Sorry boys, I was going to get a bit more detailed but some projects do need my attention today at work. Just a note - I have some buddies from Wisconsin coming in for the Superbowl (I live in Dallas) so I will not be around to do a week 10 prediction.
Sophomore Casual Competitive #1 - Western Conference - BADGER'S MID-SEASON REVIEW
As of this morning we are officially at the half way point in the season. Some of the ball teams are separating themselves from the rest of the pack but there should be a nice stretch run and a fight for both playoff spots and seedings. The writing was on the wall that this conference was going to be a solid conference and so far its lived up to the hype. While we have a few teams struggling to get some W's I think many of the teams can beat each other at any time.
Let's take a peak at how the conference race is currently shaking up and I'll do a little "Badger-Swami" and try to guestimate the rest of the season as I think I have a solid enough handle on how the conference has shaped up so far. Please note the below does not represent my power rankings as I just copied and pasted from the main conference site. Some big games for the top seedings also remain...no one is locked into anything just yet.
CONFERENCE STANDINGS:
1..Minnesota Junk Mailers (8-0) - The only undefeated team in the conference right now and thinking they could go through the rest of the way without a loss. They do still face RRR in what is their only remaining test of the season (week 11). I expect it will be a war but MJM will pull it out and then get to mess around with the remainder of the schedule because not one team will keep it within 30. However, I don't think we can roll the red carpet out for this team and hand them the keys to the conference...we are who we thought they were.
2..Tehran Twelvers (7-1) - Have looked sharp on the season so far with their only loss to the MJM. The early schedule had them with some nice wins over RRR and Baltimore. Team will have no issues making the playoffs and with their continued ways could be as high as the two seed when its all said and done.
3..Red River Rampage (7-1) - RRR has played some tough dotball on the season and save for the loss to Tehran have been dominate. Now, I think some of that has to do with their light first half schedule as they have only beat one team with a winning record (Triple D). The second half will show how good RRR really is as like so many other teams have a very tough second half slate.
4..Dallas Badgers (7-1) - I won't lie as sometimes my dots leave me scratching the old brain housing group. I certainly have the potential to beat most teams but have the feeling the end result of this season will fall a little short of last seasons championship success. Could be as high as a #2 seed or aa low as a #4 seed as tough tests with the 12vers and RRR loom in the second half of the schedule.
5..JetNation Titans (6-2) - JetNation will need to pull their boot straps up and get some W's against the big boys. I don't think they will have any trouble making the playoffs but a higher seed may be out of the question if they can't beat some of the better teams in the league - we'll see, they have plenty of them coming down the home stretch to test my theory.
6..Hull Spartans (5-3) - I said a few predictions ago this team would fall a little flat and not make the playoffs - I stand by those comments as they face a tough haul facing the toughest 2nd half schedule of anyone in the west. I see them possibly getting two W's out of eight and that may not be enough for a playoff spot.
7..West Lawn Bulldogs (5-3) - Have played some solid dotball so far and have shown some signs of greatness. They've fallen short in their big tests to date but it will be their match ups against the mid-tier teams that will decide their fate down the home stretch (DDD and Hull will be HUGE games for them). They should be sitting ripe for a playoff spot but may have to fight off a team or two.
8..Darwin Desert Dingoes (5-3) - Another team with a tough stretch. May need a upset or two to get into the playoffs as they still have MJM, Baltimore, West Lawn, JetNation, Hull and Tehran)...hmmm, on second thought I don't think this team will get the W's it will need for the playoffs.
9..Baguio City White Lady (4-4) - This team really seems to beat the teams they should and get tossed around by the bullies. They face four bullies to close the season and I would venture to guess similar results will follow and they'll finish 8-8 and that may or may not get them into the playoffs.
10.Baltimore Crimewave (4-4) - Not giving up on this team and their GLB tourney run confirms this isn't a team to sleep on. While the four losses look savage they'll close the season with two important tests - against JetNation and RRR. Wins here could certainly vault them up in the standings as I don't think they'll have much trouble in the other six outings. I do think this team can beat both JN and RRR though the RRR one should be entertining. The Crimewave will simply not be a fun first round game for any team they face - I'd expect them to get to the five or six seed when its all said and done.
11.New Jersey Lions (3-5) - With some luck this team could really have a shot to flip their record to 5-3 in the second half. While I don't think its highly likely its still possible. I don't feel they will be in the playoff hunt but still can finish strong this season.
12.Generation X The Prodigal Son (3-5) - Have not played horid so far but haven't been able to hang with the big boys. They likely play four playoff teams and a few in the fight to close out but a 6-10 mark would be a solid showing for this team.
13.Bay Area Bulls (2-6) - The Bulls are surging with two straight W's. However, it was against two winless teams. Realistically I can see three more wins for them but they'd need some big upsets as a tough second half scheudle awaits (Dallas, MJM, Baltimore, West Lawn and JetNation - OUCH!!!).
