MLP Austin

Great opener to the event.  These teams are just about #4 and #5 in the power rankings, so this is a big one.  I think it’s the Lifetime ball again?  It seems like Fed didn’t love it, will he fall apart?  Or maybe Crum is just actually good.  We don’t have the mixed matchups yet, so I may adjust when they come out, but it sounds like Matty Pickles might be courtside so that should buoy the Ranchers.  I’m going to say Fed and Lacy get a win, but it’s all Ranchers otherwise.  TEX 3-1.

• WOMENS:  Tuionetoa/Pisnik over Scheeman/Parker:  Orlando women are under .500 and the steady Ranchers take it.
• MENS:  Alshon/Oncins over Staksrud/Frazier:  Total tossup, but the ball issues make me barely pick Tex here
• MIXED:  Staksrud/Schneeman over Oncins/Pisnik:   Can Oncins stay hot enough after a long break?  ORL is a solid 8-3 and have played a bunch together
• MIXED:  Alshon/Tuionetoa over Frazier/Parker:  Dylan and Sam have battled, but I think Alshon is too much for them in this spot.

Well that was not close, I feel like this match alone shows that there is a significant gap between the top 4 teams and the rest.   The Squeeze women were up, maybe 9-7 and then it was lights out from the Ranchers.  The anticipated mens  match showdown was not close, and Oncins/Pisnik not only beat Fed and Lacy but ran them over.  The Ranchers are so solid if Oncins in playing like this.

• WOMENS:  TEX wins 11-9
• MENS:  TEX wins 11-2
• MIXED:  TEX wins 11-4
• MIXED:  TEX wins 11-6
• My picks:  Winner and 3-1 in doubles

The Flash are back!  They went beast mode in Orlando, but didn’t play anyone except and underperforming Columbus team.  This is the best team they have seen yet, and a good warmup for the big two.  JDub beat (upset) Fed in the quarters and Dylan in the semis at the Atlanta PPA so I think that will have lit a fire under their ass.  However, Jorja and Tyra are significantly better than the Orlando women.  If I’m understanding correctly, Dal will get to pick the mixed matchups, and this is what they should do.  Otherwise they definitely risk losing a mixed match to Fed/Lacy and flirting with a Dreambreaker.  Very weird though because if they expect to sweep gender, they might go for the more sure 1 win and do it the other way.  I just don’t think the Johnsons are in much danger of losing, even to a very good Fed and Lacy.   DAL 3-1.

• WOMENS:  Johnson/Black over Scheeman/Parker:  Bit of mismatch, but I’ve been wrong before
• MENS:  Staksrud/Frazier over Johnson/Ge:  Revenge match, if Orlando can’t get this one, it’s curtains
• MIXED:  Johnson/Johnson over Staksrud/Schneeman :   I think I take the Johnsons until they give me a reason not to, or run into the Shock
• MIXED:  Ge/Black over Frazier/Parker:  Tyra is levels better than Sam at this point.

Finally one that went exactly as I thought.  The Squeeze have to feel good that at least the mens team got back on track, but they are going to struggle with the top teams out there.

• WOMENS:  DAL wins 11-3
• MENS:  ORL wins 13-11
• MIXED: DAL wins 11-6
• MIXED:  DAL wins 11-5
• You know I nailed this one!

Can Miami hang with these other teams?  They should be able to play pretty loose, no pressure hopefully.  Anna Leigh is just so far ahead of any other women in this match.  I think the other mixed match is probably close, Zane and Megan have struggled so far (1-5) so I’m going to give Miami that one.  NJ 3-1.

• WOMENS:  Waters/Dizon over Rane/Bui:  Can you hit every ball to Megan, Miami?  You might not win even if you did.
• MENS:  Howells/Navratil over Devilliers/Khlif:  I think the Fives boys are going to get hot this event
• MIXED:  Howells/Waters over Devilliers/Bui:   The undefeated dream continues for ALW and WH
• MIXED:  Khlif/Rane over Navratil/Dizon:  If it’s the other way, I might go NJ here

Another one that went as expected.  Miami was a very close mens game from getting to a dreambreaker, but just fell short.  ALW gives up 4 total points.

• WOMENS:  NJ wins 11-2
• MENS:  NJ wins 12-10
• MIXED:  NJ wins 11-2
• MIXED:  MIA wins 11-6
• My picks:  you know I got this one

Showdown at the Austin corral!  I have them splitting doubles, and the matchups in mixed will be a big deal, who is picking, Texas?  I don’t think they want any part of a dreambreaker against Dallas though.  Tyra doesn’t play singles anymore, but she is one of only two people with a win over ALW in the last few years, she can do it.  They have to expect to lose womens and then maybe mens.  Every team in this event is going to be an underdog to the Johnsons, but if they need two, Alshon has the best chance.  However, with these mixed matchups, I have them splitting and Dal winning a dreambreaker.  DAL 3-2

• WOMENS:  Johnson/Black over Tuionetoa/Pisnik:  Honestly I think this womens juggernaut stays undefeated this whole event
• MENS:  Alshon/Oncins over Johnson/Ge:  Very close one here I think
• MIXED:  Johnson/Johnson over Oncins/Pisnik:   Eric and Tina looked amazing, but not J&J good
• MIXED:   Alshon/Tuionetoa over Ge/Black:  Tyra is almost to the level where teams are going to stay away from her in mixed

Okay, with my conditions, I had a perfect 3 game day of picks!  Now, 3 of these matches went just like I thought, but Alshon and Oncins really put it on Augie and JW which surprised me.  They’ve just taken out the two toughest mens teams that they will see at this event.   Not only did the DB go 20-20 but every individual matchup was even through 20-20.  But Jorja has the hammer.  This the first standings point that the Flash have given up so they’ll fall into second place in the REAL standings.

