L.O.S. (13-3) -1 vs Leisure Rolls (13-3)

L.O.S. is finally on the doorstep of the championship they’ve seemed destined for for years. Precious and Double Cheese have put in the time, studying their games, pushing each other to get better. They’ve been favorites in many past tournament games but fallen to weaker opponents. I think their performance on Thursday should put that image behind them, that was the most clutch shot in league history. They also have Mr. Stiffy who is sometime forgotten about behind those guys. He had an excellent 2v2 season and showed what was to come – then he carried the team through the 1st round. Alley-Lujah is doing enough to win and had to work through a long night of five games yesterday. She comes up big in 10th frames if she’s within striking distance.

Leisure Rolls are the new guys, but like it or not they are playing like true BowlPortlanders. They will be drinking in the finals this year – shots! (On a side note, shots used to be a BoPo pre Finals tradition, and the rounds are on me if teams want them (Stiffy you can even get a Hot Toddy). Certainly not going to force it, but it sets a really good tone for the Championship. On another awesome side note, everyone in this matchup has learned to bowl mostly or entirely in BoPo or at Bayside. The homegrown nature of it is special and a really cool testament to the the self-taught, beer frame honed bowling skills we have all gained together. It’s a reminder that any of us can get to the top of BoPo with a just few seasons of learning here. First beer frame is on the house! ) They really have continued the traditional BoPo party ethos. I think that’s why they’re here. They don’t get tight in any situation. Sloppy will still be drinking out of a pitcher, Magic will still turn from every roll and give himself a quiet little round of applause, Insanal will still lose his mind at least once as his name implies, Gatch won’t have to pace himself – just like every week. They are a great foil for LOS.
I like this matchup a lot. On paper you see LOS’ three giant averages vs a team that had all four guys between 170-175 and think blowout. However the Rolls have the looseness and belief in themselves (they’ve won a lot of league championships before) plus they have Space Cadet who has been amazing. They should dominate last point each game, and then they are generally going to be solid across the board. They’ll let LOS beat themselves, if they will. If LOS plays confident and up to their potential they’ll get that title we’ve always thought they’d get. If they get tight and falter, the Rolls will be bowling confidently and consistently across from them happy to win it all in their first try.

I think LOS brings it home – hard to pick against Precious after Thursday – but this looks to me like match which will, for the first time in three years, deliver a game 3. The sound of that bowl off bell is still ringing in our ears, wouldn’t mind ringing it one last time…

The sweet 16 night is always a lot of fun. There are still some underdogs who pulled off 1st round upsets, lots of different teams are alive.  Plus there are more teams wrapping up their season with post game revelry, and some winners too.  The quarterfinals is a bit different.  Teams know that if they are going to survive today they are going to have to play two matches against elite teams.  Every team here genuinely believes it could make the finals, and why norm, they’ve already won at least two playoff games.  This year’s final eight includes the top 4 seeds, the 6 seed, the 9 seed and a couple of Sunday Shootout survivors to spice things up a bit.  Tuesday only gave us one really exciting finish – expect many more tonight.

#1 Back In Black (12-2) -1 vs #9 XXX Club (9-5):  With no disrespect to their earlier opponents (the Pinups took a 4-1 lead and last week Oolie was excellent in taking top point with a 230+), this appears to be the first real test for the defending champs.  They have been able to rally from slow starts with ease, but from here on in those kind of starts could doom them.  Gutterboy came through for them last week, and Skippy Strikes has actually been a consistent roller with the 2nd best playoff average.  Eventually Stevie will start dominating again, despite his slow starts.  GB’s Mom, Skittles and T-Square (in week 1) have all had some above average games for themselves too.  Maybe they’ve been letting their guard down a little these first two matches.  They won’t do that against the Club.

T-Club is looking to make it’s 2nd Finals in 3 years.  They have had a much more difficult path to get here, being tied at 5 all with the Linguists then Saucy Posse.  They have had enough to get by and are now pretty well playoff tested.  They’ve done it even with regular season leader Tango scuffling.  Herk-A-Leez was a game 1 hero with a 215 average.  His longtime running partner Roadhouse picked up the slack in round 2 with a 600 series of his own.  The big difference maker has been their free agent signing Big Rig.  He seems to have finally found the right ball and shot combo and has been a dominant in the playoffs.  He also is the only lefty on his side of the bracket.

