blue Elk. Don’t let their moniker fool you – this team won it on the ground and showed off a rush game that had 4 TDs and a 367 yards that day. The three game cupcake vacation starting next week should have them 11-2 when they face the St. John’s Salty Dogs come Week 14.
6. (7/+1) – Hillsburgh Hillbillies – (8-2)
-The Hillbillies go 8-2 this season with their win against the Winnipeg Warriors – effectively using the ground attack. It’s surprising that this team – the #3 pass attack in yardage – utilized the run more in their victory. Their challenging second half continues against the Calgary Thunder next week and ends with the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force in Week 16.
7. (4/-3) – Nebraska Husker Maniacs – (8-2)
-The Husker Maniacs drop three points in their shock loss to the Canadiens, with a heart-breaking interception late in the fourth quarter sealing the deal against them. That last game was the most points they’ve given up to any team in the season so far and results them dropping to the #3 defense in the Eastern Conference for yards allowed per game. Three of their last six games should prove to be challenges: the Sudbury Spartans, the Queen City Black Cats, and the Manitoba Icemen await them.
8. (9/+1) – Vinland Vikings – (8-2)
-The #1 rushing game in the Western Conference blows by the Calgary Wrestlers this week – racking up 401 yards and four touchdowns on the ground in their impressive win. This team should continue to move up these ranks as the season draws to a close – the Vindicators and the Hillbillies are their only opponents that could provide a challenge in the next six games.
The Dark Horses
9. (10/+1) – Manitoba Icemen – (7-3)
-The cakewalk against the Crusaders nets the Icemen another win. The up-and-coming Saskatchewan Beavers is up for the Icemen this week. I've alluded to this before but never outright said it – this is a team that is more than the sum of its parts: they’re not leaders in their division in any one aspect (such as passing) but a collective team effort nets them their wins.
10. (8/-2) –Vancouver Vindicators – (7-3)
-The loss handed to them by the Sasquatches sends this team down two places to #10 in this list. This still have a challenging last six games but should be well equipped for it on the defensive end if the stats say anything about it: this team is #2 in their division for the least points scored against them.
11. (12/+1) – Montreal Canadiens – (7-3)
-Whatever the Canadiens did after last week's loss paid off: the upset of the week in beating the Nebraska Husker Maniacs. This ends their streak of crushing losses to better teams and ends their most difficult two-game stretch even at a game apiece. Look to Week 15 versus the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force to see if Montreal are truly contenders; the rest of their six weeks look very winnable for this team.
12. (13/+1) – St. John’s Salty Dogs – (6-4)
-It was back in Week 5 that I had this team ranked #25. Fast-forward to now and with a string of five victories the Salty Dogs, these Comeback Kids, reach their #12 spot after the easy win against the Bloodweiser Bugle All-Stars. Is it premature to welcome the Salty Dogs into the Eastern Conference elite? It won’t be if they defend their house from the undefeated Queen City Black Cats.
On the Bubble
13. (15/+2) – Calgary Thunder – (6-4)
-Good win against a team losing their footing; two very good opponents in the Hillbillies and Vindicators next week.
14. (14/-) – Saskatchewan Beavers – (6-4)
-Can they keep the streak alive against the Icemen?
15. (11/-4) – Cold Lake Wolverines – (6-4)
-They lose four straight and now have dissention in their ranks. I thought they’d drop when I first made these rankings but not this far.
16. (16/-) – Red Deer Blue Elk – (5-5)
-A challenge with the Canadiens next week; they need to win against the Arctic Wolves to get in the playoffs.
17. (22/+5) – In San Jose Pimpin Ain’t Easy – (4-6)
-Will beat the Smoke next week then will prove if they’re legit if they win against the Manitoba Icemen
18. (17/-1) – Winnipeg Warriors – (4-6)
-Make or break it next game: they can’t afford another loss if they want to go into the playoffs.
The Longshots
19. (23/+4) – Revelstoke Revolution – (4-6)
-Might be too little too late for the Revolution; they have a tough last six games ahead of them.
20. (15/+5) – Flint Tropics – (4-6)
-Have only won against the bottom four teams in the Eastern Conference so far.
21. (18/-3) – Iqaluit Arctic Wolves – (4-6)
-Tough loss. They need to get one win in the next two for their playoff chances to be alive; the last four are cakewalks.
22. (20/-2) – Calgary Wrestlers – (4-6)
-Not enough quality here; and a maybe to beat the Wolverines next week.
Better Luck Next Season
23. (19/-4) –Saskatoon Guerillaz – (4-6)
-Should pick up a “W” next week against the Outlaws.
