FCXII Pool Play Analysis - Pools M - O

[Lost_Sage]

Wow, almost done! I can finally go to sleep!

Pool M
Lock It Up - NY Freedom Division (#13)
The Guy Fawkes Conservatory - CA Studio Division (#18)
Ballz en Fuego - CA Big Surf Division (#40)
Upper Deckers - CO Mountain Division (#45)

Analysis: LIU, one of the northeast powerhouses, draws into Pool M and assumes favorite status behind a tremendous helping of tourney experience. A couple of scratches due to bum legs will life challenging for All Orange in the knockout rounds, but they look to have an easier time in pool play. Well, except for the game with GFC, who nearly pulled the upset of last year's pool play over a Ft. Lauderdale squad heavily favored to coast that made the terrible mistake of overlooking. This will be an intriguing matchup between LIU and GFC - both play very, very good defense, but the former may have just enough offense to take the 1 slot. Big drop off after LIU and GFC. The Upper Deckers took home a surprise crown as the 3 seed in the Mountain summer campaign, so they have nice momentum heading into Vegas. But they - and the San Diego Fireballs - will be really up against it. We'd love to anoint BEF as a team that could raise SD's profile in the SoCal competitive scene, but we have to give the edge to UD for the bronze.

Pool N
Balls Deeper - FL Beach Division (#14)
Capital Punishment - NC Capital Division (#17)
CHUG NORRIS - AZ Blister Division (#41)
Team Ramrod - NY Victory Division (#44)

Analysis: FCXII semifinalist Balls Deeper headlines Pool N and has to be the favorite to advance in the first slot here. They'll answer very pointed questions about the depth of this particular roster -- and the future of the franchise -- in single elim. And they will get some great warmup in pool play from the most embarrassingly underseeded team in the field, Ramrod. Critics of the WAKA seeding system this year will point this out as the single biggest mistake in the selection committee's deliberations. The third competitive squad out of NYC, the Rodders needed a last-minute summer league crown to get the nod, but they are no stranger to tourney ball. They are easy favorites to advance out of Pool N but would love to get the quality scalp (against BD) the national scene has been demanding from them in return for greater respect. CP should put up a good fight as the lone Triangle rep in FC but looks headed for 3rd on the podium here; the Chuggers, true to their name, are hoping Pool N is really, really close to the beer tent.

Pool O
Straight to the Bank - AZ Fire Division (#15)
Super Skinnies - FL Central Division (#16)
Thunderballs - NM Mesa Division (#42)
Los Borrachos 2.0 - CA Orange Crush Division (#43)

Analysis: As expected for the hairpin pool (the part of the snake draft where seeds are consecutive), this looks to be the most fiercely contested of the 15. Straight to the Bank is the desert's best hope at an FC contender this year and is back at FC looking for more respect at the national level. And they'll get if they can knock off a very, very pesky Super Skinnies squad that loves playing loose (if it can shake the occasional nerves and temper). Would love to watch the STB-SS game in pool play -- right up there with Balls Deep-Ramrod and Sofa Kings-Cobra Kai as the pool play feature contests. Regardless, expect the Arizonians and Floridians to go through. Slight edge for the last spot on the podium goes to the Thunderballs from the Land of Enchantment; we're convinced Irvine wants no part of the SoCal competitive scene -- well, not on purpose, anyways.

[Smashley]

thanks Sage!

[Javy]

Sage - I'll be playing against you! NICE!

[Lost_Sage]

I know! Maybe they'll let me pitch against you! I think we should stage some sort of mock exchange where I loudly whisper that my team is going to throw the game ...

Sage - I'll be playing against you! NICE!

[Javy]

Let the pegging and deep kicking BEGIN!!!

I know! Maybe they'll let me pitch against you! I think we should stage some sort of mock exchange where I loudly whisper that my team is going to throw the game ...

Sage - I'll be playing against you! NICE!

[Javy]

Oh and HOW DARE YOU put a Florida team under an Arizona team! Im calling shenanigans!

[2_easy]

Oh and HOW DARE YOU put a Florida team under an Arizona team! Im calling shenanigans!

WAKA Seeding allowing West Coast teams to be ranked higher then East Coast Teams since 1998

[Lost_Sage]

I know ... I just lost all of my hard-won K365 credibility ... East Coast bias is a must for all sports analysis, where are my manners ...

The Skinnies are very talented ... they played us ridiculously tough at SFKO in 2008 ... they just underwhelmed a little at last year's FC (felt they could have given Bulletproof a better game) and had a tough-to-watch mental implosion at SFKO against us earlier this year. I love those guys, but I know enough about competitive ball to know that all the talent in the world can't overcome a breakdown in the mental game.

And I hear great things about STB. Are they the WKYB of 2008? Not sure. But they certainly have the potential to be.

Oh and HOW DARE YOU put a Florida team under an Arizona team! Im calling shenanigans!

[2_easy]

STTB has some talent. Their girls are strong. They made some fielding changes since I played them last, in my opinion made them stronger.

[Javy]

Wow, almost done! I can finally go to sleep!