This should be a great game.  Tango and Herk could crush Stevie’s resolve with a barrage of Brooklyns, or the veterans of BIB could return to form and just be too much to handle.  I can’t bet against the defending champs at this point, but it’s really close…

#4 L.O.S. (11-3) -3 vs #22 B.E.E.R. (7-8):  The only time these teams met in the playoffs was a BEER win in the 2010 semis.  Of course back then Natro played for LOS and Double Cheese was just a menu item.  Logically that match should have zero impact on this one four years later in a totally different league and venue, but LOS has a long memory, and what they do with that memory could determine this one.  If they are feeling confident then there is probably no other loss they’d rather avenge more, no other franchise they’d prefer to knock out, and this is their opportunity.  Conversely they could remember being heavy favorites and losing then, and then having a string of  tough playoff losses, and get tight.  I tend to think they have gotten past that this year, primarily by rallying late to pull away from Incredibowls in the first round.  Once they survived that they were able to loosen up a bit.  Precious and Cheese also just reached the 2v2 finals with a win yesterday.  They should be confident.  Even if they do tense up they can turn to Mr. Stiffy who has been the best bowler in the playoffs thus far.  Ally -Lujah has had a decent playoff average and Shithawk has played a big role by drawing opponents attention away from his teammates with his Smack Boarding – will they reward him with a game?

Being loose will not be a problem for BEER.  They are playing with house money right now after going only 4-8 in the regular season.  They have nothing to lose at this point, and have been bowling and drinking accordingly.  In the first round Tom Richards and Queen Bee were the unexpected leaders.  Last week it was Natro.  Filthy and Hungus have been steady.  Patterns suggest that tonight it’s Slow Roll’s turn.  BEER will start TR tonight again, as no team has more nightmares about him than LOS (well, maybe Binga’s).  He is a tone setter and starts the BEER party when he rolls a few strikes.  BEER are all veterans who have been here many times – if they can survive to force a game three then they grab the upper hand.  Surviving the opening games to get there could be a tall order.

Ultimately it looks like the year that The Twin Towers finally live up to their billing, thanks in large part to their little buddy Mr. Stiffy.

#2 Lesiure Rolls (11-3) -1 vs #26 Bowled & The Beautiful (6-9):  The Rolls have had some great fortune in their first year in the league.  They watched from the stands as LOS lost in week 12 handing them the Thursday A crown.  That has given them a relatively soft path to the quarters, though Granola played them tight.  They’ve been able to get here even though none of them has been bowling at their peak level.  They also saw the team that on paper was their toughest opponent in the bracket get upset in round 1.  Well, now they are a win away from the semis, and no one really remembers how you got to the top once you’re there.  The real tests will start tonight, but they have momentum and confidence and fully expect to be playing on Saturday.

The team that knocked off the bracket favorites – B&B.  Not only did they upset SOD in round one, they needed only two games to do it.  Then they handled the Nutz Tuesday and all of the sudden find themselves rubbing elbows with the league elite.  They won’t be intimidated by the company – in fact they seem so surprised and happy to be here that they couldn’t possibly be playing any looser.  They have a shot against the rolls.  Saw was on fire last round and needs to keep that up, and Dr. Pheelgood has been putting in serious practice time.  Bo Julius can hang with the amazingly consistent Space Cadet.  Billy James and Mr. Mayor need to play their best games – they have shown the ability.

The Rolls win by grinding opponents down – doing just enough to grab points up and down the line.  There is no #1, but also no #4, they are solid across the board.  That consistency should hand them the narrow victory.

#6 Guns of Brighton (10-4) -1 vs #3 Yahtzee (12-2):  Ok, I probably shouldn’t read too much into the first two rounds.  I picked a Yahtzee BIB final in the initial writeup and really should probably stick with it, but my gut’s telling me this one is an upset.  Yahtzee hasn’t needed to do much to advance so far, and put up a couple of very low 600′s last round in their win.  Obviously that’s all they had to do, but can they turn it back on now that they’ll need it?  Sparkles has at times been the most dominating player in the league, but he has not had his best performances in the playoff format.  Cheddar is pretty much a lock for a 580-610 series so they have that going for them.  Pauly is more likely than anyone to have a line that looks like 115-245-200, but unlike 2v2 this isn’t cumulative so opponents can really take advantage of that 115.  Bowldemort is 89th out of 90 in playoff average and may not see the court.  Lala and Babe are solid but neither has had a truly big night.  This is a really good team, a very close team, but an interesting amalgam.  Who steps up to calm things if Cheddar gets frustrated?

