Wow...that sounds like the group of death.



Yeah...it's tough when all the retirements hit the same unit.

In my experience, it usually doesn't make sense to extend retiring guys - - just too expensive for an extra year or two. The exception is a stud QB or maybe if you're very thin at the unit.

Most teams should have a pipeline of offensive linemen - - seems like you have one or two retiring each year.


Good luck this season!


Steve
SD Blitz

Welcome to season 47!

Here's my predictions for the season. Check the bottom to see who I've this time around!


You're welcome.

AC

AC East
Willemstad Bridges 13-3
Norfolk Heroes 8-8
Vienna Falcons 2 7-9
The Blue and White 4-12


AC North

PR Chaser 13-3
TigerCats 11-5
Maykop Dynamos 5-11
Lincoln Towncars 2-14

AC South

Stone Mountain Hawks 2 12-4
Sydney Rising Stars 11-5
Highland Wildcats 8-8
Chuuou Hololivers 2-14

AC West

AS Roma Wolves 10-6
BobBoy Magpies 8-8
Bracciano Lakers 8-8
ChosenOnes 5-11

NC East

The Alpin Ducks 13-3
Växjö Vikings AFC 10-6
mystics 7-9
Devon Warriors 3-13

NC North

Flaccid Malones 13-3
Space Kraken 11-5
Letaidans 10-6
Midnight Marauders 3-13

NC South

San Diego Blitz 12-4
Dumbarajko Elephants 9-7
Zombaes 7-9
Torino Black Cursed Bulls 2-14

NC West

Chelt Nam Bobbers 10-6
Zygal Coda 9-7
The Pinellas Pikes 7-9
Alert Polar Bears 3-14

Playoffs

AC
1. Chaser
2. Bridges
3. Hawks over 6. Sydney
5. Ticats over 4. Wolves

1. Chaser over 5. Ticats
2. Bridges over 3. Hawks

2. Bridges over 1. Chaser

NC
1. Ducks
2. Malones
3. Blitz over 6. Vaxjo
5. Space Kraken over 4. Bobbers

1. Ducks over 5. Space Kraken
2. Malones over 3. Blitz

1. Ducks over 2. Malones


Championship
1. Ducks over 2. Bridges

Kanar probably not happy to see me predict his success again!

Sorry Rubio but your projection is wrong about my Ducks. I have lost 10 starters (including RZA #1 WR, #1 TE, #3 OL, #2 RB and #3 LB. i can not find the time to scout my opponents neither to set up my trainings. I even did not have the time to prepare my draft and I am afraid I will start the season with an heavy loss. This looks like a swan song. Not quitting the game, but probably selling 2/3 of my team at the end of the season.

Pete inspired me to do another fun prediction. I checked all teams for their weakly wages and assumed the team spending more money would win the game.

AC East
Willemstad Bridges 10.110.520 16-0 bye
Norfolk Heroes 8.143.904 13-3 WC
The Blue and White 6.406.828 4-12
Vienna Falcons 2 6.250.788 2-14

AC North
Maykop Dynamos 10.919.445 16-0 bye
PR Chaser 7.638.753 10-6
TigerCats 7.223.178 7-9
Lincoln Towncars 6.659.726 3-13

AC South
Stone Mountain Hawks 2 9.819.593 14-2 WC
Chuuou Hololivers 8.023.871 12-4 WC
Highland Wildcats 6.363.556 3-13
Sydney Rising Stars 5.924.227 1-15

AC West
Bracciano Lakers 7.690.507 10-6 WC
AS Roma Wolves 6.857.870 7-9
BobBoy Magpies 5.989.996 2-14
ChosenOnes 5.918.220 0-16

NC East
The Alpin Ducks 9.280.038 14-2 WC
Devon Warriors 7.402.692 9-7
Växjö Vikings AFC 6.942.530 6-10
mystics 6.885.381 5-11

NC North
CHEESE MODE Malones 9.669.074 16-0 bye
Space Kraken 9.404.756 13-3 WC
Letaidans 7.800.624 11-5 WC
Midnight Marauders 7.791.588 8-8

NC South
San Diego Blitz 8.777.096 13-3 WC
Dumbarajko Elephants 7.664.122 7-9
Zombaes 7.055.392 5-11
Torino Black Cursed Bulls 5.967.414 1-15

NC West
Alert Polar Bears 11.992.642 16-0 bye
The Pinellas Pikes 7.010.826 8-8
Chelt Nam Bobbers 6.542.334 4-12
Zygal Coda 5.904.887 0-16

Let's see, if you can buy success and who is overspending most.

LOVE IT!

Monarchs win again!!!



Hey Shadow, I'll gladly take the over on rising stars victories if you want to take that bet. I'll even give you the hook.

