I believe Mathematically as records stand right now, 12 wins is the only assured spot. After this week on Sunshine, that number will probably move down to 11 wins to clinch and possibly 10 depending on some results.

yeah what the FUCK

Thx I updated it as I posted.

That was 2 weeks ago and I had they too low to begin with.

#12---Squid Squad---(9-3)
Schedule Difficulty : Weak
Record vs Top 16 : 1-3

Squid Squad has a lot to prove but they do sit with a nice 9-3 record. This means the playoff pressure is not as tight but they are far from out of the woods. The only Top 16 victory they possess is a 3-2 nail-biter over Mumble Robots from this past week. Every other top open team has defeated them without dropping a single round. Sunshine week will be the most challenging yet, as they face The Muffin Men and Animus Victoria. I can’t see them taking many rounds off either team and will likely be 9-5. The playoff life of this team will come down to the final match and they may need help from other teams to even secure a spot. I asked Mana's thoughts:

#13---Mumble Robots---(8-4)
Schedule Difficulty : Average
Record vs Top 16 : 2-4

Mumble Robots find themselves in a very delicate position of their own doing. It is not from a lack of effort just an inability to finish off teams after holding a big lead. Those missed opportunities continue to hurt in the rankings. I caught-up with Maxhax:

I did watch both matches this week and I was surprised with the results. I expected a loss against Virgin Police but instead watched an old fashioned beat down in 16 minutes because VP had no answer on mid-fights. The 2nd match against Squid Squad was much more entertaining. It took almost 50 minutes for the 2nd round to end as both teams pushed back and forth. I watched this live and the last 5 minutes were dominated by Mumble Robots, with another 30 -45 seconds, this match could have easily been tied 3-3. Flat out, Mumble Robots need to win both matches on Sunshine this week because a single loss will make playoffs a very difficult prospect.

#14---Monkey Madness---(7-5)
Schedule Difficulty : Very Strong
Record vs Top 16 : 1-5

Of all the teams in the top 16, Monkey Madness are easily in the worst playoff position because they have 5 losses. This means they must win the 4 remaining matches to secure a playoff spot, winning 3 out of 4 matches will not be enough. Half of the matches this season have been against Top 16 teams so ESEA scheduling has not been generous. That said, Monkey Madness has yet to really step up and overcome these challenges because they are 1-5 against top teams. Some losses were hard fought indeed but winning vital games is what making playoffs is all about. I recently asked Matt his thoughts:

Sunshine week will be very interesting as they face Mumble Robots. The only question is, can Monkey Madness step-up when it counts and run off 3 straight wins?

#15---Virgin Police---(8-4)
Schedule Difficulty : Strong
Record vs Top 16 : 1-4

Virgin Police came into this week needing to secure at least 1 victory to remain comfortable in the playoff race. With last night’s FFL to Muffin Men, they dropped both matches and now sit firmly on the bubble at 8-4. All season I have said that VP have the talent to compete at the very top of Open but the question has always been “commitment”. For a team that does not scrim regularly, the most critical part of the season arrives and they FFL the match. That is not a good sign but a worse sign is facing Cloud 9 and Blanc ESports this week on Sunshine. Both teams are active and hungry to secure solid playoff seeds. VP will need to win at least 1 match to retain some hope of making playoffs, lose both matches and they are done.

Utterly pointless stat - The Carnage Carry - Of all the teams in Open, Virgin Police active players have more combined IM and Invite experience than any other team. Only Carolina Fan Club and Animus Victoria come close.

Virgin Police - 164 Invite / 92 IM = 256
Carolina Fan Club - 66 Invite / 181 IM = 247
Animus Victoria - 101 Invite / 145 IM - 246

#16a---Victorious Secret---(9-3)
Schedule DIfficulty : Weak
Record vs Top 16 : 2-3

Victorius Secret came into this week with a very easy schedule against 2 mid-open teams and pulled out 2 victories. It seems like the ESEA scheduling gods are gifting this team with another week against mid-open teams "Silent Kingdom" and "Suika Jump off a cliff". I expect another 2 victories this week and a possible playoff clinching spot.

Player Stat Focus : Tatuwah -- Currently ranked #6 in open for scout kills with 251. Impressive as that is, he manages doing huge work for this team with a very low amount of heals, only 4310 through 10 matches. Almost every other scout in the top 10 have 2 times his heals.

#16b---THE WIDEST KIDS YOU KNOW---(8-4)
Schedule DIfficulty : Very Weak
Record vs Top 16 : 1-2

Jaguar and co rejoin the power ranks but hold this spot by a cunt hair. This season has been a struggle for this team because of a revolving roster. The talentremains but they are having a tough time putting it all together. Playoffs approach and every win/loss counts. This team finds themselves on the bubble but in much better shape than other 8-4 teams because of a good Sunshine schedule. They face Morin and Silent Kingdom. Getting a 1-1 split this week is going to put this team at the mercy of ESEA scheduling for Granary. Both of these matches can be victories, the only question is, will they showup?

