It's week 7 here at East Europe AA #4 Power Rankings Central, and boy do we see some changes this week. The biggest matchup slated before the starting whistle had to be Volgograd vs. Tricity. Tricity is a hell of a lot better than their record indicates, with 3 of their 4 losses coming in by a total of 10 points, while Volgograd has yet to face any stiff competition, as their early schedule is one of the weakest on record. However, by the time the ending whistle had blown, another game had taken the forefront of people's minds, and that is the...
Game of the Week
#3 Warsaw Warriors vs. #12 Hat Creek Cattle Company
On paper this looks like a game that Warsaw would handle easily. They are the favorites this year to represent Zeta in the championship thanks to the fact that their only two losses last year came against the eventual AA4 champions. But on paper and when the sim runs, well, that's a completely different story.
This was a game won early by Hat Creek. They took the lead in the first quarter on a 36-yard field goal and never looked back. Warsaw made every attempt to reduce the deficit, but an inability to convert critical 3rd down situations left them wanting. The true backbreaker came in the second quarter as WR The Manticore caught a pass that FS John Rock failed to get a bead on. The seperation that was created couldn't be made up as The Manticore found himself behind the secondary and ran up the field for a 68 yard touchdown. Despite a late touchdown by Warsaw to bring them within 7, they were unable to hold Hat Creek on a 3rd and 2 that would have given them the ball back, and two plays later the clock expired.
End Result: Hat Creek wins, 20-13
Power Rankings
None of these rankings are done by 'feel' or 'intuition'. I use straight up math and when Excel is done sorting them, that's how I rank them. It's as fair as I can mathematically make it. If you have any questions or comments feel free to mail me.
The Top Ten
1. Lowell Bengal Tigers (7-0) Last Week (LW): #1
The Tigers remain at the #1 spot for the second week in a row, still riding high after their win over the Minsk Ninjas in week 6. They had an easy game this week against the Warsaw Cossacks, but jump right back into the fire next week against a very strong Texas Aggies team.
Last Game: vs. Warsaw Cossacks, won 41-3
Next Game: vs. Texas Aggies (5-2)
2. London Head Hunters (7-0) LW: #2
The Head Hunters remain at #2 this week and with two more cupcakes on their plate before they get to the meat of the meal, don't look for them to go anywhere for the time being.
Last Game: vs. Longreach Wildcats, won 19-7
Next Game: vs. C-Town Hoodlums (1-6)
3. Grodno Buckaroos (6-1) LW: #7
Say what you want about the Buckaroos, but dropping the cupcakes from their recent schedule has given them a big boost in the Rankings. With wins over three winning teams in the last three weeks, Grodno is making a name for themselves and might just be a Dark Horse pick for Zeta come playoffs time. They put that on the line this week against the Warsaw Warriors, who are looking for blood after losing to Hat Creek.
Last Game: vs. Haguenau Coyotes, won 35-7
Next Game: vs. Warsaw Warriors (6-1)
4. Minsk Ninjas (6-1) LW: #4
Minsk holds strong to the #4 spot, even after Warsaw's loss, due to the Grodno's surge up the rankings. Minsk took out their frustrations over losing to the Tigers against the Leicester Lynxes and will likely do so again against the Cossacks. But will it be enough when the season comes to a close?
Last Game: vs. Leicester Lynxes, won 57-0
Next Game: vs. Warsaw Cossacks (2-5)
5. Volgograd Berserks (7-0) LW: #5
Still at #5 for much the same reason as Minsk holding at #4, the Berserks are finally getting into the meat of their schedule. They were tested this week vs. the Tricity Hares and just barely pulled out a victory. The Berserks matchup this week promises to be interesting, as Hat Creek is hoping to capitalize on their upset win over Warsaw to knock out another undefeated opponent.
Last Game: vs. Tricity Hares, won 13-12
Next Game: vs. Hat Creek Cattle Company (5-2)
6. Krakow Cows (6-1) LW: #6
Krakow has been pretty quiet this year so far. With all of the focus on the Tigers and the waves they are making as a team just recently relegated, Moo Nation has been satisfied with a spot outside of the limelight as they conduct business as usual.
Last Game: vs. International Players, won 48-10
Next Game: vs. Fehérvár Enthroners, (5-2)
7. Moscow Vandals (6-1) LW: #9
The Vandals jump up two spots thanks to a couple of fallings teams in the Moscow Bears and the Warsaw Warriors. While the Vandals have seemingly lead a charmed life so far this season, things begin to take a turn in a different direction with their game this week against the Tallaght Outlaws and the game that follows it, versus the Tigers. It's put up or shut up time for the Vandals during the next few weeks.
