Three-hundred-and-forty-nine teams will compete to reach here, but only twelve will realize their goal. Einstein is the most prestigious, watched, and storied field in all of FIRST. The drama, intensity, atmosphere, and stakes are higher there than anywhere else.
Even more than other years, a weak third team is a massive detriment. A bad team is often a death sentence, so don’t expect anyone to be carried to Einstein. No single strategy is a trump card, so expect each alliance to play their own brand on Lunacy on Einstein, especially given that each division will be slightly different.
With the depth of scoring machines here, direct defense, and more specifically pinning, will not as effective as during the regional season. Pinning teams are easy targets for scoring by human players and the other two opponents, and the top level teams are often capable of breaking free for long enough to score once or twice anyway (which in the case of many of these teams is enough to make a large difference). Defense will be present, but it will be more effective in terms of chips, screens, ball management, and smart driving.
All twelve teams on Einstein will be capable of scoring moon rocks and reloading from the ground. At least ten will attempt to do more in autonomous than just drive forward/spin (such as attempting to pin, load, move empty cells, or even score). The first few matches will be sloppy, due to brand new regolith, lighting conditions, and even just the added pressure. Super cells will be scored in at least two out of three matches, and all four alliances will move at least one empty cell.
As for the actual teams, the odds of predicting them are astronomically low. It is a bit absurd to think that someone could accurate predict 50% of the teams or an entire alliance. It just doesn’t happen.
ARCHIMEDES:
The Patriotics’ consistency and autonomous scoring will help them seed very high, in the 3-5 range. 1114 will be gone by the time they pick, so 2056 will go for 1538 in the first round and 176 in the second. Victory won’t be easy, but they’ll prevail based on smart strategy and a multi-headed assault.
2056/1538/176
CURIE:
The Thunderchickens will stay hot, and they’ll do exactly what they’ve been doing all year, win. 217 will seed 1st or 2nd, but a lot could chance on which of those places they seed. 217 will select 254 at the top, and will pick up Da Bears towards the end. There is enough other good teams to make the road a bit rocky, but this alliance will be clearly the best and advance to Einstein.
217/254/247
GALILEO:
The big teams will be broken up in a heated series of qualification matches, with some very good, but not elite, teams seeding 1st and 2nd. With 71 and 1717 off the board, 3rd seeded 45 will select HOT. The Technokats will then add 1208 in the second round. Clutch play will help them prevail in close semi-final matches and they might goto three in the finals as well. But they will win.
45/67/1208
NEWTON:
Despite 148 captaining the alliance from the 5th or 6th seed (after an earlier decline), and a very capable 234 backing them up, 469 will be the reason this alliance wins Newton. The most “defensive” team on Einstein will help shut down 121 and 1625 en route to the big show, and some major scoring and ball control by 234 and 148 will certainly help too.
148/234/469
EINSTEIN:
AvC and GvN in the Semis.
217/254/247 will top 2056/1538/176 in two matches, but neither will be by more than 20 points.
45/67/1208 overcome 148/234/469 in three matches.
45/67/1208 defeats 217/254/247 in three matches, one of which is decided by a super cell.
The Technokats and HOT each earn their second Championship, while the Poofs are once again the bridesmaid.
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