**Disclaimer** Remember guys this my team's first season in this league so I am not completely familiar with all of your teams. Also if teams boost or sign players after this write up is published those changes will not be reflected here. If you feel you were unfairly ranked it was NOT anything personal and the best thing to do is go out and just win baby!!
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ALPHA CONFERENCE RANKINGS - Preseason
*Top Dogs*
1) Shetland Marauders (51)
~The Marauders have to start at the top of the rankings as they defeated every other top team currently in the Alpha conference that played here last season. They lost in the playoffs to the eventual league Champion and were just dominating during the regular season. They have an explosive offense with a 2,000+ yard HB returning and perhaps the best WR in the league in Francisco Russell. They average level 36+ on both sides of the ball and there really appears to be on weak spots on this team. Can they go undefeated? Maybe. Will they make the playoffs and contend for the Championship? You better believe it!
2) Cologne Drenched Playboys (51)
~Yes they have the best cheerleaders in the league but that is not why they are ranked #2 to start the season. These guys are the real deal on the field as they went 12-4 last year and have only improved since then. Their offense is led by HB Johnny Thunder "Bolts" who ran for over 2,600 yard last season!! Oh and he had a mere 42 TDs in the process! And don't sleep on their defense as Leviathan Jones went for 31 sacks and ended the careers of at least 3 players after hitting them so hard they thought they were back home with their mama! Jones don't play around and neither do the Playboys...well maybe off the field they play around but you better watch out for their juggernaut on the field!
Playoff Bound
3) Baton Rouge Tigers (54)
~Although the Tigers got knocked out of the playoffs early last season, they start toward the top of the Alpha Rankings this season. This team has great balance and plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. Their average player level on offense is over 36 and on defense they are at almost 35. There are teams in the league that do not even have one player at those levels, let alone average that for the team. Look for this team to contend for the Regular Season title and be a major factor in the playoffs.
4) Dundee Destroyers (51)
~Dundee has a very solid team led by their team defense. They defeated several quality teams last season and are rated very high this year but their are some questions. Will all of their current players be back at full power? Will they fill a few holes at positions like WR? This team should be a lock for the playoffs but could finish anywhere from the 3rd slot to the 8th slot...lots of questions still need to be answered here.
5) London Royals (51)
~Is anyone on this team's offense currently active? With 11 inactive tags on their roster at the time of this write up you have to wonder what is going on over there. This team has all of the talent on paper but they still have plenty to prove on the field. They should have enough to make the playoffs but if they stumble one of the new comers to the league will be right there to take their spot.
Playoff Contenders or In Over Their Head?
6) Lyon Lightning (45)
~20 game winning streak, Western Europe BBB #10 Championship, and average starting levels in the mid/upper 20s...what more could you ask for out of a team that is one season old and comes from a level 13 capped league? I believe the Lightning are the real deal and while that winning streak WILL be coming to an end, I expect these guys to be right there for one of the eight playoff spots. There owner has been around the block GMing for many top teams so it should be assumed that game planning will be locked in for every game. Watch out for the Lightning...or you might get lit up!
7) Stockholm Matadors (45)
~These guys were the class of their league last year and lost in the Championship game to another great team. Their owner is one of the absolute best in all of GLB and they have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball. The Matadors will probably suffer a few more defeats this year than they did last year but keeping them out of the playoffs is going to be tough. Look for them to steal one of the final playoff spots and maybe even pull an upset or two over some of the higher ranked teams as these guys are legendary for their game planning abilities.
8) Copenhagen Drakkar
~Another stud team from West Euro #9 looking to make a statement. These guys have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball and are coming over from a tough league where they were just dominating. The only real question here is can they step up their game to handle the level of competition they are about to face? All evidence would suggest they can BUT you still need to prove it on the field. They should be in a battle for one of the final playoff spots for the entire season and it just might come down to how they play against some of their former rivals from Western Europe #9.