Pool M
Lock It Up - NY Freedom Division (#13)
The Guy Fawkes Conservatory - CA Studio Division (#18)
Ballz en Fuego - CA Big Surf Division (#40)
Upper Deckers - CO Mountain Division (#45)

I would watch out for the upper deckers. They have the element of high altitude training on their side.

[Kolanko_25]

Can anyone tell me how Super Skinnies did in last year's FC/this year's SFKO or know if those results are posted anywhere?

I didn't see Thunderballs (NM) or Los Borrachos 2.0 (CA) listed as teams that participated in last year's FC. Anyone got any info on either team? Gracias.

[2_easy]

Can anyone tell me how Super Skinnies did in last year's FC/this year's SFKO or know if those results are posted anywhere?

I didn't see Thunderballs (NM) or Los Borrachos 2.0 (CA) listed as teams that participated in last year's FC. Anyone got any info on either team? Gracias.

this will be a tough game for you all. Play them like it is an elimination round.

[Javy]

I have a friend that plays down there. Ill ask her to dig up some info for me.

Can anyone tell me how Super Skinnies did in last year's FC/this year's SFKO or know if those results are posted anywhere?

I didn't see Thunderballs (NM) or Los Borrachos 2.0 (CA) listed as teams that participated in last year's FC. Anyone got any info on either team? Gracias.

[Kolanko_25]

I have a friend that plays down there. Ill ask her to dig up some info for me.

Can anyone tell me how Super Skinnies did in last year's FC/this year's SFKO or know if those results are posted anywhere?

I didn't see Thunderballs (NM) or Los Borrachos 2.0 (CA) listed as teams that participated in last year's FC. Anyone got any info on either team? Gracias.

Thanks Bro!

[Kolanko_25]

Can anyone tell me how Super Skinnies did in last year's FC/this year's SFKO or know if those results are posted anywhere?

I didn't see Thunderballs (NM) or Los Borrachos 2.0 (CA) listed as teams that participated in last year's FC. Anyone got any info on either team? Gracias.

this will be a tough game for you all. Play them like it is an elimination round.

For sure. I read up about the success they've had in their division and see they haven't lost a regular season game in 5 seasons (maybe more, but that's all I could view).

You got any scouting on them for a fellow AZ team Tweazy?

[2_easy]

Can anyone tell me how Super Skinnies did in last year's FC/this year's SFKO or know if those results are posted anywhere?

I didn't see Thunderballs (NM) or Los Borrachos 2.0 (CA) listed as teams that participated in last year's FC. Anyone got any info on either team? Gracias.

this will be a tough game for you all. Play them like it is an elimination round.

For sure. I read up about the success they've had in their division and see they haven't lost a regular season game in 5 seasons (maybe more, but that's all I could view).

You got any scouting on them for a fellow AZ team Tweazy?

I wish I did. I just know they play really well and keep the games close. They will probably going to be like every other team at FC. Tough lock down Defense and they will bunt, bunt, bunt, sac fly, sac fly.

[Lurker]

Can anyone tell me how Super Skinnies did in last year's FC/this year's SFKO or know if those results are posted anywhere?

I didn't see Thunderballs (NM) or Los Borrachos 2.0 (CA) listed as teams that participated in last year's FC. Anyone got any info on either team? Gracias.

this will be a tough game for you all. Play them like it is an elimination round.

For sure. I read up about the success they've had in their division and see they haven't lost a regular season game in 5 seasons (maybe more, but that's all I could view).

You got any scouting on them for a fellow AZ team Tweazy?

Good Luck this weekend!! Yeah, SS, from what I hear will be your toughest game in pool play. But don't sleep on the other 2,  FC always brings out a few surprise teams.

[manbaby]

We went 5-2 last year at the FC with a 4-2 loss to dumpster fire and a loss to meatballs in the sweet 16. In south Florida we went 3-2 with a 2-0 loss to meatballs. We tend to get super hammered come the 5th game and don't stay fresh; which we may cut back this year. Probaly not though because we love to drink and play kickball! Goodluck everyone in our pool

[Kolanko_25]

Good stuff man. Congrats on the success in last FC. Looking forward to saturday!

[Kolanko_25]

Can anyone tell me how Super Skinnies did in last year's FC/this year's SFKO or know if those results are posted anywhere?

I didn't see Thunderballs (NM) or Los Borrachos 2.0 (CA) listed as teams that participated in last year's FC. Anyone got any info on either team? Gracias.

this will be a tough game for you all. Play them like it is an elimination round.

For sure. I read up about the success they've had in their division and see they haven't lost a regular season game in 5 seasons (maybe more, but that's all I could view).

You got any scouting on them for a fellow AZ team Tweazy?

Good Luck this weekend!! Yeah, SS, from what I hear will be your toughest game in pool play. But don't sleep on the other 2,  FC always brings out a few surprise teams.

Same to you man. Good Luck.

[Lurker]

Good stuff man. Congrats on the success in last FC. Looking forward to saturday!

Better see the revised pools. You guys are in the Pool of Death now

[2_easy]

Good stuff man. Congrats on the success in last FC. Looking forward to saturday!

Better see the revised pools. You guys are in the Pool of Death now

Exactly. The pool you were in before was a cake walk compared to your new pool. Balls Deeper is the favorite.