Not a great week for me last week, missed 2 games, as yet again the Avengers strive to prove me wrong, whatever call I make 
So, after 8 weeks of doing this, I'm 45 from 54, still better then 80%, so I'm happy.
And here we go for another round:
Toungoo Tigers (1-9) v Riverside Kings (9-1)
Holy crap Toungoo actually won a game last week, hope they enjoyed it, because they're about to be beaten to a pulp, as they face a Kings side who demolished Cebu last week.
The Tigers are improving, but it is far too late in the season to make much difference, and while they may have hope of another win in the last few weeks (either vs Kenosha or New Guinea) they will be thrashed this week, have no doubt about it.
Kings by 30+
Monte Cristo Avengers (5-5) v Tiananmen Square Dancers (5-5)
Two of the four teams potentially fighting it out for the last two playoff spots, and it'll be a tough fight...
Tiananmen seem to have the edge here, there isn't much to split them Offensively, but the Dancers are a far better team defensively, and they are still (and will probably remain) the only team to keep Surabaya out of the EZ this season. That statistic alone should give their remaining opponents reason to worry.
Will be a close game, but I think Tiananmen have enough for this game, and should also secure a Top 8 finish by the end of the season.
Dancers by 7.
Mean Street Metalheads (5-5) v Portland Microbrews (5-5)
The other two 5-5 teams meet head-on this week, and this is a vital game for the Metalheads, who have a hell of a nasty finish to their season. Their opponents for the last 3 weeks have only lost 1 game so far this season.... BETWEEN THEM! The Microbrews are a little better off, but none of their games are forgone conclusions either (apart from maybe the game vs Vietnam).
Two evenly matched teams, as you would expect from 2 teams with equal records after 10 weeks. Both teams also have small weaknesses in their D, though they are quite different weaknesses... The Metalheads secondary has had problems keeping teams under control all season, and may have cost them games vs Phuket and Hong Kong. Meanwhile the Microbrews weakness is their LB corps, who have limited their ability to stop the run, which may have cost them last week vs the Wastes.
I think the Metalheads will win this game, due to the fact that when two even teams face-off, its usually the one who makes the least mistakes that win, and the Microbrews have given away the ball far more often (20 Ints/fumbles lost)then the Metalheads (6).
Metalheads by 3.
Phuket Blazers (7-3) v Shanghai Steelers (1-9)
Big mismatch here this week, and Phuket will be glad to secure the win before they face the Kings and S. Tigers.
After a somewhat less then impressive start to the season Phuket have a team that could acually give Riverside and Surabaya a fight, unlike most of the league...
Expect a blowout here, with the few Shanghai fans who turn up leaving somewhere around halftime, down 28-0...
Blazers by a crapload, 30+ easy.
Cebu Matador (3-7) v Surabaya Tigers (10-0)
Live just doesn't get any easier for poor Cebu, after a very high scoring game which they lost by 38 to the Kings, they will be little more then a speedbump for the Tigers, on their way to the playoffs. Hell Surabaya could lose the rest of the season on purpose and they'd still make the playoffs.
Not sure exactly how Cebu managed to score so many points agaisnt the Kings, but dont expect it to happen again here, though the final result should be much the same.
Tigers by 30.
Kenosha Bootleggers (1-9) v Hong Kong Valley Knights (3-7)
Here we have two teams with little more then pride left to fight for, and while Hong Kong 'could' still make the playoffs, that would be a miracle to end all miracles to do it from here, they would need to win all 6 remaining games to have a chance. At least they can start with a relatively easy one.
Kenosha have been little more then a speedbump all season long, and while this wont necessarily be an easy win for the Valley Knights, they should still be good enough to overcome the Bootleggers, whose offense just hasn't been much of a threat this season.
Hong Kong by 14.
Vietnam Veterans (9-1) v Hanoi Heat (1-9)
One of the other really unbalanced games this week, and the result is already beyond doubt to anyone who has been paying attention this season.
Will be a huge scoreline, and a one sided one at that...
Veterans by 30+.
Southern Wastes (8-2) v Yokohama Yaks (7-3)
Game of the Week here, and with both teams having a powerful offense, this game will come down to who's defense can perform against a tough opposition.
Both these teams should make the playoffs, barring some monumental SNAFUs, and will want this win to be in a position to overtake Vietnam or Riverside, should either of them stumble in the final few weeks.
Pass-heavy offense all round here, though the Wastes have been showing in recent weeks that they can run with the ball if they want to. The big question is the defense, and here I beleive the Wastes are ever so slightly in front, with skilled players all over, while the Yaks D struggled against Phuket, who also showed that they can run the ball rather then just throwing it around all day.
Will be a very close game, but I choose the Wastes to win, and not JUST because they're my team (though it did effect the decision).
Wastes by 6.
And there we have it, I'm bound to be proven wrong by a few teams this week *looks sternly at the Avengers* but we'll see how we go.