• WOMENS:  DAL wins 11-1
• MENS:  TEX wins 11-3
• MIXED:  DAL wins 11-3
• MIXED:  TEX wins 11-5
• DREAMBREAKER:  DAL wins 21-17
  • Alshon 6  v JwJohnson 6
  • Oncins 6  v Ge 6
  • Tuionetoa 4 v JoJohnson 6
  • Pisnik 4 v Black 4
• My picks were perfect on the day, vamos!

This one seems to come down to what the mixed matchups are, and if they are as I have them, this is looking like a dreambreaker, which Orlando is a little more ready for.  It’s hard to find what match would keep this from a dreambreaker, my best guess is Zane and Megan getting it done?  And if the matchups go the other way, I think NJ takes this in regulation.  NJ 3-1

• WOMENS:  Waters/Dizon over Scheeman/Parker:  One of many times I’m just saying it’s Anna Leigh, they can’t hang
• MENS:  Staksrud/Frazier over Howells/Navratil:  This is a good mens team, 9-2 so far, they get it done
• MIXED:  Waters/Howells over Staksrud/Schneeman:  Fives #1 is super elite
• MIXED:  Navratil/Dizon over Frazier/Parker:   Very close one, but I think NJ can take this

This is the biggest mismatch of the weekend, but it’s not that bad, and since I need to have some stones and pick some upsets, I’m going to say DAL 3-2.  And if it does get to a dreambreaker, MPC is live, they can all play singles.  That’s an “upset” if you didn’t catch it, Dallas giving up a standings point.

• WOMENS:  Johnson/Black over Rane/Bui:  Beatdown town
• MENS:  Devilliers/Khlif over Johnson/Ge:  Jay is on fire, this is one of my first ballsy pick that won’t pan out
• MIXED:  Johnson/Johnson over Devilliers/Bui:   Can Oncins stay hot enough after a long break?  ORL is a solid 8-3 and have played a bunch together
• MIXED:  Khlif/Rane over Ge/Black:  Feels weird to type it honestly

Miami is in the fire this weekend, and they have a letdown after challenging Dallas.  I think Texas makes a statement in this event too, and takes this one  TEX 4-0.

• WOMENS:  Tuionetoa/Pisnik over Rane/Bui:  Ranchers are too savvy for the young talents
• MENS:  Alshon/Oncins over Devilliers/Khlif:  Miami is live tho
• MIXED:  Oncins/Pisnik over Devilliers/Bui:   I think this doubles team is underrated that Texas has, they finish over 500 for sure in my mind
• MIXED:  Alshon/Tuionetoa over Khlif/Rane:  Too much Alshon

Wow, Miami women came out swinging!  Then the men were down 6-1, and came back to 8-6 on the 1 I think until a missed serve and quickly lost.  Oncins kept his momentum going as he was the difference maker in Mens.  Alshon was very subdued, but able to win a close mixed match to take the 3 pts.  It’s possible that Miami doesn’t get a point out of this a event, but I think they have looked good against tough teams and will definitely be in the playoffs.

• WOMENS:  MIA wins 11-4
• MENS:  TEX wins 11-8
• MIXED:  TEX wins 11-6
• MIXED:  TEX wins 11-8
• My picks:  3-1

This match has the marquee matchup of the event with 2 of the top 3 womens teams battling it out.  However Jorja and Tyra just beat ALW with her chosen partner at the time, and honestly they are the only team I could see challenging the Annas in PPA.  We could also get the marquee mixed matchup if the #1 teams clash.  If they do, I’m going to predict the Flash are up for this one and get a sweep.  Only if Anna Leigh sees Jorja twice though.  Was NJ swept once last year?    DAL 4-0.

• WOMENS:  Johnson/Black over Waters/Dizon:  I think this one is actually like 11-4.  Jorja and Tyra are so hot right now
• MENS:  Johnson/Ge over Howells/Navratil:  Maybe close
• MIXED:  Johnson/Johnson over Howells/Waters:   Toughest matchup for the Johnsons of the event
• MIXED:  Ge/Black over Navratil/Dizon:  Actually also close

Probably Miami’s best chance for a win here, I’m going to be a little bold again and think Miami will be game.  ORL 3-2.

• WOMENS:  Rane/Bui over Scheeman/Parker:  Upset alert!  The can do it though
• MENS:  Staksrud/Frazier over Devilliers/Khlif:  Orlando’s best team here although I think it’s close with MIA
• MIXED:  Staksrud/Schneeman over Devilliers/Bui:   Fed and Lacy are very good
• MIXED:  Khlif/Rane over Frazier/Parker:  Toss up, but I’m taking Noe and Millie

The Monday finale!  We should get a lot of yelling in this one, and does Leigh Waters abandon Christian in MLP when he’s playing the Fives?  Great matchup too, this will likely be for who gets #3 in next week’s power rankings.  Again the mixed matchups, I might change picks when I see them the night before.  If I forget, I’m taking ALW and Will over either, and Ranchers in the other one.  I feel like if someone wins this in regulation it’s going to be Texas stealing womens, but I don’t think Texas can win this Dreambreaker.  NJ 3-2   Sorry Matty

• WOMENS:  Waters/Dizon over Tuionetoa/Pisnik:  This one seems like it’s all about whether Megan can play well enough to win with ALW all week.  It’s not the biggest ask.
• MENS:  Alshon/Oncins over Howells/Navratil:  The Fives are for sure live here, but an underdog in my view
• MIXED:  Howells/Waters over Oncins/Pisnik:   Waters and a warm body, and Howells is on fire lately
• MIXED:  Alshon/Tuionetoa over Navratil/Dizon:  Alshon too solid, though I would absolutely love to see Zane get in his head, although that will be tough with Matty p in his own.