BREAKING NEWS!!!

We’ve looked through the schedules, figured each week with our preseason predictions, and today we are proud to release our NEFL preseason power rankings and predictions, as well as the tentative Game-of-the-Week selections for each weekend. As usual, these are based on research, history, gut feelings, and whatever else we feel like stirring into the pot. Season with a healthy dose of salt and take what you will.

Northern Elite Football League

East Division: Kimberly Storm, Green Bay Gladiators, Fox Valley Force, UP Arctic Blast (MI)
Central Division: Central Wisconsin Spartans, Chippewa Valley Predators, Eau Claire Crush, South Metro Dragons (MN)
West Division: Rochester Giants (MN), St Paul Pioneers (MN), Twin Ports Stampede, Minnesota Phoenix (MN)

(Winners are selected in bold)

Week One: May 15

Pioneers @ Phoenix. Blast @ Gladiators. Force @ Storm. Crush @ Spartans. Dragons @ Predators. Stampede @ Giants.
GOTW – Crush @ Spartans…The Spartans were last season’s best offense and definitely the team on the rise. The Crush are looking to get back to 2008 standards, when they finished the regular season undefeated and ranked #1 in Wisconsin heading into the Elite Bowl. A great test for both sides.

Storm @ Gladiators. Stampede @ Pioneers. Force @ Blast. Phoenix @ Giants. Spartans @ Dragons.
GOTW – Storm @ Gladiators…These two neighborly rivals will both be looking to get off to a fast start to the season. Can the Storm continue to build up towards success? A win here will go a ways towards helping secure a playoff berth in the weak East. Despite being week 2, this will be a crucial game for Kimberly.

Week Three: May 28

Crush @ Predators.
An absolute classic. These two cross town rivals will draw a huge Memorial Day crowd for this game in Eau Claire. Both sides are stacked and will return tremendously talented rosters. The Predators will continue the successful plan they discovered last season against the Crush, but don’t expect this to be easy. This could be the best match-up all year.

Week Four: June 5

Predators @ Spartans. Gladiators @ Stampede. Storm @ Phoenix. Dragons @ Crush. Giants @ Force. Blast @ Pioneers.
GOTW – Giants @ Force….in a week filled with looooong road trips, the Force will welcome Rochester to town. The Giants will be looking to announce their presence in the league, and this one will be a slugfest. Unfortunately, the travel will take it’s toll, and the home town boys will eke one out in the end.

Week Five: June 12

Giants @ Phoenix. Force @ Spartans. Gladiators @ Storm. Pioneers @ Predators. Dragons @ Blast.
GOTW - Pioneers @ Predators…The reigning NAFL National Champs will get a true test of the talent in the NEFL when they take on the cream of the crop. This is a trap game for the Predators: it follows two difficult weekends and ends up against a team that will come in uber-prepared to make a statement. Close, but the previous weeks will take their toll on the Predators, while the Pioneers won’t have even had to leave the Twin Cities and will be well-rested.

Week Six: June 19

Pioneers @ Stampede. Predators @ Gladiators. Crush @ Storm. Spartans @ Giants. Phoenix @ Dragons. Blast @ Force.
GOTW – Spartans @ Giants…Both sides will likely be 3-1 at this point. However, the home field advantage and a powerful defense will shut down the CW air attack, and the Giants will rise to 4-1.

Week Seven: June 26

Pioneers @ Giants. Phoenix @ Stampede. Force @ Gladiators. Spartans @ Predators. Storm @ Blast. Crush @ Dragons.
GOTW – Pioneers @ Giants...a jaunt down the road will not be too much for the Pioneers. Coming in at 5-0, they’ll take on the 4-1 Giants and shock them at home. Giants will get their revenge in the last weekend of the season.

Week Eight: July 4

Stampede @ Crush.
The Crush will be looking to go into the end of the season on a strong note. Following three relatively easy games, they’ll get a game worthy opponent for the holiday match-up and will certainly not disappoint the home crowd.

Week Nine: July 10

Dragons @ Spartans. Giants @ Stampede. Predators @ Crush. Gladiators @ Blast. Storm @ Force. Phoenix @ Pioneers.
GOTW – Gladiators @ Blast…in a bid to secure their playoff berth, the 3-3 Gladiators will head north to the UP and fight a struggling 2-4 Blast team looking to hold on to hope for the playoffs. Green Bay will dash those hopes with a first half blitz to take the wind out of the Blast’s sails.

Week Ten: July 17

Stampede @ Phoenix. Blast @ Storm. Giants @ Pioneers. Spartans @ Crush. Predators @ Dragons. Gladiators @ Force.
GOTW – Giants @ Pioneers…looking to finish the season undefeated, the Pioneers will fall prey to a team looking for revenge for a home loss three weeks earlier. The Giants will go all out in this one and come away with a hard fought victory, knocking the Pioneers off the undefeated wagon.

NEFL Preseason Power Rankings: