Week one is on Shongua Stalemate, and will be played using the BF2Pro mod. All 4 flags are cappable and there are 2 ACP's, 2 boats, and 1 jeep at each main. While the jeeps and APC's seem to be a big part of the map, you'd be a fool to dismiss the role the boats play in this map.
NET is a returning CAL-M team and has 1 CAL-O championship under their belt. Man^ is a team that should have been CAL-M last season but failed because of the clan's lack of involvement with the CAL in the previous leagues. All that being said, NET doesn't look like the same NET from 2 seasons ago. Man^ on the other hand is probably the most offensive team in Main and has a way of controlling the momentum of the match. They have also acquired Lostsight, who can own most of the CAL-O teams by himself. After scrimming Man^ quite a few times, I'm thinking Man^ is going to roll over NET in an easy 2-0 victory.
Man^ > NET 2-0
20ID is the top team going into this season. e0w is about to play their first CAL-M match. A lot of people think e0w is the team to watch this season, the "Cinderella" story of the season. I think we are a little early in the story though, the part where Cinderella's sisters taunt her and leave her behind to clean up the mess they made. Gonna have to go with 20ID over e0w in 2.
20ID > e0w 2-0
Warchild is Team Warchild's 2nd team, but is comprised of quite a few of Warchild's roster from last season. Mammies on the other hand are new to main this season and have not yet seen a lot of top-notch competitive matches, aside from the WT playoffs. In which they impressed all of us. I can say that Warchild has scrimmed this map enough to know what is needed to win in 2. A team that doesn't believe in "taking this to 3 rounds" Warchild will find a way to cripple The Mammies long enough to either win by cap out or by a slow agonizing bleed. Warchild in 2
Warchild > Mammies 2-0
Fadeight is looking for a Championship, plain and simple. SOE is a move up from CAL-0 and are going to have to work hard this season to come away with some W's. Fadeight has prepared for this match for 3 weeks and are ready to get it over with quick. If they come away with more than 3 losses this season I will be disappointed, and this is not one of them. Fade has spent much time trying to implement the "ji-had" boat, but thier effort failed when Virtue was complaining about not having enough rocks to prone spam behind. SOE is going to have to try hard not to get capped out by Fade, but with Swifty and Sham leading the offensive I don't see much of a chance.
Fadeight > SOE 2-0
Poppycock is another of 20ID's teams. They won a CAL-O championship, with an impressive undefeated season. A lot of people refer to Poppycock as 20ID's 2nd team, we'll I can assure you there is nothing 2nd rate about this team. Everclear has picked up some of the remaining n3m members, and is looking to earn some respect this season. If they take a round from Poppycock, I will be impressed. With as much skill as their brother 20ID team and just as much discipline, look for 20ID: Poppycock to take this in 2.
Poppycock > everclear 2-0
Hk| is in my eyes a sleeper team this season, I am not quite sure if they will do great or get beat every match. Dead Presidents is a smurf clan comprised of old WOG members, 2HOT, and NET guys. One of the only match-ups I can see going to 3 rounds. Hk might have the experience with team work, but I think Dead Presidents have the slight advantage with individual CAL experience. Look for Dead Presidents to try and win it in 2 and Hk to play for side selection of third round. I'll go ahead and give it to dP in 3.
Dead Presidents > Hell's Katz Squad 2-0
Team Warchild is a top team this season, and has been for every BF2 season they have played in. Loosing a few key players with DEP going to 20ID and Jerrunk going to HOT, you would think Warchild would be a weak team. Think again, Warchild is going to be in the playoffs if you like it or not. A lot to ffsion is not in their plan I can assure you that. ffsion is going to bring their A game if they don't want to get capped out. Warchild in a quick 2-0, unless terror gets pissed and plays the game of his life.
