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Re: Predictions Week 4: One Giant Leap
Quote:
Originally Posted by Looking Forward
ST. LOUIS:
The finals here the past two years have featured 217 and 148 against 1444 and 45, each alliance taking it once. But in 2009, only 1444 returns here from that group. The event does have some high profile replacements though, and should feature some very exciting alliances and matches. It doesn't quite have the depth of some other events, and will be rather top heavy. If two of the top tier bots team up, it will be difficult to stop them. It's likely that only two or three alliances will have legitimate chances at winning the regional (barring technical failures).
The Bomb Squad didn't perform up to their desires in Chicago, getting bounced in the quarter-finals and never really emerging as a high-scoring machine. 16 wasn't satisfied with their result, and modified their scoring mechanism for a hiring rate of fire (and shorter range). They should see an improved result in Missouri, and should at least reach the semi-finals.
1208 has a simple power dumper, but with a large enough capacity to make it very dangerous. They were selected first in Kansas City and were one of the most explosive scoring machines at the event (and managed to score 141 in a qualification match). They have a chance at upsetting some of the bigger names in the eliminations if they have another scoring machine paired with them to help remove defensive pressure.
2775 is another impressive looking rookie team, with a basket on an elevator allowing them to use their roller intake to score. Their hopper is smaller than some of the other scoring machines at the event, which will place even more influence on their driving ability. If they avoid any DeWalt problems (figures that Team DeWalt is using them), they should do well, but they will likely be a clear margin behind the top teams.
SWAT went undefeated in the quals at KC, and led the #1 alliance to the Championship. 1806 is looking to win two regionals for the second year in a row, but this will the be the tougher than any event they've won so far. Their spiral loaded shooter has the potential to score well, but it doesn't have the ability to take over matches on its own. They can provide reliable scoring to compliment an explosive scorer, but it's unlikely they'll be able to earn another medal.
Week one last year, they were on the #1 alliance at the Midwest regional, and were beaten by the #8 alliance in the quarter-finals. Week one this year, they were on the #1 alliance at the Midwest regional, and were beaten by the #8 alliance in the quarter-finals. Week four last year, they came back even better and won the West Michigan regional. Week four this year...
Beatty's back. And Beatty wants to win. After the stunning upset in the QFs in Chicago, team 71 is going to be even better than they were in Chicago (note: they still have the highest OPR of any team in FIRST), which is a frightening thought. If you want to win this event, you're going to have to go through Team Hammond. They'll be playing in the final match of the regional, and their performance will decide on who wins.
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Well, Bomb Squad's improved shooter got them through quals without a loss. As #1 seed, they picked Team Hammond. The #1 alliance got a scare in the semis when they lost their first match to the alliance led by Perpetual Chaos. In the end, the Team 16, 71 and 1706 combination had too much firepower to be denied the win. Two strong offensive robots seems to be the ticket this year.
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2003 AZ: Semifinals, Motorola Quality; SoCal: Q-finals, Xerox Creativity; IRI: Q-finals
2004 AZ: Semifinals, GM Industrial Design; SoCal: Winners, Leadership in Controls; Championship: Galileo #2 seed, Q-finals; IRI: Champions
2005 AZ: #1 Seed, Xerox Creativity; SoCal: Finalist, RadioShack Controls; SVR: Winners, Delphi "Driving Tomorrow's Technologies"; Championship: Archimedes Semifinals; IRI: Finalist
2007 LA: Finalist; San Diego: Q-finals; CalGames: Finalist || 2008 San Diego: Q-finals; LA: Winners; CalGames: Finalist || 2009 LA: Semifinals; Las Vegas: Q-finals; IRI: #1 Seed, Finalist
2010 AZ: Motorola Quality; LA: Finalist || 2011 SD: Q-finals; LA: Q-finals || 2013 LA: Xerox Creativity, WFFA, Dean's List Finalist || 2014 IE: Q-finals, LA: Finalist, Dean's List Finalist
2016 Ventura: Q-finals, WFFA, Engineering Inspiration
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