+1.5 wins and you give me a 2nd round draft pick.

Afraid that I don't have much time right now (for example, I only sorted through half of the draftees.) And I won't have much time over the next few weeks for scouting opponents, so any positive predictions for my team would be purely wishful thinking.

Maybe if I overspend a bit more, my team might just scare the opposing team enough to stay home???

Mate, if it happens ... consider yourself invited in Italy.
I don't know where you had this foolish idea from, but I love it !

My objective is a 9-7 record, one better than the last season, but the competitors are always three great teams.
I would like to stay in Elite another season, but I have to deserve it one game after another.

I'd like a little bit more of consistency from my team , instead of half season white and the other in full black.
My heart is getting old with all this stress...

It's that time again! Time to see how wrong I am!


Rank. (last season's record) (Previous elite rank) Last season result

1. (14-2) PR Chaser (1) AC Champion
Chaser rolled all season right to the championship before his team laid a dud at the worst possible time. I fully expect a Chaser Bridges rematch to get out of the AC.

2. (11-5) San Diego Blitz (9) Elite Champion
Hard to imagine the Blitz winning the championship after such a rocky start. The second half run very impressive as they won 8 in a row before losing the meaningless finale.

3. (13-3) Cheese Modelones (5) Conference Championship
The Malones have morphed again as they finished the season less flaccid even though they didn't make it as far as the previous season. An easier schedule and a Kraken regression has them reclaiming the Monarch crown.

4. (13-3) Willemstad Bridges (4) Conference Championship
The Bridges couldn't get past a Chaser team that was in cruise control all season. They haven't been back to the championship since they won back to back 40/41 with a salary half as high as it is now. At least they have 7 straight Thunder championships as likely will make it 8.

5. (12-4) The Alpin Ducks (2) First Round
The Ducks were fighting for the 1 seed but lost 3 of their last 4 including a first round exit after dropping to the 6 seed. They'll look to reclaim the Sea Devil crown. The schedule is fairly easy after it starts with 3 playoff teams. Kanar says it could be the swan song for this iteration of the Ducks. He's still got the top QB and WR combo, I'm not buying them taking a step back.

6. (13-3) Space Kraken (3) Second Round
Overperformed in the regular season, underperformed in the playoffs. The Kraken salary has ballooned to try and keep up with the rival Malones. Will it be enough to secure another winless playoff appearance?

7. (11-5) TigerCats (10) First Round
Two 5 loss seasons in a row for the Ticats and the ascension of Fire rival Chaser has the Ticat faithful worried. The season 43 champs just haven't looked the same since. The good news is there's just not enough competition in the AC for them to worry about missing the playoffs. The other good news is the Yorkies are gone, so there's one less loss.

8. (13-3) Växjö Vikings AFC (6) Second Round
Vaxjo was the big surprise of last season by not only relegating the Ravens, but winning Sea Devils and gaining a playoff bye. The active leading QB is every stat (by a ton) returns for another season. Can they have a repeat performance?

9. (9-7) AS Roma Wolves (14) Second Round
The Wolves followed up a rough season by winning their last 3 (plus a playoff game) and remaining atop Admirals. Admirals stalwart Magpies re-enter the fray to add another challenge. The Wolves will need more luck than they had last season if they plan on keeping the Admirals throne.

10. (11-5) Chelt Nam Bobbers (12) First Round
"Now is this the year Jonny takes back his crown?" It certainly was! Bobbers are back on top where they belong. Time to start another streak.

11. (10-6) Stone Mountain Hawks 2 (13) Second Round
Impressive first year in a very weird Claymore season. It won't be any easier as Shadow's Aussies replace the Yorkies. These teams have quite the history as they did a huge amount of friendly matches while they came up.

12. (10-6) Dumbarajko Elephants (15)
Like Steve, Dumba also had a rough start to the season before winning 7 of his final 8 games. Unfortunately, he needed to win 8 of his last 8 games to unseat the Blitz and start his own championship run. They get the Monarchs and Claymore again this season in what has got to be some bad Galaxy luck.

13. (16-0) Letaidans Monarchs Champion
The Letaidans are looking to make further strides after finishing their last Elite trip a week 17 win away from avoiding relegation and making the playoffs. They'll need another good season if the Monarchs are going to remain the top region.

14. (15-1) Sydney Rising Stars Claymore Champion
Shadow returns to Elite for the second time in his 4th season. I believe this is the season he sticks around, even without spending a bunch of money. He gets to test his team again versus the Hawks, but this time the games will be quite important.

15. (10-6) Norfolk Heroes (19) First Round
"This season will be even tougher to grab that last spot with the Monarchs on the schedule." Or he could grab 2 wins vs the Monarchs and make the playoffs! The Bridges don't plan on giving up the Thunder crown anytime soon, but they'll be challenged by 2 new hungry Elite teams.

