Normally, playing the favorites is not a bad strategy. After all, they're favorites because there's good reason to believe they'll win - they have better players, better coaching, a recent history of winning, the list goes on. And choosing these teams feels safer and less risky.
But if you only played some of the biggest favorites in the NFL through the first two weeks, you probably regretted it. Just take a look at our Eliminator Challenge group or ask anyone who parlayed the Bengals, Ravens, 49ers, Cowboys, Lions, or Eagles this season. If you chose one or more of those teams sometime within the first two weeks, there's a better chance than not you lost. And that's crazy because those are all playoff caliber teams - they don't usually find themselves upset until later in the season.
Enough about the NFL, let's talk SCL.
When you think of Pork Chop Express, Tallahassee Tator Tots, Baby Got Dak, or Reek Squad, you probably recall their success throughout the years, whether in the Sagebrush Cactus League or Segundo *points to the sky*, R.I.P. They've made it to the playoffs and/or Championship Game in nearly every year they've played. But just like some of their NFL counterparts, they've had their struggles this season.
If you took the defending champs, Pork Chop Express, in week 1, you were caught off guard when they fell to this year's Cinderella, Badazz Bri. Not to worry though, because you ran with them again in week 2 when they were EVEN only to watch them fall by 7 to the Consolation Kings. Not exactly how I imagined they'd begin their campaign to defend the title. So, you turn to Reek Squad.
The Squad is always a safe bet, so you play a week 1 ticket where they're a 5-point underdog and it hits. Alright, here we go...this is more like it. Except you let it ride in week 2 when they're EVEN against Who Is You and - boom - they lose by 26 points. What is going on?!?
But let's say that in week 2 you took the 13 points and ran with that Tallahassee Tator Tots team that lost in week 1 to Reek Squad despite being a 5-point favorite. Well, that didn't end well either. They were blown out by 25 and your ticket was toast.
Frustrated, you decide to check on your Baby Got Dak plays - surely, something hit on that ticket, right? Wrong. You took Dak in week 1 as an 18-point favorite and they fell by 4. Then, you turned around and were given 19 points to take Dak in week 2 - which you did - and watched them fall to the Fat Cats who buried them like a turd, 161-83.
Having had enough with those "safe bets", you elect to go off script and try your luck with one of the younger teams. So you reach a little and decide to play around with Deez Nuts.
How did you do? No better. You took 3 points in the first week where they lost by 24 and you gave 6 points in week 2 just to see them fall by 19.
I don't know about you, but I think I'm going to hold off betting anything on week 3. Moving on...
Several of you have done a great job of sending me the "couple of highlights, notable moments, or insights" from your matchup each week. And some of you still have 1382 unread emails.
Since this post is about favorites, I want to use some of this space to share a few of my favorite weekly recaps provided by teams around the league. And yes, of course these are all completely unedited or altered by me in any way.
Regarding their matchup against Pork Chop Express, Consolation Kings writes:
Hear ye, fair patrons of yonder fantastical sport, for a tale unfolds most curious 'twixt the Consolation Kings and the valiant Pork Chop Express. In the second fortnight of this contest, the Kings, though beleaguered by misfortune, emerged triumphant, though their path was fraught with peril. The Christian Connection, those two receivers of holy name—Christian Kirk and Christian Watson—didst score naught but zero, their efforts barren as a drought-stricken field.
Yet, in their stead, three knights arose: Joe Burrow, that noble arm of yore, Breece Hall, swift as the coursing river, and the Browns’ defense, each claiming nineteen points, as though the gods themselves had smiled upon them. The stalwart Deebo Samuel, with fifteen points to his name, did also lend his might, though, alas, his valorous deeds were not without cost. For in the midst of triumph, Samuel's calf was struck, and he, the brave, shall be sidelined for weeks to come.
On the other side of the field, the receivers of Pork Chop Express did fare little better. Allen Lazard, acquired for a princely sum of twenty waiver gold, alongside Tyler Johnson and Mike Evans, did muster but seven points combined. And lo, Travis Kelce, the renowned disciple of Swift herself, did catch but one pass—a meager five yards, his score naught, much to the dismay of the Chops.
Yet the Kings’ fortune doth remain in question, for Joe Mixon, that gallant runner, bears an injury to his ankle, casting doubt upon his readiness for the next clash 'gainst the fearsome Reek Squad. Woe to the Kings’ receiving corps, already shaken, now left trembling with the absence of Samuel, as they prepare to face the perils ahead.
Wonderfully written, impressive. Dost mine eyes perceive a touch of Shakespeare in thy quill?
But if blank verse or prose aren't your style, perhaps something more along the line of cave drawings is better? After sharpening their arrowheads, Fat Cats provided the following recap of the their contest at The Litter Box against Baby Got Dak:
Last week, Fat Cats make stink, big stink in Week One. But now, stink gone, scooped from Litter Box. JK Dobbins, if he get second leg back, he score 50 point every week. Math easy.
