I think that UTC and BAE are still the regionals to beat. UTC was rougher than anything else I have seen this season. That includes the Boilermaker and Mid-west regionals. Add to this the fact that the NE is FIRST and we remember what it was like to play games that involved this little concept called DEFENSE!
I'll just say that it has been at least a good 4 years since any of the mid-west stalwarts 111, 71, 16, 47, 45 (and others I'm forgetting)...have ventured east.
Justin