Smegish
Southern Wastes
'Special' Team Uncoordinator
So, after 8 weeks of doing this, I'm 45 from 54, still better then 80%, so I'm happy.
And here we go for another round:
Toungoo Tigers (1-9) v Riverside Kings (9-1)
Holy crap Toungoo actually won a game last week, hope they enjoyed it, because they're about to be beaten to a pulp, as they face a Kings side who demolished Cebu last week.
The Tigers are improving, but it is far too late in the season to make much difference, and while they may have hope of another win in the last few weeks (either vs Kenosha or New Guinea) they will be thrashed this week, have no doubt about it.
Kings by 30+
Monte Cristo Avengers (5-5) v Tiananmen Square Dancers (5-5)
Two of the four teams potentially fighting it out for the last two playoff spots, and it'll be a tough fight...
Tiananmen seem to have the edge here, there isn't much to split them Offensively, but the Dancers are a far better team defensively, and they are still (and will probably remain) the only team to keep Surabaya out of the EZ this season. That statistic alone should give their remaining opponents reason to worry.
Will be a close game, but I think Tiananmen have enough for this game, and should also secure a Top 8 finish by the end of the season.
Dancers by 7.
Mean Street Metalheads (5-5) v Portland Microbrews (5-5)
The other two 5-5 teams meet head-on this week, and this is a vital game for the Metalheads, who have a hell of a nasty finish to their season. Their opponents for the last 3 weeks have only lost 1 game so far this season.... BETWEEN THEM! The Microbrews are a little better off, but none of their games are forgone conclusions either (apart from maybe the game vs Vietnam).
Two evenly matched teams, as you would expect from 2 teams with equal records after 10 weeks. Both teams also have small weaknesses in their D, though they are quite different weaknesses... The Metalheads secondary has had problems keeping teams under control all season, and may have cost them games vs Phuket and Hong Kong. Meanwhile the Microbrews weakness is their LB corps, who have limited their ability to stop the run, which may have cost them last week vs the Wastes.
I think the Metalheads will win this game, due to the fact that when two even teams face-off, its usually the one who makes the least mistakes that win, and the Microbrews have given away the ball far more often (20 Ints/fumbles lost)then the Metalheads (6).
Metalheads by 3.
Phuket Blazers (7-3) v Shanghai Steelers (1-9)
Big mismatch here this week, and Phuket will be glad to secure the win before they face the Kings and S. Tigers.
After a somewhat less then impressive start to the season Phuket have a team that could acually give Riverside and Surabaya a fight, unlike most of the league...
Expect a blowout here, with the few Shanghai fans who turn up leaving somewhere around halftime, down 28-0...
Blazers by a crapload, 30+ easy.
Cebu Matador (3-7) v Surabaya Tigers (10-0)
Live just doesn't get any easier for poor Cebu, after a very high scoring game which they lost by 38 to the Kings, they will be little more then a speedbump for the Tigers, on their way to the playoffs. Hell Surabaya could lose the rest of the season on purpose and they'd still make the playoffs.
Not sure exactly how Cebu managed to score so many points agaisnt the Kings, but dont expect it to happen again here, though the final result should be much the same.
Tigers by 30.
Kenosha Bootleggers (1-9) v Hong Kong Valley Knights (3-7)
Here we have two teams with little more then pride left to fight for, and while Hong Kong 'could' still make the playoffs, that would be a miracle to end all miracles to do it from here, they would need to win all 6 remaining games to have a chance. At least they can start with a relatively easy one.
Kenosha have been little more then a speedbump all season long, and while this wont necessarily be an easy win for the Valley Knights, they should still be good enough to overcome the Bootleggers, whose offense just hasn't been much of a threat this season.
Hong Kong by 14.
Vietnam Veterans (9-1) v Hanoi Heat (1-9)
One of the other really unbalanced games this week, and the result is already beyond doubt to anyone who has been paying attention this season.
Will be a huge scoreline, and a one sided one at that...
Veterans by 30+.
Southern Wastes (8-2) v Yokohama Yaks (7-3)
Game of the Week here, and with both teams having a powerful offense, this game will come down to who's defense can perform against a tough opposition.
Both these teams should make the playoffs, barring some monumental SNAFUs, and will want this win to be in a position to overtake Vietnam or Riverside, should either of them stumble in the final few weeks.
Pass-heavy offense all round here, though the Wastes have been showing in recent weeks that they can run with the ball if they want to. The big question is the defense, and here I beleive the Wastes are ever so slightly in front, with skilled players all over, while the Yaks D struggled against Phuket, who also showed that they can run the ball rather then just throwing it around all day.
Will be a very close game, but I choose the Wastes to win, and not JUST because they're my team (though it did effect the decision).
Wastes by 6.
And there we have it, I'm bound to be proven wrong by a few teams this week *looks sternly at the Avengers* but we'll see how we go.
Smegish
Southern Wastes
'Special' Team Uncoordinator
Nailbiter, but we got it done.