Player Focus : Screwb -- It is really no secret that ScrewB has this team firmly on his back and has been carrying all season long. Currently leading all Open Soldiers in Frags and Medic Picks with 340 and 57 respectively, ScrewB is making a strong case for the top Pocket in the division this season.

#5----SYOPS TF2---(11-1)
Schedule Difficulty : Average
Record vs Top 16 : 4-1

SYOPS has been a strong team all season long and should easily secure a playoff spot. They had 3 very competitive matches against some of the top teams in open where I think some may feel that dropping 3 or more rounds relates to not playing well. SYOPS has received some negative comments about it and I recently asked the their medic CHEERISS on her thoughts:

SYOPS has shown they can pull out hard fought matches when crunch time hits and that is the mark of a solid team. This week SYOPS will find themselves facing Seendio and Night Owl’s where I predict a split.

#6----Blanc Esports---(10-2)
Schedule Difficulty : Average
Record vs Top 16 : 4-2

I feel we came in pretty well prepared for Badlands week and delivered 2 solid performances. The match against Monkey Madness was plagued with pauses and hardware problems so it wasn’t a fun match. The next match against Cloud 9 was more fun and had a nice flow to it. We secured 2 important victories this week and with a 10-2 record, are in a good spot for playoffs.

I recently spoke to Avast and asked him about the mysterious nature of our team, specifically because of Avast’s family history of being involved in ruining the secret Underground Railroad, he had this to say:

#7----Night Owls---(10-2)
Schedule Difficulty : Weak
Record vs Top 16 : 2-2

Just when I move Night Owl’s up in the rankings, they go ahead and drop both matches this week. While the one against Seendio was an expected result, I was not anticipating them to lose so quickly to Animus Victoria. Sitting with a 10-2 record is a mostly comfortable spot when considering playoffs but they did not clinch just yet. A difficult week against SYOPS and Carolina Fan Club await on Sunshine. The possibility exists that should both matches turn into losses, the Night Owls could find themselves fighting for a playoff spot come Granary week.

Player Focus : Air -- Quite simply, the driving force on this team. Air has been nothing less than dominant sporting a 380 DPM for the season so far, including 4 matches over 400. Surely making a case for the strongest pocket in Open this season and if you plan to beat Night Owls, you need to deal with Air.

#8----Carolina Fan Club---(10-1)
Schedule Difficulty : Average
Record vs Top 16 : 3-1

I honestly don’t have a whole lot to say about Carolina Fan Club right now. Only 1 Badlands match was scheduled for this week against Squid Squad and that wasn’t competitive at all. They have won against Virgin Police and Cloud 9 by 1 capture each, in exciting fashion. With a 10-1 record, they are in a very good position to secure a playoff spot. This week however will be quite challenging as they face Seendio and Night Owls on Sunshine. While I know Carolina have a good team, I just have a feeling they are going to drop both matches making Granary week vital.

#9---Cloud 9---(9-3)
Schedule Difficulty : Weak
Record vs Top 16 : 1-3

Could 9 started the week with a rough 5-0 loss to Blanc Esports but rebounded well against Morin than meets the eye. That single win put them into a good position for this week. Matches against a declining Virgin Police and I AM NOT BILLUSTER are ahead. Another 1-1 split may be in store for Cloud 9 this week on sunshine and in all likelihood will need a solid Granary week to qualify for playoffs. It should come down to how harsh ESEA scheduling is for the final week.

Player Focus : Battle Medic Pat -- Leads all open medics with 21 frags in 11 matches, including 5 Medic Picks.

#10---Bwatbwatbwat---(8-4)
Schedule Difficulty : Very Strong
Record vs Top 16 : 2-4

Bwatbwatbwat is in a state of free-fall. After a dominant 8-0 start to the season, BBB has dropped 4 straight matches. Not only have they dropped these matches against the higher caliber teams but have been destroyed in the process, winning only 1 round while dropping 20. I couldn't say this 2 weeks ago but as of right now, I believe BBB will not make the playoff rounds at all. This week on Sunshine, they face a revitalized Animus Victoria squad along with The Muffin Men. This losing streak could easily reach 6 straight matches but playoff hopes are not lost just yet. Make no mistake about it, these two Sunshine matches will determine BBB’s season, they need to win at least one match.