16. (9-7) Highland Wildcats (19)
Wildcats won 4 out of their last 5 to avoid relegation, to finish 9-7 again. Probably a disappointment as they couldn't repeat their playoff performance from season 45. I think they are more likely to get relegated than make the playoffs this time around. The schedule is tough and the Stars mean business.

17. (8-8) Bracciano Lakers (17)
Yashin ultimately proved me correct as he was able to get just enough to stick around in Elite. He can't be terribly happy with how the season ended though. Two losses to the Wolves ended any hopes of an Admirals title and a playoff run. Will this season be different? The Magpies are certainly a big threat to them staying for a third season.

18. (8-8) Long Term Capital Management(16)
Dissolve's rotating team names has now evolved into a football hedge fund. He's avoided another up and down now let's see how his portfolio looks. I've been told stonks only go up, does that mean the Bobbers are going down?

19. (16-0) Bobboy Magpies Admirals Champion
Dell and his Magpies are back after a very short 2 season retooling. Are they just here for the draft pick or are they planning on sticking around? Inquisitive Yashins would like to know.

20. (16-0) Mystics Sea Devil Champion
I don't really know what to make of this team.They weren't really challenged all season, and they Needed a crazy end of game including a 59 yard field goal to win in the Supercup. On the other side, Sea Devils has quite the history of Elite turnover.

21. (15-1) Zombaes Galaxy Champion
Coming out of Galaxy isn't so special anymore, but this team did pull off some nice Supercup wins. I doubt Dumba or Steve have to worry about relegation this season, but this team could be in issue if they come back in 49.

22. (14-2) Pinellas Pikes Dragons Runner Up
The ex-Bandits had an impressive playoff run come to a screeching halt against the new rival Polar bears. I still think they can challenge around an 8 win season and maybe stick around, but that game (and needing to beat those Bears twice for it to happen) has me thinking it's another yo-yo season for Clem.

23. (14-2) Vienna Falcons Thunder Champion
The main question here is: Does this team have enough juice? They are half the salary of the Bridges. Can being a responsible owner win enough to challenge the 2 thunder playoff teams?

24. (15-1) Maykop Dynamos Fire Champion
Maykop make their third yo-yo attempt after going 6-10 in their last Elite trip. There's no region so 2 team top heavy as Fire is, it'll take a lot to break through. Alex has been around a long time and has some some trophies to his name, maybe he'll be the one to do it.

25. (13-3) Midnight Marauders Monarchs Runner Up
A wild end to the Monarch bowl shows the Marauders aren't going to be a pushover. I absolutely see them being a spoiler as they couldn't quite beat the top end teams.

26. (13-3) Devon Warriors Sea Devil Runner Up
Not sure where this team is going to end up. They spent nearly $20M added 10 veterans once they found out they were going to Elite. So if any team is going for it, it's gotta be these guys. Is it enough?

27. (15-1) Lincoln Towncars Fire Runner Up
While they are clearly this season's classiest team, the Towncars won't be taking anyone for a ride. No signature wins last season and his QB for this season is just 21 years old.

28. (16-0) Chuuou Hololivers Claymore Runner Up
So.... I had no idea what a Hololiver was.... and I wish I still didn't. With the Hounds restarting and Helsinki attempting to collect $2B someone had to come from Claymore NC. A season filled with lots of wins, but the bowl shows they aren't ready to compete yet.

29. (11-5) Alert Polar Bears Dragons Champion
Argos has been in charge of the Polar Bears with above average perception for 2 years now. What do we make of a mostly young team with an astronomical payroll? They don't have any marquee wins yet, but they'll have plenty of opportunities this season.

30. (14-2) ChosenOnes Admirals Runner Up
We replace one chucking Admirals team with another. Probably not a great path to sustained success, but I certainly expect a couple surprise victories when that passing game is getting good rolls.

31. (13-3) The Blue and White Thunder Runner Up
A surprise team to come out of Thunder this season, Numerius took advantage of retirements and resets to come out on top. He just started a year ago but has a solid and mostly young team. Hopefully he'll use this season to learn so they can challenge the Bridges and Heroes in a couple seasons.

32. (14-2) Torino Cursed Black Bulls Galaxy Runner Up
The Bulls last Elite attempt went very poorly with just 2 wins. Last season they won their conference without winning the division in the weakest D1 conference. I don't see this season as being a reason to remove the cursed moniker.

Have a great season everyone.

Good luck!



"This keyboardcast is copyrighted by RZA for the private use of our audience. Any other use of this keyboardcast or any pictures, descriptions, or accounts of the game without RZA's consent is prohibited."