Last Game: vs. London Dolphins, won 18-3
Next Game: vs. Tallaght Outlaws, 3-4
8. The Look (6-1) LW: #10
The Look also capitalizes on losses by the Bears and Warriors, as they continue to remain in the Top Ten thanks to their soft schedule so far. This week they face off against the underrated Tricity Hares, a team that brought undefeated Volgograd to the brink of defeat. Will The Look have what it takes to scare away the Hares?
Last Game: vs. Subotica Scorpions, won 19-0
Next Game: vs. Tricity Hares (2-5)
9. Warsaw Warriors (6-1) LW: #3
What a fall from grace! While they still have a relatively strong ranking, the Warriors took a huge hit due to their loss against Hat Creek and while people still believe they are the team to beat when it comes time for the playoffs, one has to wonder if a crack has appeared in their armor. Can the Hat Creek game be analyzed to find out Warsaw's weaknesses? They'll find out this week as they face off against Grodno, the team that took their spot in the Power Rankings.
Last Game: vs. Hat Creek Cattle Company, lost 13-20
Next Game: vs. Grodno Buckaroos (6-1)
10. Fehérvár Enthroners (5-2) LW: #14
The Enthroners work their way back up into the top ten after a very decisive win over the Moscow Bears. But will it be short lived? A win over the Krakow Cows would prove that this team has what it takes to win, and might give them a bit of an edge when it comes time for the playoffs.
Last Game: vs. Moscow Bears, won 33-3
Next Game: vs. Krakow Cows (6-1)
Assembler
11. St. Petersberg Storm
12. Texas Aggies
13. Hat Creek Cattle Company
14. Moscow Bears
15. Chernobyl Radionuclides
16. Haquenau Coyotes
C++
17. NISSA Dauphins
18. Tricity Hares
19. Charleston Roadwarriors
20. Tallaght Outlaws
21. Bratislava Vampires
22. Warsaw Cossacks
PHP
23. Sydney Tire Irons
24. Leicester Lynxes
25. Carluke Cobras
26. Florida Buccaneers
27. International Players
28. Prague Panthers
BASIC
29. C-Town Hoodlums
30. London Dolphins
31. Longreach Wildcats
32. Subotica Scorpions
Game of the Week
#3 Warsaw Warriors vs. #12 Hat Creek Cattle Company
On paper this looks like a game that Warsaw would handle easily. They are the favorites this year to represent Zeta in the championship thanks to the fact that their only two losses last year came against the eventual AA4 champions. But on paper and when the sim runs, well, that's a completely different story.
This was a game won early by Hat Creek. They took the lead in the first quarter on a 36-yard field goal and never looked back. Warsaw made every attempt to reduce the deficit, but an inability to convert critical 3rd down situations left them wanting. The true backbreaker came in the second quarter as WR The Manticore caught a pass that FS John Rock failed to get a bead on. The seperation that was created couldn't be made up as The Manticore found himself behind the secondary and ran up the field for a 68 yard touchdown. Despite a late touchdown by Warsaw to bring them within 7, they were unable to hold Hat Creek on a 3rd and 2 that would have given them the ball back, and two plays later the clock expired.
End Result: Hat Creek wins, 20-13
Power Rankings
None of these rankings are done by 'feel' or 'intuition'. I use straight up math and when Excel is done sorting them, that's how I rank them. It's as fair as I can mathematically make it. If you have any questions or comments feel free to mail me.
The Top Ten
1. Lowell Bengal Tigers (7-0) Last Week (LW): #1
The Tigers remain at the #1 spot for the second week in a row, still riding high after their win over the Minsk Ninjas in week 6. They had an easy game this week against the Warsaw Cossacks, but jump right back into the fire next week against a very strong Texas Aggies team.
Last Game: vs. Warsaw Cossacks, won 41-3
Next Game: vs. Texas Aggies (5-2)
2. London Head Hunters (7-0) LW: #2
The Head Hunters remain at #2 this week and with two more cupcakes on their plate before they get to the meat of the meal, don't look for them to go anywhere for the time being.
