Round 1

Break and Run [5-5] @ Freedom [7-3]
Season match ups: Week 5: 4-3 Freedom, Week 10: 4-3 BNR
Very note-worthy facts: Away team is 2-0
Game 7 records: Break and Run: 2-2, Freedom: 4-3

Break and Run were able to ruin any hopes of Freedom finishing first in the final week with a game 7 defeat. It's to no surprise to me that both of these matches have gone the distance. In a non-carry format, both sides have vast talent that can pull out a win at any time. Records during the season mean very little, so players like Mina, Croz, and Ross for Break and Run and Matt, Petey, and Andy for Freedom are able to put away their less-than-expected records and move forward.

The most exciting line up: Adam, Andy, Nish, Matt, Petey, Travis for Freedom and Croz, Daru, Jordy, Mike Mina, Ross for Break and Run. Beyond Travis, those 12 look probable.
What to watch for in the match: Not the break, game 7 will be a tap game regardless.

This match will come down to match-ups and Petey will be given the upper hand as he knows the play styles of all in this match so he'll get the match-ups that give Freedom the best odds to win, but I can't imagine Freedoms players have played much since their last match, unlike Break and Run who haven't skipped a beat. Freedoms rust will give Break and Run a game or two and it will push this to another game 7 where statistically, Freedom should pull it out.

Prediction - 4-3 Freedom


Simply Pool Souls [4-6] @ Xtreme 8 Ball [6-4]
Season match ups: Week 3: 5-1 X8B, Week 10: 4-3 SPS
Very note-worthy facts: Home team is 2-0
Game 7 records: Simply Pool Souls: 2-1, Xtreme 8 Ball: 1-1

While getting crushed in their first meeting, Simply Pool Souls were able to get their revenge on X8B with a defeat that cost them the conference title. Does this mean SPS would rather play X8B then DS? SPS were 1-1 against DS this season with both matches being 4-2. Chances are SPS were just playing to win like always, and they'll obviously be doing the same this week.

Most exciting line-up: Becky, Kat, Guns, Jason, Joe, Monte for Simply Pool Souls and Ben, Dave, Gino, Grinch,  Trey, Wild for X8B. For SPS, that's possible, for X8B, it's their first playoff match since MLP is it not? Hopefully they are able to deal with the limited roster and bring a team to the table.
What to watch for: Openness of tables, Simply Pool Souls are a more patient team, while beyond Ben, I doubt anyone in X8B knows how to purposely snook, thus giving them much more skill to run tables. Small tables will give SPS the advantage, while an open table swings it the other way in favor of X8B.

In theory Xtreme 8Ball should win this in 5 or 6 games, unless someone from SPS reads this and attempts my strategy for them. While I mentioned X8B's playoff roster issue/deal, it shouldn't be a factor as with 11 eligible players, 10 of them (sorry Trey) are indeed active enough to show up tonight. This will be an interesting match to say the least that will go far, not as far as game 7, but Xtreme 8Ball should pull out their first playoff victory in quite some time.

Prediction 4-2 Xtreme 8 Ball