The Playoff Picture
by Kalamere
December 7, 2013
The playoff picture is coming together quickly now that we're into the last week, excepting one week 6 fight remaining between ROC and DRT. Here's how things are looking right now and what it'll take for teams to move themselves up.
Badside is the most likely #1 team. Sitting in first by themselves right now, all they need to seal this position is 1 win in week 7 against Top Flight. That would give them a higher bout win count than all three of TOP, AZN and TMF who could potentially match their season record.
Asian Invasion has a much easier time of it in week 7 than does Harris' Top Flight crew, so gets the nod as the likely #2 team. It also helps that they hold the tie breaker over both TOP and TMF. A victory over the winless ROC team should get them a bye in the first round of the playoffs as long as they can match the number of wins TOP puts up against BAD.
TopFlight isn't out of the running for either of the top slots, but it's a hell of a hill to climb. To take the number 1 position they need to sweep a very hot Brawlers crew while also hoping that AZN does not sweep the Rock Hards. Lacking that, second place could be in the cards if they can beat BAD and achieve more wins than AZN takes in their match against ROC. My guess is they come in at the number 3 slot, though if they lose it could drop down depending on what happens between TMF and COM.
Team Fist really needs to pull of a win against COM this week to stay in the 4 slot or higher. While they have a 4-2 record, their bouts won number isn't going to help them move up. They have no shot at first place, but could take second if they come out on top over COM and both TOP and AZN lose. A loss to COM will drop them to 5th, but their season match wins are high enough to keep them from plummeting all the way down to 6th.
Champions of Mythos is locked into the playoffs, since only one of MRC or DRT can possibly match their record (those two fighting each other this week), but could actually improve their position a few notches with a strong win over Fist and some help from BAD and ROC. If COM wins while TOP and AZN lose we could have 4 teams sitting at 4-3 records and it comes down to bout wins and head to head results. They probably need 3 wins over Fist while hoping TOP can only pull out 1 and AZN splits with ROC in a loss. It's a long shot, but that could move them up as far as 2nd place.
Mercenarii vs. Team Dirty is THE match to watch this week. The winner makes the playoffs and the loser goes home, it's just that simple (assuming DRT finishes off ROC in week 6, see below). MRC does have a chance to move into 5th place overall if they can pull off a strong win and COM drops their match to Fist. They'd need one more bout won than whatever Aenlyn's crew racks up, but they hold the head to head tie breaker so it's entirely possible.
Claire's Dirty crew can't do anything better than 6th place, but that's at least a playoff berth. While there is still a fight remaining in their week 6 match vs The Rock Hards, they do look to have that one wrapped up. As long as Zack can avoid being shutout in 5 rounds against Rachael Douglas in the remaining Anchor bout, they'll improve to 2-4 to match MRC's record. Then week 7 will be the fight to stay alive. On the other hand, if Zack chokes, week 7 won't mean a thing because even if they swept MRC to end in a 2-5 record tie, they can't match the bouts won count.
The Rock Hards are our first officially eliminated team. Even if Rachael can pull off the perfect shutout on Zack and then they go on to sweep AZN in week 7 and DRT sweeps MRC to tie the two teams in record and bouts won, Cass' squad holds the head to head tie breaker. Kruger's team will be done after week 7, but they do have the chance to play spoiler and wreck AZN's hopes for a first round bye.
Copyright 2001-2017 Dueling Zone. All Rights Reserved.
This article brought to you by
| Red Orc Brewery | 
Where's YOUR Badsider? |
|
| 