Team Stat Focus : Medic Kills -- During this 4 match losing streak, BBB has played a total of 95 in-game minutes and had a 6 player team total of only 18 medic kills. Even against the top of the division, that number is very low and likely a big reason why none of these 4 matches was close to competitive.

#11---Morin than meets the eye---(8-4)
Schedule Difficulty : Strong
Record vs Top 16 : 2-4

Morin than meets the eye had a very difficult last 2 weeks, facing some of the high open teams but they did manage to pull out a single victory over Monkey Madness. That victory alone keeps them in the playoff hunt and with a favorable Sunshine schedule this week, they can dictate their own fate. Sitting with an 8-4 record means you need to win every match. This week against just relax and THE WIDEST KIDS YOU KNOW gives the opportunity to do just that. I still feel playoffs are very possible for this team but they must have victories this week.

Player Focus : smashy & changeq -- In my opinion, one of the most underrated scout pairs in open are these 2 guys. Smashy is quietly leading Open in Scout kills with 281. Together they have over 50% of this whole teams frags.

Sunshine week is here and it falls late in week 7 making it a pivotal map in the rotation. Sunshine is rarely if ever played in the off-season for scrims and only sees rare action during pugs. I quite enjoy that fact because wins and losses at this point of the season will determine playoffs.

Huge upsets and close matches between many teams are highly likely because of the unfamiliarity of the map. As with many past seasons, the way ESEA does scheduling means that there will be a few top 16 teams that get submarined by low/mid open teams. These teams are coasting through easy schedules and can rack up wins very quickly while the top teams claw at each other for every inch in the standings. I have my eye on at least 2 teams that are going to cause major trouble by the end of the season. Everything hinges on the Granary schedules and of course, the match results on Sunshine.

Last week I went a little too heavy on match stats, as I was trying to spotlight a few players on each team. In an effort to stay on some people’s good side, (you know who you are) this time I want to focus more on the single most important factor in how I do my rankings, MATCH RESULTS. I am still going to use stats! The last 2 weeks on Gullywash and Badlands had our Top 16 teams face off against each other. Based off those results, a team will climb or fall regardless of other factors such as “omg that team must be better because that guy was in Invite!!!”.

Week 5 – Gullywash Rankings - http://teamfortress.tv/thread/22659/open-power-rankings-week-5-gully/?page=1#394753
Week 6 – Badlands Rankings - http://teamfortress.tv/thread/22821/week-6-open-power-ranks-badlands/?page=1#396660

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Week 7 Rankings -- Sunshine Week

#1----Seendio------------------------------------(12-0) N/A
#2----The Muffin Men--------------------------(11-1) +1
#3----Aminus Victoria-------------------------(10-2) +4
#4----I AM NOT BILLUSTER-----------------(10-2) +1
#5----SYOPS TF2--------------------------------(11-1) -3
#6----Blanc Esports----------------------------(10-2) +2
#7----Night Owl's--------------------------------(10-2) -3
#8----Carolina Fan Club-----------------------(10-1) -2
#9----Cloud 9--------------------------------------(9-3) +1
#10---Bwatbwatbwat---------------------------(8-4) -1
#11---Morin than meets the eye------------(8-4) +4
#12---Squid Squad------------------------------(9-3) +4
#13---Mumble Robots--------------------------(8-4) -1
#14---Monkey Madness------------------------(7-5) N/A
#15---Virgin Police------------------------------(8-4) -4
#16a--Victorious Secret-----------------------(9-3) -3
#16b--THE WIDEST KIDS YOU KNOW---(8-4) N/A

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#1----Seendio---(12-0)
Schedule Difficulty : Strong
Record vs Top 16 : 4-0

With their 12th victory, Seendio becomes the first team to clinch a playoff spot this season. Not that it was ever in doubt but mathematically speaking, they are the only team so far to clinch. There is not much new information about this team to talk about. They still have not given up a single round and have destroyed the other top open challengers up to this point. Can anyone manage to take a round? Sunshine week offers a possible glimmer of hope to Carolina Fan Club and SYOPS to try and take some rounds but I see 2 victories for Seendio.

Player Stat Focus : Cab00se -- The medic for Seendio has one outstanding stat that may show why this team is so dominant. Starting Gullywash week, Seendio has played 4 of the top teams in open and during that time Caboose only had 15 total deaths in 4 matches with around 82 minutes in-game.

#2----The Muffin Men---(11-1)
Schedule Difficulty : Very Strong
Record vs Top 16 : 6-1

The Muffin Men have easily had the hardest schedule in open this season. No other team has had to face 7 of the top 16 teams in the division through the first 12 matches and in that span they have gone an impressive 11-1. An almost certain playoff clinching week awaits them because for the third straight week they avoid any High open competition and should win both matches. I hope this lack of quality opponents does not cause them to get rusty as playoffs begin.