9) Parts Unknown (45)
~Once you get to the 8,9, 10 spots all of the teams start looking very even and it is hard to say who is better than who. Parts does not have the depth that the top teams do but they have made some huge off season signings and have some very talented starters capable of starting on almost any team in the league. Of course with all of those signings you have to give up a little team chemistry so it may take a few weeks for this team to gel. If they get off to a slow start there may not be enough time to get back in the playoff hunt so keep an eye on these guys early as their season could be determined pretty early in the year.
10) Mighty Wingmen (48)
~Yet another good team that got promoted into this league. I love the balance on this team and they clearly have the talent to hang with almost anyone in the league. This team is tough to game plan as they can do so many different things on the field. I would watch out for this team and there is no question they have plenty of talent and the ability to grab one of those playoff slots.
Probably not...but MAYBE!
11) Celtic Raiders (42)
~Don't let their team logo fool you, these guys are no plain Jane and they do bring some talent to the field. They finished 14-2 last season and made a nice run in the playoffs. They have a very nice offense but ultimately their lack of talent on defense may be their undoing. Of course a few big signings and a weakness can quickly become a strength so be careful when you play this team!
12) Hull City Tigers (42)
~Coming off a 13-3 season is nothing to laugh at and anyone who thinks playing the Tigers is going to be a cake walk is dead wrong. Do they have the talent to make the playoffs...probably not BUT games are decided on the field, not on paper so beware of the Tigers!
Hey at least we aren't the Detroit Lions!
13) ATX Longhorns (38)
~Clearly the best of the worst but averaging level 18 across the board just isn't going to get it done in this league. But they still have something to play for and that is to avoid getting demoted. The Longhorns might have a little magic in there somewhere and we will have to see what kind of damage they can do. Maybe some individual honors, especially on the defensive side of the ball could be a possibility for their players this season.
14) Lincoln Saints (18)
~They went 0-16 last season...maybe they are the Detroit Lions!
15) Norway Vikings (18)
~Seriously? Has anyone seen this roster?
16) Manchester Chiefs (15)
~Gutted team.
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ALPHA CONFERENCE RANKINGS - Preseason
*Top Dogs*
1) Shetland Marauders (51)
~The Marauders have to start at the top of the rankings as they defeated every other top team currently in the Alpha conference that played here last season. They lost in the playoffs to the eventual league Champion and were just dominating during the regular season. They have an explosive offense with a 2,000+ yard HB returning and perhaps the best WR in the league in Francisco Russell. They average level 36+ on both sides of the ball and there really appears to be on weak spots on this team. Can they go undefeated? Maybe. Will they make the playoffs and contend for the Championship? You better believe it!
2) Cologne Drenched Playboys (51)
~Yes they have the best cheerleaders in the league but that is not why they are ranked #2 to start the season. These guys are the real deal on the field as they went 12-4 last year and have only improved since then. Their offense is led by HB Johnny Thunder "Bolts" who ran for over 2,600 yard last season!! Oh and he had a mere 42 TDs in the process! And don't sleep on their defense as Leviathan Jones went for 31 sacks and ended the careers of at least 3 players after hitting them so hard they thought they were back home with their mama! Jones don't play around and neither do the Playboys...well maybe off the field they play around but you better watch out for their juggernaut on the field!
Playoff Bound
3) Baton Rouge Tigers (54)
~Although the Tigers got knocked out of the playoffs early last season, they start toward the top of the Alpha Rankings this season. This team has great balance and plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. Their average player level on offense is over 36 and on defense they are at almost 35. There are teams in the league that do not even have one player at those levels, let alone average that for the team. Look for this team to contend for the Regular Season title and be a major factor in the playoffs.
4) Dundee Destroyers (51)
~Dundee has a very solid team led by their team defense. They defeated several quality teams last season and are rated very high this year but their are some questions. Will all of their current players be back at full power? Will they fill a few holes at positions like WR? This team should be a lock for the playoffs but could finish anywhere from the 3rd slot to the 8th slot...lots of questions still need to be answered here.