24. (21/-4) – Destruction Bay Dragons – (4-6)
-Big loss shoots them down four spots; they play back on their level next week.
25. (23/-2) –Portsmouth Cavaliers – (3-7)
-They can lick their wounds with a win against the Boreal.
26. (29/+3) – Barkmere Bulldawgs – (2-8)
-The best of the worst here – will be gunned down next week.
27. (26/-1) – Quebec Boreal – (2-8)
-Holy cr-…they’ve lost ten straight this year and all of them were shutouts.
28. (30/+2) –Kelowna Outlaws – (1-9)
-Nothing impressive here. Move along.
The D-League – Funnily enough, there’s an interesting game between two of these teams.
29. (28/-1) –Toronto Smoke – (1-9)
30. (31/+1) – Castlegar Crusaders – (0-10)
31. (30/-1) –Bloodweiser Bugle All-Stars – (0-10)
32. (32/-) – Peterborough Preachers – (0-10)
Teams should be thinking about the playoffs now. In the Western Conference, the picture looks crystal clear for the division leader. There’s a shock upset in the Eastern Conference that keeps the playoff picture in the East “dynamic.” Lots of teams in the middle get pushed to the brink as to whether their chances will survive the next two weeks.
As a side note, since I’ll be out for the majority of this upcoming weekend, do not expect rankings from me for Week 11. I’ll be back for Week 12 onwards.
Movers and Shakers:
Best Risers: In San Jose Pimpin Ain’t Easy and Flint Tropics (+5)
Biggest Drops: Cold Lake Wolverines and Saskatoon Guerillaz (-4)
Week Ten Power Rankings
The Contenders
1. (1/-) – Saskatchewan Sasquatches – (10-0)
-They’re out of the woods. Unless this team implodes, the Saskatchewan Sasquatches will cruise the next six weeks to retain the #1 spot in the Western Conference and home-field advantage deep into the playoffs. They’ve been doing it with a stellar passing performances and looks like they’ve upgraded their rushing game as well: adding the Lvl. 28 HB LA Chargers into their roster.
2. (2/-) – Queen City Black Cats – (10-0)
-The Black Cats changed it up this week by passing more in their win against the Destruction Bay Dragons. The #1 team in the Eastern Conference so far has a tough six games ahead of them: all due to the Salty Dogs next week and a back-to-back gauntlet of Hashishim and Husker Maniacs Weeks 14-15. Can the Black Cats, with their league leading rushing game, stay the top cats of the East come play-off time?
3. (3/-) – Halifax Hashishim – (9-1)
-The Assassins dispatch the Iqaluit Arctic Wolves easily and look to do the same against the Spartans in a pivotal game next week. They rise up to the #3 slot here due to their impressive rushing attack and also boasts one of the scariest defenses for a QB to face: most picks for a D this season, most hurries, #2 in sacks. They have two big games in the next six weeks: next week against the Spartans and massive opportunity against the Black Cats Week 13. Win those two and the Hashishim wil enter the playoffs as the #1 seed.
4. (5/+1) – Sudbury Spartans – (8-2)
-This team shouldn’t discounted as they attain the highest spot so far in these rankings. Punting the Cavaliers aside, the Spartans enter their toughest two-game stretch in the season: back-to-back against the Hashishim and Husker Maniacs. The Spartans welcome the Hashishim next week with the #1 pass attack in the Eastern Conference and dead-even with the Assassins in terms of rush yardage. Their next contest will be next week’s Eastern Conference Game of the Week.
5. (6/+1) –Cheyenne Mountain Air Force – (8-2)
-Cheyenne Mountain Air Force go one spot higher with their impressive win against the Red Deer Blue Elk. Don’t let their moniker fool you – this team won it on the ground and showed off a rush game that had 4 TDs and a 367 yards that day. The three game cupcake vacation starting next week should have them 11-2 when they face the St. John’s Salty Dogs come Week 14.
6. (7/+1) – Hillsburgh Hillbillies – (8-2)
-The Hillbillies go 8-2 this season with their win against the Winnipeg Warriors – effectively using the ground attack. It’s surprising that this team – the #3 pass attack in yardage – utilized the run more in their victory. Their challenging second half continues against the Calgary Thunder next week and ends with the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force in Week 16.
7. (4/-3) – Nebraska Husker Maniacs – (8-2)
-The Husker Maniacs drop three points in their shock loss to the Canadiens, with a heart-breaking interception late in the fourth quarter sealing the deal against them. That last game was the most points they’ve given up to any team in the season so far and results them dropping to the #3 defense in the Eastern Conference for yards allowed per game. Three of their last six games should prove to be challenges: the Sudbury Spartans, the Queen City Black Cats, and the Manitoba Icemen await them.