Interesting Team Stat : The Muffin Men are racking up an incredible amount of Domination's when compared to Revenge kills. 107 Doms to only 13 Revenge. The only two open teams that come close are Carolina Fan club at 86/31 and Danger Zone with 83/45.

#3----Aminus Victoria---(10-2)
Schedule Difficulty : Strong
Record vs Top 16 : 4-2

Animus Victoria had some serious problems on Gully week but seem to have a new invigorated lineup. Pulling out 2 victories this week against Top 5 opponents show that this revitalized roster can get the job done. AV jumps 4 spots in my rankings because of such a strong week on Badlands. Already in a firm playoff position, they get a much easier schedule on Sunshine as they face a rapidly eroding Bwatbwatbwat and playoff hopeful Squid Squad. I can't help but predict 2 solid victories and a playoff spot clinched.

#4----I AM NOT BILLUSTER---(10-2)
Schedule Difficulty : Strong
Record vs Top 16 : 3-2

As predicted last week, BILLUSTER had a split on Badlands but not as I expected. They came out and Kicked SYOPS off the map but followed that up by getting kicked off the map by Animus Victoria, both matches 5-2. This team is in a good position for playoffs but have an interesting Sunshine week ahead against Cloud 9 and Blanc ESports. I don't think either match will be easy and should they fail to perform, it could hurt the playoff seeding.

Many of you may wonder about this team name. Who is this "Billuster" and why has this team honored his name all season long? I spent a season with the real Billuster and caughtup with him for comment on this development. In true Billy fashion, it was short and sweet:

I am not afraid to admit that I am not smart enough to understand the uber section. I read it twice. :/

Enjoyed the match writeups tho

Medic needs his SNG back (Super Nail Gun)
Medic was always a combat class, not some weak class protected by others.
Battle Medic was a thing used in every single match back in the original TF.

Just to show a little clip, 2:44 of this video shows just a small part what a medic could do
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7yfy1iiQvA

I understand how you feel and you might be right. If you wanted to do power rankings as a circle jerk, then yes it will be the same teams in the same positions week after week. I am doing things based on match performances being the most important factor and not who plays on what team.

Thanks for the input tes, I like to hear good and bad.

Last week I stayed away from talking about names and stats. A few people mentioned that teams/people like to see themselves mentioned in write-ups. So my intention/goal this week was to spotlight some players on each team from this weeks matched. Maybe it was a little too stat heavy.
I'll try to see what else I can put into it but for that level of insight, I might have to watch 10+ STV's a week and add team captains for interviews. I don't know if I have that kind of time. In the end, I am writing this stuff at work when I have down-time during the week. I'll try :)

# 8----Blanc Esports---(8-2)
My team had an average Gully week. In our first match against Morin than meets the eye, we relied heavily on Morin killing himself on last and were able to secure a few quick rounds. We were sloppy in this match but were able to consistently win DM fights to offset. However, a well-executed double scout back-cap secured a round for Morin in the 2nd half.

In the second match of the week, we (Specifically Me) came out totally flat against SYOPS in the 1st half and got punished for it. We did recover in the 2nd half and played really strong giving us a chance to tie the match at 4-4 but the hole we (me) dug ourselves in the first half was too deep. Badlands matches vs Cloud 9 and Monkey Madness await us this week. Good luck

# 9----Bawtbawtbawt---(8-2)
BBB lost a tough first match against Night Owls 5-1. It looks like the Owl’s found a way to limit or neutralize Noobies and that lead to a pretty easy victory. The only number BBB put up that shines to me is Rage doing his job getting 7 of 9 medic kills for the team.

Not much to be said of the 2nd match against I AM NOT BILLUSTER. I was expecting a great match but instead watched a lopsided affair because Flexuranus and bklaw had terrible matches. BBB gets a chance to impress this week on Badlands as they face currently undefeated Seendio and SYOPS. I think the deck is stacked against them in these match-ups, I predict 2 losses.

# 10---Cloud 9---(8-2)
Last week, I ranked this team 16th because they had an easy schedule but have clearly shown they can hang with the top of Open. Cloud 9 lost a heart-breaker against Carolina Fan Club this week in the final round. Both soldiers Twitchy and Buschy had a very strong match. They were winning at half and just could not pick-up this important win. I believe Cloud 9 will make playoffs regardless but, when seeding is determined, this missed opportunity could hurt them. The second match was against playoff bubble team “Just Relax” where they delivered a solid victory. Badlands week will be against Morin than meets the eye and Blanc Esports. If they can win both, it will put Cloud 9 in a very favorable playoff position.

