Tank’s Bracket Picks for Rollin’ on the River

This is the bracket I have dreaded picking the most. The talent level in this tournament coupled with the great games we have seen between the top 6 teams in this region have been some of the most exciting this year. Unlike Caesar, I am placing my bets conservatively and taking 1. Oly 2. Rocky Mountain 3. Denver. Rose City, Rat City, and BAD all have a legitimate shots of making it to Chicago though. Seriously, I printed out a bracket and it’s covered in smudge marks from erasing and over writing teams’ names with others. Check out my picks and post yours as well as we love reader feedback and opinion here at Roller Derby Inside Track.

Game 1: Duke City Derby vs. Tucson Roller Derby: When these two teams met a year ago, Duke put an 80-point hurting on Tucson. A lot can change in a year though and Duke losing their last game by 47 points to a Pike’s Peak team that isn’t in this tournament has me leaning towards Tucson.
Winner: Tucson

Game 2: Jet City Rollergirls vs. Sacred City Derby Girls: While home court advantage is usually a benefit in most sports, for derby tournaments I feel it’s a disadvantage because your skaters have to worry about running the tournament and not just skating in it. I am going with Jet City in this one.
Winner: Jet City

Game 3: Rose City Rollers vs. Rat City Rollergirls: It was rumored that both teams were experimenting with new strategies this year when they met at Hometown Throwdown. Rat won that game by 44 points. I think if Rose plays their 3-1 (3 woman wall up front, free roving blocker in the back) defense they can win this match up but they are prone to penalties and that can’t happen in a tight game.
Winner: Rat City

Game 4: Denver Roller Dolls vs. BAD Girls: According to www.flattrackstats.com this is the first time these two teams have met. BAD has been making strides towards being a top level team all year long and continue to get better and better in each game. Denver though is a well-oiled machine whose last 2 victories were over the 3rd seeds for the WFTDA Championships from the North Central (Madison) and East (Charm City). My heart says BAD, but my brain says Denver.
Winner: Denver

Game 5: Oly Rollers vs. Tucson: Unless Tucson has made a pact with the devil (which for some reason tends to involve a golden fiddle, but I digress) or the entire Oly squad eats bad Indian food the night before, Oly gets a big win here.
Winner: Oly

Game 6: Rocky Mountain Rollergirls vs. Jet City: Jet City has looked good this year, but they are taking on RMRG. This is going to be one of those building for the future life experiences for Jet City. Rocky Mountain gets the win and moves on.
Winner: Rocky Mountain

Game 7: Sacred City vs. Rose: Its all Rose, all the time in this one.
Winner: Rose City

Game 8: Duke City vs. BAD: Its BAD all day in this match up.
Winner: BAD

Game 9: Oly vs. Rat City: A match up like this is what makes Westerns so special this year. Rat is good but Oly continues to move forward with their stacked roster. Is this a sure thing? No way, but that’s why I am tuning in on Saturday.
Winner: Oly

Game 10: Denver vs. Rocky Mountain: Old cross town rivals meet again and as usual the stakes are high. Both teams have 1 loss on the season and the last time they met in front of the fans, Denver got the win in Philly. My gut says Rocky Mountain in this one.
Winner: Rocky Mountain

Game 11: Tucson vs. Rose City: Rose City’s defense comes to play in this one and gets the W.
Winner: Rose City

Game 12: Jet City vs. BAD: BAD gets the W here with their pack control especially when they work their slow game on the power jam.
Winner: BAD

Game 13: Sacred vs. Duke: I am leaning towards Duke due to the experience factor of having played in a regional tournament before.
Winner: Duke

Game 14: Tucson vs. Jet City: Jet City is a young team but beat Tucson by triple digits this past June.
Winner: Jet City

Game 15: Rose City vs. BAD: What a great rematch from Hometown Throwdown this would be. Rose won by 4 points last time at home, but I think that BAD comes away with the victory here to cap off the season and set their sights for a top 3 spot in the West next year.
Winner: BAD

Game 16: Denver vs. Rat City: If this game happens, its going to be one for the ages. Both teams have built their entire season towards this game and anything short of making the WFTDA Championships will be a huge disappointment. Denver beat Rat City by 70 point earlier this season and though they have come far this season, the technical skating and precession checking of Denver is what will get the Dolls the W.
Winner: Denver

Game 17: Oly vs. Rocky Mountain: Before the amount of player transfers that Oly got for this season, my money was on Rocky Mountain but with the talent that has come in, I feel that Oly’s bench is deeper and when you only have 14 players and the way penalties factor into these games, I feel Oly has the advantage.
Winner: Oly

Western Regional Wrap Up: On Monday, the biggest tournament since the WFTDA Championships 2009 will be behind us and all our questions will be answered for the most part. The top 3 teams that come out of this region are going to wreck havoc in Chicago and I predict 1 of them will be playing for a Hydra. Join me next week as I look at the final regional of the year, the South Central Regional: Amber Waves of Pain.