I've done this in previous leagues, so why not here. Basically, a review of the upcoming 4 weeks of games, playoff implications and what not. Anything written here is my own observations and not based on any formula, so take it for what it is.
Zeta Conference
Toughest Remaining Schedules
Brisbane Gods (44-4)
- Key Matchups: Week 13 Heat, Week 14 Kava Sharks, Week 15 Nites, Week 16 TIT's (WOW!)
Banzai Pipeline 'Nites (31-17)
- Key Matchups: Week 13 Kava Sharks, Week 14 Titans, Week 15 Gods (slightly tougher rating than Vanuatu & Blitz b/c all 3 are in-conference)
Co-op City Blitz (31-17)
- Key Matchups: Week 14 Heat, Week 15 Kava Sharks, Week 16 Tide (slightly tougher rating than Vanuatu due to out of conference match)
Vanuatu Kava Sharks (31-17)
- Key Matchups: Week 13 Nites, Week 14 Gods, Week 16 Sea Turtles
Nauru Tiger Sharks (28-20)
- Key Matchups: Week 13 Auha, Week 14 Fighters, Week 15 Stingers, Week 16 Machine
Fiji Stingers (26-22)
- Key Matchups: Week 13 Thorny Devils, Week 14 Incinerators, Week 16 Fighting Squirrels
Rawle Tech Titans (23-25)
- Key Matchups: Week 14 Nites, Week 15 Auha, Week 16 Strike (sub .500 total opponent record skewed by Dawg Pound)
Easiest Remaining Schedules
Brisbane Heat (18-30)
- Key Matchup: Week 13 Gods
IC Incinerators (18-30)
- Key Matchups: Week 14 Stingers, Week 16 Pioneers (slightly tougher rating than Heat due to two tougher matchups vs. one)
Tongan Crimson Auha (19-29)
- Key Matchups: Week 15 Titans, Week 16 Burning Pride
Melbourne Thorny Devils (19-29)
- Key Matchups: Week 13 Stingers, Week 16 Invaders (slightly tougher rating than Auha due to what looks like a tougher out of conference match)
Big Island Growas (21-27)
- Key Matchups: Week 15 Heat, Week 16 Mustangs
Eliminated
- Saipan Fighters (1-5 vs. the teams they can catch with a 4-0 finish. With only 1 meaningful conference game left, they can't even play the role of spoiler this season)
- Jakarta Men O'War (Can't catch any current playoff teams, looking to next season)
- Cleveland Dawg Pound (Can't catch any current playoff teams, looking to next season)
- Great Barrier Reef Sharks (Relegation pending to AAA)
Key Week 13 Matchups
#1 - Nites vs. Kava Sharks (A Nites win puts them ever closer to the #1 seed. A Vanuatu win muddies the water again and gives the Heat a shot at the #1 seed if they can handle the Gods. What a week!)
BOLD PREDICTION: Nites 38, Kava Sharks 13
#2 - Heat vs. Gods (Battle for home playoff position and Gods trying to prove this is a top 4, not a top 3. Heat want to close out in style and earn a top spot heading into the playoffs.)
BOLD PREDICTION: Heat 30, Gods 17
#3 - Thorny Devils vs. Stingers (Both teams vying not only for playoff position, but for the right to play in the playoffs. A classic first-even match between the new kids from Zeta AAA#1 and AAA#2)
BOLD PREDICTION: Thorny Devils 17, Stingers 15
#4 - Tiger Sharks vs. Crimson Auha (A loss and the Tiger Sharks are officially eliminated. The Auha need this win to keep up the fight for one of the final playoff spots. Not as big as the matchups above, but just as important for playoff seeding.)
BOLD PREDICTION: Crimson Auha 45, Tiger Sharks 15
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zeta Conference
Toughest Remaining Schedules
Brisbane Gods (44-4)
- Key Matchups: Week 13 Heat, Week 14 Kava Sharks, Week 15 Nites, Week 16 TIT's (WOW!)
Banzai Pipeline 'Nites (31-17)
- Key Matchups: Week 13 Kava Sharks, Week 14 Titans, Week 15 Gods (slightly tougher rating than Vanuatu & Blitz b/c all 3 are in-conference)
Co-op City Blitz (31-17)
- Key Matchups: Week 14 Heat, Week 15 Kava Sharks, Week 16 Tide (slightly tougher rating than Vanuatu due to out of conference match)
Vanuatu Kava Sharks (31-17)
- Key Matchups: Week 13 Nites, Week 14 Gods, Week 16 Sea Turtles
Nauru Tiger Sharks (28-20)
- Key Matchups: Week 13 Auha, Week 14 Fighters, Week 15 Stingers, Week 16 Machine
Fiji Stingers (26-22)
- Key Matchups: Week 13 Thorny Devils, Week 14 Incinerators, Week 16 Fighting Squirrels
Rawle Tech Titans (23-25)
- Key Matchups: Week 14 Nites, Week 15 Auha, Week 16 Strike (sub .500 total opponent record skewed by Dawg Pound)
Easiest Remaining Schedules
Brisbane Heat (18-30)
- Key Matchup: Week 13 Gods
IC Incinerators (18-30)
- Key Matchups: Week 14 Stingers, Week 16 Pioneers (slightly tougher rating than Heat due to two tougher matchups vs. one)
Tongan Crimson Auha (19-29)
- Key Matchups: Week 15 Titans, Week 16 Burning Pride
Melbourne Thorny Devils (19-29)
- Key Matchups: Week 13 Stingers, Week 16 Invaders (slightly tougher rating than Auha due to what looks like a tougher out of conference match)
Big Island Growas (21-27)
- Key Matchups: Week 15 Heat, Week 16 Mustangs
Eliminated
- Saipan Fighters (1-5 vs. the teams they can catch with a 4-0 finish. With only 1 meaningful conference game left, they can't even play the role of spoiler this season)
- Jakarta Men O'War (Can't catch any current playoff teams, looking to next season)
- Cleveland Dawg Pound (Can't catch any current playoff teams, looking to next season)
- Great Barrier Reef Sharks (Relegation pending to AAA)
Key Week 13 Matchups
#1 - Nites vs. Kava Sharks (A Nites win puts them ever closer to the #1 seed. A Vanuatu win muddies the water again and gives the Heat a shot at the #1 seed if they can handle the Gods. What a week!)
BOLD PREDICTION: Nites 38, Kava Sharks 13
#2 - Heat vs. Gods (Battle for home playoff position and Gods trying to prove this is a top 4, not a top 3. Heat want to close out in style and earn a top spot heading into the playoffs.)
BOLD PREDICTION: Heat 30, Gods 17
#3 - Thorny Devils vs. Stingers (Both teams vying not only for playoff position, but for the right to play in the playoffs. A classic first-even match between the new kids from Zeta AAA#1 and AAA#2)
BOLD PREDICTION: Thorny Devils 17, Stingers 15
#4 - Tiger Sharks vs. Crimson Auha (A loss and the Tiger Sharks are officially eliminated. The Auha need this win to keep up the fight for one of the final playoff spots. Not as big as the matchups above, but just as important for playoff seeding.)
BOLD PREDICTION: Crimson Auha 45, Tiger Sharks 15
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last edited Oct 14, 2008 20:58:48