Maybe not Pulitzer material, but you have to appreciate their frank to-the-point writing style. Who has time for predicates, adjectives, or prepositions in this day and age?
While those examples illustrate meeting and exceeding my request, most of the recaps you sent were somewhere in-between - both in volume and style. And the ones with style certainly stood out to me. For example, MaxxCasualties writes about their matchup against Gotham Rogues as if it were some post-apocalyptic graphic novel:
In the wastelands of the Eliminator Challenge, betrayal runs deep. The Raiders…they screamed my name, taunted me with hope, then turned their back. Victory in their hands, but my loss was sealed.
Still, amidst the scorched earth and shattered dreams, a flicker of light. This week, I found room to breathe, to fight another day. My enemy, the Gotham Rogues, barely put up a fight. Shadows of what they could be.
Yet even in victory, the cracks remain. Mahomes… Kincaid… ghosts on the battlefield, offering nothing but false promises. When the hour is darkest, will Mahomes finally rise? I wait.
But James Cook… he delivered with the force of three touchdowns, a furious storm in the wasteland. And my blade? My kicker, Brandon Aubrey. A machine of precision. He’s been my constant, my savior, scoring like no other. His boot echoes louder than Cook’s rampage.
Now, I place my faith in Dak. Dak… the one who stalls. I need him to falter, just enough. Keep me within striking distance, within range of Aubrey's weapon. Only then will I be golden in this desolate arena. Until the next battle…
But if that's a little much and you prefer something shorter and more succinct, perhaps you'll enjoy Reek Squad's recap of their battle against Who Is You in The Stank Tank:
There once was a week full of strife,
When my own team added to my life,
The Cards beat the Rams,
But also my plans,
And Reek Squad took loss with a knife!
I mean, c'mon - who doesn't enjoy a limmrick?!? Well done, Reek.
Fortune's favor be thine in the third week!
Commish
GOLDEN TICKET CHALLENGE
I smell something - a strong, formidable scent. Last week, Baby Got Dak fell from the top spot and they were replace by - *shirt collar pulled up over nose* - Reek Squad, who rose an incredible 7 spots in week 2, to leap from #8 to #1.
SURVIVOR CHALLENGE
Perhaps Do Not Panic should've at least shown some apprehension last week. It's too late now as they, along with Reek Squad, become our latest Survivor eliminees?... eliminors?... eliminants? Well, you get it; they're gone. And with a league-best 161 points in week 2, the Fat Cats earned themselves immunity and a week off to enjoy their cat condo.
PIGSKIN PICK'EM CONTEST
The Consolation Kings continue to build off their week 1 success, leading the pack a second week with 9 of 16 correct picks. But they best not let up or teams like MaxxCasualties who moved up 8 spots, and Who Is You who moved up 4 spots, might catch them.
ELIMINATOR CHALLENGE
As mentioned above, picking the usual suspects in this season's Eliminator Challenge has cost many owners their entries. In fact, thanks to the Ravens and Eagles last week, we're now down to just two remaining contestants: Blue Ribbon and Cerebral Ballsy.
COMMISH'S PICKS
Since Deez Nuts didn't drop for me last week, I only got one pick right. But, I feel more confident in this week's selections.
ONE TO WATCH
MaxxCasualties -vs- Blue Ribbon
LINE: Blue Ribbon -4
The only matchup of undefeateds this week, Blue Ribbon will roll out the red carpet at Six-Pack Park for the first time this season when they host the Casualties. Oh, and I should probably mention this is a divisional matchup week which means the winner will control the Sagebrush West. So while you're still trying to figure out if "undefeateds" is a real word or not - it is - I'm going to tell you that Blue Ribbon needs to be careful. Yes, they're loaded with talent and they have a few players who should score better this week than they did last. But if you read this post to this point - which I did - you'll know that games this season have gone every direction except as expected. Take the Casualties to be a buzzkill and ruin the Ribbons' home opener.
COMMISH'S PICK: MaxxCasualties
ONE TO FORGET
Tallahassee Tator Tots -vs- Cerebral Ballsy
LINE: Tallahassee Tator Tots -13
As you might expect with a team named Cerebral Ballsy, they're "physically challenged" this week with several players listed on the injury report. Combine that with an 0-2 record to begin the season, the second lowest scoring offense, and a rookie QB, and I can't imagine the crowd at Congenital Coliseum is going to be too high energy. Handicapping them further is the fact the Tots are the highest scoring team in the league yet to win a game, so they're surely going to be hungry.
COMMISH'S PICK: Tallahassee Tator Tots
POWER RANKINGS
The second week of the season saw a lot of movement in our Power Rankings, but not necessarily at the top. Badazz Bri and Blue Ribbon remain in the lead spots. However, Fat Cats and Golden Tate Warriors saw tremendous gains this week, moving up 8 and 6 spots, respectively.
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