All the hype from the West suggests that this weekend’s tournament in Sacramento will be the best of the Big 5. Whether that is true or not will depend on the number of blowouts in the end. Here’s my one-liners for the West.
Game 1: Duke City (8) vs. Tucson (9)
The Dead Dolls have been pretty quiet for the most part since their 2008 cinderella run, but they are missing some key talent. Tucson hasn’t made much noise since 2007. I am calling this one for Duke without much confidence, this should be a good close game to start things off.
Winner: Duke City
Game 2: Jet City (7) vs. Sacred (10)
I am picking the home team for the first upset of the tournament. Jet City are the current flavor of the week as media darlings in derby from the West, and they deserve it with their talent- they are definitely a team to watch. But, the Sacrificers are at home, they have more experience and a great coach. They want this win more than Jet City, and they’ll get it.
Winner: Sacred
Game 3: Rose City (4) vs. Rat City (5)
OK, this IS gonna be the best tournament of the Big 5. I’m flipping a coin- Rat City wins a close one.
Winner: Rat City
Game 4: Denver (3) vs. Bay Area (6)
It does kinda suck that some very talented West teams aren’t gonna make it to Chicago.
Winner: Denver
Game 5: Oly (1) vs. Duke City
Oly has shown signs of weakness at times this year. They won’t show any in this game.
Winner: Oly
Game 6: Rocky Mountain (2) vs. Sacred
Any chance of a Sacred cinderella story ends here. A moral victory will be to keep the spread under 150.
Winner: Rocky Mountain
Game 7: Jet City vs. Rose City
Rose has too much talent and experience for Jet City.
Winner: Rose City
Game 8: Tucson vs. Bay Area
Saturday morning will be the time to sleep in and miss a few early games.
Winner: Bay Area
Game 9: Oly vs. Rat City
Things get interesting again. This will be very fun, and close at times, and the final spread will be under 50, but Oly is going to be playing Gotham for the World Champion trophy this year (unless Rocky Mountain does).
Winner: Oly
Game 10: Denver vs. Rocky Mountain
Unless there are any suspensions of key players, we get another super game and this time RMRG the 5280 Fight Club gets redemption.
Winner: Rocky Mountain
Game 11: Rose City vs. Duke City
The consolation round is way more fun in Sacramento, but no upsets in this one.
Winner: Rose City
Game 12: Sacred vs. Bay Area
The home team gets a prime time meeting between their neighbors and sisters and most familiar foe- and the outcome will be familiar.
Winner: Bay Area
Game 13: Tucson vs. Jet City
A fun, back and forth game to start Sunday, and the new kids on the block get their first win.
Winner: Jet City
Game 14: Duke City vs. Sacred
This game will be fun but in the end Duke City out matches Sacred.
Winner: Duke City
Game 15: Rose City vs. Bay Area
Rose City finishes a great year at number 5 in the West, Bay Area keeps it close- this will be a great game with several lead changes.
Winner: Rose City
Game 16: Rat City vs. Denver
It’s not the year of the Rat, but the Mile High club gets grounded.
Winner: Rat City
Game 17: Oly vs. Rocky Mountain
It’s hard to pick against a team with a perfect record, especially since they have corrected some of the deficiencies they had in 2009 (yes, they had some.) Still, I won’t be surprised at all if RMRG takes it (again with the caveat that no one gets suspended and all are healthy.)
Winner: Oly
West Wrap-Up
Denver is out, Rat City is in. The World Championship tourney in Chicago should be better than last years in terms of match ups and good games.
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