Last Game: vs. Longreach Wildcats, won 19-7
Next Game: vs. C-Town Hoodlums (1-6)
3. Grodno Buckaroos (6-1) LW: #7
Say what you want about the Buckaroos, but dropping the cupcakes from their recent schedule has given them a big boost in the Rankings. With wins over three winning teams in the last three weeks, Grodno is making a name for themselves and might just be a Dark Horse pick for Zeta come playoffs time. They put that on the line this week against the Warsaw Warriors, who are looking for blood after losing to Hat Creek.
Last Game: vs. Haguenau Coyotes, won 35-7
Next Game: vs. Warsaw Warriors (6-1)
4. Minsk Ninjas (6-1) LW: #4
Minsk holds strong to the #4 spot, even after Warsaw's loss, due to the Grodno's surge up the rankings. Minsk took out their frustrations over losing to the Tigers against the Leicester Lynxes and will likely do so again against the Cossacks. But will it be enough when the season comes to a close?
Last Game: vs. Leicester Lynxes, won 57-0
Next Game: vs. Warsaw Cossacks (2-5)
5. Volgograd Berserks (7-0) LW: #5
Still at #5 for much the same reason as Minsk holding at #4, the Berserks are finally getting into the meat of their schedule. They were tested this week vs. the Tricity Hares and just barely pulled out a victory. The Berserks matchup this week promises to be interesting, as Hat Creek is hoping to capitalize on their upset win over Warsaw to knock out another undefeated opponent.
Last Game: vs. Tricity Hares, won 13-12
Next Game: vs. Hat Creek Cattle Company (5-2)
6. Krakow Cows (6-1) LW: #6
Krakow has been pretty quiet this year so far. With all of the focus on the Tigers and the waves they are making as a team just recently relegated, Moo Nation has been satisfied with a spot outside of the limelight as they conduct business as usual.
Last Game: vs. International Players, won 48-10
Next Game: vs. Fehérvár Enthroners, (5-2)
7. Moscow Vandals (6-1) LW: #9
The Vandals jump up two spots thanks to a couple of fallings teams in the Moscow Bears and the Warsaw Warriors. While the Vandals have seemingly lead a charmed life so far this season, things begin to take a turn in a different direction with their game this week against the Tallaght Outlaws and the game that follows it, versus the Tigers. It's put up or shut up time for the Vandals during the next few weeks.
Last Game: vs. London Dolphins, won 18-3
Next Game: vs. Tallaght Outlaws, 3-4
8. The Look (6-1) LW: #10
The Look also capitalizes on losses by the Bears and Warriors, as they continue to remain in the Top Ten thanks to their soft schedule so far. This week they face off against the underrated Tricity Hares, a team that brought undefeated Volgograd to the brink of defeat. Will The Look have what it takes to scare away the Hares?
Last Game: vs. Subotica Scorpions, won 19-0
Next Game: vs. Tricity Hares (2-5)
9. Warsaw Warriors (6-1) LW: #3
What a fall from grace! While they still have a relatively strong ranking, the Warriors took a huge hit due to their loss against Hat Creek and while people still believe they are the team to beat when it comes time for the playoffs, one has to wonder if a crack has appeared in their armor. Can the Hat Creek game be analyzed to find out Warsaw's weaknesses? They'll find out this week as they face off against Grodno, the team that took their spot in the Power Rankings.
Last Game: vs. Hat Creek Cattle Company, lost 13-20
Next Game: vs. Grodno Buckaroos (6-1)
10. Fehérvár Enthroners (5-2) LW: #14
The Enthroners work their way back up into the top ten after a very decisive win over the Moscow Bears. But will it be short lived? A win over the Krakow Cows would prove that this team has what it takes to win, and might give them a bit of an edge when it comes time for the playoffs.
Last Game: vs. Moscow Bears, won 33-3
Next Game: vs. Krakow Cows (6-1)
Assembler
11. St. Petersberg Storm
12. Texas Aggies
13. Hat Creek Cattle Company
14. Moscow Bears
15. Chernobyl Radionuclides
16. Haquenau Coyotes
C++
17. NISSA Dauphins
18. Tricity Hares
19. Charleston Roadwarriors
20. Tallaght Outlaws
21. Bratislava Vampires
22. Warsaw Cossacks
PHP
23. Sydney Tire Irons
24. Leicester Lynxes
25. Carluke Cobras
26. Florida Buccaneers
27. International Players
28. Prague Panthers
BASIC
29. C-Town Hoodlums
30. London Dolphins
31. Longreach Wildcats
32. Subotica Scorpions
