UPDATE AFTER GAME 2
There were only a couple of potentially-competitive games on tap for Game 2, and as a result we had no upsets at all. So, the rankings and the projected standings remain the same. But there were 3 games that, despite following chalk, deserve a closer look:
#10 Sydney 27, #11 Paris 20 (OT)
This game was important for the playoff hopes of both teams, and things got wild! Sydney kicked a FG early in the 4th quarter to extend their lead to 17-10, and Paris's next two possessions netted very few yards and ended in a punt and a missed FG. But poor punting by Sydney gave Paris the ball near midfield with 7:39 left in the game, and after converting a crucial 4th-&-1, Paris tied the game with a 40-yard bomb to their wide-open HB. With the game tied and facing 4th-&-2 inside their own 40, Sydney tried to convert but failed, and Paris cashed in with a FG to take a 20-17 lead with 1:11 left. But on the ensuing drive, Sydney drove down to the Paris 20 and kicked the tying FG as time expired, then got the ball first in overtime and scored the game-winning TD in under 2 minutes. Sydney's aggression late in the game almost cost them big-time, but that same aggression also helped them overcome their error and take the win. Still, this game overall did little to overturn my skepticism towards both of these teams, and Sydney in particular should not have needed overtime to win this one.
#03 Palm Bay 56, #08 Montlake 26
Palm Bay's offense got rolling in this game, putting a damper on Montlake's hopes for a surprising Season 71 after they upset ECE in their opener. But Montlake gained over 400 yards on Palm Bay thanks to some key chunk plays that almost made up for Montlake's inability to sustain or finish drives. Key word: almost. Montlake showed their defense can be very good against ECE and their offense can be very good against Palm Bay, but they have yet to put the two together at the same time in the same game, and that lack of consistency will hold Montlake back. But Palm Bay may have some question marks now on defense.
#06 New Orleans 147, CPUbu Jary 70
A 77-point win over a CPU team normally wouldn't cause any angst, but consider this: a CPU team just dropped 70 points on New Orleans, 1 game after a hopelessly-outleveled Marlborough squad hung 28 points on New Orleans. If Palm Bay has question marks on defense, New Orleans has giant red flashing lights and alarm klaxons.
There were only a couple of potentially-competitive games on tap for Game 2, and as a result we had no upsets at all. So, the rankings and the projected standings remain the same. But there were 3 games that, despite following chalk, deserve a closer look:
#10 Sydney 27, #11 Paris 20 (OT)
This game was important for the playoff hopes of both teams, and things got wild! Sydney kicked a FG early in the 4th quarter to extend their lead to 17-10, and Paris's next two possessions netted very few yards and ended in a punt and a missed FG. But poor punting by Sydney gave Paris the ball near midfield with 7:39 left in the game, and after converting a crucial 4th-&-1, Paris tied the game with a 40-yard bomb to their wide-open HB. With the game tied and facing 4th-&-2 inside their own 40, Sydney tried to convert but failed, and Paris cashed in with a FG to take a 20-17 lead with 1:11 left. But on the ensuing drive, Sydney drove down to the Paris 20 and kicked the tying FG as time expired, then got the ball first in overtime and scored the game-winning TD in under 2 minutes. Sydney's aggression late in the game almost cost them big-time, but that same aggression also helped them overcome their error and take the win. Still, this game overall did little to overturn my skepticism towards both of these teams, and Sydney in particular should not have needed overtime to win this one.
#03 Palm Bay 56, #08 Montlake 26
Palm Bay's offense got rolling in this game, putting a damper on Montlake's hopes for a surprising Season 71 after they upset ECE in their opener. But Montlake gained over 400 yards on Palm Bay thanks to some key chunk plays that almost made up for Montlake's inability to sustain or finish drives. Key word: almost. Montlake showed their defense can be very good against ECE and their offense can be very good against Palm Bay, but they have yet to put the two together at the same time in the same game, and that lack of consistency will hold Montlake back. But Palm Bay may have some question marks now on defense.
#06 New Orleans 147, CPUbu Jary 70
A 77-point win over a CPU team normally wouldn't cause any angst, but consider this: a CPU team just dropped 70 points on New Orleans, 1 game after a hopelessly-outleveled Marlborough squad hung 28 points on New Orleans. If Palm Bay has question marks on defense, New Orleans has giant red flashing lights and alarm klaxons.
