Ragnaros X Road to the Playoffs

JerryDamage takes us through the possible playoff scenarios as the final two weeks of the season play out. 

It’s that time of the season where we start to look towards the playoffs. This season it’s a very tight race and nearly every playoff spot is up for grabs. Let’s look at each division and conference to see how they may shape up for the post season.
First, let’s look at the teams that are out and are mathematically eliminated from making the playoffs.
Team Next Level: At 73 points, the defending champions are 28 points out of the last wildcard spot in Blurple. It would take back to back 23 point weeks to even have a chance at it and since they close out Week 9 by facing Collective Mayhem, it would look like Team Next Level will not be making another run at the title this season.
Team Mox: At 67 points, Team Mox is 36 points out of the last wildcad spot in Blurple. Similar to Team Next Level, at this point in the season it’d be hard to overcome that deficit even with back to back 23 point weeks. As such, I feel it’s safe to say that Team Mox is out of the running for a playoff spot.
Always Topdeck Lethal: ATL currently finds themselves 25 points out of the last Wildcard spot in Rold. Even with two weeks of 23 points, they are so far behind that it’s unlikely they are able to catchup and make the post season.




Now that we know who’s not going to make it, let’s look at those who have a shot to make the playoffs and contend for a title.
Blue Division:

Collective Mayhem:
Points: 126
Still to face: Week 8 - :Hot_Pepper:, Week 9 – Team Next Level
What they need to do: Mayhem was a team that was hyped in the off season and now we see that that was an accurate prediction. Collective Mayhem are up 26 points on the next team in Blue and 23 points over the next team in all of Blurple. It would take a total collapse for them to lose out on the playoffs at this point. The next two weeks they are taking on Hot Pepper and Team Next Level. Mayhem should be a heavy favorite in both and I wouldn’t be shocked if Collective Mayhem is the top team in Blurple officially after this week as we head into Week 9.


Auto-Pecker 4000:
Points: 100
Still to face: Week 8 – The Pod People, Week 9 – :Hot_Pepper:
What they need to do: AP4K are in a spot where they are in a tight race with several other teams for a wildcard spot. They are too far behind Collective Mayhem to take the Blue division title so in order to make playoffs they’ll need a Wildcard spot. They are currently 1 point out of the playoffs so that’s easily doable. They still have to take out two of their direct competition for the wildcard spots though as they take on Pod People and Hot Pepper. Wins against those would help to put AP4K into a Wildcard spot and help keep those teams sitting on the couch for the off season.


DadLegend:
Points: 93
Still to face: Week 8 – Team Next Level, Week 9 – Saronite Pain Gang
What they need to do: DadLegend are currently 8 points out of the last Wildcard spot. Sometimes 8 points can be a lot to overcome but DadLegend are playing Team Next Level in Week 8 so that’s an opportunity to pull themselves right back into the Wildcard mix. If they follow that up with another solid performance against Saronite Pain Gang, that could keep SPG out of the playoffs and help lock in a spot for the guys who hit Rank 5 every season.


Maple Syrup, Inc.:
Points: 88
Still to face: Week 8 – Saronite Pain Gang, Week 9 – Really Nice Guys
What they need to do: MSI have had some weeks where they looked really really strong this season. They are currently 13 points out of the last Wildcard spot. These next two weeks they take on the first and second team in Purple. Two good performances there will help knock them down and maybe out of the playoff spot and help put the boys from north of the border into the playoffs.


Glitter Baes:
Points: 95
Still to face: Week 8 – Really Nice Guys, Week 9 – The Pod People
What they need to do: The Glitter Baes are in the hunt for a playoff spot. They are currently 6 points out of the last Wildcard spot. Similar to Maple Syrup Inc, the Glitter Baes are taking on 2 of the top 3 teams in Purple. Winning in these two weeks would likely be enough to erase the 6 point deficit and help put the Glitter Baes in the post season.




Purple Division:

Really Nice Guys:
Points: 103
Still to face: Week 8 – Glitter Baes, Week 9 – Maple Syrup, Inc.
What they need to do: The Really Nice Guys are currently the division leaders for Purple. However they only have the lead by 1 point. They also have the lead over the last Wildcard spot by 2 points as well. RNG needs to have two more solid weeks to help make sure they are in the playoffs and not sitting at home starting the off season early.




The Pod People:
Points: 101
Still to face: Week 8 – Auto-Pecker 4000, Week 9 – Glitter Baes
What they need to do: The Pod People are currently the last team in the playoffs for the Blurple conference. They hold a 1 point lead over AP4K for the last Wildcard spot. These last two weeks of the season are crucial as they take on the team who they have a 1 point lead on, AP4K, and a team trying to make a run towards the playoffs, the Glitter Baes.