GOB’s biggest obstacle is always GOB.  They beat up on themselves all the time, and instead of being able to rally as a group their psyche seems to fall to the lowest common denominator of whoever is unhappiest.  Lucky for them they are all in a good place at the right time, and that makes them very dangerous.  E-Minor has gotten over his midseason slump (not coincidentally tied to his mid-season grumpiness) and has looked like the guy that led the league in average for the first month, putting up monster scores with the left side of the lane all to himself.  Jon Moon has been a constant playoff scorer.  iHand is captaining wisely and should be pretty happy with himself for the match.  Hootie and Seatown have both had some huge games and will need to grab all their points tonight.  That leaves the professional – Mr. Pickles.  He wants a semis battle with Capt. Insanal so bad he can taste it, and he will throw everything he’s got at Yahtzee.  I think it will be just enough.

This should be an instant classic.  Two great teams that could easily have met in the finals.  Only one can win.  I’m going with the team that has looked rejuvenated in the playoffs.

Semis:

I don’t really spend much time on these write-ups as they are based on hypothetical match ups.  If the quarters go as a I predicted, then I think LOS’ relative youth gives them the endurance to edge BIB, and GOB gets by the Trolls for a LOS/GOB finals and a guaranteed 1st time Champion on Saturday.  Of course I wouldn’t be remotely surprised if it stays chalk and we get a BIB/Yahtzee final.

Tuesday, April 14th

Early Games

#1 Back In Black vs #16 I.B.S.

#21 B.E.E.R. vs #28 Guacabowle

#2 Leisure Rolls vs #15 My Balls

#6 Guns of Brighton vs #11 Bingas

Late Games

#9 XXX Club vs #25 Saucy Posse

#4 L.O.S. vs #13 Strikes of Hazzard

#23 Nutz vs #26 Bowled & Beautiful

#3 Yahtzee vs #14 Young & Bowled

So now we have a lot of busted brackets.  Many of the submissions had SOD in the finals, and a good number had them playing OC.  If they can go down on opening night anyone can, so with that in mind here are the Thursday lines.

Early Games

#16 Irritable Bowl Syndrome (10-2) -1 vs #17 Ball That (9-3): By seed this is the closest game of the first round, though by average Ball That has a clear advantage.  That said this is the first year for Ball That and their first trip to the postseason.  I.B.S. has been here before, and they feel like this is a year of destiny for them.  They had the greatest turnaround in BoPo history from 0-12 to 10-2, and now want to extend their dream season.  The winner of this one gets a date with Back In Black and a chance for the new biggest upset in BoPo history.  I think Oolie, after perhaps being tight in game 1, will put on a retro show and handle the best shots of Samsquampch and Twinkle Toes, and Lucky will have to play her best to hold off Gutterlicious.  Ram Rod is the sleeper in this one – his pin killing is the difference in this line.

#4 L.O.S. (9-3) -3 vs #29 Incredibowls (7-5):  If anyone has their guard up after Tuesday’s upsets it’s L.O.S.  This team has had their share of playoff close calls and even losses to unheralded teams in the early rounds.  They may be a little tight given that history but I think they’ve learned from it and the Tuesday craziness may actually take some pressure off of them.  There was some speculation Precious would miss this game, and at that point I had this on serious upset watch, but now it appears he will be there.  The Incredibowls have a long franchise history of playoff success, but the franchise is hardly recognizable.  They have a new Captain, God of Thunder, trying to make this a ‘crazy, crazy night’ and ‘dance all over your face’, ‘beth’.  Then there’s rookie Spidey, who is an all-star and 1 of only 2 people (Stevie Strikes the other) with an 800 series at Bayside Bowl.  They have one holdover in Sweet Baby Lou, with BoPo playoff experience (though Spidey and GOT both have Media League titles).  If they can keep it close early LOS may have flashbacks, but I think LOS will jump on them in game 1 and advance.

