Well, some mistakes were made last week, but on the whole a successful week here in the booth. I'm keeping score of my right and wrong matchups, and so far I am 11/16, coulda been better, but could've been alot worse too...
Right then getting on with it:
Surabaya Tigers (4-0) vs Hanoi Heat (0-4)
Well, the Tigers had a suprisingly poor game against Tiananmen last week, needing OT to finally get past them. Meanwhile Hanoi lost again, this time a thrashing by the Kings. Their season is unlikely to pick up this week however...
The Heat are going to struggle to contain the Tigers, with one of the worst Rushing D's in the conference, facing the best Rushing Offense in the league. At least they wont have to be too concerned about the Tigers passing game, mostly because they haven't shown much of one for a 4-0 team. On the whole, the Tigers should win comfortably, but then I said that last week....
Tigers by 20, at halftime....
Southern Wastes (4-0) v Vietnam Veterans (3-1)
Both of these teams had wins last week, though the Veterans had a bit more trouble with Phuket then the Wastes did with Mean Street.
Two rather different offensive styles here, with the Veterans owning the 2nd Best Rushing and 2nd Worst Passing Offense in the conference, while the Wastes have the Best Passing Offense in the conference, and their Rushing is pretty good too, at 4th.
Defensively (statwise) the Wastes edge out the Veterans ever so slightly, but their Rushing D is yet to face a Run-heavy team like Vietnam, so this will be the real test of their abilities. The Vets on the other hand, will have to deal with the Wastes rather more balanced Offense, who can score on the ground almost as easily as in the air, and this fact will likely prove the difference between these teams, but its gonna be a close one.
Wastes by 7.
Riverside Kings (4-0) vs Portland Microbrews (3-1)
Both these teams won last round against teams battling for the Wooden Spoon. This could be another of those games where we find out which is better: Passing or Rushing?
This game will almost certainly be decided by the defense of each team, with both teams being fairly balanced offensively, even if they focus on one aspect over the other. This could be the first big test for both teams, after having played 4 teams in the bottom half of the conference, now they get to play with the bigger boys, to prove they deserve to be up the top. Difficult to call this game, but I'm going to go with the Kings, they look good enough for this week.
Kings by 6.
Yokohama Yaks (4-0) vs Shanghai Steelers (1-3)
Two teams from opposite ends of the table fight it out here, and this game could be over by halftime, if the Steelers D cant get its act together.
The Yaks defense is far from inpenetrable either, with 34 points allowed in the last two games, and half of them vs lowly Bootleggers, so the Steelers should be able to chalk up some points in the very least, make it an interesting game of it. But they have to keep the Yaks to less then 20 points to have much hope, a feat they have only managed once this season, vs Hanoi Heat.
Yaks by 14.
Phuket Blazers (2-2) vs Monte Cristo Avengers (2-2)
Seems I owe the Avengers another apology for going against them again, but then whenever I do they win, so perhaps they should thank me for inspiring them to prove me wrong every week
This week however, they are in trouble as they face a Blazers team looking for vengeance after last weeks loss to the Veterans. The Avengers secondary doesn't look up to the task of facing the Blazers receivers, who have given hell to any DB's that have faced them. The Avengers offense on the other hand, has struggled to make much headway against skilled defenses, which the Blazers have on paper, even if they haven't shown it yet.
Blazers by 10.
Mean Street Metalheads (2-2) vs Kenosha Bootleggers (0-4)
Both these teams lost games against big teams last week, and will be trying to put that behind them to give this game their best effort. However, the Bootleggers best effort so far this season WAS last week, when they put 17 points on the Yaks.
The Metalheads are likely to take advantage of the Bootleggers weak Passing D (worst in the conference) and will probably be piling on the points all day. Kenosha need not be totally bummed out, because the Metalheads secondary is just as bad as theirs, so their passing attack could get results this game, hopefully bettering its efforts last week, but I feel that may be out of reach for them this week.
Metalheads by 14
Hong Kong Valley Knights (1-3) v Toungoo Tigers (0-4)
Two teams that were hoping for more glory this season, but there is still plenty of time to find that glory, if one knows where to search.
The Knights had a very poor game vs the Matador last week, allowing them to double their points scored for the season in that game alone. But they will probably have to do even worse to lose to Toungoo this week, who have only managed a single FG in their 4 games, and have allowed 161 points. Expect a very high scoring game.... for the Knights.
Knights by 20+.
Tiananmen Square Dancers (1-3) vs Cebu Matador (1-3)
Two struggling teams have at it in our last game of the round, though the Dancers could consider themselves unlucky to lose to Surabaya last week, after missing 2 Field Goal chances that would have won them the game. The Matador on the other hand had a good game vs the Valley Knights, but their star HB could struggle to gain much rushing yards vs the Dancers front 7, and their Passing game has only produced good yardage vs the Avengers, a game they still lost. Tiananmen Square should be good enough to see off the Knights, through the strength of their O-Line and a reasonably strong D.
Tiananmen Square by 10.