:Hot_Pepper::
Points: 91
Still to face: Week 8 – Collective Mayhem, Week 9 – Auto-Pecker 4000
What they need to do: Hot Pepper are currently 10 points out of the last Wildcad spot. They have a really tough road ahead of them as far as making up enough points to not only close the gap, but gain enough points to take over one of the two Wildcard spots. They have to go through the top two teams in Blue in order to make it. Not an easy feat, but if they can rise to the challenge, then they can find themselves contending for a championship.




Saronite Pain Gang:
Points: 102
Still to face: Week 8 – Maple Syrup, Inc., Week 9 – DadLegend
What they need to do: Saronite Pain Gang are right where they like to be, in the thick of the playoff race. They are currently behind the leader of the Purple division by 1 point and over the last Wildcard spot by 1 point. Two solid performances against Maple Syrup Inc and DadLegend would help make sure they have a spot in the playoffs. However, both of those teams are trying to make their own way in so there are no easy weeks or points to be had here.




Predictions:
Blue Division Winner: Collective Mayhem
Purple Division Winner: Saronite Pain Gang
Wildcard Spot 1: Really Nice Guys
Wildcard Spot 2: Auto Pecker 4000




Now let’s look at Rold to see who may join those four teams in the playoffs.


Red Division:


HearthStone Academy:
Points: 140
Still to face: Week 8 – Noob Central, Week 9 – Da Stubbs
What they need to do: HSA has dominated the first 7 weeks of the season. They are chasing a perfect season and are two weeks away from realizing the first part of that goal. They are 30 points ahead of their closest competitor in Red division and 27 points ahead of the next team in the conference. HSA is a lock for not only a playoff spot but a the top spot in the Rold conference.


The Cabal:
Points: 110
Still to face: Week 8 - AskHS, Week 9 – Noob Central
What they need to do: The Cabal have a lead over the last Wildcard spot by 2 points and are 7 points ahead of the next closest team in the playoff hunt. In order to secure their spot, they need to beat AskHS and Noob Central. Two teams who are right in the middle of the playoff race themselves.


Defias Brotherhood:
Points: 100
Still to face: Week 8 - Xnergy, Week 9 – AskHS
What they need to do: Defias are currently 8 points out of the last Wildcard spot. They have a path to make up those points and then secure enough to make the playoffs. They must defeat another two teams who are also looking to get one of those spots when they take on Xnergy and AskHS.




Gold Division:


Dirty Mike & The Boys:
Points: 113
Still to face: Week 8 – Always Topdeck Lethal, Week 9 – Team Mox
What they need to do: Dirty Mike and the Boys came to play this season. They are currently the Gold division leaders by 5 points, which is also the amount of points they are above the last Wildcad spot. The path for Dirty Mike and his boys to make the playoffs isn’t as hard as others as both teams they will face are already eliminated from playoff contention.


Xnergy:
Points: 103
Still to face: Week 8 – Defias Brotherhood, Week 9 – Always Topdeck Lethal
What they need to do: So far this season X has given it to us. However, they are going to have to give it to us for 2 more weeks if they are going to make the playoffs. They are currently 5 points out of the last Wildcard spot. This week they take on Defias where the winner will be in a good spot to take over a Wildcard position. Xnergy having a tie or close loss wouldn’t eliminate them as they still have to face ATL in Week 9 and could potentially make up points in that matchup.


Noob Central:
Points: 108
Still to face: Week 8 – HearthStone Academy, Week 9 – The Cabal
What they need to do: Can anyone remember a season where the Noobs weren’t in the hunt for a playoff spot? If it’s happened it doesn’t happen often. This season the Noobs are currently sitting in the last Wildcard spot. They are 5 points out of the first place in Gold and 5 points ahead of the next closest team for a Wildcard spot. The question is if that lead will be big enough as they have one of the tougher roads to the playoffs as they take on HSA an The Cabal.


AskHS:
Points: 92
Still to face: Week 8 – The Cabal, Week 9 – Defias Brotherhood
What they need to do: AskHS are trying to make the playoffs in their debut season. They are currently 16 points out of the last Wildcard spot. They need to win and win big in order to catch up and then take over one of those Wildcard spots. However, that won’t be easy as they still have to take on The Cabal and Defias Brotherhood.


Da Stubbs:
Points: 89
Still to face: Week 8 – Team Mox, Week 9 – HearthStone Academy
What they need to do: Da Stubbs are trying to still make Texas proud as they are hunting for a Wildcard spot. They sit 19 points out of the last Wildcard spot. They do take on Team Mox in Week 8 and could make up some points in that matchup. But then they face the undefeated HearthStone Academy as the gatekeeper to their playoff hopes and dreams.


Predictions:
Red Division Winner: HearthStone Academy
Gold Division Winner: Dirty Mike and the Boys
Wildcard: The Cabal
Wildcard: Xnergy

And that’s the road to the playoffs as they sit going into Week 8. Join me next week when we have a clearer view of who’s likely to get these 8 playoff spots and then as we also predict who makes it and ultimately who’s flag will fly for Ragnaros Season X (aka Ragnaros Season 10).