#10 B.U.I. (5-7) -1 vs #23 Nutz (3-9): Well now.  With the SOD loss in the first round the winner of this one will actually be the higher seed in the sweet 16.  BUI just beat the Nutz last week, though as the Binga’s-UREA! playoff game proved sometimes that helps the team that lost.  No word yet on Snapshot’s possible return, but he has ditched the crutches.  Hexy just won a thrilling 2v2 semis match so has the playoff feel, and The Duke is capable of some big games.  Newcomer Scarbelly has been a solid fixture for these busy as well.  The Nutz have ridden the big right arm of Bustah, but have lost six straight (a streak that started when he made his Hawaii trip).  The good news for them is that the slate is clean, and if they win here they’ll at least have a chance to keep advancing.  Peanut is a rock for these guys as their only lady.  Salty, Rochambo and Herbie are the wildcard trio, all capable of big games but unpredictable.  Generally in a game this close I just go with the top player, in this case Bustah, but I feel like BUI may want it a bit more, so I’ll take them in a squeaker.

#6 Guns of Brighton (8-4) -1 vs #27 I.C.B.I.N.G. (9-3):  GOB enters the playoffs in a  decent spot – 8-4, the #6 seed etc. – but they don’t have a winning feel about them right now.  They seemed really down on themselves the entire last night of the season even as they were winning 12-3.  Invisible Hand really will need to breathe some life into these guys for them to make a run in the tourney.  They have all the talent they need.  Mr. Pickles is as consistent as they come, E-Minor is a really good bowler (until he misses a shot then decides he’s terrible) and Jon Moon has been a good pickup with a veteran demeanor.  The Hand has bowled better than ever and Seatown and Hootie are high end lady bowlers, Seatown actually their leading roller in the last week.  They just need to shake the doldrums. I suggest shots, and maybe some pre game reggae, but that’s just what works for BEER.  ICBING is the exact opposite.  They aren’t overly stacked with high rollers, but they treat every game like an amazing kegger.  They invented pitchers of shots at Bayside.  They will be loose, and that could really snowball for them in this one if they get off to a lead.  Clarified has been killing it in doubles, Peanut Gutter has made a 2v2 finals, Gutterball Turkey is improving at a crazy pace and Fabio is capable of a 600 series.  I wonder if they will do their rhythmic ‘Zack clap’ even though he’s playing them instead of working?  This is one to watch.

  Late Games

#14 Young & Bowled (4-8) -1 vs #19 Slaughterhouse 7 (8-4):  Hmm.  This one is interesting.  Y&B has a much higher average, but they did find a lot of ways to lose this year in spite of themselves.  Pistol Pete enters the game as the highest average roller, and Senator ITZ has had his standard solid year.  Rookie Nugget has been a strong competitor as well.  They should cruise, right?  Well Slaughterhouse 7 has a proud playoff history.  They’ve knocked off higher ranked teams, they’ve made 2 finals.  New Captain Coco Lopez has been to the finals with another team.   Fern and Riggs have also made it to the finals. Ishmael seems to rise to the occasion, too.  I like this matchup a lot, and really am only picking Y&B because they played a tougher schedule.  I wouldn’t bet on this game.

#21 B.E.E.R. (4-8) -1 vs #12 Yay-pigs? (5-7): The Yay/Slampigs have really gotten themselves worked up into a frenzy about this game.  Their game three cheer, against LOS in Week 12?  ”Fuck Beer”.  Their proposed one-time only custom playoff shirt design?  BEER, with a line through it.  They are hurling the trash talk, however uncreative.  Is it coming from a place of confidence or, like most braggadocio, from a deeper insecurity?  On Sunday, Natro and Hungus beat Probie and Jewdy in doubles playoffs by 218 pins.  While this is not doubles, and Jewdy and Probie get to bring their big brothers Yao and Bombpop to this one, the results give BEER something tangible to have some confidence about.  Yao is the key for Yay, a consistent all-star who is having a down year but could turn it around at any minute.  Yay rolled below average often, but in big games against Leisure Rolls and GOB turned it on and even posted an 800 game, something BEER has yet to do.  But BEER are veterans at this, and should have the experience to weather the insults and likely fast start from Yay.  It will be tight, and Mona Laudley could shake things up if she’s averaging 170s, but BEER has been gelling, and playing in the Sunday Shootout actually was a good experience for them.

