[JB987]

[quote=iVanDuzer;1160863]If you make it to Einstein, you can win. Point me to a division champ alliance that never had a chance to take it all. Look at 2010, a year where the champs were all but guaranteed... Then Newton happened with Galileo close behind. Or 2008, where Galileo lost their first match to Newton. Or 2007 where the Wall of Maroon pulled a huge upset. Or Archimedes 2006 when a team who had never won a regional before seeded first and became World Champs. Were any of these divisions "scorched earth?" I don't know, and maybe not, but if you can make it to the big dance, you might as well waltz.

I also don't see why scorched earth would matter too much, as Einstein alliances consistently pick outside the top 8 anyways. Last year, 217 picked 1503, 254 picked 111, and 987 picked 968. The only alliance that had inter-picking was the Archimedes division, where 2016 (1) picked 177 (6).


You are correct that any Division winner has a shot to win it all. Obviously as a member of the Wall of Maroon I am aware that upsets are possible...but I think they are called upsets because the odds are against the underdogs, which means statistically one is less likely to achieve success in the competitive arena when unable to ally with other teams that may have more strengths and form an even better fit with your team. Over time, one would find that stronger alliances are going to wind up on top more than "weaker" alliances which can be the result of a "scorched earth" scenario.