Might as well try to get some chatter started on our side as well. It's the mid-way point of the season, and the top playoff teams are look pretty obvious.
Tuvalu, Urumuqi, Mobile Bay, Knox and SAFSrbija are all locks, Fiji would have been a lock, but they went CPU after a 5-1 start and really opened things up. At this point, Tuvalu is in great shape to stay in the #1 spot the rest of the season, as they've already beaten the PIGS and Mobile Bay, who beat Knox pretty handily.
Tuvalu plays Urumuqi today, so we'll find out if Urumuqi is for real, as last season they drastically underachieved, but have been playing to their potential so far. If Urumuqi pulls out the win, it blows Zeta wide open.
Also today, Mobile Bay hosts THE PIGS, which should be a tightly contested game. THE PIGS haven't gotten the breaks in the first half of the season, but I can't see them getting blown out by anyone.
The PIGS are a great team, but lost all 3 early games against top-level competetors, and were then upset recently by PENRITH in the CAPS-LOCK BOWL, but I can't see them missing the playoffs, call them the 6th sure-thing.
The last two spots are still up for grabs, as PENRITH, Papua New Guinea, Alabama (who is handicapped having played a full-strength-pre-CPU Fiji team) and Kingston (only team of the 4 that won their inter-conference game) all have a shot at getting in. I have to think it'll be PENRITH and PNGC, but there's a huge game today between Kingston and PNGC that'll factor in heavily.
I'd have to consider it an upset if Kingston wins today, but they need it if they want a palyoff spot, as with 5 losses and PNGC, Alabama, Urumuqi and Tuvalu still on their schedule, they'll need to win at least one of those, all the rest, and if PNGC wins this game, that's the tiebreaker if both finish 8-8. The Cubs also have a very tough second half schedule, still having to play 3 playoff locks, and all 3 teams they're fighting with for one of the last 2 spots. At least they control their own destiny?
Tuvalu, Urumuqi, Mobile Bay, Knox and SAFSrbija are all locks, Fiji would have been a lock, but they went CPU after a 5-1 start and really opened things up. At this point, Tuvalu is in great shape to stay in the #1 spot the rest of the season, as they've already beaten the PIGS and Mobile Bay, who beat Knox pretty handily.
Tuvalu plays Urumuqi today, so we'll find out if Urumuqi is for real, as last season they drastically underachieved, but have been playing to their potential so far. If Urumuqi pulls out the win, it blows Zeta wide open.
Also today, Mobile Bay hosts THE PIGS, which should be a tightly contested game. THE PIGS haven't gotten the breaks in the first half of the season, but I can't see them getting blown out by anyone.
The PIGS are a great team, but lost all 3 early games against top-level competetors, and were then upset recently by PENRITH in the CAPS-LOCK BOWL, but I can't see them missing the playoffs, call them the 6th sure-thing.
The last two spots are still up for grabs, as PENRITH, Papua New Guinea, Alabama (who is handicapped having played a full-strength-pre-CPU Fiji team) and Kingston (only team of the 4 that won their inter-conference game) all have a shot at getting in. I have to think it'll be PENRITH and PNGC, but there's a huge game today between Kingston and PNGC that'll factor in heavily.
I'd have to consider it an upset if Kingston wins today, but they need it if they want a palyoff spot, as with 5 losses and PNGC, Alabama, Urumuqi and Tuvalu still on their schedule, they'll need to win at least one of those, all the rest, and if PNGC wins this game, that's the tiebreaker if both finish 8-8. The Cubs also have a very tough second half schedule, still having to play 3 playoff locks, and all 3 teams they're fighting with for one of the last 2 spots. At least they control their own destiny?
