38-4 so far with my predictions. Missed the week 8 games and some great match ups due to weekends being a tough time for me to devote extra time to GLB. At the mid-point of the season, a clear favorite has emerged (Camels) and a clear outcast from the top 12 has also been shaken out (Bees). The rest of the conference is still quite a battle and let's look at what we have this week.
Morocco Camels 8-0 @ Serengeti Wildebeest 2-6
The Camels weathered the challenges of the past 4 weeks and came through with the most important statistic of all, 4 wins. They can't be extremely at ease though with the way the Drifters took it to them, the Rumblers hung in and their inability to stop the Beavers run game. They definitely know that they have a target on them and I don't believe they'll run the table. The Saints were the first giant killer last season and look primed to be it again next week. This week, the Camels get a few extra days to get ready for San Dimas.
Camels 112 Wildebeest 3
High Plains Drifters 6-2 @ Mozambique Thundercats 4-4
Drifters have lost 2 out of 3 after a fantastic start to the season. Both of those losses came at the hands of top 4 teams in the conference. In one of those games, they completely outplayed the team and found a way to lose. In the other, they had the lead at half time at which point they had 21 rushes and 28 passes. In the second half, they chose to air it out running the ball only twice while still throwing it 28 times. This put added pressure and time on their defense which eventually collapsed allowing the Saints to score 21 points in the 4th quarter while racking up 300 yards in the second half. The Thundercats have one win worth noting and 4 double-digit losses. On the match up screen, there's a slight edge to the Thundercats. They also have the 3rd highest levels in the entire conference and the Drifters average more than 2 levels lower than them across the team. But paper comparisons like that don't mean much. The Drifters throw the ball better, run the ball better, stop the run better and stop the pass better. Last season the Thundercats won this match up 27-9. But that was last season...
Drifters 27 Thundercats 13
GOTW 1*Kinshasa Rumblers 5-3 @ San Dimas Saints 6-2
The Rumblers stormed into the league with an impressive win against the Corsairs. They ran into a brick wall against the Beavers losing 44-0, but they then challenged both the Drifters and the Camels in losses. The Saints have an extremely impressive resume so far with a 4-2 record against the big 11 capping it off with a sweet come back against the Drifters last week. The Rumblers throw the ball a lot and the Saints proved against the Drifters that they are up to that challenge holding them to 5.3 yards/pass. The Saints get plenty of QB pressure and lead the league in INTs and are second in PDs. The Rumblers only have 4 sacks this season which translates into plenty of time for Charles in Charge to pass with a nice dose of the running game as the Saints trip up the rumblers on their way to a big match up against the Camels next week.
Saints 31 Rumblers 13
GOTW 2*Eaton Beavers 6-2 @ Mogadishu Malice 6-2
Love the guys from the Malice and am really looking forward to this match up. They took us in a close game last season and we're wanting a little pay back. With wins over the eXtreme, Jinx and the Corsairs, I don't think anyone is taking these guys lightly anymore. Good luck MM!
River Styx Jinx 5-3 @ African Killer Bees 2-6
Last season when these two teams faced off, the Jinx won a great game in overtime while throwing for nearly 400 yards. Last season, the Bees CBs were better. This season, the Bees appear to be falling apart and their 24-3 loss against the Sno Caps while outgaining them and only turning the ball over once was mind-boggling. This isn't a bad team, but nothing seems to be going their way and morale has to be hitting rock bottom over there. With wins against the eXtreme and Sno Caps, and a 3-3 overall record against the Big 11, the Jinx seem to be hitting their stride after a slow start. With low levels, but great bars, the Jinx have long been a difficult team to prepare for. I hate to say it, but the Bees should start planning for next season.
Jinx 34 Bees 13
The ALL 0-8 @ Los Angeles eXtreme 5-3
After two losses in a row, the eXtreme find themselves ranked #8 in the conference, their lowest ranking in their existence. They get the two week break before facing the Beavers-Drifters-Rumblers-Camels that every team gets. As the only team in the entire Conference that the Beavers have never beaten, I expect them to be ready for us.
Here, they pad the stats.
eXtreme 116 ALL 0
GOTW 3*Gold Coast Corsairs 4-4 @ Kilimanjaro Sno Caps 4-4
It's getting down to crunch time and the Corsairs have finally woken up. I believe we can expect a return from Rod Long to the forums at anytime. The Sno Caps finally took my advice and tried to diversify their offense. We now know why they were hiding their passing game after a putrid 10-36 for 68.5 yards passing effort against the Jinx. Maybe they'll return to their bread and butter for this game as the Corsairs have proven inept at stopping a grinding running game. Keeping their offense off the field has been the recipe for defeating them and they've been under .500 in their past 16 games. Gold Coast boasts one of the top defenses in the league, #1 in pass yards, #2 in rush yards and #4 in points allowed. It's hard to believe that a team with so much talent could be so mediocre with a 2-4 record against the Big 11. They are also #1 in FGs attempted which means their offense is moving the ball some, but not converting enough TDs. They also have the 2nd worst punting average in the league. In their 6 games of note, they've run for more yards than their opponents, passed for more yards than their opponents and averaged more yards per play than their opponents, but they're finding ways to lose games. The Sno Caps have the #3 ranked scoring defense in the league and this will be a tough game for GC. I think Gold Coast is better, but I also think they'll find another way to lose.
Sno Caps 17 Corsairs 16
Kampala Kerels 0-8 @ Sahara Sandstorm 1-7
An interesting match up here. The Kerels somehow found a way to lose to the Wildebeest putting themselves in jeopardy of relegation. The Sandstorm finally got a break and played the ALL last week and picked up the victory in a less than impressive performance. The ALL outgained them despite an 8+ level advantage. I'm not sure that either of these teams want to be here next season and especially for Kampala, this is their last chance to not get relegated. I just don't think they're as good as Sahara.