# 11---Virgin Police---(8-2)
Virgin Police started the week with a 5-2 win over playoff bubble team ”Just Relax”. Griff and company put up a really good fight but I honestly expected more of V Police. If not for Sam having a beastly match, this could have been a really close game because tech/carnage were just average.

The second match vs Monkey Madness was much more intense as it went into overtime. I did spectate most of the match and the overtime round in particular. MM wiped V Police on mid, with only TechNasty alive but they could not find him. MM pushed a 70% Uber advantage to 2nd and began to cap but had to turn around to stop TechNasty from back-capping middle. Not only did MM not succeed in blocking the cap, but Carnage came out of nowhere and 2-shot the medic at 90%. After that it was shortly over as V Police has a smooth push to last. Virgin Police face Muffin Men and Mumble Robots this week. They need to be in top form or they will see themselves lose both matches.

# 12---Mumble Robots---(7-3)
Oh Mumble Robots, another heartbreaking loss after dominating the first half. Going up 4-0 and then dropping a massive 5 straight rounds during the 2nd half. ScrewB and Leaky carried THE WIDEST KIDS YOU KNOW to victory as the rest of the team under-performed badly

The 2nd match of the week vs Victorious Secret was probably the earliest "must-win" so far in the division. Frys and rdj were huge in this match, both almost with 400 DPM and over 50% of the frags between them. It doesn't look like Victorious Secret had any answer for this team on Gullywash and were dominated. This win is important as Mumble Robots find themselves on the bubble for playoffs. Badlands matchups this week will be challenging and I predict a split vs Virgin Police and Squid Squad.

# 13---Victorious Secret---(7-3)
Victorious Secret’s first match this week was against team “Donk Kongs”, a quiet team that has been clawing at the heels of a possible playoff seed with some solid play and critical wins. Donk Kongs were not fated to win this match mostly because WhoopiGoldberg and Tatuwah had huge games to deny playoff hope.

The 2nd match this week against Mumble Robots was more important. I was expecting a much closer game but VS was simply outplayed all game long. Interesting stats show that the medic & demo only had 8 deaths but the rest of the team had 15 or more. Just looks like half of VS was doing one thing and the other half was doing another. Badlands week will have them face more of the hungry bubble teams as “just relax” and “empire of emotion” will not be pushover matches. These wins are vital and should Victorious Secret stumble, they could find themselves on the outside looking in when the final weeks approach.

# 14---Monkey Madness---(7-3)
Monkey Madness had a difficult Gullywash week starting with a 5-1 loss to The Muffin Men where they put up a decent fight but were a bit outclassed. They quickly got a chance to redeem themselves against Virgin Police and played a great game but fell short in OT. It was fun to spectate and I enjoyed watching such an even match. Monkey Madness has a very balanced team with no one really under-performing or carrying. Losing both matches this week hurt and puts this team on the playoff bubble meaning a few more losses can end the season. A strong week on Badlands will greatly help secure a playoff spot but they face challenges in Morin than meets the eye and Blanc Esports.

# 15---Morin than meets the eye---(7-3)
Morin than meets the eye has 4 very important matches in the next 2 weeks. Not only to remain in the playoff race, but need to prove they can hang with the top teams. They did not start well with a 5-1 loss to Blanc Esports. Both scouts ChangeQ and Smashy had strong games but the supporting cast did not show-up.

Morin and Co. had a much better 2nd match against Night Owls as Smashy and Morin played very well, especially in the 1st half. Watching some of the STV, some scrappy fights and bad medic deaths for tron was the real tipping point of this match. Night Owls protected the medic better and had 5 more Ubers. Things to not get easier for Morin and Co. on Badlands because Could 9 and Monkey Madness await. It could be another 2 loss week as both teams look strong. It is crunch time for Morin's team and they need to bring the A game or playoffs are in doubt.

# 16---Squid Squad---(8-2)
A new arrival in my Top 16 because of an easy schedule. Squid Squad has been playing solidly for over 2 weeks and they have soundly defeated several playoff bubble teams but have lost to both of the high open teams they had to play. Looking at team stats says they have a balanced attack but have not been involved in a truly competitive match so far. Sporting an 8-2 record, the easy matches and coasting will cease this week as they face Carolina Fan Club and Mumble Robots. Both matches, especially the former, will be difficult wins but will give Squid Squad a chance to show us what they can do.

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Week 5 ---- Power Ranks --- Gullwash Week --- http://teamfortress.tv/thread/22659/open-power-rankings-week-5-gully/?page=1#395062

Hello again friends, another week of my own Power Rankings.Some teams made massive jumps in rank while a few others dropped sharply and we have a new arrival.Sorry in advance if offended, deal with it.