14.UH OH Squad (1-7) - The team has struggled on the season with their lone win over the Ipswich Underdogs to kick the season off. UH OH should be able to get another win or two on the season but anything more than that would be a commendable feat.
15.The Glorious 55 (0-8) - Amen for the Aggies!!!
16.Texas Aggies (0-8) - Team has been in disarray since the opening bell and will not improve closing out the season - meaning they will not win a game.
BADGER'S PLAYOFF SEED PROJECTIONS:
1. Minnesota Junk Mailers
2. Dallas Badgers
3. Tehran Twelvers
4. Red River Rampage
5. Baltimore Crimewave
6. JetNation Titans
7. West Lawn Bulldogs
8. Baguio City White Lady
-Darwin Desert Dingoes (just missing out)
-New Jersey Lions
MID-SEASON PRO BOWL TEAMS:
Yep, I get it, certainly up for debate so if you have a problem with "my" choices shoot me a PM so I can promptly delete it.
QB: Kwaz Namath, JetNation Titans (agent - JayKwaz)
QB (rushing): Michael conVick, Tehran Twelvers (agent - J Maguire)
RB: R_R_R_ Peterson, Red River Rampage (agent - Sooner Steve)
RB: Berry "the Beer" Foster, West Lawn Bulldogs (agent - West Lawn Bulldogs)
FB: Glen David, Hull Spartans (agent - Deadly64)
WR: Franks N Beans, Texas Aggies (agent - bretman0021)
WR: Kwaz Cotchery, JetNation Titans (agent - JayKwaz)
WR: Kwaz Walker, JetNation Titans (agent - JayKwaz)
TE: Isiah Ambrose, Minnesota Junk Mailers (agent - Kirghiz)
C: Pepto Bismal ~,Darwin Desert Dingoes (tigerbait22)
G: Sol Greenwood, Dallas Badgers (agent - BADGERBACKER)
G: Dario Murry, Tehran Twelvers (agent - Real LT)
OT: Pierce Haskins, Tehran Twelvers (agent - Real LT)
OT: Andres McMillian, Tehran Twelvers (agent - Real LT)
P: Sky High, Tehran Twelvers (agent - Real LT)
K: Broderick Keith, Minnesota Junk Mailers (agent - Kirghiz)
KR: CB Matt Logan, Baguio City White Lady (agent - ERH3)
PR: RB R_R_R Gale, Red River Rampage (agent - im4ut999)
DT: R_R_R Alvarado, Red River Rampage (agent - im4ut999)
DT: Hickory Stump, Darwin Desert Dingoes (agent - myeponym)
DE: Julius Peppers, Darwin Desert Dingoes (agent - Khamul)
DE: Gregory Aaron, Baguio City White Lady (agent - vikingspwr)
LB: John Cloak, West Lawn Bulldogs (agent - acekc135)
LB: Rhett Gauthier, Minnesota Junk Mailers (agent - Kirghiz)
LB: Travis Wort, Texas Aggies (agent - fbls78)
CB: Charles Tillman, Darwin Desert Dingoes (agent - Khamul)
CB: John T Booker, Baguio City White Lady (agent - ERH3)
CB: Lyoto Carvalho Machida, Darwin Desert Dingoes (agent - egobruiser)
CB: Billy Idol CB*, Generation X The Prodigal Son (agent - Keiferdog)
FS: El Zorro Glorious, The Glorious 55 (agent - Mile High Visitors)
SS: Mays Sanders, Texas Aggies (agent - fbls78)
WEEK 9 PREDICTIONS:
Texas Aggies vs. Tehran Twelvers The games not even until Saturday and the fat lady has already sang and went home - 12vers huge.
JetNation Titans vs. Baltimore Crimewave JetNation is reeling having lost two of three - may as well throw in "having lost three of four" as the Wave busts down the doors and takes no prisoners.
Hull Spartans vs. Minnesota Junk Mailers Spartans downfall begins this week...MJM won't even need the Trojan horse.
Red River Rampage vs. Dallas Badgers - They'll have played their final four GLB cup game by now so we'll see who makes the better tweaks (not to opponents - I don't tweak much until the playoffs). Of course - Badgers win.
Baguio City White Lady vs. The Glorious 55 - White Ladies really need this game and they'll get it by pulling away to start the second half.
Darwin Desert Dingoes vs. UH OH Squad - Darwin gets back on track with a convincing win over UH OH.
West Lawn Bulldogs vs. Generation X The Prodigal Son - Bulldogs go into bite mode and tear up some Gen X...win big.
Bay Area Bulls vs. New Jersey Lions - Initial want to pick the Lions here but I like a good story and a win here would give the Bulls three straight. Bulls in one decided in the final seconds.
KUDOS TO THE WESTERN CONFERENCE:
The final four of the GLB tourney are all teams from the West (MJM, Baltimore, RRR and Dallas). Should be a fun final four and an even better final - a preview of the conference tourney I suspect.
No power rankings this week...reap it.
