Shall we do the prediction contest this year? If so, I have the program set up in Excel and I'll be happy to do the standings reports, same as last year. Assuming it's a "yes," here are the rules from last year. They seemed to work well and are basically the same as the year before. Do they look ok? PS - If a good number of last year's competitors participate again, I think the robot will yield its 1st place finishing position to some humans. The humans learned well last year from the robot and its data and were closing on it at the end of the season. Even if the robot can get a lead early this year, which may be unlikely, I doubt it will be a big enough lead to hold off challengers late in the season. Ladder Predictions (to be posted before the first game of the season begins): 6pts - Perfect prediction of a team's end position on the ladder 3pts - 1 position off of a team's end position on the ladder 1pt - - 2 positions off of a team's end position on the ladder 6pts - Correctly picking the group of 4 playoff teams 4pts - Picking 3/4 of the group of 4 playoff teams 2pts - Picking 2/4 of the group of 4 playoff teams 1pt - - Picking 1/4 of the group of 4 playoff teams 4pts - Correctly picking the Shield/Spoon winners 2pts - Your Shield/Spoon winner is within 2 positions 2pts - The real Shield/Spoon winner is within 2 positions on your ladder 2pts - For each correct advancement you put through the playoffs 1pt - - Correct method of advancement (regulation, OT, or PKs) for the semifinals 2pts - Correct method of advancement (regulation, OT, or PKs) for the final/title 6pts - Making one ladder prediction and never editing it -1pts - For every week up to wk12 that's been played before your prediction is finalized Regular Season Predictions (to be posted as the season progresses, with each game prediction to be posted before that game begins): 3pts - Exact score predicted 2pts - Correct GD predicted 1pt - - Correct W/L/D predicted +1pt - Not exact score, but correct goals scored for one team Playoff Predictions (to be posted as the playoffs progress, with each game prediction to be posted before that game begins): 8pts - Exact score predicted (W/L) 8pts - Exact score predicted (D) WITH correct advancing team 6pts - Exact score predicted (D), wrong advancing team 4pts - Exact score predicted (D) at 90min but not 120min WITH correct advancing team 3pts - Exact score predicted (D) at 90min but not 120min, wrong advancing team 5pts - Correct GD predicted (W/L) 4pts - Correct GD predicted (D) WITH correct advancing team 3pts - Correct GD predicted (D), wrong advancing team 2pts - Correct GD predicted (D) at 90min but not 120min WITH correct advancing team 1pt - - Correct GD predicted (D) at 90min but not 120min, wrong advancing team 3pts - Correct W/L prediction 2pts - Correct advancing team if you predicted W/L by 1 goal but match was D 1pt - - Correct advancing team if you predicted W/L by 2+ goals but match was D +1pt - Not exact score, but correct goals scored for one team 6pts - correct prediction of the Final game MVP
We've already got a few preseason games under out collective belts, but I'm gonna wait a bit more to put my ladder together. April 13th
Before I post my prediction, I guess my next question is legitimate: are we 100% sure that Sky Blue FC have everything cleared and will regularly start the season?
Considering how they handled the schedule with Boston last year, I think we can confidently say (as of several weeks ago, when this year's schedule came out) that Sky Blue will be playing when the season begins.
North Carolina Portland Seattle Chicago Houston Utah Orlando Washington Sky Blue NC over Chi Portland over Sea NC over Portland
North Carolina Chicago Houston (my speculative pick.) Portland Tacoma (Seattle is so last year) Utah Orlando Washington Sky Blue NC beats Portland Houston beats Chicago NC beats Houston
liesse00, can you also, for the playoff games, indicate whether the result will be in regulation time, overtime, or by PKs? You can score points if you get that right.
Smallchief, can you also, for the playoff games, indicate whether the result will be in regulation time, overtime, or by PKs? You can score points if you get that right.
