Season 13 – Week 8 Picks
Greetings, high rollers and welcome to week 8 of skeeBOSTON’s skeeson 13, also known as Rivalry Week!
If the song Duke provided in the skeemail doesn’t get you pumped up [Editor’s Note: I don’t even remember what it was… oh well] then you’re not alone…I thought it was a dud. That being said, everything else Duke noted about the matchups this week was spot on! Lots of great matchups this week as you’ll skee below, there is not a single match where Duke believes one team is favored by more than 55 points, and most teams are favored by less than 40. Outside of the playoffs, these will likely be some of the best matches of the skeeson as rollers are in peak form with playoffs looming large next week.
I mentioned last week that the team title was essentially a two-team race, but Thirstskee Thursdays (boooooo) put a grip on the #1 seed for the playoffs with an 1127, separating themselves from #2 Skeeing is Believing by nearly 200 points. Those teams will meet on lane 3 at 8:30 this week in what could be a preview of the SSXIII chalice finals (though I suspect one, or both, of those teams won’t make the finals).
On the individual side, “Alan” of Trickskee Little Hobbits (happy Duke?) locked up the MVSkee weeks ago, but the battle for the next few spots remains intense. Nick Weir (Why So Skeerious) likely locked up the #2 seed last week, as he became just the third member of the skeeBOSTON 500 club with a 502. The battle for #3 hangs in the balance this week with Chris Martin (I Got Roofskeed) and Scottie “Not Hottie” Sinclair ” (Live Skee or Die) separated by just .14 points. I said it last week, and it’s worth reiterating here on the cusp of the playoffs, every ball matters!
John Dawson (The Night is Dark) and Ryan Geraghty (Magically Skeelicious) are locked in a tie for the 40 Streak trophy, while “Alan” is holding a tenuous grasp on the 50 Streak trophy with Scott, Chris, and Steve “Pinball” Robinson (Snakes on a Lane) lurking just one streak behind. Scott locked up the 40/50 Combo trophy in week 3, and is now just adding to the skeeBOSTON record each week, while “Alan” will also break the record for hundos set all the way back in skeeson 5 (164 – Derek “Barfs” Morgan).
On the random side, a big thumbs up/thumbs down to a few rollers/teams for last week’s performance:
Up:
* Jaime Bergstein (Skeese Pizza) rolled a 420, more than 100 points above her average.
* Tom Siemaszko (I Skee Drunk People) rolled a 367, nearly 70 points above his average. If my math is correct, Tom is the only roller to improve his score each week of the skeeson.
* Kevin Baker (Run DMSkee) rolled a 436 in a week 8 make up, 90 points above his average.
* Ted “Smash” Pearce (Who’s Your Daddy) rolled a 359, more than 70 points above his average.
* Bocskee cracked the 1000 point threshold with a 1049 after not breaking 900 in three prior matches this skeeson. 1000+ points will go a long way in the playoffs.
* Skeese Pizza cracked 900 for the first time with a 956.
* I’ve harped on Skeecows all skeeson, but they checked in with a skeeson-high 882 last week.
* Defending champs Who’s Your Daddy might be peaking the right time with a skeeson-best 1121.
Down:
* Jan Harrington (Magically Skeelicious) rolled a 274, 80 points below her average.
* Jeff Wagner (Why So Skeerious) rolled a 206, more than 100 points below his average.
* All the Single Ladieskees dropped back below 900 for the first time since week 2 with an 869. This team is highly volatile (869 to 1043) which can be a blessing (and a curse!) come playoff time.
* Skeeing is Believing checked in with nearly their lowest score of the skeeson (1018) at an inopportune time in a race for the top seed.
Alright, let’s get to Rivalry Week. It was a tough week 7 for yours truly at 6-9 [Editor’s Note: below 500 again… nicely done!], and it won’t be any easier with the matchups this week!
6:30 Matches
Skeetastics vs. Smooth (-20) – A tough one to pick right out of the gate! I’ll lean Skeetastics getting the points. [Editor’s Note: Nothing like starting the night off 0-1]
Evil Skaneeval & Hotskees vs. Eskeemo Bros (-40) – First line of the week that should be reversed in my opinion; I’ll take Skaneeval getting points. [Editor’s Note: Eskeemo isn’t showing up. Scratched.]
Beer (-25) vs. Scrubskees – Two veteran teams separated by 75 in the skeeson. In what is becoming a common trend so far, I’ll take Scrubskees getting points.
7:30 Matches
The Big Leballskee vs. Skeezy Like Sunday Morning (-25) – Our second match where the line should be reversed (what are you trying to do to me, Duke?). Leballskee getting the points. Four underdogs so far… [Editor’s Note: hook. line. sinker.]
I Got Roofskeed (-20) vs. I Skee Drunk People – And here is the first match where I’ll take the favorite. Drunk People trending in right direction, but just not enough here.
Magically Skeelicious (-30) vs. Live Skee or Die – Skeelicious trending in wrong direction, but Ryan and Jan will be out to conquer former skeemate “Not Hottie” and his rookskees.
8:30 Matches
The Night is Dark (-25) vs. Who’s Your Daddy – Daddy doesn’t like lane 1, but The Night is dark might dislike it more. Daddy getting points please.
All the Single Ladieskees (-40) vs. Brewskees – Duke told me a few weeks ago Burgess loves lane 2 and he was right (as much as it pains me to admit). I’ll take the ladies that are single (are they really?!?) in this one. [Editor’s Note: Maybe I should have made the spread 50. Still taking ASL?]
Thirstskee Thursdays (-40) vs. Skeeing is Believing – As noted before, the top two teams meet this week in a match that could foreshadow SSXIII. Thirstskee has the higher floor, Believing has the higher ceiling. I’ll take the points in this battle.
9:30 Matches
Skeecows (-50) vs. Clearly We’re Not Golfers – Skeecows seem to be peaking at the right time, but 50 is a lot to give on lane 1 in a tight matchup. I’ll go Golfers. [Editor’s Note: Cows.]
Skeese Pizza vs. Hundos for Marnskee (-50) – Tough to get a read on Marnskee with only five matches in the books, but they do seem to have the higher floor. I love pizza, but give me the Hundos.
Ain’t Easy Being Skeezy (-50) vs. Why So Skeerious – Skeezy coming off a tough few weeks after I rode the hype train; Skeerious riding Nick’s 500 last week. In a close one, I say Skeezy bounces back on lane 3, which has been good to them.
10:30 Matches
Can’t Skee Straight (-30) vs. Can’t Believe it’s not Gutter – The Gutter ate up lane 1 last week, so I’ll take ’em here getting the points.
Trickskee Little Hobbits (-55) vs. Snakes on a Lane – A matchup of teams heading in opposite directions. “Alan” hates lane 2, so I’ll lean Snakes getting points. [Editor’s Note: depends which Coozie shows up and how angry Tim gets at the lane.]
Fettskee Wap (-35) vs. Boccskee – A rematch of week 7 which Boccskee won by 100? Give me Fettskee on lane 3 getting the points in an epic rematch. [Editor’s Note: how do you not take boccskee here? Damnit.]
9 days to Super Saturday XIII and counting….
Week 7: 6-9
Skeeson 13 Overall: 48-44