1. USAORG Titans (7-0)
The Titans are the lone undefeated team in BBB 8 and they haven't been untested. They have played 5 out of the top 10 teams including 3 of the top 6. Games to watch are their match up against the Seminoles in week 11 and the Hurricanes in week 13. It will be tough to stay perfect but they seem to have the players and game planning to make the run.
2. Vancouver Valiants (6-1)
Their only loss of the season was at the hands of the number one overall team and they've picked up wins over two other teams in the top 5 which gives them the nod over the rest of the competition. Keep an eye out for their up coming game against the Toronto Eh's as it will have a big impact on the eastern conference's playoff race.
3. Toronto Eh's (6-1)
They had a shot to knock off the top seeded team in week 2 but their 4th quarter comeback was derailed by a 56 yard touchdown with 13 second left. The Eh's earn the third seed by virtue of that close loss and winning a big game against a tough out of conference opponent in week 1. Their mettle will be tested against the Valiant though and it will be tough for them to hang onto this seed for another week.
4. Tallahassee Seminoles (6-1)
The Seminoles would have been my preseason number 1 but their early loss to the Valiant dropped them in the polls. They are this low because they haven't played anyone since. That will change as they have a big game every other week for the next 6 weeks. The game against the Hurricane in two weeks will give them a chance to jump back up these rankings.
5. North Vancouver Hurricanes (6-1)
The Hurricanes round out the top five as the fourth one loss team in the conference. A third quarter meltdown against the Valiant cost them a close game a chance to be higher in these rankings. Besides that loss and a close game against Current in week 2, the Hurricane have yet to be tested this season. That will change in two weeks though when they have a shot at the Seminoles, a game that will have big implications for the playoff race.
6. Oshawa Turtles (5-2)
They have the talent but have yet to prove they can hang with the better teams in the conference. They take care of business against the lower tier teams but lost in convincing fashion to the USAORG Titans and the Toronto Eh's. The Turtles will have to have an impressive second half to get a shot at a home playoff game. They'll have a chance though with games against the Seminoles and Hurricanes in the final 3 weeks of the season.
7. Niagara Current (3-4)
A cellar dweller last season, Niagara has put some meaning behind their old mantra of FEAR THE CURRENT this time around. They have yet to lose by more than 13 points which was to the # 1 team and they lost to the # 3, 5 and 6 by a combined 12 points. Unfortunately being where they are, the Current are going to need to take care of business against the Strikers and possibly pull off an upset later in the season if they want anything other than the 8th seed.
8. Thunder Bay Strikers (4-3)
The Strikers have yet to prove that they can be competitive against the best in the East and their loss to the Bay Harbor Hackers has to leave a bad taste in their mouth. They have the talent to make the play offs but 7 of their 9 remaining games are going to be battles and there is a very real chance of them missing out.
9. Saskatchewan Gigantes (3-4)
Another middle of the pack team that needs to have a strong second half to make the playoffs. Almost blowing a game against the Queen City Bandits is balanced by their demolition of the Bad Harbor Hackers. Games against Winnipeg, Niagara and Thunder Bay will decide their playoff fate unless they can pull off a surprise upset down the road.
10. Winnipeg Washemplae (3-4)
They've won the games they were supposed to win but haven't sniffed an upset yet. They were unlucky in drawing the Hitmen as their out of conference game as they would have benefited greatly from an easy win. Making the playoffs would be an achievement for this team, they have the talent
to do it but it is an uphill battle from here.
11. Queen City Bandits (2-5)
The playoffs are more of a pipe dream than anything else for this team. They should set their sights on being the best of the worst and take care of business against the lesser teams in the conference to give them something to build off. A close loss to the Gigantes and a big win against the Grise Forde Icicles gives them a chance to lay claim to that title but they will have to take care of business down the stretch.
12. Grise Forde Icicles (2-5)
Three wins this season looks to be their ceiling as they dropped a game to the beatable Queen City. With only one winnable game left on the schedule, it is going to turn into a long season in a hurry. Starting a couple of CPU's never makes it easy but with the state of the FA market, they'll probably have to make due with what they have for the rest of the season. There's always next year.
13. Bad Harbor Hackers (1-6)
They had the toughest opening schedule with no easy wins in their first 7 games. Luckily their fortunes change over the next two games and they should pick up two wins. They killed their playoff hopes early with losses to the Current, Washemplae and Gigantes and it would take some big upsets to end with a record higher than 6-10. At least it looks good for them to have a plus .500 record over the final 9 games of the season.
14. Bosphorus Oftas (2-5)
It is looking grim for the Oftas as any win they pick up here on out would be an upset even against lowly Queen City. Too many CPU players and low leveled starters prevent them from being competitive in the conference. Hopefully they keep fighting and make it interesting in a few of their remaining 9 games.
15 and 16. Toronto Permanent Waves and Arctic Blubberin' Esquimaux (0-7)
Technically the Blubberin' Esquimaux are the better team but since they own the longest losing streak in the the conference I felt it was more fair to rank them together. Smart money is on the Esquimaux to pass that honor onto the Waves when the meet in three games but anything could happen in the Canada BBB #8 toilet bowl. I am sure we will all be holding our breath at the outcome.
