SFL Power Rankings: Division & Subtraction

We’re getting to the tail end of this season and playoff races are heating up, divisions are tightening and the room for error is small. Baltimore is closing up shop but still has a favorable schedule to win out or drop one and sneak in above the cut line. Pittsburgh took over control of the North and will most likely be in a seesaw battle with DC throughout the remaining schedule. Vancouver is at a make or break point in their schedule to wrap up the West with Arizona desperate to capitalize on any slip ups. Houston looks like they’re the pick of the South but Mexico City is still only 1.5 games back and they still need to play one another. Denver has seen off most challengers and the Minnesota run back might be the only piece left of the puzzle before they solidify their spot atop the Central and the Eastern mid-off might actually be an interesting race as even a team like 1-6 Carolina are only 2 games back from leading and they still have their entire division schedule to play.

voting breakdown

Houston gets the unanimous #1 ranking this week, even from Strength Rating(they beat out Vancouver by 0.0018). We almost had the same 16 teams get votes for, I believe, would be the first time ever as Florida got a single 15th spot and Baltimore nabbed a 16. Not too much else going on this week. We could get some more chaos up top with Houston/Vancouver back in play vs top flight opponents but that’ll do for this edition.

stop the bleeding

#5 D.C. Dragons (6-2)

The Dragons are on a two-game losing streak coming off a bye and have lost the lead in the North division due to their head-to-head loss to Pittsburgh. They’ve gone from looking unstoppable to human as Sin City made the first cut in a blowout 52-31. DC has salvation to look forward to with Bossier City & LA to close out the regular season as those teams are a combined 2-13 but just ahead they have a surging Detroit with a stingy defense and an away matchup vs 6-1 Vancouver. Splitting the next two should be okay as Pitt has their own difficulties on the horizon but if we’re going to split let’s make the one this week and stop the bleeding before things get out of hand.

week 12 premier matchup

#1 Houston Headhunters(-4.5) @ #7 Denver Nightwings | O/U 42.5 | Oct. 4th 6:30 PM EST

A good ol’ late season statement game for both clubs here this week. Houston looking to keep pressure on the South before they start their divisional run and Denver looking to do the same in the Central but also looking to make the jump back to the top 4 and a bye into the playoffs. Denver’s home cooking should come into play here and make this a nailbiter and, man, I feel like the kickoff games for each week are always big hitters. This game will set the tone for the rest of the results and we’ll be looking back at this one when the Scenario Show rolls around. Houston keeps rolling, 21-17.