Zeta Pre-season Power Rankings week6 recap, week 7 preview
Week 6 passed by without any surprise or noticeable news and now we are heading into a new week which has awaken a lot of interest. This week is all about Vatican and the Bocs, the Bocs and Vatican as they will be facing each other on the much anticipated "Game of the Week". There is no room for mistake if they want to have any chance to get the number 1 seed and we all know what that means. However, this pressure is a little bit more on Vatican shoulders as their only chance to get the top spot is that they win the Bocs this week and hope that either Milano or the Bocs upset The Hague on their way to the perfect season.
Both teams come to the game with a similar sheet, the Bocs are still undefeated and holds the second position on the league tied with the Pirates, while Vatican is currently ranked 4th after their lost against The Hague back in week 3. Vatican defense is one more week ranked among the best of the league, holding a 2nd position overall and the best Passing defense throughout the league while the Bocs are ranked among the top5 in all defensive categories. With those numbers in the hand, most of you surely will expect a defensive battle on the field and it could probably be as I believe that the team who commit the fewer mistakes would be probably the one who take it, but there is also another factor this season that is new and haven’t been ever before: Special Teams. With the addition of the new ST returns system Bort has added another weapon to the game that can mean the difference between winning or losing in close games.
Let’s see how the rankings are looking after 6 weeks.
- The Big Three -
1.The Hague Pirates (6-0) W6
Pirates keep rolling on all cylinders one more week and took care of the Scourge without any problem. They still have to face three tough games on the second part of the season but they seem right now that nothing is going to stop them as they have been very effective in all fields all season long. This week they have another cupcake on the Knights before they face Bologna Nips that still remain among the best of the league in the rankings.
Next three: Knights, Nips, Warlords
2.Iberian Bocs (6-0) W6
Bocs are one more week on the trail of the Pirates with a solid performance against a Nut’s team that still has some homework to do on their playbook if they want to be successful on this league. This week is almost all or nothing for the Iberian team as they face another title contender on Vatican City. This team has shown in the past that like real challenges and that is able to come up with important wins when people less expected, this year is still to be seen if they can keep the pressure from being on the favorites group.
Next three: Vatican City, London Storm, Manglers
3.Vatican City Apocalypse (5-1) W3
Vatican has been waiting for this game since week14 of last season. I’m completely sure that last year loss against the Bocs was not on their plans and that loss also cost them a possible second round playoff game because of the matchup. However, I have to admit that this year VCA is not looking like the last year fresh BBB sensation team who come to the league and went directly into the top4 but more like a very mature team who has done an incredible job adding more depth on some key positions to their roster and that has learnt that wins are not won on the forums but on the field. They fall to the Pirates just for a TD and now they have the acid test that will tell them if they are ready to compete for the title or they will have to wait one more year.
Next three: Bocs, Nuts, Bulls
- Leading the chase -
4.Milano Mamertini (4-2) W2
Milano racked up their 4th win of the season against the weak Manglers and continue leading the chase of the top group of the league. For now they are the best candidate to take the last homefield position but they have a late schedule to make you tremble as they face Dragons-Hague-Bulls consecutively on weeks 12, 13 and 14. For now they should be able to put a few more W on the boards before they face another really tough opponent.
Next three: Scourge, Knights, Nips
5.Dublin Dragons (4-2) W4
Dublin had an easy game last week against the Knights before they move into more serious business when they face the Bologna Nips on week 7. The Nips are still on the top4 with only one loss against the Bulls and will do all they can to keep that position as long as they can. Both teams should make the playoffs but Dublin need this one more if they want to have a chance to go into the 4th if Milano stumble.
Next three: Nips, Warlords, Stallions
- A playoff game is their title -
6.Bologna Nips (5-1) W2
The Nips rub shoulders one more week with the lineage of the league taking advantage of their weak early schedule. However, that advantage is about to end very soon as the teams they have on the horizon will set the mark for their true level. First, this week they have to fly to Dragons Den Stadium on Dublin on a matchup that will be their toughest game up to this point of the league. The Dragons are a very physical team as they demonstrated against the VCA and are right now one of the biggest threads on the league, but if that is not enough, they have the Pirates waiting for them on week 8 and Milano on week 9, so that precious 5-1 could turn very easily into a 5-4. If they are able to run out of this three with a W, I will definitely change my mind about this team.
Next three: Dragons, Pirates, Milano
7.Pamplona Bulls (3-2) L1
This is being and exciting season for the Bulls, or at least that’s what you could believe if you check their league program with 5 games out of 6 with scores below the 40 points and three wins for less than 10 points. There is no doubt that the Bulls have made that step they needed to become a respectable member of the league, however, it has taken so long that some teams have overtaken them in the hierarchy. They still have to face 3 of the big 4 plus Dublin, so this week game against the Nuts feels like an all or nothing for them if they want to secure a playoff game.
