The Top Ten: Week 17
Commentary: A push in the San Francisco/Seattle game resulted in some odd totals for Week 16 and some interesting scenarios with one week to go. We’ll get to the division races and the overall title chase in The Top Ten, but now is the time to talk about the wild card berths. Right now, the final spot is held by The Beard of Zeus at $1,200. The next closest competitor is at $800 (Babe), followed closely by Gordon Bombay and The Notorious A.B.T. at $700. There are four other franchises that are not technically eliminated from playoff contention since you only need to be within $1,000 of the final playoff spot to have a chance. The most dangerous of these bubble teams is Boss Hardigan, who won $500 last week and sits at $400. He still has his wild card bet on the shelf and could sneak in with a solid finish. The rest will need the current teams to drop back in order to have a chance at getting invited to the dance. Anything can happen.
Since there were no wild cards bet last week, we still have six franchises with the big bet available going into the final week:
East: Karl Farbman; The People’s Champ
North: The Beard of Zeus
South: Bayonnaise; Boss Hardigan; Will Cover
West: none
(current total; last week’s ranking)
1. Larisa Oleynik ($3,100; 2)
Larisa surges into the number one spot after notching $200 last week. She has a $200 lead on the two franchises below for the overall title. With a $1,900 lead on the rest of the North, she has clinched the division crown and a playoff spot. She will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.
2. Karl Farbman ($2,900; 1)
Farbman had one win, one loss, and one push last week and stayed at $2,900. He’s been stuck in neutral the last month or so and it has finally caught up with him as now he trails Larisa and is tied with Bud. The good news is he’s up $1,500 in the East and has a high winning percentage if any tiebreakers are necessary.
3. Bud Fox ($2,900; 3)
Bud keeps on chugging along and won another $300 to pull into a tie for second place in the overall title chase. The rookie has clinched a playoff berth and has a $900 lead on the rest of the West. As long as he doesn’t lose $500, he will have the division locked up.
4. Will Cover ($2,220; 6)
Will made sure that Don Mattingly’s reign over the South Division was short-lived. WC won $500 and took control of the South, now with a $700 lead. Will has an outside shot at the overall title if the top teams all fall, but all he needs to do to win the division is not lose $200 or more in Week 17. Will also has his wild card bet still available, but given his situation, he has more to lose if he bets it than he has to win. He has also secured a playoff spot.
5. Blossom Russo ($2,000; 4)
The bad news is that Blossom lost $100 and is a long shot to win the West Division. The good news is that she clinched a playoff spot and after a strong second half of the season, she will be one of the favorites in the playoffs.
6. Ron Mexico ($1,800; 7)
Ron won $100 and holds onto the second wild card berth. He doesn’t have a chance to win the division, but because of his winning percentage, Ron is just about a lock to make the playoffs. As long as he doesn’t lose $500, he’s definitely in.
7. Don Mattingly ($1,500; 5)
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Last week, as visions of a division title danced in Don’s head, he dropped $300 and now needs Will Cover to falter in order to have a chance at winning the South. On a brighter note, he still is in position to make the postseason. If he wins at least $100 in Week 17, he’s in the playoffs. If not, others (including Boss Hardigan) can catch him. He’s especially vulnerable because of his low winning percentage.
8. The People’s Champ ($1,400; 8 )
The Champ is in a similar situation to Don. If he wins anything in Week 17, he’ll be back in the postseason dance. If not, two franchises would have to pass him in order for him to be bounced from the playoffs. He does have a winning percentage advantage over most of the other wild card contenders (except Gordon Bombay). The Champ also has his wild card bet available and is $1,500 out of the lead in the East. Long story short, if he wins $100, he’s in.
9. The Beard of Zeus ($1,200; 10)
Much like The People’s Champ, the Beard still has his wild card bet available. He’s not as safe as the Champ, however, as he needs to win $300 or more to guarantee himself a playoff spot. He’ll need to hold off Babe and Boss Hardigan, among others, but boasts a solid winning percentage. It’s his spot to lose.
10. Babe ($800; 9)
Babe picked a bad time to drop $500. He fell out of the playoff picture and now needs to win $500 and hope to pass one of the current playoff teams to make it to the show. He also needs to root against Boss Hardigan in Week 17.
Others receiving votes: Gordon Bombay; The Notorious A.B.T.; Waldo Geraldo Faldo; Boss Hardigan; Mr. Marbles; Yaz
Dropped out: none
