Predictions: The Big Show -- Newton

[Joe Johnson]

There are just too many teams to pick from. Really. I have managed to whittle my tips & locks down to a manageable list of 12 Teams per Division.

Tips: A team to watch. Should have a pretty good run after lunch on Saturday.

Lock: This is a team that I feel has a better than 50% chance of making it to the finals of their division.

Here we go...

TIPS:

From a tipster:

Many components of this team were on Einstein just two years ago, but under a different name and number. The 39th Aero Squadron is the reincarnation of one of the legendary teams in FIRST history, 64 (The Gila Monsters). 39 won Arizona, and made it to the Vegas finals. One of the top 10 autonomous scorers in FIRST, they will make an impact in Newton. Their 30 point forklift will help bail them out of some sticky situations in both the qualifications and eliminations, but they will rely on their scoring ability for most of the heavy lifting. They will likely be a late first round selection (5-7 range), so the other two teams on their alliance will be very important to their ability to go far in the tournament.

10-1-3 seeding record from NJ & MD. They were Champs in MD and they were Chairman's Award winners in NJ. #75 should definitely be in the hunt on Newton.

The Berkley Bears (#247) are one of the best defensive ramps I saw this year. While you would think from looking at it that they may have trouble with folks climbing the ramp, in practice, they are a solid, easily climbed ramp (and they lift the second robot with a Dewalt powered scissor lift). Tough team. They have 2 Championships (Detroit & Pitt) to show for it.

#573, the Mech Warriors had a great run at the Great Lakes (Champions!) they had a less great run in Indiana. Even so, they can put up a lot of tubes. I think that they are in a position to seed well on Newton. With the right partners, they could go far (full disclosure -- this is my daughter's team and while I didn't really help the team too much I am far from a dispassionate observer).

Finalists in Las Angeles, Followed up with a Championship in San Diego. The Circuit Breakers (#696) should be a top team on Newton.

Next 2 from a tipster:

987 struggled a bit at the highly defensive regional in San Jose, but emerged as a very strong scoring machine in Vegas, making it to the finals. They were the #2 seed on Newton last year, and certainly don't want to back down. Championship is always a crap shoot, and the High Rollers certainly aren't afraid to roll the dice. 987 might be an gem in the middle-later stages of the draft, and will do very well in Atlanta.

1038 brought home a pair of silvers this year. They were arguably the best team on Galileo last year, and I guarantee they want the gold. The thunderhawks are a fast and deadly scoring machine, with the capability to score on the top row during autonomous. If they can get a powerful scorer to aid them (like 68, 111, 148, or 177), they might be taking home some hardware.

They were 1/3rd of "The Triplets" last year. They are 1/2 of "The Twins" this year. Whatever. Just be glad there are fewer of them this year than last #1503 is just plain good.

My only Tip from outside North America: #1574 had an awesome run in the GM/Technion Israel. We tipped them then, we are sticking with them for Newton. Keep your eye on them they should have a good run.


LOCKS:

The Killer Bees (#33) continue to disappoint me but I am not going to give up on them. In fact, I am upping the ante. I think they are going to finally hit their stride in the Dome. Look for a strong scoring machine with all the kinks worked out of their robot, their drivers, their strategy and even their autonomous scoring. Lock & load.

Wildstang had to work for it in Western Michigan. They were not as dominant as they were in IL where they won the Championship but they were still a force to be reckoned with in their Finalist finish in Grand Rapids. I look for #111 to be the class of Newton and to be a likely Champion - not just a finalist. Definitely Einstein capabilities here. From a tipster with regard to #111:

111 isn't quite as dominant as we expect Wildstang to be. But few teams have been in 2007, but 'stang has won when it counts, in the eliminations. We witnessed the return of the Wildstang swerve, and it's worked tremendously so far, guiding them to the Midwest Championship, and the West Michigan finals (which, if not for 1504s penalties, they would have won as well). They unveiled a highly successful autonomous in Michigan, but with their tracking method, it makes it very difficult for a partner to score as well. Arguments can be made on the importance of having a pair of keepers, but it certainly can't help not having that option. Look for Raul (the Magnificent) to lead the guys and gals from Rolling Meadows and Wheeling into at least the Newton semis.

Last Lock in Newton: #148 -- I have picked them before. They are just an awesome team with an awesome robot. I will get out with a quote from at tipster:

148 is probably the best tube scoring machine in the division. Finalist (and if 217s arm didn't break, Champions) in St. Louis, Semi-finalists in Lonestar. The Robowranglers have their first serious chance to win the Championship event since they won in 1993. They've been limited by their partners at both regionals, but they should be able to find appropriate help in Newton, the question is, will they?

BONUS:
Too many teams in Newton to keep it to just 12. Sorry I have to add a few.

2 quick bonus teams to mention from a tipster:

• 1885 was arguably the best ramp at both of their regionals (VCU and Vegas). The Robocats updated their manipulator in Vegas too, and can score 2-3 tubes before having to drop their (reliable, large, and easy to climb) ramps. They cannot reach the top row, and that might hurt last year's rookie all-star deeper in the elimination rounds. Watch for this purple team to be another later selection gem.
• 2068 is my rookie to watch out for. A simple, reliable ramp. With some proper qualification pairing, they could make it to the Top 8, but it is (by no measure) a guarantee.

Joe J.