Regular Season 1. NCC 2. PTFC 3. CRS 4. HD 5. URFC 6. RFC 7. WS 8. OP 9. SBFC Semis NCC over HD in regulation PTFC over CRS in PK Final NCC over PTFC in OT
I'll make some odd predictions. Bare with me, I am basically just gambling a little (what robots never do ): North Carolina Courage Chicago Red Stars Seattle Reign FC Utah Royals Portalnd Thorns Sky Blue FC Orlando Pride Houston Dash Washington Spirit Semi-finals North Carolina Courage-Utah Royals: NCC advance at penalty shootout Chicago red Stars-Seattle Reign FC: CRC Advance in regulation Final North Carolina Courage-Chicago Red Stars: CRC win the title in regulation
Chicago North Carolina Portland Utah Orlando Tacoma Houston Washington NJ/NY Semi-finals Chicago d. Utah in regulation Portland d. North Carolina in overtime Final Chicago d. Portland in regulation
North Carolina Courage Chicago Red Stars Portland Thorns FC Houston Dash Reign FC Utah Royals FC Washington Spirit Orlando Pride Sky Blue FC NC over HOU in regulation Chicago over Portland in OT NC over Chicago in regulation
Alright, so here's what I'm thinking, going in order down last year's standings. Obviously NCC hasn't slowed down at all and I don't see anyone having caught up even if you take out all the NTers, so they're locks for the Shield and gonna challenge for the Championship too. Portland... IDK; after the first couple of seasons, the club always seems to be a mixed bag to me, because on paper they're usually as good as NCC but never seem to click as well. Seattle had a great preseason, but like Portland I'm never entirely sure where they stand, though unlike Portland I think they'll weather the WCC lean times better. Chicago is usually pretty solid as a mid-table team, but I don't see any signs they really have anything to really push them over the top - Kerr striking up a great partnership with anyone on the team could do so, but both players would be gone for the WCC break. I'm expecting Utah to do better than last year, both because they've had a year to grow and because I think they'll be one of the teams disturbed the least by the WCC drain. I'm also optimistic about Houston, since they've made several good to great moves this offseason and everyone seems to be buying in to the new order of things - but Houston will be hit hard by the WCC. Then between Orlando, DC, and NJ... I think all will do better than last year points-wise, Orlando have a roster to hit higher in the table, but their preseason wasn't incredibly encouraging and they'll be hit hard by the WCC too - as will DC, which we saw could (in preseason form) match the in-season French #3 team as long as they had their first squad out, but depth for them is baaaad. Depth for NJ is also gonna be an issue with how injury-ridden they are right now, but if their players get healthy in time for the WWC break, I expect them to climb the table then, at least somewhat, since they won't be WWC-depleted. Alright, so what does that mean for my standings? I... I actually don't know that well. X-D I have a clear #1, and a fairly clear #7-#9, but #2-#6 is just a mess in my eyes. Last year there were only 10pts separating #2 from #6, and I'm betting this year it'll be even less. So let's roll a die and see what I get... 1. NCC 2. UT 3. POR 4. HOU 5. SEA 6. CHI 7. ORL 8. NJ 9. DC SF1 - NC over HOU in regulation SF2 - UT over POR in OT Final - UT over NC in KftS
In a non-world cup year, I would have predicted more movement in the ladder. As it is, I think Portland and North Carolina will be the only two teams with fewer total points than they had in 2018. Regular Season 1. NCC 2. RFC 3. POR 4. CHI 5. URFC 6. HOU 7. WAS 8. NJ 9. SBFC Semis NCC over CHI in OT, because NCC will really be at home RFC over POR in OT, because RFC will be at home Final NCC over RFC in regulation, because NCC
Hi everybody. I am a new guy around here. This is my prediction: 1. Courage 2. Reign 3. Thorns 4. Royals 5. Red Stars 6. Pride 7. Dash 8. Spirit 9. Sky Blue Semis Courage over Royals in regulation Reign over Thorns in regulation Final Courage over Reign in OT Greetings from Seville (Spain).
New blood is always welcome on this forum! If you'll stay with us for the weekly predictions also, I promise you'll have fun! Edit: also, I see you're a Real Betis supporter: only the men's club or the women's too? In case you follow the women's team, I'll need to ask you a question, that's anyway off-topic on this thread.