Next three: Nuts, Stallions, Vatican City
8.Blackpool Scourge (3-2) L1
Blackpool is haunting their souls after having face Dublin and The Hague on the last two weeks. Those two L on the boards have taken them down on the rankings to the last playoff position and thankfully for them there is not a big competition to worry about or it could be worse as they have to face this week another top team on the Mamertini. They have probably two MUST win games remaining on the Nuts (week 10) and the Bulls (week 15) as the rest of their schedule seem either too easy or too much for them.
Next three: Milano, Legends, Snakes
- Saying “Thanks Bort for the schedule” -
9.Bastogne Nuts (2-4) L1
Six weeks and four losses. For many teams that’s just living but for a team with the pride of these guys it’s not a funny joke. It’s true they have had probably the worst matchups you could expect when coming from a BBB league but the good thing for them is that the second part of the season would still allow them to recover some moral before their week 16 game against the Dragons that feels like the key game of the season for them. This week is also quite important as they face a direct opponent on the fight for the playoffs on the Pamplona Bulls and they don’t have a lot of room for mistakes…
Next three: Bulls, Vatican City, London Storm
NOTE ON THE PREDICTIONS: I do not use any of the league projectors, so this is my prediction based purely on observation.
GAME OF THE WEEK: IBERIAN BOCS – VATICAN CITY APOCALYPSE
This time the "Game of the week" preview is sponsored by PowersConnection and Holy Productions
check it out here: http://www.xtranormal.com/watch?e=20090308234132654
MUST SEE TV: PAMPLONA BULLS – BASTOGNE NUTS
Both teams are on a similar level and both teams have similar needs. The Nuts will try to show that they are not as bad as the numbers make them look while Pamplona will try to consolidate their winning positive record and evict a direct opponent.
The Nuts take this one after a thrilling 4th quarter.
Bastogne 27-24 Pamplona
THE LATE GAME: MILANO MAMERTINI – BLACKPOOL SCOURGE
I don’t think there is much room for surprise on this one for what we have seen throughout the year so far, but Blackpool is really in a need for big win or they will suffer until the end. Milano is just doing what was written on paper and that’s just enough for them to take the long yearned 4th seed.
Milano unleash another great show and take this one without a doubt.
Milano 67 – 13 Blackpool
TIVO IT: DUBLIN DRAGONS – BOLOGNA NIPS
The Nips are still on the top, the Dragons want to take their position, both teams come to the game in a great shape and both teams have the same idea of football. However, the Dragons seems a bit more prepared for those games that will go down the wire and the Nips will begin to suffer their lack of depth of the roster.
The Dragons will burn the Nips on their way to the top.
Dublin 84 – 21 Bologna
Week 6 passed by without any surprise or noticeable news and now we are heading into a new week which has awaken a lot of interest. This week is all about Vatican and the Bocs, the Bocs and Vatican as they will be facing each other on the much anticipated "Game of the Week". There is no room for mistake if they want to have any chance to get the number 1 seed and we all know what that means. However, this pressure is a little bit more on Vatican shoulders as their only chance to get the top spot is that they win the Bocs this week and hope that either Milano or the Bocs upset The Hague on their way to the perfect season.
Both teams come to the game with a similar sheet, the Bocs are still undefeated and holds the second position on the league tied with the Pirates, while Vatican is currently ranked 4th after their lost against The Hague back in week 3. Vatican defense is one more week ranked among the best of the league, holding a 2nd position overall and the best Passing defense throughout the league while the Bocs are ranked among the top5 in all defensive categories. With those numbers in the hand, most of you surely will expect a defensive battle on the field and it could probably be as I believe that the team who commit the fewer mistakes would be probably the one who take it, but there is also another factor this season that is new and haven’t been ever before: Special Teams. With the addition of the new ST returns system Bort has added another weapon to the game that can mean the difference between winning or losing in close games.
Let’s see how the rankings are looking after 6 weeks.
- The Big Three -
1.The Hague Pirates (6-0) W6
Pirates keep rolling on all cylinders one more week and took care of the Scourge without any problem. They still have to face three tough games on the second part of the season but they seem right now that nothing is going to stop them as they have been very effective in all fields all season long. This week they have another cupcake on the Knights before they face Bologna Nips that still remain among the best of the league in the rankings.
Next three: Knights, Nips, Warlords
2.Iberian Bocs (6-0) W6
Bocs are one more week on the trail of the Pirates with a solid performance against a Nut’s team that still has some homework to do on their playbook if they want to be successful on this league. This week is almost all or nothing for the Iberian team as they face another title contender on Vatican City. This team has shown in the past that like real challenges and that is able to come up with important wins when people less expected, this year is still to be seen if they can keep the pressure from being on the favorites group.
Next three: Vatican City, London Storm, Manglers
3.Vatican City Apocalypse (5-1) W3
Vatican has been waiting for this game since week14 of last season. I’m completely sure that last year loss against the Bocs was not on their plans and that loss also cost them a possible second round playoff game because of the matchup. However, I have to admit that this year VCA is not looking like the last year fresh BBB sensation team who come to the league and went directly into the top4 but more like a very mature team who has done an incredible job adding more depth on some key positions to their roster and that has learnt that wins are not won on the forums but on the field. They fall to the Pirates just for a TD and now they have the acid test that will tell them if they are ready to compete for the title or they will have to wait one more year.