So there we have it, let the arguments begin!
Smegish
Southern Wastes
'Special' Team Uncoordinator
Right then getting on with it:
Surabaya Tigers (4-0) vs Hanoi Heat (0-4)
Well, the Tigers had a suprisingly poor game against Tiananmen last week, needing OT to finally get past them. Meanwhile Hanoi lost again, this time a thrashing by the Kings. Their season is unlikely to pick up this week however...
The Heat are going to struggle to contain the Tigers, with one of the worst Rushing D's in the conference, facing the best Rushing Offense in the league. At least they wont have to be too concerned about the Tigers passing game, mostly because they haven't shown much of one for a 4-0 team. On the whole, the Tigers should win comfortably, but then I said that last week....
Tigers by 20, at halftime....
Southern Wastes (4-0) v Vietnam Veterans (3-1)
Both of these teams had wins last week, though the Veterans had a bit more trouble with Phuket then the Wastes did with Mean Street.
Two rather different offensive styles here, with the Veterans owning the 2nd Best Rushing and 2nd Worst Passing Offense in the conference, while the Wastes have the Best Passing Offense in the conference, and their Rushing is pretty good too, at 4th.
Defensively (statwise) the Wastes edge out the Veterans ever so slightly, but their Rushing D is yet to face a Run-heavy team like Vietnam, so this will be the real test of their abilities. The Vets on the other hand, will have to deal with the Wastes rather more balanced Offense, who can score on the ground almost as easily as in the air, and this fact will likely prove the difference between these teams, but its gonna be a close one.
Wastes by 7.
Riverside Kings (4-0) vs Portland Microbrews (3-1)
Both these teams won last round against teams battling for the Wooden Spoon. This could be another of those games where we find out which is better: Passing or Rushing?
This game will almost certainly be decided by the defense of each team, with both teams being fairly balanced offensively, even if they focus on one aspect over the other. This could be the first big test for both teams, after having played 4 teams in the bottom half of the conference, now they get to play with the bigger boys, to prove they deserve to be up the top. Difficult to call this game, but I'm going to go with the Kings, they look good enough for this week.
Kings by 6.
Yokohama Yaks (4-0) vs Shanghai Steelers (1-3)
Two teams from opposite ends of the table fight it out here, and this game could be over by halftime, if the Steelers D cant get its act together.
The Yaks defense is far from inpenetrable either, with 34 points allowed in the last two games, and half of them vs lowly Bootleggers, so the Steelers should be able to chalk up some points in the very least, make it an interesting game of it. But they have to keep the Yaks to less then 20 points to have much hope, a feat they have only managed once this season, vs Hanoi Heat.
Yaks by 14.
Phuket Blazers (2-2) vs Monte Cristo Avengers (2-2)
Seems I owe the Avengers another apology for going against them again, but then whenever I do they win, so perhaps they should thank me for inspiring them to prove me wrong every week
This week however, they are in trouble as they face a Blazers team looking for vengeance after last weeks loss to the Veterans. The Avengers secondary doesn't look up to the task of facing the Blazers receivers, who have given hell to any DB's that have faced them. The Avengers offense on the other hand, has struggled to make much headway against skilled defenses, which the Blazers have on paper, even if they haven't shown it yet.
Blazers by 10.
Mean Street Metalheads (2-2) vs Kenosha Bootleggers (0-4)
Both these teams lost games against big teams last week, and will be trying to put that behind them to give this game their best effort. However, the Bootleggers best effort so far this season WAS last week, when they put 17 points on the Yaks.
The Metalheads are likely to take advantage of the Bootleggers weak Passing D (worst in the conference) and will probably be piling on the points all day. Kenosha need not be totally bummed out, because the Metalheads secondary is just as bad as theirs, so their passing attack could get results this game, hopefully bettering its efforts last week, but I feel that may be out of reach for them this week.
Metalheads by 14
Hong Kong Valley Knights (1-3) v Toungoo Tigers (0-4)
Two teams that were hoping for more glory this season, but there is still plenty of time to find that glory, if one knows where to search.
The Knights had a very poor game vs the Matador last week, allowing them to double their points scored for the season in that game alone. But they will probably have to do even worse to lose to Toungoo this week, who have only managed a single FG in their 4 games, and have allowed 161 points. Expect a very high scoring game.... for the Knights.
Knights by 20+.
Tiananmen Square Dancers (1-3) vs Cebu Matador (1-3)
Two struggling teams have at it in our last game of the round, though the Dancers could consider themselves unlucky to lose to Surabaya last week, after missing 2 Field Goal chances that would have won them the game. The Matador on the other hand had a good game vs the Valley Knights, but their star HB could struggle to gain much rushing yards vs the Dancers front 7, and their Passing game has only produced good yardage vs the Avengers, a game they still lost. Tiananmen Square should be good enough to see off the Knights, through the strength of their O-Line and a reasonably strong D.
Tiananmen Square by 10.
So there we have it, let the arguments begin!
Smegish
Southern Wastes
'Special' Team Uncoordinator
