North

1) Knights – The Knights may have the best RB combination in the league and IF (a big IF) Terry Glenn can stay healthy and sane, the Farve-Glenn combo should finally be enough for the Knights to bring home a divisional crown.

2) Magic - I suppose that until someone beats the Magic that the Magic should be the team to beat. However, the Magic start this season with Fragile Fred and no real back up for him, choosing to draft for the future and not the present. Also, with out a clear #2 WR the Magic roster depth is clearly and issue. Now I wouldn’t want to be the one that has to play against Warner/Alexander/Moss every week, but the Magic look vulnerable in 2002.

3) Lighting – After turning down successive trade options for players the likes of Duce Staley, Mike Bennett, Deuce McAlister and Travis Henry The Lighting decided to hold out for a draft day deal step up and get Garrison Hearst, leaving some to believe that either Coach Joe Brainerd drinks a LOT more than he lets on or The Lightning has someone targeted for an early pick in the 2003 draft. 

South

WoWW – 3 Division Titles in a row with a deeper and healthier team than last year. (Even with quite possibly the worst draft in franchise history. I mean really it takes a special kind of moron to draft a backup QB with the same bye week as his starter).

Sharks – The Sharks enter 2003 with clearly stud at QB and RB and definitely a top tier 1-2 combination at receiver, but after that there seems to be a sever the lack of any depth, which will hurt this group in the long run. If Ahman goes down I just don’t see the likes of TJ Duckette or Dorsey Levens carrying the load, let alone a football in 2002. Moreover, The Sharks still haven’t got over last years inability to close out their division, lending credence to the theory that it hasn’t been bad luck that has affected The Sharks over the years, but a propensity to choking.

Crushers – I’m not sure what to make of the Crushers this year. They have a team that has enough upside to be a real sleeper this year but there are a ton of unknowns. CLEARLY, Laurel and Hardy… Er Tom and Kyle, drafted very well for the long haul, signaling each owners mutual desire to move on from the Steve Young glory days.  However, it will have to be seen if that talent can pay off for them this year. If only they had Shockey….>:)

East

1) Maulers – The Maulers actually drafted well. Honestly, I don’t think that phrase has been spoken before, but it looks like Col. Piro was able to remain sober long enough to put together a coherent draft. No dead guys, no IR guys, no XFL guys - imagine that. There is a clear lack of depth at the RB spot but there seems to be enough fire power across the board to over come that.

2) Storm – The Storm went into the 2002 draft saying, “We only need our core 4 to win” and apparently they are tying to prove it. Looks like they will be beat by more than just WoWW in 2002. 

3) Nukers – The Nukers will not be the doormats they were last year, but they are just too young with too many question marks to pick much higher considering their division. Honestly, if The Nukers had kept Brookes and not Jackson going into the draft I would say this team had enough upside to at least take #2 in The East, but Kordell is far to inconsistent to rely upon on a team that has a lot of unknowns.

West

1) Onslaught - Being at the right place at the right time never hurts, and The Onslaught used that adage to their off season advantage. This team received a major face lift from 2001 with the addition of Deuce McAlister, Tony Gonzalez and Keyshawn Johnson. Combine that with a solid draft and it looks like the Slugs will be the team to go from “Worst to First” in 2002.

2) Panthers – After their draft day hosing… Err… I mean trade with the Penisville Boy Toys, err… I mean The Lightning, Coach Sauer has actually put himself in a position to contend.  (Side Note: since draft day Coach Sauer now makes everyone refer to him as “The Puppet Master”.) However, the Panthers have an eight-year history of either catastrophic injuries or retirements that ruin their season. I have no doubt this year will be similar.

3) Cougars – The Cougars my have taken a few steps backwards this year. Loosing Buckhalter early didn’t help matters and they simply were unable to draft a suitable replacement. Garcia and Boston will win a lot of games for The Cougars this year but it looks like the lack of RB depth may cost their status as the class of The Worst. Errr… I mean WEST Division.  

Now for the games.

- Week 1 Point Spread Preview –

These point spreads are for entertainment purposes only…NO WAGERING!

Crushers vs. Maulers

With the “Big Dogs” back and the newly define “Denver Connection” for the Maulers, it makes for a tough opening game for The Crushers.

Mauler 90 Crushers 65

 Storm vs. Nukers

The Strom ride into to Nukerville with the 4 horsemen and they’ll leave with a W.

Storm 89 Nukers 75

 WoWW vs. Sharks

If Jimmy Smith didn’t hold out until the last second, this would be better game.

WoWW 84 Sharks 65

 Cougars vs. Onslaught

Here’s a good divisional match up with some intrigue. The returning champs vs. the up and comers. Seems a lot of questions will be answered this game. Will Washington use any running game? Can Emmitt still walk, let alone run. Will the hold out hurt Gonzalez in the early season? Is Deuce really that good? Is Tiki’s tweak hammy a factor? Will Luke ever marry Laura?

Onslaught 75 Cougars 70

-= Upset Special =- 

Lightning vs. Panthers

Call me squirrelly, but no one lost ever lost anything betting against The Panthers. By all rights The Panthers should win this hands down, but I have a feeling Masson and Holt are going to blow up giving the Lighting a week one win.

Lightning 70 Panthers 65

 -= Game of the Week! =-

Magic vs. Knights

Boy I just can’t think of a bigger grudge match, season defining game than this. The Knights still have to be stinging over what could have been in 2001 and I am certain they will come out of the blocks fighting. The certainly have with enough favorable match ups to win this week, but The Magic have a way of pulling W’s out of no where. Still, cal it wishful thinking but I sense a changing of the tide.

Knights 90 Magic 85

Good luck to all. ~Jim