FCXIII Pool Play Analysis - Pools A - D

[Lost_Sage]

Pool A
MEATBALLS- FL BOCA Division (#1)
Mighty Moose Knucklers - AZ Valley Division (#30)
Yo JabbaWAKAs - CA Junction Division (#57)

Analysis: Not going to be a stretch to advance the Meatballs, a top candidate to win the whole thing, from Pool A here. MMK looks to be the second team out with a largely painless run to their title campaign earlier this year, even though they will probably not keep up with the boys and girls from Boca. JabbaWAKAs will make things fun, but despite getting a bid out of a Junction league that gets the occasional visit from SoCal's top teams, they look to have the longest odds to advance to the afternoon.

Pool B
The Other Shot Callers - DC Capital National League Division (#2)
WAKAmole! - CA Solar Division (#29)
The Dandy Lions - CA Star Division (#56)

Analysis: Despite being one of the contenders for the FC, OSC draws a #2 seed that a few in the peanut gallery might peg a little high. But no one in that same gallery of peanuts thinks OSC won't advance easily here and get to rest its starters. The Dandies look to be the second team out here, with just enough top-of-the-order depth and innate athleticism to outclass their fellow Californians the fun-loving Moles. We'd love to give Solar a little more love, but the overall SoCal scene has evolved way faster than the competition to the north.

Pool C
Your Balls Are Foul - CA Golden Gate Division (#3)
Howie's Heavers - NM Mesa Division (#28)
Blue Ballerz - CA Big Kahuna Division (#55)

Analysis: Last year's cinderellas likely got this #3 seed based on that 2009 finals bow; tough to say it's the right number given the national level of competition this year. We absolutely still expect YBAF to be in the mix for the FC when all is said and done, and they certainly won't be tested too toughly by their pool-mates here. The Heavers are the slight favorites to advance as the second team given the better competition in one of the Southwest's oldest divisions, although Blue Ballerz, which is fast becoming a dynasty in its local Long Beach division, could give them a game if they're caught napping.

Pool D
Panik Attack -VA Recess Division (#4)
Multiple Scoregasms - CA Solstice Division (#27)
Kickhopopotamus - MA Ivy Division (#31)
That's What She Said - CA Bayshore Division (#54)

Analysis: Panik was certainly #2 on most pollsters' sheets going into Vegas, and absent reseeding, this #4 seed puts them in a collision course with their rivals the Meatballs for a grudge match that may prematurely occur in the national semis. Suffice it to say they have little to worry about in pool play. It will be interesting to see if the Scoregasms can hold it down for Santa Barbara, one of the truly thriving kickball scenes in SoCal -- although Solstice isn't high in the SoCal power conference pantheon just yet. The safer bet for the 2nd team out of Pool D are the Kickhops from the Northeast who have been there, done that, and are one of only two squads representing the competitive-scene-that-almost/never-was in the Beantown metro area. As a native Bay Area man, this pollster is glad to see a team from the East Bay making the trek out to Sin City, but asking them to rack up a W in Pool D will be a tall order.

[Catch-22]

Nice job Shane! OSC probably should have been the #4 or #5. No complaints here though, we'll take the #2.

[Trey it Up]

WAKA didn't want it's two "finalists" from last year running into any difficulty facing the top teams this year. All they have to do is beat JKI and it's a cakewalk to the finals. I'm shocked that WAKA couldn't figure a way to make JKI a 5 or 8-seed or something.

[-APBT-]

WAKA didn't want it's two "finalists" from last year running into any difficulty facing the top teams this year. All they have to do is beat JKI and it's a cakewalk to the finals. I'm shocked that WAKA couldn't figure a way to make JKI a 5 or 8-seed or something.

Wait, am I missing something here? Is YBAF the old BCB?

[Trey it Up]

As much as OSC is the old The Others.

[-APBT-]

WAKA didn't want it's two "finalists" from last year running into any difficulty facing the top teams this year. All they have to do is beat JKI and it's a cakewalk to the finals. I'm shocked that WAKA couldn't figure a way to make JKI a 5 or 8-seed or something.

I honestly don't think things will work out as predicted for many teams on Saturday.

[Catch-22]

That Arizona team we're likely to play in the round of 16 is who beat Tricky Bunnies last year, right (or some version of them anyway)? They're very good.

[2_easy]

That Arizona team we're likely to play in the round of 16 is who beat Tricky Bunnies last year, right (or some version of them anyway)? They're very good.

Wrong. The team that beat the Tricky Bunnies in the round of 32 last year is WKYB and no form of them is going to Vegas. They declined their invite, due to WAKA's poorly ran AZ league and the $750 charge

[Catch-22]

That Arizona team we're likely to play in the round of 16 is who beat Tricky Bunnies last year, right (or some version of them anyway)? They're very good.

Wrong. The team that beat the Tricky Bunnies in the round of 32 last year is WKYB and no form of them is going to Vegas. They declined their invite, due to WAKA's poorly ran AZ league and the $750 charge

Who is the #15 seeded team from Arizona then?

[2_easy]

That Arizona team we're likely to play in the round of 16 is who beat Tricky Bunnies last year, right (or some version of them anyway)? They're very good.

Wrong. The team that beat the Tricky Bunnies in the round of 32 last year is WKYB and no form of them is going to Vegas. They declined their invite, due to WAKA's poorly ran AZ league and the $750 charge

Who is the #15 seeded team from Arizona then?

Straight to the Bank, they went to Founders Cup the previous 2 years. There first year they didn't make it out of pool play and last year they made it to the round of 16 and got beat pretty bad by BCB (the finalist)

They beat We Kick Your Balls (the team you are referring to) in the AZ Fire finals 3 months back.