Hedgehog’s Power Rankings – Week Thirteen
I couldn’t help delaying these rankings with real-life getting in the way. Nothing changes much in the Eastern Conference with the playoff doors closed last week. This week mattered more for the Western Conference as the other top squads in the West jostle for position and the teams below them scramble for the remaining slots left. And the Sasquatches continue being undefeated after nearly losing one.
Movers and Shakers: Not a lot of significant movement here…
Best Risers: Cheyenne Mountain Air Force, Winnipeg Warriors, & Saskatoon Guerillaz (+2)
Biggest Drops: Vinland Vikings, Nebraska Husker Maniacs, Cold Lake Wolverines, & Flint Tropics (-2)
So finally, for your enjoyment…especially for Hanz…
Week Thirteen Power Rankings
The Championship Contenders
1.-X (1/-) – Saskatchewan Sasquatches – (13-0)
-The Sasquatches come out with a win, after a 4th quarter scare nearly handed them a shock loss. And blame the D here for the narrow victory: they made the difference maker with that fumble recovery in the first quarter but couldn’t stop two of three Pimpin Ain’t Easy drives in the fourth. Don’t expect such surprises from this team’s last three opponents: they’re combined win-loss is 7-32 for the year so far.
2.-X (2/-) – Queen City Black Cats – (12-1)
-The Queen City Black Cats mop up the remaining chaff of their schedule as they go in for a tough last three weeks. This team exposed itself against the pitch in their loss to the Salty Dogs in Week 11. The Black Cats headline two Eastern Conference Games of the Week back-to-back against the Hashishim and the Husker Maniacs. Can those two teams do what the Salty Dogs did? Interesting factoid: the Black Cats may have the top rushing duo in the league but they’re produced more in the air; passing yards have surpassed rushing yards going back five games.
3.-X (3/-) – Sudbury Spartans – (11-2)
-The Spartans blanked the Red Deer Blue Elk 38-to-zip. Their scary good offense racked up 373 rushing yards against the potential #8 seed and their equally formidable defense kept the Blue Elk to 9 drives in total; a third of which ended with Spartan picks or fumble recoveries. This is a very, very good team and will go 14-2 to finish the regular season as their last three games should be walks-in-the-park.
4.-X (8/+2) – Cheyenne Mountain Air Force – (11-2)
-With the cupcake vacation over, the Eastern Conference’s top receiver Champagne Room and Co. take on one of the most difficult last trio of games for any playoff bound team in the Eastern Conference. Based on the matchup, the most telling indicator for this team’s chances in relation to the playoff picture will be next week vs. the St. John’s Salty Dogs. Beat them handily and the visits to the Canadiens and the Hillbillies could be winnable.
5.-X (5/-) –Halifax Hashishim – (11-2)
-The sole reason why the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force is above this team is the recent 4 game record; the calcs take into account the Assassins’ loss to the Spartans in Week 11. Since then the Assassins picked up two easy victories and look to a third next week against the Queen City Black Cats; another team to lose in Week 11 and looking for their third straight win. With very good rushing games for both teams and the top two teams in QB hurries they’re next matchup will hinge on who can flip over the other team’s defenses first.
6.-X (5/-1) – Vinland Vikings – (10-3)
-Tough loss for the Vikings as the result sends them from #2 in the Western Conference Standings to #4. Looks like the pass D has been fixed after all; but the running game let this team down this week as they were kept quiet for only 72 yards on the ground. Next week they face the Vindicators as the Vikings jostles into which seed it’ll eventually find itself in come playoff-time. The Vikings should be locked in for home field advantage on the first-round and next week will judge how long they can carry that edge in the tourney. The final two games will be pushovers against the two worst teams in the league.
7.-X (8/+1) – Hillsburgh Hillbillies – (10-3)
-The Hillbillies took the lead at the end of the 1st quarter and never let it go. For their efforts they jump up one spot in these rankings and take the #2 spot for the Western Conference Playoffs. I haven’t talked much about the Hillbillies defense as a unit and they did a superlative job in snuffing the Viking run game. This team is currently #3 in points allowed per game and force the most fumbles of any Western Conference defense. This team still has a way to go till the end of the season - a middling last trio of games awaits them.
8.-X (9/+1) – Vancouver Vindicators – (10-3)
-The Vindicators go 3-and-0 after the loss to the Sasquatches as one of the best defenses in the conference faces a tough challenge vs. 10-3 Vinland Vikings. Next week is a pivotal game for this team as this is the sole 10-3 in the Western Conference that has a small chance of giving up home-field advantage to the Manitoba Icemen (who beat the Vindicators Week 9). It’s also an interesting match-up in general: The #2 Western Conf. Defense in points allowed (14.6 pts/game) vs. the Vikings and the second most-scoring offense in their division (38.8 pts/game).
