Securing Their Spots

With one week left in the regular season, the four teams that have clinched playoff berths have separated themselves from the field in the most recent edition of the Original US Chess League Quantitative Power Rankings. At the other end of the list, Tennessee, despite their improved play as of late, has secured the bottom spot for the 2007 season.

If the QPRs are right, then Seattle and New Jersey will lock up the remaining playoff spots next week and New York, Baltimore and Miami will have to wait until next year.

Original US Chess League Quantitative Power Rankings v.2
After Week 9
Format - (Match Record, Scaled Score, Last Week's Rank)

1. Dallas (7.0, .883, 1st) - Only a Destiny loss and a Blitz win next week can challenge Dallas' lock on the top spot.
   
   
2. Boston (6.0, .820, 2nd) - The Blitz hold the edge over the Inventors in game score and performance rating. While Philadelphia has higher scores in momentum and strength of schedule, these factors are weighted less heavily in the model.
   
   
3. Philadelphia (6.0, .776, 4th)
   
   
4. San Francisco (5.0, .728, 5th)
   
   
5. Seattle (4.5, .533, 3rd) - The Sluggers are ahead of the Knockouts in game score, performance rating and strength of schedule.
   
   
6. New Jersey (4.5, .525, 7th)
   
   
7. New York (4.0, .514, 6th) - The Knights actually have a lower game score than the Kingfishers, but have the edge for all the other variables.
   
   
8. Baltimore (4.0, .449, 9th)
   
   
9. Queens (3.5, .429, 8th) - The Pioneers ranking ahead of the Sharks is primarily attributable to strength of schedule. Queens has faced the toughest schedule in the league, while Miami has had the second easiest one.
   
   
10. Miami (4.0, .403, 11th)
    
    
11. Carolina (3.5, .312, 10th) - Remember back in week 4, when the Cobras were ranked 4th?
    
    
12. Tennessee (2.0, .082, 12th)

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Should the US Chess League update the polls on their website?
	Yes. Since I vote everyday, I'm sure by now that most of the responses are mine
	No. I'm still waiting to find out who won the FIDE World Championship in Mexico
	Yes. Try as I might, I can't keep up with all of Krasik's votes for Boston to win the Championship
	No. I'm still uncertain which way to vote on all of the questions
	The US Chess League has polls on their website?
pollcode.com free polls

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