MLP Columbus DAY 4

Have we not had this matchup already?  This is another big battle between the playoff bubble teams, very hard to pick, as I have liked how both these teams looked at times.  I feel like Miami would have the edge in a dreambreaker, but I’m going to say ATL 3-2, since I think they are slightly more likely to win in regulation.  This one could go either way.

• WOMENS:  Glozman/DiMuzio over Rane/Bui:  Very close, Mya is getting more and more comfortable, but so is Victoria
• MENS:  Devilliers/Khlif over Martinez Vich/Fought:  Another tossup
• MIXED:  Glozman/Martinez Vich over Khlif/Rane
• MIXED:  Devilliers/Bui over Fought/DiMuzio

What a rollercoaster in the Dreambreaker!  I think I saw ATL down 13-7 or something like that, took a 20-16 lead, lost it and finally get over the line 22-20!   I’ll have to go watch.  That really helps my stats 🙂

• WOMENS:  MIA wins 11-6
• MENS:  ATL wins 11-7
• MIXED:  ATL (Glozman/Martinez Vich) wins 11-7 (Khlif/Rane)
• MIXED:  MIA (Devilliers/Bui) wins 11-1 (Fought/DiMuzio)
• DREAMBREAKER: ATL wins
• My picks:  Gender wrong, mixed right, Got the winner in the Dreambreaker by dumb luck

Well Phoenix, a win here would really turn your season around, but the beat down you’re likely to get might feel like a finishing blow.  Maybe I’d have given Tyson and Jessie a chance before yesterday, but I think we have to consider Tardio/Fahey an elite mixed team until proven otherwise.  Is this a trap match for the Shock?  Maybe we see something crazy and Sock/Bouchard get off the schneid.  Doubt it though.  Keep the pedal down Shock!   STL 4-0  I’ll set the over under on points won for PHX at 20.5.

• WOMENS:  Bright/Fahey over Irvine/Bouchard:  There are levels to this game
• MENS:  Patriquin/Tardio over Sock/McGuffin:  Could be a really fun one
• MIXED:  Tardio/Fahey over McGuffin/Irvine:  Best chance for the Flames to get one
• MIXED:  Patriquin/Bright over Sock/Bouchard:  Total mismatch on paper

Who would have thought the story would keep being me underestimating the Shock.  I’m trying to tamp down the Hype Train in my brain, but I guess I shouldn’t.  This is uglier than expected, both Shock gender teams switch at 6-0.  20.5 was crazy high.  Live o/u is 12.5….which they are never getting there.  The new live going into the biggest mismatch on paper..5.5?  Of course, under again.  Insane domination by the Shock.

• WOMENS:  STL wins 11-1
• MENS:  STL wins 11-2
• MIXED:  STL wins 11-1  (I’m going to stop putting the teams because the prediction lineups are now correct in advance.  We know the order.
• MIXED:  STL wins 11-0
• Picks:  Feels like I should take a hit for the low over under being WAY off, but an easy 4-0

I think that Orlando has been pretty consistent, and Chicago has been all over the place.  I’m waiting for the Slice to put together a whole match, it seems like if the men are up, the women are down and vice versa.  I feel like I need a break from doing what I wish for and picking Chicago.  I’ll take ORL 3-1.  That should help Chicago finally get a breakout win.

• WOMENS:  Schneeman/Parker over David/Smith:  So close
• MENS:  Staksrud/Frazier over Ignatowich/Freeman:  Show me this team can maintain the high level they sometimes show…I’m dying to pick Slice here
• MIXED:  Staksrud/Schneeman over Freeman/Smith:  Most solid favorite in this matchup
• MIXED:  Ignatowich/David over Frazier/Parker:  I don’t know if this is the one they get, but I think they get one, hoping 2

Okay, decent size comeback by the Slice ladies!  Back and forth match, good work by the Slice getting it to a Dreambreaker.  1 point per match gets very close to a playoff spot.

• WOMENS:  CHI wins 11-8
• MENS:  ORL wins 11-6
• MIXED:  ORL wins 11-5
• MIXED:  CHI wins 11-8
• DREAMBREAKER:  ORL wins 21-17
• Me, winner right, 3-1 in doubles

Biggest mismatch we will see all season?   I almost worry that the Shock look past this one, but I think not this year.  NY will have absolutely nothing to lose here, but of course I’m going STL 4-0 here.  Over under on NY points?  12.5 after missing match one by 16.5.

• WOMENS:  Bright/Fahey over Spiridis/Schaefer
• MENS:  Patriquin/Tardio over Young/Ford
• MIXED:  Tardio/Fahey over Young/Spiridis:  Best chance for the Hustlers to make it to 6 pts
• MIXED:  Patriquin/Bright over Ford/Schaefer

And…another underestimate.  Props to Ford/Schaefer for outscoring the previous 7 Shock opponents combined.  The Shock only gave up 1 point in the first 3 clinching games, and then a mere 11-6 at the end.  I thought this event would be all Shock and it was certainly the most dominant performance I’ve seen in an event, with Dallas in Orlando being the next best.

