Key for Team Records:
1st set of Numbers: wins, losses, and draws (W-L-D)
2nd set of Numbers: rounds for, rounds against (RF-RA)
Key for Miscellaneous:
The second ranking number in parentheses is the team's preseason ranking.
An Asterisk (*) next to a team name indicates a team that has not yet played its previous week's matchup.
Note: These predictions assume a) optimal rosters, and b) the matches are actually being played, and not forfeited. All ranks are Division AND, if applicable, Group-specific, and not overall seeds (that is, inter-divisional/group ranks).
Preface:
Unfortunately, all predictions for non-Premiere divisions will be starting in Week 3. As such, all ups-and-downs (for the rankings) will be based on the preseason ranks. I really apologize to all the teams, I've had a lot of real-life stuff to deal with and I fell quite far behind... but I hope I can give everyone the attention they deserve for the rest of the season!
NSL Season 3 Weekly Predictions: Division 4
Week 3 (22/9/2013) - ns2_nsl_caged, ns2_nsl_descent
Bye Week: #4 BOX
#1 ( ▬ #? / #1) karvalakki (1-0-0, 4-0) vs. #3 ( ▬ #? / #3) Helix (1-1-0, 4-4)
karvalakki have definitely put their time in: they've been hanging around since Season 1, and hold wins over Season 2 Division 2 team Cystitis and even current Division 1 team hard.day!. In spite of these flashes of brilliance, however, they've been hindered by inactivity and simply a lack of practice, especially throughout Season 2 where they lost their last four matches in consecutive 4-0 sweeps. They appear to be changing their ways, however, as they're off to a 1-0 start with a sweep of their own over newcomer überProüt.
But Helix is eager to get their shot at the NSL veterans—I'm sure they'd love nothing more than to move up to the highly competitive and NA-saturated Division 3 (which is where I personally think they belong, anyways). Regardless, they've gotta fight the opponents put in front of them, and that happens to be the Finns of karvalakki.
So far, it's seeming as if Division 4 will be a three-way battle between karvalakki, Helix, and Lucky Fkers, which gives quite a bit of significance to this matchup. I think Helix will take this and remain firmly in the top 3.
Prediction: #3 Helix > #1 karvalakki, 3-1 (1-1 Caged, 2-0 Descent)
Top Performers: Rich & SuBLimE (Helix), TheKarva & Boke (karvalakki)
Result: #1 karvalakki > #3 Helix, 3-1 (Woops!)
#2 ( ▬ #? / #2) Lucky Fkers (1-0-0, 4-0) vs. #6 (▼ #? / #4) überProüt (0-1-0, 0-4)
Lucky Fkers are a new team, but they're known to NA players mainly for their public servers, which is the namesake of the team. I wasn't sure how indoctrinated they were in competitive play, but a 4-0 sweep of Helix put my doubts to rest. In the preseason, I had karvalakki and Helix as my favorites for this division, but Lucky Fkers are one more impressive outing from leapfrogging those two in the standings.
The predominantly French überProüt are new as well, but I really have no reference point for their individual skill or cohesion as a team. They lost to karvalakki 4-0, but that's to be expected for a new team, so I'm still not exactly sure where they stand with regard to their division mates.
Either way, Lucky Fkers have a golden opportunity in front of them. überProüt, being a relatively inexperienced squad, are the perfect opponent for Helix because Another 4-0 victory would—for all intents and purposes—put them solidly at #1, as I'm fairly sure karvalakki won't sweep Helix.
And the North Americans will do just that: Lucky Fkers take this.
P.S. As a WWE fan, I'm loving überProüt's clan logo.
Prediction: #2 Lucky Fkers > #6 überProüt, 4-0
Top Performers: Webtrance & transcendence (Lucky Fkers), KNi & tudoz (überProüt)
Result: #2 Lucky Fkers > #6 überProüt, 4-0 (BOOYA!)
#5 (▲ #? / #7) Lethargic Zebras (0-0-0, 0-0) vs. #7 (▼ #? / #5) iFixit (0-1-0, 0-4)
iFixit are a brand new NA/EU mix team which is awesome to see. I'm sure they're still working out the kinks, as evidenced by a 4-0 loss to Helix. But any new team can't expect to win against an opponent that's been together for months. I'm not too familiar with their players, however, and the same can be said for their opponents.
Honestly, I'm not even sure how active Lethargic Zebras are—after all, they only have 5 people on their roster. It appears that they're a multi-gaming clan (although their CS:GO branch is evidently defunct now). All that being said, it can't bode well for their chemistry as a unit, and that makes me much more inclined to give the victory to iFixit as they even up their record.
Prediction: #7 iFixit > #5 Lethargic Zebras, 4-0 (either a sweep, or forfeit)
Top Performers: MutantFreak & fishbulb (iFixit), Gaz & Alias (Zebras)
Result: #7 iFixit > #5 Lethargic Zebras, 4-0 [forfeit] (Man, am I a prophet or what?)
Week 4 (29/9/2013) - ns2_nsl_veil, ns2_nsl_tram
Lethargic Zebras disbands.
Roster Changes ~ #1 LuckyFkers: +BaconAndEggs // #3 BOX: +Juliet // #4 Helix: +joe // #6 überProüt: +khelkun
Bye Week: #4 Helix (> #7 Lethargic Zebras 4-0, Forfeit), #6 überProüt
#1 ( ▬ #? / #2) Lucky Fkers (3-0-0, 12-0) vs. #3 (▲ #6 / #6) BOX (2-0-0, 8-0)
Both of these teams are new this season, which makes it difficult to really pick a winner. Their only common opponent so far has been überProüt, who they both defeated handily @ 4-0. I'm familiar with some of the Lucky guys, but I'm always wary of new teams, especially Asian or European teams—and BOX happens to be a mixture of just that.
I'm not sure what individual skills they bring to the table, but Lucky Fkers have already beaten Helix who I know aren't exactly pushovers. And as such, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt in this match up. The North Americans will win, but it will be hard-fought.
Prediction: #1 Lucky Fkers > #3 BOX, 3-1 (1-1 Veil, 2-0 Tram)
Top Performers: Zebroe & BillyTalent (Lucky Fkers), Romeo & DJoyJS (BOX)
Result: #1 Lucky Fkers > #3 BOX, 2-2 (Horseshoes & Handgrenades!)
#2 (▼ #1 / #1) karvalakki* (2-0-0, 8-0) vs. #5 (▲ #7 / #5) iFixit (1-1-0, 4-4)
karvalakki are looking mighty fine this season. They've beaten überProüt and 3-1'd Helix—they're well on their way to challenging Lucky Fkers for that top spot in the division. For now, though, they find themselves in a favorable match up against iFixit—a team that lost 4-0 to Helix.
The guys in iFixit still seem to be building up their chemistry and their familiarity with each other and with the competitive approach to playing. karvalakki, conversely, have been around since NSL Season 1; they're all about that life. They know the ins and outs, they just come up short against thriving teams because of their lack of practice. But they shouldn't run into much trouble with the young guns in iFixit.
The Finns of karvalakki will take the match and stay in contention for #1.
Prediction: #2 karvalakki > #5 iFixit, 4-0
Top Performers: Tatou & octosapien (karvalakki), stupermundi & adam_0 (iFixit)
Result: #2 karvalakki > #5 iFixit, 4-0 (BOOYA!)