Sandstorm 31 Kerels 17
Morocco Camels 8-0 @ Serengeti Wildebeest 2-6
The Camels weathered the challenges of the past 4 weeks and came through with the most important statistic of all, 4 wins. They can't be extremely at ease though with the way the Drifters took it to them, the Rumblers hung in and their inability to stop the Beavers run game. They definitely know that they have a target on them and I don't believe they'll run the table. The Saints were the first giant killer last season and look primed to be it again next week. This week, the Camels get a few extra days to get ready for San Dimas.
Camels 112 Wildebeest 3
High Plains Drifters 6-2 @ Mozambique Thundercats 4-4
Drifters have lost 2 out of 3 after a fantastic start to the season. Both of those losses came at the hands of top 4 teams in the conference. In one of those games, they completely outplayed the team and found a way to lose. In the other, they had the lead at half time at which point they had 21 rushes and 28 passes. In the second half, they chose to air it out running the ball only twice while still throwing it 28 times. This put added pressure and time on their defense which eventually collapsed allowing the Saints to score 21 points in the 4th quarter while racking up 300 yards in the second half. The Thundercats have one win worth noting and 4 double-digit losses. On the match up screen, there's a slight edge to the Thundercats. They also have the 3rd highest levels in the entire conference and the Drifters average more than 2 levels lower than them across the team. But paper comparisons like that don't mean much. The Drifters throw the ball better, run the ball better, stop the run better and stop the pass better. Last season the Thundercats won this match up 27-9. But that was last season...
Drifters 27 Thundercats 13
GOTW 1*Kinshasa Rumblers 5-3 @ San Dimas Saints 6-2
The Rumblers stormed into the league with an impressive win against the Corsairs. They ran into a brick wall against the Beavers losing 44-0, but they then challenged both the Drifters and the Camels in losses. The Saints have an extremely impressive resume so far with a 4-2 record against the big 11 capping it off with a sweet come back against the Drifters last week. The Rumblers throw the ball a lot and the Saints proved against the Drifters that they are up to that challenge holding them to 5.3 yards/pass. The Saints get plenty of QB pressure and lead the league in INTs and are second in PDs. The Rumblers only have 4 sacks this season which translates into plenty of time for Charles in Charge to pass with a nice dose of the running game as the Saints trip up the rumblers on their way to a big match up against the Camels next week.
Saints 31 Rumblers 13
GOTW 2*Eaton Beavers 6-2 @ Mogadishu Malice 6-2
Love the guys from the Malice and am really looking forward to this match up. They took us in a close game last season and we're wanting a little pay back. With wins over the eXtreme, Jinx and the Corsairs, I don't think anyone is taking these guys lightly anymore. Good luck MM!
River Styx Jinx 5-3 @ African Killer Bees 2-6
Last season when these two teams faced off, the Jinx won a great game in overtime while throwing for nearly 400 yards. Last season, the Bees CBs were better. This season, the Bees appear to be falling apart and their 24-3 loss against the Sno Caps while outgaining them and only turning the ball over once was mind-boggling. This isn't a bad team, but nothing seems to be going their way and morale has to be hitting rock bottom over there. With wins against the eXtreme and Sno Caps, and a 3-3 overall record against the Big 11, the Jinx seem to be hitting their stride after a slow start. With low levels, but great bars, the Jinx have long been a difficult team to prepare for. I hate to say it, but the Bees should start planning for next season.
Jinx 34 Bees 13
The ALL 0-8 @ Los Angeles eXtreme 5-3
After two losses in a row, the eXtreme find themselves ranked #8 in the conference, their lowest ranking in their existence. They get the two week break before facing the Beavers-Drifters-Rumblers-Camels that every team gets. As the only team in the entire Conference that the Beavers have never beaten, I expect them to be ready for us.
Here, they pad the stats.eXtreme 116 ALL 0
GOTW 3*Gold Coast Corsairs 4-4 @ Kilimanjaro Sno Caps 4-4
It's getting down to crunch time and the Corsairs have finally woken up. I believe we can expect a return from Rod Long to the forums at anytime. The Sno Caps finally took my advice and tried to diversify their offense. We now know why they were hiding their passing game after a putrid 10-36 for 68.5 yards passing effort against the Jinx. Maybe they'll return to their bread and butter for this game as the Corsairs have proven inept at stopping a grinding running game. Keeping their offense off the field has been the recipe for defeating them and they've been under .500 in their past 16 games. Gold Coast boasts one of the top defenses in the league, #1 in pass yards, #2 in rush yards and #4 in points allowed. It's hard to believe that a team with so much talent could be so mediocre with a 2-4 record against the Big 11. They are also #1 in FGs attempted which means their offense is moving the ball some, but not converting enough TDs. They also have the 2nd worst punting average in the league. In their 6 games of note, they've run for more yards than their opponents, passed for more yards than their opponents and averaged more yards per play than their opponents, but they're finding ways to lose games. The Sno Caps have the #3 ranked scoring defense in the league and this will be a tough game for GC. I think Gold Coast is better, but I also think they'll find another way to lose.
Sno Caps 17 Corsairs 16
Kampala Kerels 0-8 @ Sahara Sandstorm 1-7
An interesting match up here. The Kerels somehow found a way to lose to the Wildebeest putting themselves in jeopardy of relegation. The Sandstorm finally got a break and played the ALL last week and picked up the victory in a less than impressive performance. The ALL outgained them despite an 8+ level advantage. I'm not sure that either of these teams want to be here next season and especially for Kampala, this is their last chance to not get relegated. I just don't think they're as good as Sahara.
Sandstorm 31 Kerels 17