• WOMENS:  STL wins 11-0
• MENS:  STL wins 11-1
• MIXED:  STL wins 11-0
• MIXED:  STL wins 11-6
• My picks are looking very good thanks to tons of Shock 4-0 calls, another one in the bank

This is an important match for Miami to get the full 3 points over the limping Hogs.  Carolina has shown a lot of fight, but I think Miami is starting to get pretty deep with Bui looking confident.  There is a chance for Carolina to get womens or the Emmrich mixed game, but I think probably neither.  MIA 4-0

• WOMENS:  Rane/Bui over Emmrich/Weil:  It’s amazing how many matches Millie seems to be the big sister in
• MENS:  Devilliers/Khlif over MEmmrich/Whittaker:  Especially with a 2-0 headstart
• MIXED:  Khlif/Rane over MEmmrich/Emmrich:  Honeymoon is over
• MIXED:  Devilliers/Bui over Whittaker/Weil

Miami really took care of business as they needed to, sweeping the disaster that is the Carolina Hogs.

• WOMENS: MIA wins 11-3
• MENS:  MIA wins 11-0
• MIXED:  MIA wins 11-4
• MIXED:  MIA wins 11-8
• My picks, another perfect sweep!

I’ll probably revise this after seeing Atlanta early today, but looks like Columbus is getting CJ back and I think Daescu will be on a  mission after getting embarrassed at home by the Shock yesterday.  COL 3-1

• WOMENS:  Glozman/DiMuzio over Todd/Jansen:  Stupid pick
• MENS:  Daescu/Bellamy over Martinez Vich/Fought:  Pretty big I think
• MIXED:  Daescu/Todd over Glozman/Martinez Vich
• MIXED:  Bellamy/Jansen over Fought/DiMuzio

Hard fought womens match, but the Bouncers fall.  Mens isn’t all that close.  Jaume and Viv really battled in a great first mix match, blowing 2 match points in an eventual loss.  Tough way to end the event for the Bouncers, but I think they keep getting better.

• WOMENS:  COL wins 11-8
• MENS:  COL wins 11-3
• MIXED:  COL wins 12-10
• MIXED:  COL wins 11-2
• Me?  All correct but my stupid womens pick

The Hustlers just aren’t likely to make any waves even against the mid tier teams and this is a mid-top team they are running into.  Doesn’t even seem like Young/Spiridis are going to get Frazier/Parker so ORL 4-0.  The question is, can they hold NY to fewer points than the Shock?

• WOMENS:  Schneeman/Parker over Spiridis/Schaefer
• MENS:  Staksrud/Frazier over Young/Ford
• MIXED:  Staksrud/Schneeman over Young/Spiridis
• MIXED:  Frazier/Parker over Ford/Schaefer

Well, they certainly don’t have the Shock level statement, but not super close here as expected.  Ford/Schaefer get a big win though after things were clinched, that should feel good for NY.

• WOMENS:  ORL wins 11-3
• MENS:  ORL wins 11-4
• MIXED:  ORL wins 11-5
• MIXED:  NY wins 11-6
• My picks?  3-1 with the winner

Okay, here is a close match between two very inconsistent teams.  I think Chicago works it out and wins this one, but they could lose 4-0.  CHI 3-1.

• WOMENS:  David/Smith over Irvine/Bouchard:  I guess I lean towards the Flames team that lost badly to MIA vs the one that pickled ORL
• MENS:  Ignatowich/Freeman over Sock/McGuffin:  This one worries me, as i think Sock doesn’t love Big Papa
• MIXED:  McGuffin/Irvine over Freeman/Smith:  This must be an actually good mixed team, a loss to Khlif/Rane isn’t terrible
• MIXED:  Ignatowich/David over Sock/Bouchard:  Fun one

Pretty good event for the Chicago women, starting the Slice off with a win.  The Flames say they are a primetime team, and as predicted, things get a little chippy between Jack and Jimmy over some high speed bags, but the Flames bounce back for a much needed win.  Huge battle again from Max and Callie against Tyson and Jessie, but come up just short.  Jimmy and Viv hold on to force a dreambreaker.  It goes 16-16 and Jimmy gets swept 🙁  Tyson finishes off.  Big 2 points for Phoenix.   Heartbreaker for the Slice.

• WOMENS:  CHI wins 11-8
• MENS:  PHX wins 11-3
• MIXED:  PHX wins 12-10
• MIXED:  CHI wins 11-5
• DREAMBREAKER:  PHX wins 21-16
• My picks?  3-1 in the games but miss the winner again!  and miss Dreambreaker.