BUAFL Week 2 Top 10 Power Rankings

Another week of the BUAFL season is done and dusted which means it’s time for Double Coverage’s BUAFL top 10 power rankings.
The number of postponements has already increased from week one to week two and we are hoping that every team will complete all of their games this year.

Herts and London Blitz RB Temi Oduyemi - Photography by Gary Neesam

1. Hertfordshire Hurricanes (2-0)

Another game and another 50 points scored by the ‘Canes offence. This week’s unfortunate recipients were the UEA Pirates who finished ranked #21 nationally last year. If the team continues on this current form we believe no team will be able to keep pace with Hertfordshire this season.

2. Portsmouth Destroyers (2-0)

We had the Destroyers game against BNU as our Double Coverage game of the week and it didn’t disappoint. A well-earned 10 point victory over BNU is an impressive feat for the reigning national champs and what’s more impressive is the Portsmouth D holding the potent Buccaneers offence to a measly 16 points.

3. Birmingham Lions (1-0)

No game this week for the Lions, so no movement up or down for last year’s finalists (they did hold a scrimmage vs Worcester, but Worcester forfeited due to injuries). Next week’s game against the Coventry Jets will be the first time these two universities have faced each other.

4. Loughborough Aces (1-0)

We were expecting the Outlaws to give the Aces more competition in this weekend’s matchup but that simply wasn’t the case and the comprehensive 34-0 victory shows that the Aces haven’t skipped a beat since the loss of Coach Jason Scott after last season. Until their matchup with Derby, the Aces should continue to beat their lesser standard of opponents and hold their place in the rankings.

5. Sheffield Hallam (1-0)

No game for Hallam this week which allows the other teams in the Northern Conference sit at the top of the Conference for a week or two. Next week’s opponents Lancaster have currently conceded 98 points in two games so we fully expect a huge victory for Sheffield.

NFL Top 10 Power Rankings

Green Bay Packers (9-0)

The only undefeated team this season and they seem determined to be the first team to win back to back Superbowl’s. Aaron Rodgers is putting up silly numbers spreading the ball around (Favre who?) and the defence has improved with the return of players missing last season due to injury.

San Francisco 49ers (8-1)

With a 7 point victory over the Giants, the 49ers find themselves 2^nd in the first Double Coverage NFL rankings. With Jim Harbaugh working his magic in the Bay area and a stout defence the 49ers should lock up the NFC West in no time and possibly the number 2 seed in the NFC.

Houston Texans (7-3)

Wow just wow, that’s all we can say about the Texans victory over the Bucs. With the number 1 seed in the AFC and no competition in the AFC South it looks like the Texans will be heading to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The news about Schaub being injured shouldn’t affect the Texans chances of winning with a solid run game and the number 1 ranked defence in the NFL.

New Orleans Saints (7-3)

The Saints just keep winning!  With Drew Brees and Sean Payton running the show (plus some help from the Falcons) the Saints earned an overtime victory over division rivals the Atlanta Falcons last weekend. They will be hoping they don’t suffer from the bye week blues that have affected so many teams this season.

Baltimore Ravens (6-3)

You want to beat the Ravens? Play them the week after they play the Steelers! Even though they lost this week to the Seahawks, we still have the Ravens at number 5 in our rankings. A victory this weekend over the Bengals should see them return to the top of the AFC North, surely they can manage that….right?

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3)

The Steelers got a huge victory over division opponents the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend, a week after the loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The victory is the main reason the Steelers find themselves on our top 10 rankings, a bye this week followed with a trip to the Chiefs in week 12 should keep the Steelers seated in our top 10 for a while. 

New York Giants (6-3)

Even though they lost to the 49ers, the Giants still had a chance to win going into the final drive of the game. Unfortunately Eli Manning couldn’t pull off another game tying winning drive in a row. The Giants earn the number 7 seed as they are still top of the NFC East and lost to an 8-1 team. A victory next week over the Eagles could see them move up in the rankings purely for ending the “dream teams” playoff hopes and dreams!

New England Patriots (6-3)

“The Patriots can’t defend the pass, the Patriots are ranked 32^nd in defence” Clearly this isn’t holding the Patriots back as they lead the AFC East by a game after manhandling the New York Jets. Analysts and Experts seem to forget that the Patriots lost their last two games to the Steelers and Giants (7-3 and 6-3 respectively). After this week’s victory we expect the Pats to regain their 5-1 form and comfortably win their division.

Chicago Bears (6-3)

Even when Devin Hester is ill he still returns touchdowns for fun! The Bears got a huge victory over the Lions this weekend to extend their win streak to four games. If Chicago can keep up this form they should easily make the playoffs again. (They also need to pay Matt Forte sometime soon).

Detroit Lions (6-3)

The embarrassing loss to Chicago may result in a red faces for Lions players, but hopefully the Lions can re find their focus to avoid a second half collapse. Veteran players need to step up and get this team back to winning ways and someone other than Calvin Johnson needs to make plays on offence.

NFL Week 10 Review

If you bet against every home team this weekend you would have won good money with only 6 of the 16 home teams winning. Last week he got 9 out of 14 right, so let’s take a look at how Rich got on this time around. (predictions found here)

OAK Raiders bt SD Chargers by 7

Original Prediction: Chargers to win by 7.

An unfortunate start to the week in terms of predictions, but this game was massively unpredictable. Phillip Rivers continues to struggle and the Raiders will be happy with the chemistry new QB Carson Palmer has with his receivers.

NO Saints bt ATL Falcons 26-23

Original Prediction: Saints to win by 3.

Evaluation: First prediction out of the gate and Rich got it spot on, helped out greatly by a stupid 4^th down call by the Falcons.

TENN Titans bt CAR Panthers 30 - 3

Original Prediction: The Cam Newton Panthers to win by 6.

Evaluation: Couldn’t have been further from the truth! Tennessee walked all over the Panthers continuing the bye week curse that has ruined pretty much every team this year.