Since Chief needed another prediction account, here we were. Welcome to CYD.
We’re going to be ranking the top eight teams (not seeding order - robot performance) at most events, predicting the outcomes of others, and providing some generic commentary on what to expect. Here’s week 1.
[NE] Granite State
- 1519 - Mechanical Mayhem
- 5687 - The Outliers
- 3467 - Windham Windup
- 6329 - The Bucks’ Wrath
- 4564 - Orange Chaos
- 95 - Grasshoppers
- 131 - C.H.A.O.S.
- 6328 - Mechanical Advantage
It’s likely that 1519 takes home the banner, as long as they have a functioning L3. They are likely to pick a cycling expert, which could be any of 5687, 6329, 4564, 3467, 95, or 131. Windham did attend the Weak Zero event, but didn’t look promising, while 5687 took home the win. 6328 has a promising L3, but their cycling game is yet to be shown. 3467 is likely to have made big changes to their robot, so we will see if it pays off.
[ONT] Durham
- 2200 - MMRambotics
- 610 - Crescent Coyotes
- 188 - Blizzard
- 4476 - W.A.F.F.L.E.S.
- 4946 - The Alpha Dogs
- 4525 - Renaissance Robotics
- 2708 - Lake Effect Robotics
- 5036 - The Robo Devils
2200 seeds first with their climbing reliability and selects 610 for their cycle times, and other level three climb. 188 and 4476 pair up as alliance number two as two very fast cycling robots. Top two alliances easily make it to finals, where they face off. Alliance number 1 (2200, 610) take the event win in finals (2-1).
[PNW] Mount Vernon
- 5803 - Apex Robotics
- 1983 - Skunkworks
- 2910 - Jack in the Bot
- 1778 - Chill Out
- 1318 - Issaquah Robotics Society
- 3663 - CPR
- 4468 - R.A.I.D.
- 360 - The Revolution
We predict the first seeded alliance of 1983 and 2910 will face the second seed of 5803 and 1318 in finals, where the second seed will take it in the rubber match 2-1.
[FIM] Kettering 1
- 27 - Team RUSH
- 5114 - Titanium Tigers
- 245 - Adambots
- 1506 - Metal Muscle
- 70 - More Martians
- 1322 - G.R.A.Y.T. Leviathons
- 5084 - Team FridgeBot
- 3535 - Galaktech Invaders
27’s going to be the best bot here by the end of the year, but history says they won’t be week 1. If rumors of their bot are true, they’re going to be a finalist or winner on Saturday. 5114 and 3535 consistently make strong showings week 1, and one of them are likely to find the right partner to come away with a win this weekend.
[FIM] Southfield
- 33 - Killer Bees
- 3538 - RoboJackets
- 2834 - Bionic Blackhawks
- 5436 - Cyber Cats
- 6117 - Wingspan
- 573 - Mech Warriors
- 201 - The FEDS
- 4680 - AzTech Eagles
33 debuts as the strongest Rocket cycler in Michigan, bannering with two robots that only do level 1. Opposing alliance will have to keep it close and maximize their level 2s and 3s at the HAB if they want to make it to finals.
[FIM] Gibraltar
- 1023 - Bedford Express
- 548 - Robostangs
- 1718 - The Fighting Pi
- 3536 - Electro Eagles
- 3641 - The Flying Toasters
- 3604 - Goon Squad
- 4384 - Benzene Bots
- 5901 - Cougar Pack
1023 has a consistently strong showing week 1, and will find the right partner to win this weekend. Any one of the other top 6 are likely candidates. Chairman’s is going to be close between 1718 and 3641, but we predict that 1718 will take home the banner this weekend.
[FMA] Hatboro-Horsham
- 319 - Big Bad Bob
- 2607 - The Fighting RoboVikings
- 5895 - Peddie School Robotics
- 1218 - Vulcan Robotics
- 708 - Hatters Robotics
- 1391 - The Metal Moose
- 203 - SOUPer BOTS
- 103 - Cybersonics
This event is going to be a hot mess. 319 and 2607 are the most likely to win but only if 319 can quickly dial in their complex robot, which sports a pass-through elevator. 2607 will at least make finals, with a strong record in early-season play and a history of effective elevators (see their 3 2015 and 2018 banners). 5895 will be a top 3 pick with their low-focused pink arm. With their level 3 climber, 1218 will captain a high-seed alliance and lose in finals to two of 319, 2607, and 5895.
[ISR] ISR 1
- 1690 - Orbit
- 1577 - Steampunk
- 1574 - MisCar
- 3211 - The Y Team
- 5987 - Galaxia in memory of David Zohar
- 2230 - General Angels
- 7039 -
- 5554 - The Poros
1574 comes out of the gate hot, but so do a lot of other teams. Still, MisCar is able to claim their third straight rank one seed at the first Israel district event of the year. They select 1690 Orbit first overall and breeze undefeated into finals. The other side of the bracket sees 1577 and 3211 narrowly escape an upstart young 3rd alliance of 5987 and 7039. Unfortunately for #1 alliance, 1690’s struggles in Israel districts return in finals, and the battle-tested #2 alliance lead by 1577 Steampunk and 3211 The Y Team take the win.
[ISR] ISR 2
- 3339 - BumbleB
- 2630 - Thunderbolts
- 3316 - D-Bug
- 2231 - OnyxTronix
- 3075 - Ha-Dream Team
- 5614 - Team Sycamore
- 4586 - PRIMO
- 5654 - Phoenix
When the dust settles and quals matches are complete, 2231 rises to the top of the rankings. OnyxTronix takes the high powered BumbleB first overall and slowly but surely makes their way to finals. On the other side of the bracket 5291 and the experience they gained from ISR #1 along with a determined 4586 team manage to pull a pair of upsets, springing this #6 alliance into the other finals spot. In finals 2231 and 3339 are able to sting the competition and take the win over the #6 alliance.
