 |  Week Two still doesn't give us any games involving the top two teams in any pool -- at least, not as far as the seeding goes. However, there are many more competitive matches scheduled, and most teams will look to lock up a good seed in the DE so that they can start practicing those maps a week early. Spotlight Matches This week, two spotlight matches come out of the Shiver pool. First up, we have Sideways Eight battling The Crazy Ones. S8 is currently 2nd in the pool after an impressive victory over the Metallicats, who played just well enough to keep S8 out of the top spot for one week. TCO comes fresh off an upset victory over Clan Mac Gaming, and will look to solidify thier standing in the pool. Prediction: S8 just has too much talent for TCO, and they win 54-19. Also in Shiver, Clan Mac Gaming takes on The Cult, who had a big win last week over MMC. The Cult currently stands in first place in Shiver, but they'll need a big win to hold onto that spot. Prediction: The Cult wins a tight one, 37-30. In the Soulblighter pool, Crouching Ghol, Hidden Wight is taking on Beefeater. Beefeater is coming off an easy victory against MM, and could really make a statement by playing even a competitive match with cghw. However, it's more them likely that Beefeater just won't be able to match them on a talent level. Prediction: cghw outclasses Beefeater, 58-15. Team QP pulled off a minor upset by beating the more well known MSH in a close match. This week, however, they draw one of the current tournament leaders in Cirque, who not only lead the Balor pool, but also were one of only 4 teams to win by the maximum possible (assuming everyone has the sense to at least tag thier side on FR Cracks) score of 50 points, winning 62-12 over CM. Prediction: Cirque rolls over another opponent, 60-16. When two orders named PoOp and Idiot hook up, you know you're in for a special treat. PoOp won big over HB last week, while Idiot strugged in a victory over Tank Clan. Prediction: PoOp wins, 55-29. After winning the Match of the Week, Iron Chef now gets to be in not one but two spotlight matches. The Summoner pool will clear up just a bit this weekend as Iron Chef takes on both Ancrik and Monkey Island. While IC did defeat Cacra last week, it wasn't easy -- and both Ancrik and MI bring a lot more to the table. Predictions: This seafood battle is o-ver! Iron Chef takes two losses -- 47-29 to Ancrik, 46-25 to Monkey Island. Kuk took one of the bigger upset losses in the opening week, losing a tough match to Legacy. This week, they face the Greek Gods, who will be looking to go to 3-0 heading into Week 3. Prediction: Greek Gods 46, Kuk 25. The Fallen Bishops defied my prediction and won the Spotlight Match of the Week to start thier qualifying run. In fact, they not only won, they won big over a seemingly unorganized ff squad. This week they'll face another team who won big: LoA, who crushed HD last week. This one should be good, and takes the honorable mention for Spotlight of the Week only because TFB was there last week. Prediction: TFB wins a squeaker, 39-35. Spotlight Match of the Week  This week's spotlight match is between Evil Inc. and the Orgasmic Hampsters. Let's look at what these two teams have going for them.  Evil Inc. has long been a staple in the Myth community. They may not be the favorites in thier pool (that honor has to go to Wolfpack), but they're still likely to progress very deep in this tournament. They have the talent to beat just about anyone out there, and could head into the DE undefeated if they can beat WP in what is sure to be a great match next week. Anyone who underestimates e.i. will lose to them, as they showed last week in thier 62-12 trouncing of the Bastards.  The Orgasmic Hampsters have a great logo and team page. Oh, and they also destroyed Machine last week, in what has to be seen as a surprise, even if Machine isn't highly regarded. They won the match without a problem, and could be more of a threat then previously believed. Call it a hunch -- even though there are a few matches that look better on paper, I think OH will make this one more interesting then most people think. However, I still can't see them beating an order that plays at the level that e.i. is capable of. Look for 3 close games -- all well played -- but with e.i. taking all of them, making the match score much more lopsided then the individual games themselves. Prediction: Evil Inc. wins convincingly but not overwhelmingly, 49-23. Other matches to watch: TO vs. MSH, A vs. rm, CI vs. Legacy, Aesir vs. F. Good luck everyone, and try to come out of this week with at least one win -- you don't want to go into week 3 still wondering if you'll qualify. |
