2025 Season Predictions

[Aston]

<abbr style="border-bottom:1px dotted #666" title="In this thread...">ITT</abbr>: a) predict your year (include last season's record), b) predict the AC & NC conference champions, and this year's Stevens Cup winner.

[Guest]

This year: 10-6 (Last year: 5-11)

Chicago Utah repeat. Utah triumphs again.

I really like both of those teams, and I'm not so sure Utah can pull it off again, it'll be close!

[Aston]

Utah:

The '25 Bees return most of the '24 squad, minus some depth/utility player losses (to FA) and some aging hits. The key thing is the departure of the two Offensive Tackles who began '24 as starters (one to injury/MTC, one to retirement).

However, we've also brought in as much talent as a bowl-winning team has ever done. The '24 draft is a complete wash at this point, but '25 was big in the addition of Wally Burgess and Artie Samuels.

Still, it may not be enough to keep pace with the incredible armament teams drafting high lately have been able to do. The week 2 loss to Boston was a big disappointment, especially after putting up just 10 points on the board. I fear that we may no longer be the most explosive team in the league.

Factor in my mediocre GPing and I think we'll continue at a '23 or '24 pace. Not going to come close to matching the hurtin' we put on teams in that magical '22 season.

Prediction: 11-5, AC West#1 on tiebreakers
(2024: 11-5, AC West #2)

AC
I don't like to toot my own horn, but I do think that once we hit the playoffs, we'll be again best equipped to make a run at it. The Bees will stumble at points during the season, but we are probably as well-equipped as anybody to handle injury blows to the roster. Our depth and veteran cohesion, as well as the completeness of the team in all aspects of the game (minus perhaps kick returning - a bit of a concern with a developing rookie handling those duties) will carry us through the gauntlet.

If not the Old Empire, though, I'd look for the new guys: both <span style="border-bottom:1px dotted #666">Nix</span>'s PXT Phils and <span style="border-bottom:1px dotted #666">Shark</span>'s OHV Showboats are absolutely LOADED teams who have made good moves this offseason. Either one could break through and represent the AC in the Bowl.

NC
Going to with the lazy pick here. At this point Columbus has a ridiculous amount of cohesion, and Nemesis is no slouch with his gameplanning. There will be no denying of Tubbsy this year.

Bowl: Utah 59, Columbus 21.
yeah, letting my imagination run free here. We get some payback for that '23 bowl loss.

[mike17]

a) predict your year (include last season's record)

Last year 7-9. I want to get excited about our hot start, but we probably end the year somewhere around 9-7.

I genuinely think our defense has the potential to be one of the top 5 in the league (and they are showing it so far) and our run game is... Well it's Max. The thing holding us back from greatness is Cary Money and the receiver core. Roy Majors should help, but we need some good numbers from the rest in order to make a post season bid.

b) predict the AC & NC conference champions, and this year's Stevens Cup winner.

NC: Columbus
AC: Utah

Stevens cup: yawn.

We need those two teams to retire so we can get some new blood in the championship game ;)

[Guest]

You guys with your Columbus love! I think Nemesis has a pretty good team, but I think we all need to get on the Clown bandwagon.

In my conference, I also like Columbus (Hard not to, good team and good GM), Gainesville, SMD and Morgantown. I think Boston's pretty good, but he's been hamstrung a little by his players.

In the alien/foreign conference ( ) aside from the Bees, I like Denver and PXT the most, but there's plenty of people knocking on the door, especially OHV.
He's new, so he's got to prove himself to me yet! He's off to a good start, though!

[Nemesis]

We're getting old.

Last year: 14-2
This year: 2-14

[Guest]

We're getting old.

Last year: 14-2
This year: 2-14

Pfft. You've still got a good few years from Tubbs.

[Guest]

11-5 last season.

I have to base this off pre-season, not this awful start... I figured 10-6 & the division. We'll get on track, I have faith.

No idea on prediction... I'll go with Chicago and... ME! (why not?) :)