#8 TDYOB (7-5) -1 vs #25 Saucy Posse (2-10):  Not that they ever lacked for confidence, but TDYOB’s confidence level now is sky high after knocking off the #1 team in the final week of the season.  That game wasn’t handed to them, they grabbed it in game three with a  245 from Farmer and a 220 from Munson.  Pretty heady scores.  They will get a very tough opponent in round 1.  Saucy Posse is a lot better than their 2-10 record would indicate.  They have two guys in Walter and Wing Sauce who are threats for 600 series every week.  Hot Sauce is wildly unpredictable, and their girls may have a hard time keeping up with Spooky and Sneaky Pete, but they enter this game with confidence of their own.  Dr. Thunder has his team playing well and will have to figure out how and when to reincorporate the returning Shifter Pawl.  Expect a lot of noise in this one, and probably some extended parking lot breaks.

#2 Leisure Rolls (9-3) -5 vs #31 Granola Bowlahs (7-5):  This is the only game of the night that looks like a blowout…on paper.  Leisure has had a stunningly successful first season and are looking to pull a Turkey Club, running all the way to the finals in their BoPo playoff debut.  That SOD loss really opened their bracket up and they will be heavy favorites all the way to the semis if they keep winning.  It’s hard to pinpoint a top bowler for these guys but they have amazing depth in Magic, Gatch, Sloppiness and Capt. Insanal.  Anyone of them may be the guy who puts up a 200, but they’ll all be right there above 170.  Then there’s Space Cadet who has been amazingly consistent and carries an excellent average.  The Bowlahs overcame a final week disappointment that sent them to the Sunday Shootout by rolling well on Sunday and advancing.  They certainly won’t fear this matchup.  Rick Vaughn has got his team really together and having a good time on the lanes.  They won’t feel any pressure and if they could keep it close early that will really pay off for them.  They have nothing to lose.  Colucci Kid, Ricky V and Razor all have had big nights, and Bijou may have adjusted to bowling while quite pregnant.  It’s a longshot but this team believes in itself and is loose, so they are still dangerous.

The Sunday Shootout is in the books.  Alas, there were no bowloffs, but we did see ‘the playoff effect’, where teams rolled 70-100 pins above their regular season average in many cases.  Regardless we now have our bracket, and the 13 day race to a title has begun!  These are the best two weeks of the bowling year, and conveniently enough start the day after that other bracket tournament has its Championship game.  Brackets are available at the front desk, $5 to enter, Diesel is the defending bracket champ.  They must be returned by Tuesday at 5:45.

On paper it looks like a repeat for Back In Black is in the works.  Stevie Strikes schooled everyone this year and Skittles, aka Karl Malone, didn’t sign as a free agent to lose, she wants a banner.  (Not to mention she expects one, already expressing concern that her 2v2 Finals match would wear her out for her BoPo championship game.  I guess you can afford to be presumptuous if you’re on BIB.)  Yahtzee looks like the favorite on the right side of the bracket. For those who missed it, Sparkles went 254-290 yesterday in 2v2 playoffs (and on lanes 1-2 for those people who complain that lanes 1 and 2 somehow impact averages).  Combine that with Cheddar and these guys look ridiculous, their only potential achilles’ heel being camaraderie, perhaps even having too much of it.

This year’s tourney field is the deepest in BoPo history and there will be some amazing match ups even in the first round, with Sweet 16 match ups that would have been championship games in years past.  That said we have two heavy favorites that appear on a collision course, so will all the other stuff just be window dressing on the way to a BIB vs Yahtzee final?  That’s why they play the games.

Get your spurs and chaps on, it’s playoff time!

Tuesday Games

For first round games, play all three games even if the result is decided in two.  For future rounds if the game is decided in two the match is over and teams leave the lanes.

‘Upset potential’ is my best guess at the chance for the lower seeded team to win.

Early

#1 Back in Black (10-2) -9 vs #32 Pinups (6-7): The Pinups pulled a minor upset on Sunday to get into the tourney – their reward, a date with defending champs and tourney favorite BIB.  Well it was a nice season.  The Pinups will be happy to be there and hope to grab a point or two.  Back In Black will cruise in this one and everyone should get plenty of playing time.  Stevie may even stay home again for this one, though TDYOB did take advantage of that  move last week.  upset potential: nil

#5 Off Constantly (8-4) -5 vs #28 Guacabowle (8-4):  O.C. had a nice rebound regular season after last year’s Sunday Shootout bid.  Of course they still went to the semis last year so the regular season doesn’t mean much to them.  They will be heavy favorites in this first round match.  Guacabowle did make a little noise a few years ago with a near 700 game in the playoffs, and they do seem to rise to the occasion.  Sparetime led the league in games played this year so he’s got the practice in but this is a bit of a reach.  upset potential: extremely low