The Dark Horses
9.-X (7/-2) – Nebraska Husker Maniacs – (10-3)
-The Husker Maniacs lick their wounds after last week’s loss by knocking down the Boreal in a 63-0 blowout. The Husker Maniacs, I feel, are underperforming: they have no one in their starting line-up below lvl. 20 but can only take two wins in their last four. After the easy win next week against the Destruction Bay Dragons come the two big challenges: the 1st place Queen City Black Cats and the Manitoba Icemen – a team with a similar playoff picture in the Western Conference.
10.-X (10/-) –St. John’s Salty Dogs – (9-4)
-Easy win keeps the St. John’s Salty Dogs in the tenth spot this week. The Salty Dogs’ face the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force in next week’s Eastern Conference Game of the Week. They’ve taken on two cupcakes in a row and have emerged with the most productive passing game of their division. Like the Maniacs above them this team could end up with home-field advantage once the playoffs start. They’re going to need help but will take a big step forward in that direction if they win against the CM Air Force.
11.-X (12/+1) – Montreal Canadiens – (9-4)
-It’s on the minutiae of the calculations that the Canadiens edge out the Icemen this week. Excepting a massive meltdown, the Canadiens will come away with a victory next week against the Preachers and emerge with the longest winning streak they’ve had all season. The streakiest team in the Eastern Conference can end that stigma by defeating the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force in Week 15 and the Saskatchewan Beavers thereafter.
12. (12/-1) – Manitoba Icemen – (9-4)
-The Icemen drop a spot this week and look good to go with at least an 11 win season this year. The easy remainder of the schedule so far means they’re avoiding the Sasquatches for at least the first round of the playoffs. They have two easy games ahead of them in the forms of the Guerillaz and the Smoke so the tough challenge should be in the last week vs. the Husker Maniacs. This is a team that I feel is underrated – if things were slightly different during the season they could battling to retain home-field advantage instead of eking out a chance to steal it.
On the Bubble
13. (13/) – Calgary Thunder – (8-5)
-Three game gauntlet starts next week, where they should nab at least a win; need two though to securely get in the playoffs and avoid the Sasquatches.
14. (14/-) – Saskatchewan Beavers – (7-6)
-Tough loss. Gotta find that magic again for the last three games.
15. (15/-) – Red Deer Blue Elk – (7-6)
-Good news: very likely in the playoffs; bad news: they’ll get trashed by whoever the #1 seed is.
16. (17/+1) – Revelstoke Revolution – (6-7)
-This team is good enough to win next week; but probably not to pull the upset needed to squeak into the playoffs.
17. (19/+2) – Winnipeg Warriors – (6-7)
-They have the toe-hold on the 8th playoff spot; playoff hopes ride on next week’s result.
18. (16/-2) – Cold Lake Wolverines – (6-7)
-Nearly won last week; expect them to lose big in the next game.
The Longshots
19. (18/-1) – In San Jose Pimpin Ain’t Easy – (5-8)
-The way they lost to the Sasquatches paints a brighter picture for their slim playoff hopes.
20. (22/+2) – Saskatoon Guerillaz – (5-8)
-Calculations be damned! I’d peg them just above the Boreal for how they lost to the Smoke.
21. (21/-) – Calgary Wrestlers – (5-7)
-Door’s closing on their playoff dreams fast.
22. (21/-2) – Flint Tropics – (5-8)
-As expected, this under-equipped team lost big.
Better Luck Next Season
23. (24/+1) –Iqaluit Arctic Wolves – (5-8)
-If anything, they’ll end their season 8-8.
24. (23/-1) – Destruction Bay Dragons – (5-8)
-Expect another big loss next week.
25. (25/-) –Portsmouth Cavaliers – (4-9)
-Can’t decide between them and the Tropics next week. I’d flip a coin here.
26. (26/-) – Toronto Smoke – (3-10)
-I’d place this team higher in the rankings if I could. Good candidate here to spoil someone else’s playoff chances.
27. (26/-) – Barkmere Bulldawgs – (2-11)
-They’ll lose next week; win the one afterwards.
28. (28/-) –Quebec Boreal – (2-11)
-Just a cut above 22 random guys thrown together in a football field.
The D-League – Surprise of the Week: Preachers move up a spot!