5) London Royals (51)
~Is anyone on this team's offense currently active? With 11 inactive tags on their roster at the time of this write up you have to wonder what is going on over there. This team has all of the talent on paper but they still have plenty to prove on the field. They should have enough to make the playoffs but if they stumble one of the new comers to the league will be right there to take their spot.
Playoff Contenders or In Over Their Head?
6) Lyon Lightning (45)
~20 game winning streak, Western Europe BBB #10 Championship, and average starting levels in the mid/upper 20s...what more could you ask for out of a team that is one season old and comes from a level 13 capped league? I believe the Lightning are the real deal and while that winning streak WILL be coming to an end, I expect these guys to be right there for one of the eight playoff spots. There owner has been around the block GMing for many top teams so it should be assumed that game planning will be locked in for every game. Watch out for the Lightning...or you might get lit up!
7) Stockholm Matadors (45)
~These guys were the class of their league last year and lost in the Championship game to another great team. Their owner is one of the absolute best in all of GLB and they have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball. The Matadors will probably suffer a few more defeats this year than they did last year but keeping them out of the playoffs is going to be tough. Look for them to steal one of the final playoff spots and maybe even pull an upset or two over some of the higher ranked teams as these guys are legendary for their game planning abilities.
8) Copenhagen Drakkar
~Another stud team from West Euro #9 looking to make a statement. These guys have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball and are coming over from a tough league where they were just dominating. The only real question here is can they step up their game to handle the level of competition they are about to face? All evidence would suggest they can BUT you still need to prove it on the field. They should be in a battle for one of the final playoff spots for the entire season and it just might come down to how they play against some of their former rivals from Western Europe #9.
9) Parts Unknown (45)
~Once you get to the 8,9, 10 spots all of the teams start looking very even and it is hard to say who is better than who. Parts does not have the depth that the top teams do but they have made some huge off season signings and have some very talented starters capable of starting on almost any team in the league. Of course with all of those signings you have to give up a little team chemistry so it may take a few weeks for this team to gel. If they get off to a slow start there may not be enough time to get back in the playoff hunt so keep an eye on these guys early as their season could be determined pretty early in the year.
10) Mighty Wingmen (48)
~Yet another good team that got promoted into this league. I love the balance on this team and they clearly have the talent to hang with almost anyone in the league. This team is tough to game plan as they can do so many different things on the field. I would watch out for this team and there is no question they have plenty of talent and the ability to grab one of those playoff slots.
Probably not...but MAYBE!
11) Celtic Raiders (42)
~Don't let their team logo fool you, these guys are no plain Jane and they do bring some talent to the field. They finished 14-2 last season and made a nice run in the playoffs. They have a very nice offense but ultimately their lack of talent on defense may be their undoing. Of course a few big signings and a weakness can quickly become a strength so be careful when you play this team!
12) Hull City Tigers (42)
~Coming off a 13-3 season is nothing to laugh at and anyone who thinks playing the Tigers is going to be a cake walk is dead wrong. Do they have the talent to make the playoffs...probably not BUT games are decided on the field, not on paper so beware of the Tigers!
Hey at least we aren't the Detroit Lions!
13) ATX Longhorns (38)
~Clearly the best of the worst but averaging level 18 across the board just isn't going to get it done in this league. But they still have something to play for and that is to avoid getting demoted. The Longhorns might have a little magic in there somewhere and we will have to see what kind of damage they can do. Maybe some individual honors, especially on the defensive side of the ball could be a possibility for their players this season.
14) Lincoln Saints (18)
~They went 0-16 last season...maybe they are the Detroit Lions!
15) Norway Vikings (18)
~Seriously? Has anyone seen this roster?
16) Manchester Chiefs (15)
~Gutted team.