#15 My Balls (11-1) -3 vs #18 Happy Hands Productions (8-4):  This is the game to watch early, not surprisingly given the closeness of the seeding.  My Balls just completed an amazing run by winning the division title in the final game of the year after being tied 5-5.  Rookie Wej (I have 1 brick, how many do you have?) has been a great signing for these guys.  He’s the energy guy allowing Captain Barry Violet to be the steely, reserved leader.  Plus Big Red is capable of some big games.  Happy Hands looked destined for Sunday until everything broke their way on the final night.  Their reward is getting a playoff game against a B team, even though My Balls are the best B team by record.  Munj and Sasha have their team right where they want to be and this is a clash with a familiar rival.  It will take some serious rolling from Cocksure and Co., but HHP has a shot in this one.  upset potential: medium

#7 Sons of Danarchy (7-5) -5 vs #26 Bowled & Beautiful (4-9):  SOD turned the brackets upside down with their final week upset of L.O.S.  They escaped the group of death, handed the Thursday A crown to Leisure Rolls and grabbed a 1st round date with Bowled & Beautiful.  SOD has always gotten by on depth but lacked a true #1, but in week 12 The Dentist filled that role and looked like he may be back from that wrist injury.  That would be huge for this team that has a real clear shot at the semis at least.  B&B bowls to their competition, exhibited clearly in their last two games.  They took a 5-0 lead on Binga’s and almost pulled that upset, then scuffled to a close win over Splits Happen in the Sunday Shootout.  They’ll be up for this one and could put a scare in SOD if they look past this game. upset potential: low to medium

Late Games

#9 XXX Club (7-5) -3 vs #24 Cunning Linguists (3-9):  The Club finished the season strong going 6-1 to close things out and finishing 5th in Tuesday A.  They signed Big Rig as a potential ringer in the offseason after the Deputy signing fell though and Samsquampch walked, but in-house options Tango and Roadhouse responded to be 1-2 on the team in average.  They are a dangerous but unpredictable squad.  The Linguists got a nice bonus when their Sunday foe forfeited and now get a shot at a team they’ve played before.  They do have some talent on the roster – La Ga, Gutterslut and Wild Card are all potential big game bowlers, and EHD is coming off a career game.  They haven’t managed to all pull it together yet in one game, but that will all be forgotten if they roll their best Tuesday.  upset potential: low to medium

#13 Strikes of Hazzard (6-6) -3 vs #20 Cape Fear (9-3): This one could be interesting.  It’s the wild and crazy Hazzard boys vs the all-business Fear.  Hazzard arrested their slide just in time to avoid a Sunday game but have looked vulnerable.  That said offseason pickup General Lee hasn’t seemed particularly interested, and that should change now that the playoffs have arrived.  Deputy has Slowinskied himself into a deep, dark place, but he can always hope for a revival.  Cape Fear rolls a short bench, and Southpaw can battle the top dogs of A.  This franchise has a history of near misses in 1st round matches vs top teams.  Don’t sleep on them.  upset potential: medium

#3 Yahtzee! (10-2) -11 vs #30 BILFs (7-6):  Did I mention Sparkles’ 254-290 back to back yesterday?  Yeah, and he finished 2nd on the team in average.  Ol’ Cheddar is back in the league and looking for another title to shake off memories of his last playoff appearance, the infamous beer on the head loss to Y&B back when he was with BEER.  He’s certainly got the pieces in place to do it.  The BILFs will try to pick away at the low points and hang around into game three.  Major Danks really needs to have his breakout game to back up team leader Old Thumper.  upset potential: extremely low

#11 Binga’s (7-5) -3 vs #22 UREA! (3-9): For those who don’t remember, UREA! already beat Binga’s once this season.  In two games.  That might not be helpful as now Binga’s will be extra focused (by Binga’s standards).  They were missing Tso in that one but still it gives UREA! hope they can pull off another win.  Binga’s started the season on fire, even beating BIB and looking like a championship contender.  They spent the 2nd half of the sea on scuffling.  Which Binga’s team will be in the playoffs?  UREA has a bad record but they have been in many of those losses to the very end.  T-$ tied for 2nd most 200+ games and Steff Infection and Knuckles are one of the better 1-2 girl punches.  Nurple is the key for these guys if they want to advance.  upset potential: medium