29. (29/-) –Kelowna Outlaws – (1-12)
30. (30/-) – Bloodweiser Bugle All Stars – (1-12)
31. (31/+1) –Peterborough Preachers – (0-13)
32. (32/-1) – Castlegar Crusaders – (0-13)
-X – Clinched Playoff Berth
I couldn’t help delaying these rankings with real-life getting in the way. Nothing changes much in the Eastern Conference with the playoff doors closed last week. This week mattered more for the Western Conference as the other top squads in the West jostle for position and the teams below them scramble for the remaining slots left. And the Sasquatches continue being undefeated after nearly losing one.
Movers and Shakers: Not a lot of significant movement here…
Best Risers: Cheyenne Mountain Air Force, Winnipeg Warriors, & Saskatoon Guerillaz (+2)
Biggest Drops: Vinland Vikings, Nebraska Husker Maniacs, Cold Lake Wolverines, & Flint Tropics (-2)
So finally, for your enjoyment…especially for Hanz…
Week Thirteen Power Rankings
The Championship Contenders
1.-X (1/-) – Saskatchewan Sasquatches – (13-0)
-The Sasquatches come out with a win, after a 4th quarter scare nearly handed them a shock loss. And blame the D here for the narrow victory: they made the difference maker with that fumble recovery in the first quarter but couldn’t stop two of three Pimpin Ain’t Easy drives in the fourth. Don’t expect such surprises from this team’s last three opponents: they’re combined win-loss is 7-32 for the year so far.
2.-X (2/-) – Queen City Black Cats – (12-1)
-The Queen City Black Cats mop up the remaining chaff of their schedule as they go in for a tough last three weeks. This team exposed itself against the pitch in their loss to the Salty Dogs in Week 11. The Black Cats headline two Eastern Conference Games of the Week back-to-back against the Hashishim and the Husker Maniacs. Can those two teams do what the Salty Dogs did? Interesting factoid: the Black Cats may have the top rushing duo in the league but they’re produced more in the air; passing yards have surpassed rushing yards going back five games.
3.-X (3/-) – Sudbury Spartans – (11-2)
-The Spartans blanked the Red Deer Blue Elk 38-to-zip. Their scary good offense racked up 373 rushing yards against the potential #8 seed and their equally formidable defense kept the Blue Elk to 9 drives in total; a third of which ended with Spartan picks or fumble recoveries. This is a very, very good team and will go 14-2 to finish the regular season as their last three games should be walks-in-the-park.
4.-X (8/+2) – Cheyenne Mountain Air Force – (11-2)
-With the cupcake vacation over, the Eastern Conference’s top receiver Champagne Room and Co. take on one of the most difficult last trio of games for any playoff bound team in the Eastern Conference. Based on the matchup, the most telling indicator for this team’s chances in relation to the playoff picture will be next week vs. the St. John’s Salty Dogs. Beat them handily and the visits to the Canadiens and the Hillbillies could be winnable.
5.-X (5/-) –Halifax Hashishim – (11-2)
-The sole reason why the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force is above this team is the recent 4 game record; the calcs take into account the Assassins’ loss to the Spartans in Week 11. Since then the Assassins picked up two easy victories and look to a third next week against the Queen City Black Cats; another team to lose in Week 11 and looking for their third straight win. With very good rushing games for both teams and the top two teams in QB hurries they’re next matchup will hinge on who can flip over the other team’s defenses first.
6.-X (5/-1) – Vinland Vikings – (10-3)
-Tough loss for the Vikings as the result sends them from #2 in the Western Conference Standings to #4. Looks like the pass D has been fixed after all; but the running game let this team down this week as they were kept quiet for only 72 yards on the ground. Next week they face the Vindicators as the Vikings jostles into which seed it’ll eventually find itself in come playoff-time. The Vikings should be locked in for home field advantage on the first-round and next week will judge how long they can carry that edge in the tourney. The final two games will be pushovers against the two worst teams in the league.
7.-X (8/+1) – Hillsburgh Hillbillies – (10-3)
-The Hillbillies took the lead at the end of the 1st quarter and never let it go. For their efforts they jump up one spot in these rankings and take the #2 spot for the Western Conference Playoffs. I haven’t talked much about the Hillbillies defense as a unit and they did a superlative job in snuffing the Viking run game. This team is currently #3 in points allowed per game and force the most fumbles of any Western Conference defense. This team still has a way to go till the end of the season - a middling last trio of games awaits them.
8.-X (9/+1) – Vancouver Vindicators – (10-3)
-The Vindicators go 3-and-0 after the loss to the Sasquatches as one of the best defenses in the conference faces a tough challenge vs. 10-3 Vinland Vikings. Next week is a pivotal game for this team as this is the sole 10-3 in the Western Conference that has a small chance of giving up home-field advantage to the Manitoba Icemen (who beat the Vindicators Week 9). It’s also an interesting match-up in general: The #2 Western Conf. Defense in points allowed (14.6 pts/game) vs. the Vikings and the second most-scoring offense in their division (38.8 pts/game).
