Preview Big Bowl XV 2023
Preview of one of the biggest flag football tournaments in Europe. Power ranking for all groups at Big Bowl XV 2023.
Reminder: This article was originally published in German language. This post is a translation using Google Translate. Please note that parts of the text may be poorly translated and misleading.
Big Bowl XV Preview - English Version
For the fifteenth time, the European flag football community will meet in Walldorf-Mörfelden at the Big Bowl. As always, we can expect a perfectly organized tournament. This year and last year, three new organizers held a major international tournament for the first time, and the calendar is getting tighter. One more reason to give the teams good reasons for participating in the Big Bowl. You can always count on the weather at the Big Bowl, and that's probably the case this year. In addition, this year the organizers have caught up with the other major tournaments and are now also relying on the Tournify tournament software. A modern step, as all teams can access all results and table standings online at any time - and certainly also a work simplification for the organizers. But the Walldorfers add one more thing and announce that there will be a live stream from all six(!) fields. MEGA!
If all fields are actually marked with the little robot from the Insta video... that's a new benchmark for flag football tournaments that the Walldorfers are setting! For an almost optimal tournament, the only thing missing from our side is the division of the starter field into an elite and leisure class... But that can still happen...
We look forward to a great event!
Women Group A
3 teams, 3 groups, four German teams, three of which end up in group A. Unfortunately, the three women's teams from the DFFL2 will have nothing to smile about. They have one of the top favorites in the group in Sacks in the City, and France's Mariannes won't be easy opponents either. It will be exciting to see how the first direct comparison of the three German teams goes. The women from Walldorf have at least the most gaming experience. However, two serious challengers seem to have emerged in the North and South who want to immediately challenge the Walldorf women for the crown in German women's flag football.
Prediction:
- Sacks in the City
- Mariannes
- Northern Storm
- Walldorf Wanderers Ladies
- Southern Sparkles
Women Group B
Group B promises to be the most exciting group as it has the most balanced field. The 2021 DeLaSalle Saints Champions Bowl winners, the Couventry Cougars, 3rd at the 2022 Champoins Bowl, have consistently finished in the top 4 in the last three editions of the Big Bowl. The Arlanda Jets posted a strong fourth-place finish in their Champions Bowl debut and the Mariners from Spain are not among the weaker women's teams from Spain. Certainly one of the most exciting groups of the Big Bowl preliminary round.
Prediction:
- DeLaSalle Saints
- Couventry Cougars
- Arlanda Jets
- Gijon Mariners
Women Group C
The fourth German team originated in Mainz. You meet another of our top 4 candidates, the Molosses Redlips from France. They are joined by the team from Spain's capital and Zurich Renegades from Switzerland, which was newly formed in 2023. The two most experienced teams will certainly make up the first two places. The Renegades will probably learn a lot and - even if the Elecornes don't regularly compete together - have to let them go first.
Prediction:
- Molosses Redlips
- Madrid Capitals
- Mainz Elecornes
- Zurich Renegades
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Men/Mixed Group A
In group A of the men/mixed competition there are four representatives from Germany. But only the hosts have a chance of one of the first two places, because the Wanderers from Germany are joined by a team from the USA. Even if they are unknown in this country, one can assume that they will be a strong team. Then there's the 2018 Big Bowl runners-up, the Cobras. The three other DFFL/DFFL2 teams will fight for places 4 to 6. All three are making their Big Bowl debuts this year. The Lichtenberg Lions have the opportunity to take revenge for the narrow 41:42 defeat at the Mülheimers on the first DFFL matchday. Unfortunately, the Neu-Ulm Spartans will not have a chance of winning in this group and will have to play in the lower bracket on Sunday.
Prediction:
- Walldorf Wanderers
- City Boys
- Cobras
- Lichtenberg Lions
- Mülheim Shamrocks
- Neu-Ulm Spartans
Men/Mixed Group B
One of two groups with only two German teams, and they have never even played against each other. This is how the Lizzards and the new team from Saarbrücken, the Saarland Hurricanes Flag Attack, meet for the first time. They have company from the Moose from Sweden, who are probably a kind of country selection. We are expecting some players from the internationally experienced Uppsala 86ers in this team. Like the 86ers, the Split Sea Wolves took part in the Champions Bowl in 2022. The Stag Party celebrated 10th place at Big Bowl XIV in 2022. Flag Corner is unknown to us but could be a mix with players from different Spanish teams. It can get tight in this group. Of course, after their second place in 2022, the Lizzards are among the favorites to win the group, but the other teams should not be underestimated and are very difficult to assess. For us, the group with the greatest potential for surprises.
