Pro Series Week 8 Predictions

It's basedinc y'all.  You know the drill.

Another week in Pro filled with some exciting matchups. There are storylines here I don’t need to make up. Last week I noted how many teams were sitting middle of the pack, but we saw two teams get some separation and start make a bid for that 4th playoff spot. Tap Last and The Menagerie. There are still 5 teams in striking distance and some very key weeks coming up for the 5 atop the standings that could make this playoff picture entirely different terrain as the season winds down.

Our other divisions are closing in on playoffs while we in Pro are still going strong. This is the most important point in the season to keep a balance. Don’t burn out and don’t forget about Pro to focus on your other teams. There are still a lot of teams and players that have a fire in them and will gladly roll you over if your flame is already out.

Average team score: 99.5
Average AOS: 14.21

The Beard Boys (5-2, 122, 13.79) vs. Taste The Rainbow (4-3, 98, 13.14)
This is a week about proving one’s self for these two teams. The Beard Boys took a very narrow loss last week to AEON in their last two matches played out on stream (if you missed it go catch the VODs; both were fantastic). Taste The Rainbow also took a tough loss to FTL with their last two matches on stream (catch those VODs too). Both of these teams made it to 4-0 before taking their first loss and were the early front runners. The Beards Boys will be looking to prove they really are the invincible team everyone thought they were early on. And Taste The Rainbow will be trying to show they’re still contenders for the post-season. Both of these things are possible but cannot coexist. Schrödinger's match if you will indulge me. I think Taste The Rainbow is still a very good team and not one you should count out just yet, but I don’t think they’re beating The Beard Boys. I’ll open the box and say The Beard Boys finds a 15-10 victory inside.

FTL (5-2, 119, 13.83) vs. Tap Last (4-3, 110, 14.33)
I am new to the scene, but I have heard that this might be a highly anticipated match. FTL was a clear frontrunner in the division from the jump. Both as returning champion and with dominating performances those first 4 weeks. Tap Last had a slow start to their season but have really started to show they can dominate in the middle stretch of the season. They’ve had commanding wins and tight losses (all 3 come from teams sitting in the top 5 right now). FTL’s losses are by 3 points combined, The point total and record might lead you to believe FTL is the clear favorite but I think that AOS matters a whole lot. These numbers make me believe this is going to be a closely contested week. I’d like to award points for that X-factor, but I won’t this match (or the next one). I’m awarding my prediction to FTL in a brutal 15-14 nailbiter.

AEON (5-2, 116, 14.12) vs. The Menagerie (4-3, 109, 12.90)
This match is the clash of two rising stars who’ve both had line-up changes. AEON is a team that should unquestionably be in the conversation for the best team in the format. Their other competition for the title includes a team that edged them out by 2 points and a team they took down last week by a single point. With that win, AEON improved to a 4 game win-streak to match longest in the season by the early trio. Will they set a new record? The Menagerie had a middling start but has had a strong showing in back-to-back weeks. A sweep followed by a 7-point win over Bad to the Bone puts them back in the conversation. However, this may be the end of the line for The Menagerie. They now possess the lowest AOS and move into the toughest final 4 weeks containing all of the top 3. X-factor ignored (and this is the flimsiest X-factor of “but my team”), I have to say this week will go to AEON at 14-12

The Unknown (4-3, 102, 14.79) vs. Defias Protherhood (1-6, 58, 15.10)
The Unknown is finding themselves on the lower rungs of the playoff race. They pulled out the narrowest over a team almost half made of subs last week that didn’t quite net them the points I think they were hoping for. Defias Protherhood continues to struggle this season despite having a massive win over one of the best teams. The Unknown is certainly hoping to put up some massive points against our last place team, but I think they might be in for a surprise. Defias Protherhood is a team about quality rather than quantity, and I think we’ll see them take one team out of the playoff run on their way out. I don’t think it will be The Unknown. They’ll be vying for a playoff spot soon enough. The Unknown starts the trek there this week by taking it down 16-9.

Bad to the Bone (3-4, 98, 15.19) vs. The Other Guys (3-4, 96, 13.19)
Bad to the Bone took a tough loss last week but are about to take on The Other Guys who trail them by just 2 points. Both in total score and in AOS. Neat. These teams are starting to fall off the playoff race but neither are out yet. This is a big week for both teams and quite possibly could decide their chances for the post-season. Both of these teams are playoff material but unfortunately find themselves in a sea of playoff-caliber teams. Where do I place my bets? Bad to the Bone coming in off a rough couple of weeks licking their chops looking to turn their luck around? Or The Other Guys who’ve had a couple of weeks dominating? I’m going to lean on that 2-point AOS lead and say Bad to the Bone is battle-tested and about to bounce back and take it it 15-11.

Top-Hatted Titans (4-3, 95, 15.50) vs. Pro-Pain Gang (0-7, 71, 14.69)
These two teams have had the toughest schedule thus far. They clock in at 1 and 2 on the top of the AOS leaderboard. Top-Hatted Titans have managed to keep a winning record despite it all. They find ways to squeak out those wins. I have to imagine Pro-Pain Gang is not excited to hear that while still looking for their first win of the season. Fear not, both of you, your season’s will get easier. Top-Hatted Titans are undeniably masters of finding wins, but I don’t think this is the week they do it. I think the time has come. Pro-Pain Gang will not ask how much longer this will go on. They will win this one 14-10 and get that damn monkey off their back.

Dream Stream Matches
Snake (FTL) v CmaccompH (Tap Last)
I could list probably every match in this match up so I’ll just go with the one seed to highlight each of these players’ excellent performance this season. But no joke everyone of these matches are sure to be intense.

Dabs (The Menagerie) v Markshire (AEON)
This one I know will be on stream so kinda cheating. But I gotta shout out my team in this hot match up. Let’s go Dabs!

Aviously (Bad to the Bone) v TonyMontana (The Other Guys)
Both these players have been having excellent seasons and this particular team match is going to be hotly contested. This will be an excellent one. (Shout out to Aviously who reverse swept me last week. ggs!)

Closing Words
Sorry this was so late all! Life got in the way just a touch. Work decided it was time for some overtime the same week I’m moving. Ain’t that just the way. I had to get this content to the people though. Especially after getting halfway done on Monday. Thankfully none of the matches that I hadn’t written were more than a seed in yet so you get my honest, semi-blind guess. And that’s a rock fact!

Love you all, and good luck out there.
-basedinc

​