We have reached the Sweet 16 of the National Tournament! This round brings us a really exciting slate, including 4(!!!) games between league mates.
#9 Funky Town Fire vs. # 12 Pennsylvania Quakers- No one has had a tougher road getting here than FTF. He arrives in the sweet 16 via a 1 point win over D.III WWFY, and back-to-back wins over NBBA opponents, including a 2 point victory over Coco's Lake Merritt Arrows on Thursday. The Quakers haven't had a walk in park either. Theyve knocked off two top-30 opponents in their last two cup games, and beat FTF in their league matchup
Prediction: Funky Town Fire continues this seat-of-the-pants cup run with another hard fought win.
#34 Technical Fouls vs. #38 10inch Verticals- Technical Fouls draws his second opponent within II.4. Not only that but these two squads are rivals, and are battling for playoff position in the Great 8, with TF in 3rd and Verticals in 4th. They will meet yet again in the season finale in a game that is bound to have big implications. Doesn't get much better than this.
Prediction: Technical Fouls continues to victimize his own league and advances to the round of 8
#5 Rocket Science vs. #7 Liberty & Power- Remember a second ago when I said it doesn't get much better than that? I lied. This matchup pits two NBBA teams against each other who, incredibly, are ALSO rivals, and ALSO fighting for playoff position in the Great 8, and ALSO will meet in the season finale finale with most likely large implications. Seriously, who is scheduling this stuff? L&P took the first matchup at home.
Prediction: Tough to choose so Im going with Liberty & Power because America.
#3 King Drive Ballers vs. #8 Bruins - The defending champion runs into a stiff challenge in his attempt to join Walker Wiggles in the ranks of recent Back to back Cup winners. These two squads have identical 8-7 records in the NBBA. KDB holds the cup, but Bruins won by 11 in their matchup just last week. Should be a fun one.
Prediction: Hard to pick against KDB in the Cup and I wont be the one to do it.
#66 Jr. Jazz All Stars vs. #43 Old Yet Sexy Hippies- All of our D.II teams left are either from II.3 or II.4, and this is the only game where we get to see the two leagues face off. Jr. Jazz arrives on the heels of a nail-biter against Wozzvt's Burlington Mountain Goats, while Old Yet Sexy Hippies have had a relatively easier road here, facing only one top 100 team.
Prediction: Another tough one to pick. Going with Old Yet Sexy Hippies. Because America.
#11 AirBallers vs. #158 Piedmont BC- D.III's last shining hope goes up against one of those pushy NBBA teams. Piedmont has not had it easy, knocking out two D.II teams on his route to the Sweet 16. Jfarb's Airballers have had probably the easiest road here out of anyone, not getting an opponent above D.IV until yesterday's win over D.II Star Flliers.
Prediction: The Airballers continue to roll. Also America.
#41 Window Lickers vs. #15 Ambitious and Misunderstood- Window Lickers hasn't had it easy getting here, surviving a test from #14 ranked World Idea Toys. Meanwhile Ambitious and Misunderstood has pretty much coasted here and faces their strongest opponent so far. A&M is 8-7 in the NBBA, while Window Lickers is chasing the undefeated Milwaukee Lethargy in the Great 8 of II.3
Prediction: NBBA continues to flex its muscle, and A&M moves to the Elite 8
#56 ATL The Hawks vs. #23 Fighting Kelts- The Kelts have had a rough season in the NBBA, but are rewarded with a relatively easy cup run against some good, but overmatched squads. The Hawks, meanwhile, after starting with a string of bots, have found the going a little tougher recently, coming through league-mate and #35 ranked Lovable Losers and a few other quality opponents to get here.
Prediction: Kelts puts all efforts here and get the W