URK: Week 9
11/09/09
Week 9 Power Rankings
This week, the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. All of a sudden, a two-game gap has opened up in the middle of the standings, which means the top six are almost sure to make the big dance and there are only two spots left for the bottom feeders. But what a race that will be, when 5 of the 6 have the same record! Only one month left in the season…which means it’s time to put my prognosticating reputation on the line as I try to forecast the final regular season standings.
12. Minions
Record: 2-7; Last week’s ranking: 12
This team struggled once again with getting production across the board, and got walloped again. At this point, they basically need to run the table to have any shot of making the playoffs.
Predicted finish: 1-3, Out of playoffs
11. Cactus!! WATCH OUT!!
Record: 3-6; Last week’s ranking: 10
Almost pulled off a monumental upset, but injuries (and failure to have a suitable back-up plan) have been killing this team over the last several weeks. They need to get healthy and get wins.
Predicted finish: 1-3, Out of playoffs
10. Baby Daddy Buller
Record: 3-6; Last week’s ranking: 9
The football gods have not been kind to these guys since their makeover a month ago – scoring is clearly down, and the only win was more or less by default. They need a major wake up to turn the ship around.
Predicted finish: 2-2, Out of playoffs
9. Blinder Squirrels
Record: 3-6; Last week’s ranking: 7
It really is starting to look like it’s just not the Squirrels year. Another uninspiring defeat leaves them in serious danger of missing out, now that their tiebreaker advantage has been erased.
Predicted finish: 1-3, Out of playoffs
8. The Schmuckernators
Record: 3-6; Last week’s ranking: 11
Crucial victory to give them a fighting chance. If the playoffs were just based on points, they’d be a top seed. As it is, they need to play .500 ball down the stretch and they’re in – which is no guarantee, given their brutal closing schedule.
Predicted finish: 2-2, 8th seed
7. Clay Davis All-Stars
Record: 3-6; Last week’s ranking: 8
Put up a great fight, particularly for a week without their headliner, but couldn’t quite steal the win. Maybe they should just keep AP on the bench even when he’s not on bye, if that leads to outbursts like this. Still, if there was ever a loss to instill confidence, this was it.
Predicted finish: 3-1, 6th seed
6. Cupcakes of Doom!
Record: 5-4; Last week’s ranking: 4
It’s the old polling conundrum – more impressive body of work, or mano-a-mano result? This week, we’re going with the Daisies by a nose by virtue of their head-to-head takedown. Plus, there are worrying signs of another late season collapse; the Cupcakes have only won two of their last six games.
Predicted finish: 2-2, 5th place
5. Granite Daisies
Record: 5-4; Last week’s ranking: 6
Huge, huge win for a team that seemed to lose its way for a few weeks. That makes two very impressive resume building victories in a row, and an almost certain clinching of a playoff spot for a team that looked on the bubble not all that long ago.
Predicted finish: 1-3, 7th seed
4. Cool Runnings
Record: 5-4; Last week’s ranking: 5
Great rivalry win as they flex their explosive scoring muscles. While they are still more prone to inconsistency than the top teams in the league, they just might be catching fire at the right time to make a run for a high seed.
Predicted finish: 3-1, 4th place
3. Fat Cats
Record: 6-3; Last week’s ranking: 3
Another great performance. The Cats are looking very dangerous as they prepare for the stretch run look for a high seed, but they can’t afford to let up with three solid teams close on their heels.
Predicted finish: 3-1, 2nd place
2. Kenny Gee Willikers
Record: 7-2; Last week’s ranking: 2
Best effort of their season as the Wilikers desperately try to keep the race for the top seed alive. It’s still technically available, but they’ll need a lot of help to steal it.
Predicted finish: 2-2, 3rd place
1. Ritzy Blitzers
Record: 9-0; Last week’s ranking: 1
Their torrid pace at the middle of the season seems long ago, but the Blitzers manage to grind out another win, and by now, they’re all pretty. It would take a complete collapse to lose out on the number one seed, but as we saw so clearly last year, there are no guarantees once the playoffs start.
