ESEA-O's week 6:2 features some pretty good matchups between top teams in both divisions on cp_yukon. Let's get right into it by starting with the Central division:
404 Not Found vs. eXpertise
This should be a really even matchup. 404 recently replaced their medic, Happiness is a Warm Gun (most of you probably know him as 'that blank name guy') with Lucious, and will be looking to get their first win with him starting after coming off two tough losses to the #1 and #2 placed teams in the division.
eXpertise is on a pretty big roll with a 6-game win streak (granted, two of those were forfeits, but still) and I'm sure they're looking to extend it. They're definitely a competent team, with decisive wins over mid-level squads like No Grid, but they've seemed to falter against some of the more challenging opponents in the division -- and 404 definitely falls into the latter category when they're playing well.
Yukon is a scout map through and through - and the matchups between stress/ComeToJesus and anon/KillZ should be pretty even and fun to watch, especially if CTJ and KillZ start sniping. This could definitely go either way, but I'll call the (slight) upset and say 404 takes this. 5-4 404 Not Found
Knights of Goku vs. No Grid
My team's match! I won't be there, so hopefully they don't screw up too bad without me.
Area 51 vs. Iconic
Iconic is a solid mid-level team that surprised me when they beat 404 -- unfortunately for murder & crew, they're a little outclassed this round, even with Area 51's loss of their starting demoman, ruffian. Cbear's rippling half-Arabian muscles will power A51 to a pretty sure victory here. Or is he going on vacation? I forget. 5-0 Area 51
Doin' Work vs. TruWar
Is TruWar dead? I honestly don't know. I hope my little video didn't do them in. They haven't forfeit a game yet, but they also haven't PLAYED a game in a week and a half (woo ESEA scheduling!).
Assuming this game is played, I think DW is going to be too much for Tru to handle -- they have the deathmatch advantage in every department. 5-0 Doin Work
Cool Dudes Team vs. Crack Clan
Crack Clan seems to be struggling in ESEA-O, with their only two wins being a forfeit and against a team with only 5 players, but I really have to give them credit for not just dropping out like half of the league. Sadly, I doubt their luck will change this week. Cool Dudes Team has too many solid players, especially with their recent pickup of slardel, for CC to have much of a chance. 5-1 Cool Dudes
And now for the Eastern matches!
eXult vs. Strickland Propane
This is definitely my match of the ... uh, half-week. These two teams played each other earlier in the season, and eXult came out with a solid 5-1 victory, though not without controversy -- apparently Strickland played with 5 for most of the game? In any case, this should be an exciting rematch.
Strickland is a much better team than people give them credit for, and with beastly soldier 40jam joining the roster, they're stronger than ever. eXult is no pushover, though. They're undefeated, and still scrim 24/7 in a constant effort to improve. They also had some Quake pro named whaz join, and he plays scout? I reall don't know, but I swear eXult picks up three new scouts every week (about even with the frequency at which they used to change their team name).
Hopefully this will be a really good game, but I see eXult pulling out a second win over the King of the Hill crowd. Watch for rline to dominate the scout battles (provided that's what they have him playing), and eXult to leave with their undefeated record intact. 5-3 eXult
<3 xelorate
Overthrow vs. Kryptic Gaming
As much as I adore Kryptic for running a heavy as often as they do, I'm not sure how well they're going to fare against a skilled team like Overthrow. RubyIce and Otter are most likely going to have their nasty way with ghos7ayama & friends. Don't be surprised if it's close, though -- Kryptic is a competent team when they're on. 5-2 Overthrow
The Terribles vs. Throwback
Throwback has been performing worse than I expected them to -- I figured they would place 2nd, or maybe 1st in the East division, but so far, every time they've played one of the top East teams, they haven't gotten it done. That said, these two teams have played before, and Throwback came away with a 5-0 win; I doubt much will be different this time around. Unless the TWL finalists bring their very best games, Throwback is going to have this one as well fairly easily as well. 5-1 Throwback
Zilla Gaming vs Cardboard Robotz
Easily my runner up for match to watch for 6:2. Zilla has lost games that I didn't expect them to lose at all, and whether that was due to lack of practice or what I'm not sure, but they need to be ready for this match. CR (can I just call them VPolice?) has some ESEA-I talent on their roster, and are looking poised and ready to plow to the playoffs.
Yukon really favors scouts, though, and I think that damn meatshotting jellyfish and his pal Lopert are going to dominate this match. CR/VPo can win if Fastfire and Zambino, who I'm fairly sure is King Rab, have big games and coach and marv can keep the Zilla scouts at bay long enough for the heavies to do their work (which is no simple task -- notor/Sureshot/Sherr are all nasty, plus they have jk healing them), but otherwise, I see this going to ZG. 5-3 Zilla Gaming
That's it! I would have more but thanks to half of you birdbrains dropping out of the league, all the other matches are forfeits (though I suppose ESEA could stop scheduling the dead teams). Good luck to all the teams that are actually playing!