The Dark Horses
9.-X (7/-2) – Nebraska Husker Maniacs – (10-3)
-The Husker Maniacs lick their wounds after last week’s loss by knocking down the Boreal in a 63-0 blowout. The Husker Maniacs, I feel, are underperforming: they have no one in their starting line-up below lvl. 20 but can only take two wins in their last four. After the easy win next week against the Destruction Bay Dragons come the two big challenges: the 1st place Queen City Black Cats and the Manitoba Icemen – a team with a similar playoff picture in the Western Conference.
10.-X (10/-) –St. John’s Salty Dogs – (9-4)
-Easy win keeps the St. John’s Salty Dogs in the tenth spot this week. The Salty Dogs’ face the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force in next week’s Eastern Conference Game of the Week. They’ve taken on two cupcakes in a row and have emerged with the most productive passing game of their division. Like the Maniacs above them this team could end up with home-field advantage once the playoffs start. They’re going to need help but will take a big step forward in that direction if they win against the CM Air Force.
11.-X (12/+1) – Montreal Canadiens – (9-4)
-It’s on the minutiae of the calculations that the Canadiens edge out the Icemen this week. Excepting a massive meltdown, the Canadiens will come away with a victory next week against the Preachers and emerge with the longest winning streak they’ve had all season. The streakiest team in the Eastern Conference can end that stigma by defeating the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force in Week 15 and the Saskatchewan Beavers thereafter.
12. (12/-1) – Manitoba Icemen – (9-4)
-The Icemen drop a spot this week and look good to go with at least an 11 win season this year. The easy remainder of the schedule so far means they’re avoiding the Sasquatches for at least the first round of the playoffs. They have two easy games ahead of them in the forms of the Guerillaz and the Smoke so the tough challenge should be in the last week vs. the Husker Maniacs. This is a team that I feel is underrated – if things were slightly different during the season they could battling to retain home-field advantage instead of eking out a chance to steal it.
On the Bubble
13. (13/) – Calgary Thunder – (8-5)
-Three game gauntlet starts next week, where they should nab at least a win; need two though to securely get in the playoffs and avoid the Sasquatches.
14. (14/-) – Saskatchewan Beavers – (7-6)
-Tough loss. Gotta find that magic again for the last three games.
15. (15/-) – Red Deer Blue Elk – (7-6)
-Good news: very likely in the playoffs; bad news: they’ll get trashed by whoever the #1 seed is.
16. (17/+1) – Revelstoke Revolution – (6-7)
-This team is good enough to win next week; but probably not to pull the upset needed to squeak into the playoffs.
17. (19/+2) – Winnipeg Warriors – (6-7)
-They have the toe-hold on the 8th playoff spot; playoff hopes ride on next week’s result.
18. (16/-2) – Cold Lake Wolverines – (6-7)
-Nearly won last week; expect them to lose big in the next game.
The Longshots
19. (18/-1) – In San Jose Pimpin Ain’t Easy – (5-8)
-The way they lost to the Sasquatches paints a brighter picture for their slim playoff hopes.
20. (22/+2) – Saskatoon Guerillaz – (5-8)
-Calculations be damned! I’d peg them just above the Boreal for how they lost to the Smoke.
21. (21/-) – Calgary Wrestlers – (5-7)
-Door’s closing on their playoff dreams fast.
22. (21/-2) – Flint Tropics – (5-8)
-As expected, this under-equipped team lost big.
Better Luck Next Season
23. (24/+1) –Iqaluit Arctic Wolves – (5-8)
-If anything, they’ll end their season 8-8.
24. (23/-1) – Destruction Bay Dragons – (5-8)
-Expect another big loss next week.
25. (25/-) –Portsmouth Cavaliers – (4-9)
-Can’t decide between them and the Tropics next week. I’d flip a coin here.
26. (26/-) – Toronto Smoke – (3-10)
-I’d place this team higher in the rankings if I could. Good candidate here to spoil someone else’s playoff chances.
27. (26/-) – Barkmere Bulldawgs – (2-11)
-They’ll lose next week; win the one afterwards.
28. (28/-) –Quebec Boreal – (2-11)
-Just a cut above 22 random guys thrown together in a football field.
The D-League – Surprise of the Week: Preachers move up a spot!
29. (29/-) –Kelowna Outlaws – (1-12)
30. (30/-) – Bloodweiser Bugle All Stars – (1-12)
31. (31/+1) –Peterborough Preachers – (0-13)
32. (32/-1) – Castlegar Crusaders – (0-13)
-X – Clinched Playoff Berth
Last edited Aug 28, 2008 11:35:30
