[the_godfaubel]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say it will happen (#BoldPredictions). Everyone will presumably take the best available shooter in the first, thus leaving the defensive bots for the 2nd and/or 3rd round of selections. If 8 takes the best available shooter, they also get first dibs on the defensive bots. They get the best defensive bot there is and one that can probably climb, reliably cross 1 or 2 classes of defenses in autonomous, and potentially score in auto. Assuming the 8th alliance captain is a somewhat reliable shooter, that's a pretty dangerous alliance. If it's the right alliance, I could see 180-210 points being scored, which is more than enough to beat a #1 alliance.

Plus, declined alliances happen and might lead to a really good team being the 8th alliance captain.