Festival de Robotique a Montreal
- 3990 - Tech For Kids
- 3360 - Hyperion
- 5553 - Robo’Lyon
- 5865 - Droide
- 3386 - Tornades
- 229 - Division By Zero
- 3986 - Express-O
- 6929 - Cuivre & Or
The odds are that 3990 and 3360 will pair up as the first alliance to go undefeated throughout eliminations. The only thing that could really stand in their way to give teams like 5553 a chance is a level 3 hab climb seeding 1st overall and scorching the field.
Orange County
- 973 - The Greybots
- 330 - The Beach Bots
- 4481 - Team Rembrandts
- 3309 - Friarbots
- 5012 - Gryffingear
- 294 - Beach Cities Robotics
- 4201 - The Vitruvian Bots
- 5802 - Los STEMateros
973 will come out of the gate with a surprisingly limited scoring range. This won’t stop them from climbing consistently and seeding high. 330 and 3309 have both had rough beginnings to competition season, but will ramp up like they always do. Team Rembrandts have an advantage here with their quick climb and the weeks of practice they have over others. It would not be controversial to say that 973 and 330 take the event in an undefeated elims run, but we very well might also see the well practiced 4481 and 5012 machines defeat the perennial powerhouses.
Del Mar
- 359 - Hawaiian Kids
- 3647 - Millennium Falcons
- 399 - Eagle Robotics
- 4414 - HighTide
- 2102 - Team Paradox
- 3255 - Super NURDs
- 192 - GRT
- 114 - Eaglestrike
359 is looking to keep their first regional win streak alive at Orange County. With a simple game piece manipulator and quick climb, they will have no trouble staying near the top of the leaderboards. 3647 and 2102 unveiled their impressive pass through mechanisms, which might give them an advantage over the simpler machines 399 and 3255 have put out. The most unexpected factor here are the “rookies”, 4414, fielding a twin bot to one appearing this weekend at OCR. 359 has the clear advantage here with their climb. 3647, 399, and 4414 have to play hard to figure out who gets to take home the gold with their friends from Hawaii.
Istanbul
- 3646 - INTEGRA BAHCESEHIR
- 5883 - Spice Gears
- 6429 - 4th Dimension
- 6988 - ACI 35
- 6985 - ENKA TECH.
- 7329 - The Afghan Dreamers
- 2905 - Sultans of Turkiye
- 7466 - Cymurghs
This event is shaping up to be a three-team showdown between 3646, 5883, and 6429. The race the #1 seed will be real, as each team will be looking to control their own destiny in alliance selection. After all quals matches have been played, look for 5883 to be on top of the rankings, thanks to their ability to gain multiple bonus ranking points. They select 6429 for their consistent showing and cruise into finals matches against 6985 and 3646. In the end, the #1 alliance of 5883 Spice Gears and 6429 4th Dimension cannot be matched and take the win.
Bosphorus
- 3646 - INTEGRA BAHCESEHIR
- 5883 - Spice Gears
- 7086 - IOROBOT
- 6014 - ARC
- 5665 - SPARC
- 6388 - WonderWorks Robotics
- 6038 - ITOBOT
- 7458 - Senior Robotics Team
3646 and 5883 come into Bosphorus already warmed up from the Istanbul Regional. At this point, Integra has gotten their machine dialed in, and storms their way to the #1 seed. They dominate the elimination matches alongside the Spice Gears, going through the playoffs undefeated. Notably, 5665 SPARC and 7086 IOROBOT get wildcard invites to the championships thanks to their finalist performance.
These are some events we’ve ranked teams for, but won’t be predicting.
[CHS] Haymarket
- 2363 - Triple Helix
- 1418 - Vae Victis
- 1629 - Garrett Coalition
- 1731 - Fresta Valley Robotics Club
- 316 - LUNATECS
- 888 - Robotiators
- 339 - Kilroy Robotics
- 614 - Night Hawks
[CHS] Richmond
- 1610 -
Blackwater Robotics
- 346 - RoboHawks
- 384 - Sparky 384
- 1262 - the STAGS
- 5546 -
A.R.T.
- 422 - Mech Tech Dragons
- 619 - Cavalier Robotics
- 1086 - Blue Cheese
[PCH] Gainesville
- 1747 - Harrison Boiler Robotics
- 1648 - G3 Robotics
- 6705 - WildCat 5e
- 1102 - M’aiken Magic
- 1414 - IHOT
- 4188 - Columbus Space Program
- 1746 - OTTO
- 2655 - Flying Platypi
[FIT] El Paso
- 118 - The Robonauts
- 3847 - Spectrum
- 4063 - TriKzR4Kidz
- 457 -
Grease Monkeys
Someone else might be alright. Hard to tell. But they have to give robot awards to someone.
[FIT] Austin
- 624 - CRyptonite
- 3005 - Robochargers
- 2714 -
BBQ
- 2468 - Team Appreciate
- 418 - Purple Haze
- 2848 - Rangers
- 2881 - Lady Cans
- 6377 - Howdy Bots
Palmetto
- 2614 - MARS
- 379 - RoboCats
- 3824 - HVA RoHAWKtics
- 5472 - Stallion Robotics
- 3489 - Category 5
- 4451 - ROBOTZ Garage
- 3140 - Flagship
- 1902 - Exploding Bacon
Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you next week. Good luck to everyone competing.