Next three: Bocs, Nuts, Bulls
- Leading the chase -
4.Milano Mamertini (4-2) W2
Milano racked up their 4th win of the season against the weak Manglers and continue leading the chase of the top group of the league. For now they are the best candidate to take the last homefield position but they have a late schedule to make you tremble as they face Dragons-Hague-Bulls consecutively on weeks 12, 13 and 14. For now they should be able to put a few more W on the boards before they face another really tough opponent.
Next three: Scourge, Knights, Nips
5.Dublin Dragons (4-2) W4
Dublin had an easy game last week against the Knights before they move into more serious business when they face the Bologna Nips on week 7. The Nips are still on the top4 with only one loss against the Bulls and will do all they can to keep that position as long as they can. Both teams should make the playoffs but Dublin need this one more if they want to have a chance to go into the 4th if Milano stumble.
Next three: Nips, Warlords, Stallions
- A playoff game is their title -
6.Bologna Nips (5-1) W2
The Nips rub shoulders one more week with the lineage of the league taking advantage of their weak early schedule. However, that advantage is about to end very soon as the teams they have on the horizon will set the mark for their true level. First, this week they have to fly to Dragons Den Stadium on Dublin on a matchup that will be their toughest game up to this point of the league. The Dragons are a very physical team as they demonstrated against the VCA and are right now one of the biggest threads on the league, but if that is not enough, they have the Pirates waiting for them on week 8 and Milano on week 9, so that precious 5-1 could turn very easily into a 5-4. If they are able to run out of this three with a W, I will definitely change my mind about this team.
Next three: Dragons, Pirates, Milano
7.Pamplona Bulls (3-2) L1
This is being and exciting season for the Bulls, or at least that’s what you could believe if you check their league program with 5 games out of 6 with scores below the 40 points and three wins for less than 10 points. There is no doubt that the Bulls have made that step they needed to become a respectable member of the league, however, it has taken so long that some teams have overtaken them in the hierarchy. They still have to face 3 of the big 4 plus Dublin, so this week game against the Nuts feels like an all or nothing for them if they want to secure a playoff game.
Next three: Nuts, Stallions, Vatican City
8.Blackpool Scourge (3-2) L1
Blackpool is haunting their souls after having face Dublin and The Hague on the last two weeks. Those two L on the boards have taken them down on the rankings to the last playoff position and thankfully for them there is not a big competition to worry about or it could be worse as they have to face this week another top team on the Mamertini. They have probably two MUST win games remaining on the Nuts (week 10) and the Bulls (week 15) as the rest of their schedule seem either too easy or too much for them.
Next three: Milano, Legends, Snakes
- Saying “Thanks Bort for the schedule” -
9.Bastogne Nuts (2-4) L1
Six weeks and four losses. For many teams that’s just living but for a team with the pride of these guys it’s not a funny joke. It’s true they have had probably the worst matchups you could expect when coming from a BBB league but the good thing for them is that the second part of the season would still allow them to recover some moral before their week 16 game against the Dragons that feels like the key game of the season for them. This week is also quite important as they face a direct opponent on the fight for the playoffs on the Pamplona Bulls and they don’t have a lot of room for mistakes…
Next three: Bulls, Vatican City, London Storm
NOTE ON THE PREDICTIONS: I do not use any of the league projectors, so this is my prediction based purely on observation.
GAME OF THE WEEK: IBERIAN BOCS – VATICAN CITY APOCALYPSE
This time the "Game of the week" preview is sponsored by PowersConnection and Holy Productions
check it out here: http://www.xtranormal.com/watch?e=20090308234132654MUST SEE TV: PAMPLONA BULLS – BASTOGNE NUTS
Both teams are on a similar level and both teams have similar needs. The Nuts will try to show that they are not as bad as the numbers make them look while Pamplona will try to consolidate their winning positive record and evict a direct opponent.
The Nuts take this one after a thrilling 4th quarter.
Bastogne 27-24 Pamplona
THE LATE GAME: MILANO MAMERTINI – BLACKPOOL SCOURGE
I don’t think there is much room for surprise on this one for what we have seen throughout the year so far, but Blackpool is really in a need for big win or they will suffer until the end. Milano is just doing what was written on paper and that’s just enough for them to take the long yearned 4th seed.
Milano unleash another great show and take this one without a doubt.
Milano 67 – 13 Blackpool
TIVO IT: DUBLIN DRAGONS – BOLOGNA NIPS
The Nips are still on the top, the Dragons want to take their position, both teams come to the game in a great shape and both teams have the same idea of football. However, the Dragons seems a bit more prepared for those games that will go down the wire and the Nips will begin to suffer their lack of depth of the roster.
The Dragons will burn the Nips on their way to the top.
Dublin 84 – 21 Bologna
so a little bit off, but close.
