Season 14 – Week 8 Picks

Guest Writer

Greetings high rollers!

The last week of the regular skeeson is upon us!  I hear TGB was packed last night for teams and individuals making up those DNRs.  With most of the DNRs out of the way, we have a pretty clear picture on the team and individual races.  Let’s get to it!

On the individual side, I’m ready to anoint Pat “Alan” Bassett (Trickskee Little Hobbits) as the skeeson 14 MVSkee.  Everett “The Baker” Phillips, having a resurgent skeeson on the back of a massive 523 in week 6 and a 509 in week 2, sits nine points back on average.  With Alan rolling on lane 3 this week, just a 375 for him would require a 441 from Ev to tie.  I suspect Alan will roll above 375 and lock up the title with relative ease. [Editor’s Note: I think your math is bad… but it seems unlikely anyone will catch Alan]          

The best battle is on the team side, where it’s really a two-horse race between It Ain’t Easy Being Skeezy and FKA Daddy.  Skeezy is the top dog for now, but Duke told me they rolled their week 8 on Tuesday night [Editor’s Note: and we intentionally didn’t post it ;)].  I love the hustle trying to sneak in their week 8 roll when the league least expects it!  FKA Daddy finishes the skeeson on lane 1 where they rolled a 956 in week 6.  This one is a close call, but I’ll guess that Skeezy has it locked up by the time this goes to print.  The suspense will keep us guessing, however, as Skeezy’s total from Tuesday will not be announced until Thursday night!  I’m not sure I agree with the decision – if Skeezy is trying to pull a quick one, the rest of the league should be privy to the score in the interest of full disclosure [Editor’s Note: Eric’s out of town this week, relax].

A quick look back at week 7 shows ten teams broke 1000, the most since ten teams also broke that barrier in week 5, led by Conspiraskee Theorists and an 1174, the second highest team score in SkeeBOSTON this skeeson.  But hold on one second…we have a conspiraskee!  If you look at the individual scores from last week, only Courtney Martin (416) and John “Polischoke” Polischuck (273) rolled for the team, as Chris Martin has a DNR.  A little quick math (I Was Told There Would be no Math…possibly one of the best team names in league history) shows a difference of 485 points.  Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I would suggest to you there is only one person in SkeeBOSTON that is capable of subbing on a moment’s notice and rolling a score that high.  You have a duty to convict this rat of conspiraskee to Sabotage the balance of the league…and this rat is none other than Duke himself!  [Editor’s Note: LOL – might have happened ;)]

Conspiraskee aside, congrats to Courtney on breaking 400 for the first time this skeeson.  The high roller last week was John “Everything is” Dawson (The Night is Dark and Full of Skeeballs).  Dawson came out firing as the top roller in week 1, but as I predicted he cooled off a bit as he didn’t break 400 in weeks 2-6.  Which Dawson will show up in week 8 and the playoffs? [Editor’s Note: Hopefully the one that channels his anger.]

On the other hand, two other scores that stood out to me last week were Eric Mendes (Skeeing is Believing) and Ray DiCiacco (Ain’t Easy Being Skeezy), with a 295 and 298, respectively.  Ray was on the Lane of Broken Dreams last week, but I’m at a loss for Eric’s score on lane 3.  Did they get moved to lane 1?!?  Of the five weeks he has rolled so far, Eric has been sub-300 twice, and over 400 the other three times.  Is there a Jekyll and Hyde trophy on Super Saturday?

A few of the individual statistic trophies appear to be locked up with Chris Martin (40 Streaks) and Steve Robinson (50 Streaks) leading the way.  We have a real battle for the 40/50 Combo trophy though!  Going into Tuesday night it looked like Roberto “Robo” Arguello (Trickskee Little Hobbits) had the trophy locked up with 6 combos.  But out of nowhere came Janelle “Give Her a Trading Card” Suckley (Beer!) with a massive five combos to tie Robo, and Dawson added two to his tally bringing him to five, just one combo back.  This will be fun to watch on Thursday.  Similarly, Pat and Everett are separated by just one hundo (136 to 135) as we enter the final week.  Every.  Ball.  Matters. [Editor’s Note: that’s what she said]

Given my trend in recent weeks I was happy to go 3-2 last week, though Duke really threw a wrench into one of my picks that could have gone the other way.  Time to end the skeeson strong and finish above .500! [Editor’s Note: #NotHappening]

6:30:  No Mike in the Plumber’s Shed (-55) vs. Conspiraskee Theorists – Now that they have made up a few DNRs, Plumber’s sit in third place, just three points out of second.  With Theorists currently sitting in fifth place, this could be a preview of a playoff matchup next week.  Given how close the teams are the line confuses me a little, but Plumber’s appear to be the hot hand off their make-up rolls on Tuesday so I’ll take them in this one. [Editor’s Note: I might as well bust your bubble now. Scottie’s subbing for Chris. Conspiraskee will cover. 0 – 1! #sabotage]

7:30:  50 Shades of Skee vs. The Big Leballskee (-25) – Another good matchup of teams that are separated by an average of 40 points.  I’m going to lean with the favorite in a matchup this close, so I’ll bowl with Leballskee this week.  White Russians for all! [Editor’s Note: you picked the side I wanted you too… but we shall see.]

8:30:  Run DMSkee (-40) vs. The Night is Dark and Full of Skeeballs – There is reason that week 8 is “Rivalry Week.” This is a great matchup of teams separated by an average of less than 20 points.  Run DMSkee has been steadily improving each week, so I’m going to Run with the hot hand and take DMSkee.

9:30:  FKA Daddy (-65) vs. Frame of Thrones – As noted above, FKA Daddy has a shot at the team title.  Enter the Lane of Broken Dreams.  I have to wonder if Daddy will sacrifice the hundos to try for a more consistent score.  Either way, I’m not sure FoT will have enough in the tank to hold up in this matchup.  I’ll take Daddy giving the points.

10:30:  Ski Free vs. Han Rolo (-215) – It’s a big spread to close out week 8 of skeeson 14.  And only appropriate to end the skeeson with a matchup on lane 1.  Ski Free has been remarkably consistent this skeeson with totals generally in the high 700s/low 800s.  Rolo (really an underrated candy) came out strong in week 1 and has broken 1000 in six of seven weeks.  I’m going to lean with Rolo in this matchup as they make a final push for the playoffs. [Editor’s Note: Vegas always wins. Too many favorites.]

Week 7: 3-2
Skeeson 14 to date:  14-15

Skee you on the lanes!!

Season 14 – Week 8 Picks
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