Week 6 Rankings (Badlands)

#1----Seendio------------------------------(10-0) N/A
#2----SYOPS TF2-------------------------(10-0) +3
#3----The Muffin Men-------------------(9-1) -1
#4----Night Owl's-------------------------(10-0) +5
#5----I AM NOT BILLUSTER----------(9-1) -2
#6----Carolina Fan Club----------------(9-1) +2
#7----Aminus Victoria-------------------(8-2) N/A
#8----Blanc Esports---------------------(8-2) -2
#9----Bawtbawtbawt--------------------(8-2) -5
#10---Cloud 9-----------------------------(8-2) +6
#11---Virgin Police----------------------(8-2) -1
#12---Mumble Robots------------------(7-3) +2
#13---Victorius Secret------------------(7-3) -1
#14---Monkey Madness----------------(7-3) -3
#15---Morin than meets the eye-----(7-3) -2
#16---Squid Squad-----------------------(8-2) N/A

# 1----Seendio---(10-0)
Things went as planned for Seendio this week with two shut-out victories. I expected to see at least a few rounds taken by the teams they faced but both matches look like overpowering wins. Maybe someone on this team can explain what happened against Aminus Victoria? The match time says 24 minutes but the frags/damage are way too low.Asianriceguy with 130 DPM? There had to be an extended pause of some sort.

Can Bawtbawtbawt and/or Night Owls take any rounds from our top seed on Badlands? I say yes and predict Seendio will finally be involved in a competitive match but should turn out 2 victories.

# 2----SYOPS TF2---(10-0)
SYOPS is coming off a monster Gully week where they pulled out 2 hard fought victories. Last week, I asked for more context on this team and I got a first-hand dose. SYOPS straight dominated Blanc Esports in the first half but Blanc pushed back and had a chance to tie the game at 4-4 in the 2nd half but fell short.

In the 2nd match of Wednesday’s double-header, it was SYOPS turn to come out flat in the 1st half against Aminus Victoria and quickly found themselves down 4-1 in the 2nd half. A massive comeback ensued as SYOPS took 4 straight rounds to win a 5-4 thriller. Looking at both stats, I do not see any stand-out performances; instead I see a solid balanced attack across the board. SYOPS schedule does not get easier this week on Badlands, but I expect more close matches and a split against I AM NOT BILLUSTER and Bawtbawtbawt.

# 3----The Muffin Men---(9-1)
The Muffin Men continue to roll along, sporting a solid win over Monkey Madness 5-1. Once again, Trip has top damage, top frags and top heals, however the whole team is showing some consistent numbers.The 2nd match of the week for Muffin Men was against "Lolis in Spaaaace", a mid-open team that I have no idea how they were paired up against to begin with. Lolis put up a really good fight but were just over-matched.

Another gift from the scheduling gods will give The Muffin Men an easier Badlands week than they should have, as they face Virgin Police and THE WIDEST KIDS UKNOW. There may be some surprises in store but I predict 2 victories.

# 4----Night Owls---(10-0)
Night Owls delivered a decisive 5-1 win vs Bawtbawtbawt despite what seems like a weak showing from the scout pair Testify/Owl. Fortunately, a powerhouse performance from Air and br on soldier broke BBB’s back.

Testify recovered from that bad game to put in a monster performance against Morin and Co. with 32 frags and 15 assists. Air once again took control and put out 400 DPM on pocket but I am surprised they dropped 2 rounds. Probably throwing a bit to try and help Owl get more cap points because getting 200 DPM is obviously hard for him. Badlands will be a big challenge for the undefeated Night Owls as they face Seendio and Aminus Victoria where I predict a split.

# 5----I AM NOT BILLUSTER---(9-1)
I AM NOT BLLUSTER had a really rough match on Gully against Seendio. Only Giraffe seemed to show-up for BILLUSTER in this match. Both scouts Arekk and Linkuser were destroyed consistently which lead to lopsided fights all match long.

In the 2nd match vs Bawtbawtbawt, BILLUSTER and Co. really impressed with a dominant victory. Just about every player had 300 DPM with Giraffe getting 400 DPM along with with more heals than the pocket. Linkuser and Arekk destroyed the scouts of BBB and were the main reason 2 of their players had such horrible stats, they were outplayed. Badlands matches this week will be challenging against SYOPS and Aminus Victoria where I predict a split.

# 6----Carolina Fan Club---(9-1)
The Fan Club’s first match this week against Cloud 9 was a nail biter that came down to the last round. A 5-4 win showing Carolina and Ily leading the way on damage while SS almost had 40 frags on cleanup. There was a shuffle of the lineup but the team still performed well and got an important win. The 2nd match was against a Mid-Open team “Suika jump off a cliff” which seemed to go smoothly. round was dropped but it looks like there were connection and server issues, perhaps that was a factor.