Team Warchild > ffsion 2-0
Team HOT, season 2's champs, are back this season after being invited to CGi and taking home 4th. Although they dropped last season for many reasons, they are back this season with an almost Identical roster to their 2nd season. Adding Jerrunk to the mix is just going to spice things up over there at HOT. Mercenaries Clan is a clan almost unheard of in competition, but however they have earned their way here it is quite unfortunate to have to play HOT first match of the season. HOT would win this in 1 if they could, but they know it would jack up their RPI so they won't.
HOT > Mercenaries 2-0
Both of these teams are new to CAL-M, but definitely not new to competition. BTK was invited to main last season but declined because of ping issues and them being a South American team. 6th AD made it very far in the Global Crisis Tourney, when teams like Pandemic, Enigma, and NCG were still around. I do think BTK is one of the most strategical BF2 clans I have scrimmed. I would expect them to use their vehicles very efficiently, but if 6th AD knows the importance of AT they should be able to keep BTK's pushes to a minimum and hold off a win as China . With BTK being able to do the same thing, I think this might turn into an actual Stalemate. I am going to give it to 6th AD in 2. But by a very small margin, if that. All assuming that they will be playing on NA server and not a SA server.
6th AD > BTK 2-0
===========> These next few preds are brought to u by Swifty.
RoM is probably the most underrated team coming into this season. They are hitting it hard and I'm sure they're showing it in scrims but no one wants to give them props. Not to mention they have HARDWARE SPONSORS!! Anyways, vitality is a team that likes to talk a lot of trash on the forums and act like they're going to beat people up. Luckily, we're behind computer monitors while we play this game so RoM should be safe. This map will be a test of infantry prowess as the APCs are weak now, and I think this favors Although vitality has some talented infantry like Ganon, I don't think they can keep up with RoM's strong core of Razzaque, VeNoM and Scorpion. Look for Burt Flaxton to get mad at me for not listing him as an infantry player for
2-0 RoM
Dynamic is a top 5 team in CAL-M, no doubt. They hardly ever get recognized as such, though. Evis on the other hand is coming into this season with an immeasurable amount of hype. I think this match up will show that eviscerate has not yet found the chemistry between their talented players and dynamic will give them another shoutcasted 2-0, albeit a very close round each time. Never count out dynamic because that's when they like to make you look like an idiot. Look for johnny to attempt to c4 jeep while commanding but drive into the water leaving his team commanderless for short periods of time. <3 johnny.
2-0 dynamic
Paradigm is continuing on in this league with bfpro after their short boycott. They are undoubtedly a talented team, as we saw when they capped HOT's main in the FragTV shoutcast. It took them a little too long, but to cap it at all was an accomplishment. Killtrend is fadeight's 2nd team and is looking to pick up the Cinderella story that was fadeight last season and run with it this season. I honestly haven't seen them play much so I don't know exactly what to expect... but I know paradigm is a formidable team on any map. Look for SnArF to find a new exploit where he can drive a fast mover into the corner of a barrier on the far side of the map which will cause all opposing players to die simultaneously.
2-0 Paradigm
I think people forget that 2 seasons ago cRu was in the finals. Or how about that first season? cRucial has always been a powerful team and I think that people fail to realize that judging them off their preseason performances may be a little harsh. neXgen, on the other hand is getting a lot of hype.. even it is from their own members. I think this could hurt them down the road because if they expect too much of themselves they might just get a shocker. cRucial might just be the team to give neXgen a wakeup call on a map that requires teams to master the fundamentals of competitive play. Not to take anything away from nexgen though, they have a ton of talent. They just got a rough week 1 match up. Look for CobraRon to scream that his main is under attack but then realize that he's spec ops and C4 the entire opposing team off his flag. Then look for a lot of nexgen disconnects as they all yank their computers out from under their desk and throw them out of frustration.
2-0 cRu
Some might think this one will be close but I would have to disagree. Censor Nazis are a great 12v12 team but they have trouble keeping up on the ground. Impact is the egocentric LAN team who were awarded an ego boost this week from CAL. I love CN, but on an infantry-centered map I just don't think they can keep up. Look for razzyrazz to threaten to beat someone up in real life if he gets killed by a CN member.
2-0 Impact
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