Most Competitive Events 2017

[Ernst]

Originally Posted by BrendanB

I find the most competitive events aren't ones with the top tier of FRC in attendance.

Yeah, I think that just looking at the top tier is too limited of a view. If an event with 35 teams has the 2 best robots in the world, but then a huge drop off and zero depth, you'll end up with a couple amazing matches, but also tons of boring ones and predictable elims alliances and results.

It's no fun to watch an event get dominated by a couple teams (unless you're on them). I would much rather pay attention to one with a deep field of solid teams. But hey, personal preference.

[Ringo5tarr]

So I personally can't say I know which will events will be especially competitive, but I can say that GKC will not be, If I had to put money on it , Titanium (1986) would have a 75-95% chance of winning with Driven (1730) or Broncobots (1987)(45% Driven, 40% BroncoBots, 15% other) being in the alliance OR getting second place alliance captain. Not sure if I really added anything to the conversation, but I thought I'd throw my two cents in on the regional I know the best.

Also the team I'm on (1764) will get somewhere between 16th and 30th seed if I had to guess.

[jSchnitz]

Originally Posted by Ringo5tarr

So I personally can't say I know which will events will be especially competitive, but I can say that GKC will not be, If I had to put money on it , Titanium (1986) would have a 75-95% chance of winning with Driven (1730) or Broncobots (1987)(45% Driven, 40% BroncoBots, 15% other) being in the alliance OR getting second place alliance captain. Not sure if I really added anything to the conversation, but I thought I'd throw my two cents in on the regional I know the best.

I'm sure GKC will be quite competitive, and 1986 is by no means guaranteed to win it. 1730, 1775, 1806, 1986, 1987, and 4522 are all perennial contenders, plus this year 624 will be in attendance. The upper-mid level teams are no joke either - 935, 1108, 1723, 1785, 1825, 2410, and 3528, just off the top of my head - it wouldn't surprise me a bit if one of those won as a captain / first pick.

[Hitchhiker 42]

Originally Posted by Ernst

Yeah, I think that just looking at the top tier is too limited of a view. If an event with 35 teams has the 2 best robots in the world, but then a huge drop off and zero depth, you'll end up with a couple amazing matches, but also tons of boring ones and predictable elims alliances and results.

It's no fun to watch an event get dominated by a couple teams (unless you're on them). I would much rather pay attention to one with a deep field of solid teams. But hey, personal preference.

I totally second this. Also eliminations with lots of upsets (e.g. 7 beats 2, 6 beats 3, etc.) is fun to watch... reminds me of Hartford this year.

[BronzeStallion]

Originally Posted by Ernst

Yeah, I think that just looking at the top tier is too limited of a view. If an event with 35 teams has the 2 best robots in the world, but then a huge drop off and zero depth, you'll end up with a couple amazing matches, but also tons of boring ones and predictable elims alliances and results.

It's no fun to watch an event get dominated by a couple teams (unless you're on them). I would much rather pay attention to one with a deep field of solid teams. But hey, personal preference.

Going by this logic I would say that the Wisconsin regional is pretty "competitive". Especially considering the 1st seed alliance hasn't won since 2011.

[Ernst]

Originally Posted by BronzeStallion

Going by this logic I would say that the Wisconsin regional is pretty "competitive". Especially considering the 1st seed alliance hasn't won since 2011.

The Wisconsin Regional is by no means stacked, but I think it's pretty fair to say it'll be competitive. A lot of different teams could win this year. Especially without several teams who have attended in the past, I think there will be a lower ceiling than some of the "premier" events that will get a lot of hype over a few standout teams, but a much more even top/mid-tier of teams. Wisconsin has a lot of experienced teams who will field at least decent, and often pretty good, robots. Teams like 537, 706, 1306, 1675, 1714, 1732, 2062, 2194, 2202, 4786, and several others, all have the potential to field a robot that could captain an alliance, win a Regional, and play in CMP elims.

This thread is called the "Most Competitive Events", but the OP asks for the "most stacked" ones. I think those are different. Wisconsin won't have the storied, top-tier teams being brought up in this thread, but it will be a good competition that a lot of different teams could win.

[vann2648]

The WPI district in NE is also quite competitive in the sense that any alliance could win. Last year it was #4 and #6 who played in finals. (Although this year I'd have to put my money on 1519)