Carolina and Co. only have 1 Badlands match scheduled this week against Squid Squad, a team looking to push into playoff contention. It should be a win but never underestimate a hungry team. Perhaps they will get a second Badlands match scheduled?

# 7----Aminus Victoria---(8-2)
I had a feeling last week that AV could possibly lose both Gully matches and my crystal ball was correct. This team has a lot of big names but you never win matches on reputation. That said, AV does have the talent but may need some time to mold a solid team dynamic. AV played Seendio in the first match and got anal raped. Did this match have a pause?? Not a single player on AV had double digit frags, Pizza Pose with 90 DPM? Low frags across the board and only took 23 minutes?

AV seemed to shake off a bad first match and was initially strong against SYOPS taking 4 of the first 5 rounds but could not finish them off and dropped 4 straight rounds. I really want to watch this match and see what exactly happened. Stats show the damage and frags to be dead even. Going into Badlands week is not much easier for AV, they face Night Owl’s and I AM NOT BILLUSTER where they could drop both again.

Both could be right but I based the ranks on a few factors. Difficulty of Schedule, my personal experience with most teams listed, and most importantly match results. When all the cards are down, the match results speak the loudest of all.

If rankings are based solely on what players are on what teams, then every week will be the same circle jerk of teams and players that turns into a popularity contest. I thought to add a little bit of context and structure into my rankings to avoid the popularity contest. Either way, it was really fun to write and I think I will do more.

11---Monkey Madness---7-1
I don't think many of the "top" teams have noticed this squad yet. They look to be very solid and I predict they rise in the ranks as we progress. They have 1 loss to BawtBawtBawt 5-3 on process which was really tight game. I did watch this game and they simply lost some critical DM fights that could have turned the match. Looking ahead, they have a challenging Gully week against Muffin Men and Virgin Police. I expect solid performances but they should be satisfied with a split if they can pull it off.

12---Victorious Secret---6-2
The first of my two sleeper teams who both happen play each other this week! Victorius Secret has easily had the toughest schedule in the first 8 matches this season, facing 5 solid teams out of 8. They turned out a nice 6-2 record. The only question mark was a 5-1 win over THE WIDEST KIDS UKNOW (We Never Wipe) during that team's roster problems. Regardless, they took care of business and surely have some players in Atrocity and Yuri worth watching. Gully week has them facing Donk Kongs and Mumble Robots, the latter being a fantastic matchup that should be tight.

13---Morin than meets the eye---7-1
Morin and Co. have had a very easy schedule to this point. The only challenges being Victorius Secret which they dropped 4-2 on the Strength of Tatuwah's 59 frag performance and a victory over Mumble Robots that saw Morin and friends come back in the 2nd half to take 4 straight rounds. Whatever halftime talk took place worked. Gully should be a tough week for this 7-1 team. They face Blanc Esports and Night Owls. Pulling out a split this week will pay dividends when playoff seeding rolls around, this is a big week for Morin than meets the eye.

14---Mumble Robots---6-2
My 2nd sleeper team in the division. Maxhax's boys come into this week at 6-2 but could easily be 8-0. Both losses were very tight matches and showed this team will not roll over. Max is a really strong pocket and Kairu is an underrated scout that should be leading the way more. It hasn't happened in the first half of the season but now are the matches that really count. This week they face THE WIDEST KINDS U KNOW and Victorius Secret on Gully. Both are matches they can win but both should be closely fought. With 2 losses already, they need to win matches like this to bump up in the rankings.

15---THE WIDEST KIDS UKNOW---6-2
The team formerly known as We Never Wipe had some roster problems 2 weeks ago but seem to have the starting 6 back in place. Jaguar back on demo is a welcome return but lets be honest and just say that Screwb is carrying this team. Should he be countered, other members will need to step up and contribute. The first half of the season has been a rather light schedule so now we will see what this team has under the hood. A match this week against Mumble Robots should provide some perspective.

16---Cloud 9---7-1
Undoubtedly among of the easiest schedules in Open for the first 8 matches. This team has some talent but seem to have a problem getting the starting 6 to play every week. I'll be honest and say that I don't know several of the players on this team but if this inconsistent trend continues, it will hurt badly against the better teams. Those better teams are upon them,starting this week with Carolina Fan club and Just Relax. The former will be very tough to win but the latter should be a strongly contested match.

Doing my own power rankings after the first 8 weeks of Open. The more interesting matches are going to start now. Dr.Shdwpuppet does a fine job for the official articles, I enjoy reading them every week, but I don’t know how much he actually plays/interacts with these teams on a daily basis. I see most of these teams on a week to week basis and follow the division enough to think I have a pretty good grasp on these teams at the moment. Most of all,I have a lot of free time at work these days so doing this helps my day go faster. Love or hate,here they are.