8. (9/+1) – Vinland Vikings – (8-2)
-The #1 rushing game in the Western Conference blows by the Calgary Wrestlers this week – racking up 401 yards and four touchdowns on the ground in their impressive win. This team should continue to move up these ranks as the season draws to a close – the Vindicators and the Hillbillies are their only opponents that could provide a challenge in the next six games.
The Dark Horses
9. (10/+1) – Manitoba Icemen – (7-3)
-The cakewalk against the Crusaders nets the Icemen another win. The up-and-coming Saskatchewan Beavers is up for the Icemen this week. I've alluded to this before but never outright said it – this is a team that is more than the sum of its parts: they’re not leaders in their division in any one aspect (such as passing) but a collective team effort nets them their wins.
10. (8/-2) –Vancouver Vindicators – (7-3)
-The loss handed to them by the Sasquatches sends this team down two places to #10 in this list. This still have a challenging last six games but should be well equipped for it on the defensive end if the stats say anything about it: this team is #2 in their division for the least points scored against them.
11. (12/+1) – Montreal Canadiens – (7-3)
-Whatever the Canadiens did after last week's loss paid off: the upset of the week in beating the Nebraska Husker Maniacs. This ends their streak of crushing losses to better teams and ends their most difficult two-game stretch even at a game apiece. Look to Week 15 versus the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force to see if Montreal are truly contenders; the rest of their six weeks look very winnable for this team.
12. (13/+1) – St. John’s Salty Dogs – (6-4)
-It was back in Week 5 that I had this team ranked #25. Fast-forward to now and with a string of five victories the Salty Dogs, these Comeback Kids, reach their #12 spot after the easy win against the Bloodweiser Bugle All-Stars. Is it premature to welcome the Salty Dogs into the Eastern Conference elite? It won’t be if they defend their house from the undefeated Queen City Black Cats.
On the Bubble
13. (15/+2) – Calgary Thunder – (6-4)
-Good win against a team losing their footing; two very good opponents in the Hillbillies and Vindicators next week.
14. (14/-) – Saskatchewan Beavers – (6-4)
-Can they keep the streak alive against the Icemen?
15. (11/-4) – Cold Lake Wolverines – (6-4)
-They lose four straight and now have dissention in their ranks. I thought they’d drop when I first made these rankings but not this far.
16. (16/-) – Red Deer Blue Elk – (5-5)
-A challenge with the Canadiens next week; they need to win against the Arctic Wolves to get in the playoffs.
17. (22/+5) – In San Jose Pimpin Ain’t Easy – (4-6)
-Will beat the Smoke next week then will prove if they’re legit if they win against the Manitoba Icemen
18. (17/-1) – Winnipeg Warriors – (4-6)
-Make or break it next game: they can’t afford another loss if they want to go into the playoffs.
The Longshots
19. (23/+4) – Revelstoke Revolution – (4-6)
-Might be too little too late for the Revolution; they have a tough last six games ahead of them.
20. (15/+5) – Flint Tropics – (4-6)
-Have only won against the bottom four teams in the Eastern Conference so far.
21. (18/-3) – Iqaluit Arctic Wolves – (4-6)
-Tough loss. They need to get one win in the next two for their playoff chances to be alive; the last four are cakewalks.
22. (20/-2) – Calgary Wrestlers – (4-6)
-Not enough quality here; and a maybe to beat the Wolverines next week.
Better Luck Next Season
23. (19/-4) –Saskatoon Guerillaz – (4-6)
-Should pick up a “W” next week against the Outlaws.
24. (21/-4) – Destruction Bay Dragons – (4-6)
-Big loss shoots them down four spots; they play back on their level next week.
25. (23/-2) –Portsmouth Cavaliers – (3-7)
-They can lick their wounds with a win against the Boreal.
26. (29/+3) – Barkmere Bulldawgs – (2-8)
-The best of the worst here – will be gunned down next week.
27. (26/-1) – Quebec Boreal – (2-8)
-Holy cr-…they’ve lost ten straight this year and all of them were shutouts.
28. (30/+2) –Kelowna Outlaws – (1-9)
-Nothing impressive here. Move along.
The D-League – Funnily enough, there’s an interesting game between two of these teams.
29. (28/-1) –Toronto Smoke – (1-9)
30. (31/+1) – Castlegar Crusaders – (0-10)
31. (30/-1) –Bloodweiser Bugle All-Stars – (0-10)
32. (32/-) – Peterborough Preachers – (0-10)
Last edited Aug 22, 2008 03:55:03
