Three weeks of Overdrive are completed, and the game and competitors are starting to take shape. At almost every event there are a number of alliances capable of winning (look no further than Florida, Connecticut, VCU, Chicago, or Hartford for proof), and it can become very difficult for one team to dominate. Even the best of the best have lost matches. 987 has two losses, 1114 and 968 have three, 217* has four (and a tie), 1024* has ten. There have been instances of domination though, such as 39 in Arizona, 103 in New Jersey, and 1124 in Connecticut. Additionally, 217 and 1024 have already picked up two regional championships, and both teams will be competing once more before Atlanta.
Week 3 was a week where teams could attempt to emerge from the pack as leaders, or stumble back into the fray. The Thunderchickens were the biggest winners in week 3, cementing their spot as one of the top teams for Overdrive so far. 217 won Detroit, their second gold of the year already, including a win in the finals (with the aid of a strong 469) over Rush and Chief Delphi. 27, 47, and 469 also tossed their hats into the rings in Detroit, displaying excellent machines.
The wildest team was 27. Team RUSH was not Rock Solid, having problems all day on Friday, yet they still managed to get the number two seed (and missed the number one seed by .4 Ranking Points). On Saturday they put on a clinic on how to be amazing. In their second match of the day, they were able to hurdle 4 times and beat 217 and knock 217 out of the top spot. They picked 47 for eliminations and went to work. They were plagued with problems all throughout eliminations, breaking their pickup system and breaking a drive shaft.
Detroit also had some of the most intense elimination matches this year. Based on the eliminations from Detroit, Connecticut, Florida, Midwest, and San Diego, Overdrive is showing a lot of promise for action-packed rounds in Atlanta.
Where 217 rose to the challenge, 103 regressed slightly. The Cybersonics obliterated Trenton in week 1, but the depth of the field (especially given 103 poached their biggest threat to become their partner) and lack of defense played on 103 left questions. In Florida these questions were answered, but not in the way the Cybersonics had hoped. 103 lost three times in qualifications (although their first match they had no partners), but still managed to capture the first over-all selection, although this decision was likely influenced (at least in part) by what the #1 seed 108 saw from 103 while competing in Jersey. The 108/103/395 alliance ultimately were defeated in 3 matches in the Semi-finals. During the eliminations, 103 was overwhelmed by tight defense preventing them from acquiring the ball (suddenly 103 looks even more brilliant for selecting 25 in NJ, the Raider Robotix name alone was enough to attract defense away from 103 there), but thanks to some improved play by the Sigma Cats, the alliance was still capable of putting up strong scores. When pitted against the strong one-two punch of 69 and 179 in the SFs, 108 couldn’t carry the load though, ultimately dooming the alliance.
233, 1251, and 86 emerged as champs in Florida, going undefeated through the elimination rounds, despite being seemingly sunk in several of them. While they could score some in Hybrid, they were often outclassed. Pink was often greatly hampered by defensive efforts during their elimination run as well. But a very strong double-threat from 233 and 1251 (and help from a few penalties) allowed for the #2 alliance to take home gold.
The Kil-a-Bytes didn’t emerge as massive a top-tier team in week 3, but nor did they stumble backwards into the pack. They lost three times in Qualifications (granted one was to 111 and one was to 45), but still managed to secure the top selection from Wildstang. Their elimination alliance broke 100 only once, but only lost once in route to gold. 1024 still has some work left to do in Ohio this weekend if they want to be a favorite to get to Einstein.
The WildHats stepped up in San Jose, with several great matches, earning respect as one of the best in the West. 100 went 9-1 in qualifications, taking the #1 seed and emerging as champs. A shallow field at SVR helped them greatly, as they selected 254 first over-all, despite the many struggles encountered by the Poofs over the week-end. Ignoring the controversy of the third match, 100 was clearly the best team at the event, but we are left to wonder what would have happened to Ballfrog if it were competing in a deeper field. 254 should rebound strongly in Hawai’i from a less than spectacular first outing in 2008. They should at least be on par with 968 by then.
Of all the teams to dominate a regional so far, the Überbots did it in unquestionably the deepest field. Like 103 in NJ, 1124 managed to select their biggest threat (Buzz) to become their partner during the eliminations. 1124 and 175 then teamed up with 716 to take the regional by storm, recording the 2nd highest score of Overdrive (142), and breaking 100 thrice more (102, 104, 122), in the process. Only two of their matches were even within 20 points.
Also, with 177 missing the eliminations, our defending FIRST champs are only making the eliminations in 50% of their competitions (2-4) so far.
*Have attended two events
