No division is as rich with history and storied teams as Galileo. After crowning the 2008 Champions, Galileo is now reloaded with more storied veterans than any division, boasting former Champions and some of the all-time greats. 12 previous FIRST Championships, and many more Einstein appearances, are represented by this division.
Yet, for all the talent and tradition at the top, this division also has the weakest bottom end. A number of teams here struggled in regional competitions, and that will mean easy targets and uneven matches during qualifications. Even the elimination field could thin out by the 24th pick more than other divisions (though it will still take a very solid machine to be selected into the elimination rounds). It will take consistency, good strategy, and a favorable schedule to emerge as the #1 seed in this division.
PREDICTIONS:
TIPS:
They haven’t lost a match all year, and are the only team that can say that. 971 was the undefeated #1 seed at SVR, though they did have three ties. With the aid of 254, they captured gold. They’re a solid scoring machine, but aren’t overwhelming on their own. They should be in the eliminations, but it would be very surprising to see them earn a medal.
Wildstang won their home event in Chicago, but was swiftly eliminated in the Boilermaker quarters. 111 hasn’t returned to Einstein since they won the Championship in 2003, but they have a strong bot that is capable of scoring very effectively. Expect 111 to be a member of one of the top four alliances, but how far they advance will be hinged on their partners and opponents.
Trinity was unable to pick up a regional victory this year to go with the two they won last year. But 40 reached the finals at both events they attended, BAE and Chesapeake. Checkmate is a solid shooter, with a swerve drive that makes them hard to contain and helps them worm their way into and out of sticky situations. But their biggest strength is their autonomous, which will often score several balls. They’re not the type of team to carry an alliance, but they can be a solid component to an elimination alliance.
987 has one of the more distinctive shooters, and it is very effective on the field. The Las Vegas champions are going to be dangerous, but their slightly smaller capacity than the elite will hurt them when facing off. The High Rollers will have to play to their full ability the entire tournament if they want a high seed, and will otherwise be at the mercy of the alliance selection.
1318, 1332, 1250, and 744 should all factor into the elimination rounds. Issaquah has the most upside, and their autonomous scoring gives them a weapon that few other teams have. SWIFT isn’t the prettiest robot, but they get the job done (and won two regionals because of it). The Gator Bots have won individual matches against the combination of HOT and the Thundchickens at two events, but lost to them in the eliminations at all three Michigan events they attended. They’re solid, but need support in order for them to maximize their potential. Shark Attack has the ability to score with anyone when left alone, but they’re troubled by defense. One or two of these teams could potentially go deep, but the rest will likely lose early on.
DARK HORSE:
If you had to guess teams that have put up scores like 121 and 141, The MeTool Brigade probably wouldn’t be the first one named. 1208 has a solid scoring machine and is an excellent empty cell running machine. It’s no mistake they won Kansas City and seeded 2nd in St. Louis. There’s a chance they could miss the eliminations totally, but would be a solid fit in the right alliance as a 2nd round selection.
SLEEPER:
The MidKnight Inventors are as explosive as any team out there, but have also been shut down and scored on when things don’t go their way. 1923 can score a bunch quickly, and is capable of playing with empty cells, but they’ve also been abused by physical defense. They’ll likely seed in the middle portion (just like in NJ and Philly), but on the right alliance they could be a great weapon. It certainly doesn’t hurt that their coach was on the same alliance as 67 last year, which reached the Einstein finals.
LOCKS:
Nobody has ever played as many matches at HOT has this season. They already have an earth-shattering 63-6-1 record, including a 24-2 record in elimination matches. 67 wants to add 10 more elimination wins to their resume, become the first team to ever win FIVE events in a single season, and notch up their second Championship. HOT is both consistent and explosive, with the capability to score lots of balls very quickly while being very hard to defend for extended durations. The most accomplished team this season, it would be very surprising if HOT didn’t leave with a medal.
D’Penguineers use their shooter better than most, and that gives them a huge advantage over many teams and makes them very difficult to stop. 1717 has the ability to drain shots up close (like 1114 and 1771), and that’s their ideal method of scoring. They have scored on moving targets and while pinned in less than ideal scenarios, and their swerve drive helps them create opportunities. Their ability to generate offense in all scenarios gives them aspects to their game few other teams can match.
The Technokats haven’t been this good in a long time. 45 won DC in convincing fashion and was an unfortunate super cell away from picking up their second win in Indiana. Their giant propeller aids them in keeping their victims still while they score and accelerating quickly, but they are not immune to smart defensive efforts. They can’t dump quite as quickly as some of their contemporaries, but their consistency and reliability make them very dangerous. If they can get a partner as capable as 234 (who they paired with at both regionals), they should be playing deep into the eliminations.
Beatty has never gone this long without a Championship before. 2004 was the last time 71 won a Championship, though they were within six points of their fifth in 2007. Team Hammond collected a gold in St. Louis and have a fearsome scoring machine again this year. They have a swerving drive with innovative fan propulsion and a massive hopper. Never bet against the Beast.
And as Sean pointed out to me in that thread as well, your 07 bot was sick stuff too.