The Titans are the lone undefeated team in BBB 8 and they haven't been untested. They have played 5 out of the top 10 teams including 3 of the top 6. Games to watch are their match up against the Seminoles in week 11 and the Hurricanes in week 13. It will be tough to stay perfect but they seem to have the players and game planning to make the run.
2. Vancouver Valiants (6-1)
Their only loss of the season was at the hands of the number one overall team and they've picked up wins over two other teams in the top 5 which gives them the nod over the rest of the competition. Keep an eye out for their up coming game against the Toronto Eh's as it will have a big impact on the eastern conference's playoff race.
3. Toronto Eh's (6-1)
They had a shot to knock off the top seeded team in week 2 but their 4th quarter comeback was derailed by a 56 yard touchdown with 13 second left. The Eh's earn the third seed by virtue of that close loss and winning a big game against a tough out of conference opponent in week 1. Their mettle will be tested against the Valiant though and it will be tough for them to hang onto this seed for another week.
4. Tallahassee Seminoles (6-1)
The Seminoles would have been my preseason number 1 but their early loss to the Valiant dropped them in the polls. They are this low because they haven't played anyone since. That will change as they have a big game every other week for the next 6 weeks. The game against the Hurricane in two weeks will give them a chance to jump back up these rankings.
5. North Vancouver Hurricanes (6-1)
The Hurricanes round out the top five as the fourth one loss team in the conference. A third quarter meltdown against the Valiant cost them a close game a chance to be higher in these rankings. Besides that loss and a close game against Current in week 2, the Hurricane have yet to be tested this season. That will change in two weeks though when they have a shot at the Seminoles, a game that will have big implications for the playoff race.
6. Oshawa Turtles (5-2)
They have the talent but have yet to prove they can hang with the better teams in the conference. They take care of business against the lower tier teams but lost in convincing fashion to the USAORG Titans and the Toronto Eh's. The Turtles will have to have an impressive second half to get a shot at a home playoff game. They'll have a chance though with games against the Seminoles and Hurricanes in the final 3 weeks of the season.
7. Niagara Current (3-4)
A cellar dweller last season, Niagara has put some meaning behind their old mantra of FEAR THE CURRENT this time around. They have yet to lose by more than 13 points which was to the # 1 team and they lost to the # 3, 5 and 6 by a combined 12 points. Unfortunately being where they are, the Current are going to need to take care of business against the Strikers and possibly pull off an upset later in the season if they want anything other than the 8th seed.
8. Thunder Bay Strikers (4-3)
The Strikers have yet to prove that they can be competitive against the best in the East and their loss to the Bay Harbor Hackers has to leave a bad taste in their mouth. They have the talent to make the play offs but 7 of their 9 remaining games are going to be battles and there is a very real chance of them missing out.
9. Saskatchewan Gigantes (3-4)
Another middle of the pack team that needs to have a strong second half to make the playoffs. Almost blowing a game against the Queen City Bandits is balanced by their demolition of the Bad Harbor Hackers. Games against Winnipeg, Niagara and Thunder Bay will decide their playoff fate unless they can pull off a surprise upset down the road.
10. Winnipeg Washemplae (3-4)
They've won the games they were supposed to win but haven't sniffed an upset yet. They were unlucky in drawing the Hitmen as their out of conference game as they would have benefited greatly from an easy win. Making the playoffs would be an achievement for this team, they have the talent
to do it but it is an uphill battle from here.
11. Queen City Bandits (2-5)
The playoffs are more of a pipe dream than anything else for this team. They should set their sights on being the best of the worst and take care of business against the lesser teams in the conference to give them something to build off. A close loss to the Gigantes and a big win against the Grise Forde Icicles gives them a chance to lay claim to that title but they will have to take care of business down the stretch.
12. Grise Forde Icicles (2-5)
Three wins this season looks to be their ceiling as they dropped a game to the beatable Queen City. With only one winnable game left on the schedule, it is going to turn into a long season in a hurry. Starting a couple of CPU's never makes it easy but with the state of the FA market, they'll probably have to make due with what they have for the rest of the season. There's always next year.
13. Bad Harbor Hackers (1-6)
They had the toughest opening schedule with no easy wins in their first 7 games. Luckily their fortunes change over the next two games and they should pick up two wins. They killed their playoff hopes early with losses to the Current, Washemplae and Gigantes and it would take some big upsets to end with a record higher than 6-10. At least it looks good for them to have a plus .500 record over the final 9 games of the season.
14. Bosphorus Oftas (2-5)
It is looking grim for the Oftas as any win they pick up here on out would be an upset even against lowly Queen City. Too many CPU players and low leveled starters prevent them from being competitive in the conference. Hopefully they keep fighting and make it interesting in a few of their remaining 9 games.
15 and 16. Toronto Permanent Waves and Arctic Blubberin' Esquimaux (0-7)
Technically the Blubberin' Esquimaux are the better team but since they own the longest losing streak in the the conference I felt it was more fair to rank them together. Smart money is on the Esquimaux to pass that honor onto the Waves when the meet in three games but anything could happen in the Canada BBB #8 toilet bowl. I am sure we will all be holding our breath at the outcome.