Prediction:
- Kelkheim Lizzards
- Moose
- The Stag Party
- Flag Corner
- Split Sea Wolves
- Saarland Hurricanes Flag Attack
Men/Mixed Group C
In group C, four teams from Germany are fighting for a place in the quarter-finals. The chances are not bad, at least for one team. You "only" have to get rid of the Dutch national team. First place goes to London Smoke, who apparently haven't quite reached their 2022 form this year, but are a clear group favorite. It will be a close fight between the Germans. It's hard to tell if the Greifs or the Cougars are ahead. This year there will probably be no player exchanges between Cougars and Greifs. Things are not going so well for the Rooks this season. Bad luck with injuries and staff shortages seem to be slowing down the "promotion to the first league" project. In this group, however, they have the chance to prove themselves against two first division teams and to keep a second division team (Hunters) at bay.
Prediction:
- London Smoke
- Dutch Lions
- Badener Greifs
- Lübeck Flag Cougars
- Augsburg Rooks
- Heidelberg Hunters
Men/Mixed Group D
The Victoria Park Panthers are ahead of everyone else in the group. This is teir sixth time at the Big Bowl. Everyone else will be at the start for the second time in 2023 at most. The Diamonds are back for the first time since 2007. What has held her back so far? It couldn't have been the long journey to Walldorf from Darmstadt. If the Lions from Augsburg were able to reach the quarter-finals in 2022, it will be difficult this time, because with the Novomesto Knights they have a top team from Slovenia to compete for second place in the group. The strongest team is probably the 2022 Champions Bowl winners, the Valencia Firebats, and therefore the clear group favorite. France's Ragnarok are hard to predict, although they managed to finish second at the Pink Bowl in 2022, they didn't compete in any other international tournament last year or this year. Panthers and Diamonds will have to settle for places 5 and 6.
Prediction:
- Valencia Firebats
- Novomesto Knight
- Augsburg Lions
- Ragnarok
- Victoria Park Panthers
- Darmstadt Fun Diamonds
Men/Mixed Group E
In Group E there are two teams that have traveled a long way. The Israeli national team took part in the first Big Bowl in 2007 and has been a regular guest in Walldorf ever since. After a long break, they're finally back. The second guest from afar is the Riverside Gamblers from Japan. The traditional team from Ichikawa was founded in 1999 and represented Japan at the 2010 World Cup. The duel between the two will certainly be one of the highlight games of the first day. However, if you want to see this, you have to get up early.
The second interesting matchup in this group could be a relegation duel in the DFFL Süd-Ost in October. The ambitious Renegades from the DFFL2 meet the Munich Sparrows, who are (still) in third place in the division in the DFFL1. The Silver Arrows and Norrebronx will go into the lower bracket.
Prediction:
- Israel National Team
- Riverside Gamblers
- Nürnberg Renegades
- Munich Sparrows
- Stuttgart Silver Arrows
- Norrebronx Schnabeltieren
Men/Mixed Group F
The Amsterdam Panthers, one of the best Dutch teams, meet the Molosses, the French premier club and a delegation from the British national team, the Silver Lions. The latter were able to win second place at the King Bowl 2023 a few weeks ago. The wombats will certainly also be able to intervene in the fight for third place and fight the decisive duel with Amsterdam. Unfortunately, the other two German teams will only play in the lower bracket on Sunday. We see the Badgers from nearby Frankfurt at their first Big Bowl in front of the Roosters.
Prediction:
- Silver Lions
- Molosses
- Würzburg Wombats
- Amsterdam Panthers
- Bornheim Badgers
- Ilmenau Roosters
Men/Mixed Group G
The Sphinx vs. Legionaries duel will surely be one of the most interesting games of the first day. The French, who have been playing at a high international level for many years, are probably at the Big Bowl for the first time. If they compete with the staff of the last Champions Bowl, they will hardly be able to contest the group victory from the Mainz team. Behind them it will be an exciting race for places three to six, because we see all the teams on a similar level. At the Big Bowl 2022, these four teams landed very close together: 26th Nuola, 27th Pumberend Barbarians, 29th Stuttgart Scorpions, 30th White Terrier Saar. It's going to be a close race!
Prediction:
- Sphinx de Pau
- Mainz Legionaries
- Pumbered Barbarians
- Stuttgart Scorpions
- Nuola
- White Terriers Saar
Men/Mixed Group H
Also in group H our favorite to win the group comes from France. Kalikakou finished fifth at last year's Big Bowl. The draw brought two local rivals into one group twice. On the one hand, the Duisburg Dockers meet the Devils from Dortmund, about 60km away, and the Wigan Bandits meet the Crows from nearby Manchester. The Devils have had quite an impressive season so far and will now be able to test their skills against the premier club from the same region. The two English teams are at the Big Bowl for the first time, as is the Dolphins from Switzerland. Unfortunately, we don't know any of the teams from England, so the prediction in this group is very vague. The Dolphins are probably Switzerland's national team, which has not yet been so successful internationally, but is certainly a candidate for the first places in this group.
Prediction
- Kalikakou
- Duisburg Dockers
- Dortmund Devils
- Manchester Crows
- Wigan Bandits
- Dolphins
More Information
Schedule and Results: https://www.tournify.de/live/bigbowlxv
Live Streams on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkFtJIzhlkY0QOm55iTuuWB5da8RPIKRC