Predicted finish: 3-1, 1st place
Week 9 Power Rankings
This week, the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. All of a sudden, a two-game gap has opened up in the middle of the standings, which means the top six are almost sure to make the big dance and there are only two spots left for the bottom feeders. But what a race that will be, when 5 of the 6 have the same record! Only one month left in the season…which means it’s time to put my prognosticating reputation on the line as I try to forecast the final regular season standings.
12. Minions
Record: 2-7; Last week’s ranking: 12
This team struggled once again with getting production across the board, and got walloped again. At this point, they basically need to run the table to have any shot of making the playoffs.
Predicted finish: 1-3, Out of playoffs
11. Cactus!! WATCH OUT!!
Record: 3-6; Last week’s ranking: 10
Almost pulled off a monumental upset, but injuries (and failure to have a suitable back-up plan) have been killing this team over the last several weeks. They need to get healthy and get wins.
Predicted finish: 1-3, Out of playoffs
10. Baby Daddy Buller
Record: 3-6; Last week’s ranking: 9
The football gods have not been kind to these guys since their makeover a month ago – scoring is clearly down, and the only win was more or less by default. They need a major wake up to turn the ship around.
Predicted finish: 2-2, Out of playoffs
9. Blinder Squirrels
Record: 3-6; Last week’s ranking: 7
It really is starting to look like it’s just not the Squirrels year. Another uninspiring defeat leaves them in serious danger of missing out, now that their tiebreaker advantage has been erased.
Predicted finish: 1-3, Out of playoffs
8. The Schmuckernators
Record: 3-6; Last week’s ranking: 11
Crucial victory to give them a fighting chance. If the playoffs were just based on points, they’d be a top seed. As it is, they need to play .500 ball down the stretch and they’re in – which is no guarantee, given their brutal closing schedule.
Predicted finish: 2-2, 8th seed
7. Clay Davis All-Stars
Record: 3-6; Last week’s ranking: 8
Put up a great fight, particularly for a week without their headliner, but couldn’t quite steal the win. Maybe they should just keep AP on the bench even when he’s not on bye, if that leads to outbursts like this. Still, if there was ever a loss to instill confidence, this was it.
Predicted finish: 3-1, 6th seed
6. Cupcakes of Doom!
Record: 5-4; Last week’s ranking: 4
It’s the old polling conundrum – more impressive body of work, or mano-a-mano result? This week, we’re going with the Daisies by a nose by virtue of their head-to-head takedown. Plus, there are worrying signs of another late season collapse; the Cupcakes have only won two of their last six games.
Predicted finish: 2-2, 5th place
5. Granite Daisies
Record: 5-4; Last week’s ranking: 6
Huge, huge win for a team that seemed to lose its way for a few weeks. That makes two very impressive resume building victories in a row, and an almost certain clinching of a playoff spot for a team that looked on the bubble not all that long ago.
Predicted finish: 1-3, 7th seed
4. Cool Runnings
Record: 5-4; Last week’s ranking: 5
Great rivalry win as they flex their explosive scoring muscles. While they are still more prone to inconsistency than the top teams in the league, they just might be catching fire at the right time to make a run for a high seed.
Predicted finish: 3-1, 4th place
3. Fat Cats
Record: 6-3; Last week’s ranking: 3
Another great performance. The Cats are looking very dangerous as they prepare for the stretch run look for a high seed, but they can’t afford to let up with three solid teams close on their heels.
Predicted finish: 3-1, 2nd place
2. Kenny Gee Willikers
Record: 7-2; Last week’s ranking: 2
Best effort of their season as the Wilikers desperately try to keep the race for the top seed alive. It’s still technically available, but they’ll need a lot of help to steal it.
Predicted finish: 2-2, 3rd place
1. Ritzy Blitzers
Record: 9-0; Last week’s ranking: 1
Their torrid pace at the middle of the season seems long ago, but the Blitzers manage to grind out another win, and by now, they’re all pretty. It would take a complete collapse to lose out on the number one seed, but as we saw so clearly last year, there are no guarantees once the playoffs start.
Predicted finish: 3-1, 1st place
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