Rankings were largely based on match performance in the first 8 games. More factors involved are strength of schedule and my own personal knowledge of teams and players.

1--- Seendio---8-0
Most informed people would label this team as the odds-on favorite to win the division. They have 6 solid players and a wealth of ranging experience. Asianriceguy/Antwan could be the strongest scout pair in open and it must be fun cleaning up whatever Smile manages not to kill himself. Seendio has undoubtedly had the easiest schedule of any team in the top 10 thus far. I predict 2 wins this week but will be interested in the results against Animus and BILLUSTER.

2---The Muffin Men---7-1
Muffin Men come in 2nd place for a few reasons. Compared to all the teams in the top 10, they have had the most challenging schedule facing 4 solid teams in 8 games. Performance has been strong and they seem to have chemistry early in the season. As documented, Trip has been a heal heavy pocket so far but has also put those heals to good use with large damage numbers. This might not work later in the season against better teams but time will tell. After a tough first 8 matches, they should roll out 2 wins on Gullywash this week.

3---I AM NOT BILLUSTER---8-0
BILL’s team has had only 1 challenging match so far against Muffin Men, which they won 5-3. Normally, I would have them above Muffin Men in the rankings but given the difficulties of the schedules, I made my choice. BILL and Co. have destroyed every other team they have faced, getting 2 wins on Metalworks in just over 30 minutes and a 12 min Snakewater win as well. They will be heavily tested this week and should be happy with at least a split against BawtBawtBawt and Seendio.

4---BawtBawtBawt---8-0
BBB has had a relatively easy schedule so far this season. Process doesn't seem to be their bestmap as they stumbled against both teams they should be 5-0ing. Noobies is driving this team right now doing tons of work. They seem to need to finalize a solid 6th player to the lineup. Regardless, BBB finally gets tested this week against Night Owls and I AM NOT BILLUSTER. Both matches promise to be close but I can see a 1-1 split this week.

5---SYOPS TF2---8-0
SYOPS has literally rolled over every team they have faced and with good reason. The schedule has been incredibly easy up to this point. This team does have a good amount of experience and I value that highly. That said, team chemistry could be harder to come by but this team promises to be solid all season long. SYOPS will rise or fall with the scout pair dflame and Soarex, who will drive this team. SYOPS has 2 tough weeks ahead and the supporting cast needs to step-up. This week’s matches are against Blanc Esports and Aminus Victoria will provide more context.

6---Blanc Esports---7-1
This is my team. I am not going to get too in-depth here but suffice to say that I feel we have performed well so far against a mildly weak schedule. I see massive potential from my teammates and have a lot of confidence that we can pull it together as the season progresses. We face SYOPS and Morin this week. Good luck to all.

7---Animus Victoria---8-0
Evidently we need to talk about Tic-Tack leaving this team. While he was around, this team was generally viewed as top 2 or 3. Losing him is a huge blow not just in experience and general skill but also in team chemistry and coordination. I doubt they have recovered just yet as referenced by the Metalworks match vs Mumble Robots, a brutal hour long match that could have gone either way. Given enough time, they may come together but will face a tough Gully week vs Seendio and SYOPS where they could drop both.

8---Carolina Fan Club---7-1
SS Fan club wasn't good enough, this new name fits better but this team is still a puzzle to me.They have the makings to be a very difficult team to play but have 3 FFW’s and seem to have unpredictable performances overall. Phrakture on medic is a huge question mark but has played well so far. They had a competitive match vs Muffin Men followed with a last round victory over Virgin Police on Viaduct. This week should provide 2 solid victories.

9---Night Owls---8-0
This is a team I could have probably ranked higher if not for the incredible ease of schedule All 8 matches were pre-determined victories but they managed to give away rounds to teams that should have been rolled. Air is a strong pocket and is doing massive work while Testify is supporting with cleanup frags. Looking at everyone else, I am trying to piece this together. Likely more info will be available after this week where they face BawtBawtBawt and Morin than meets the eye.

10---Virgin Police---6-2
A team of old school players I am very familiar with. They also have the most talented backup players in open (Twinweapons, Spadez, thenoid) who can start for just about any high open team. So far they have performed as expected with the schedule they were given. That said, the recent pickup of Carnage gives them the potential to shoot up the ranks fast. The lingering question with this team is how committed and focused on TF2 can they be for the whole season? All 6 players share the same doubt. If this team focuses on scrim nights more than once a week, by the end the end of the season, nobody will want to play them in the playoffs. This week against Monkey Madness and Just Relax should help bring the team together.