SFL Power Rankings: Into Turn Four

by Hunter Norwood

Just when we thought the season was coming into view and placements were set to be locked into place some late season chaos has erupted and now the race for the top seed and the top 4 byes are wide open for the taking. We haven’t seen a four-way split of 1st place votes since the Week 4 edition but here we are heading into Week 13 and it is 10 points separating first thru fifth. Strap in for a wild ride and a few more top contender games as we begin to close out the practice rounds before the big dance!

voting breakdown

I guess the voters read the articles cause here we are with a big split for 1st place and rankings all over at the top end. Arizona nabs the top spot but not the most first place votes which I’m sure will rile some folks up. A lot of 2s, 3s and 4s for them to keep it all close and a low of 7 from the Anonymous voter whose days are numbered according to Eddie Gauge. Mexico City slots in a very close 2nd but as you can see they did get the one extra vote as the top team but if they weren’t 1 then they were 3, 4, 6 or as low as 8th. Nashville & Carolina came in tied for 8th on points and then when checked for average placement they were also tied so Nashville was given the bump for the H2H they have over the Skyhawks. Louisiana has also slipped back in to the top 16 but with a matchup vs Nashville we will see how long that lasts (or they shoot up after stomping them if Gerald is to be believed).

down but not out

#5 Canton Classics (8-2)

Canton suffered only their 4th loss this year this past week to Nashville and lost their stranglehold on a potential #1 seed. Despite this their SoV is still 10th best and sixth best among current playoff teams so a top 4 finish and a bye are very much still in the cards for them. But this week vs #6 Fort Worth will be the final make or break on that point as they finish their regular season campaign a week early next week against a winless Queen City squad. A loss this week will most likely be more than just a dip in a spot or two as well as For Worth would jump them but it would also open the door for Baltimore to usurp them for the North Division and send them into a 6/11 or 7/10 matchup in the Wildcard as well a date with a 2/3 seed(Florida?) in the quarterfinals and have to try to make it away from home where they are their most dangerous.

#11 Charleston Predators (6-4)

I’ve personally predicted a Charleston collapse this past week after losing their head coach and now that they’ve dropped their rivalry game to Carolina and the offense struggled to score they are up against it having to travel to a red hot Atlanta Swarm team that has been knocking off East Division teams in a bid to take the title away from Florida. I believe Cam said it on the Monday Night breakdown show that you do not want your season to rest on beating Baltimore in the final week to get into the playoffs but this is it. Six wins and a 7th should be enough but will this coaching staff be able to pull it together and show us how easy it is to win a game.

week 13 premier matchup

#6 Fort Worth Toros @ #5 Canton Classics(-2.5) | O/U 37.5 | OCT. 5th 6:30 PM EST

As talked about earlier this is very much a make or break game for Canton as far as seeding in the playoffs is concerned as well as another division title. Fort Worth, on the other hand, has an outside shot and grabbing the South from Mexico City and it will start here by beating Canton and then quickly flipping on the Mexico City game to see if they can be upset by Bossier City to pull within a tie on records(but losing the H2H to the Aztecs).