#2 Formula 1 [10-0] vs. #3 Indigo [9-1]
F1 :	killabeez (L), WerD, dBo, Friend, chumpp, Viper, Vio, EnSanity
Indigo :	Angel (L), Cob, d0ss, mmptr, sysreq, kushet

This week Formula 1 will finally face a big name team. With their high playoff seed, they rolled over arguably the weakest team in the playoffs, e-Star, in the first week, followed by a victory over the 13th seeded Goochers the following week. While Goochers are not pushovers and came off a big win over United 5, their practice has slipped as of late and Formula 1 should have been able to overpower them on Danger Canyon. This week, however, they will face one of the top few teams in the game, Indigo. Featuring   strong aim from players like sysreq, d0ss, and mmptr combined with an excellent tactical sense and strategy developed by kushet Indigo is one of the most well rounded and strongest teams in Halo right now. A map like Ice Fields could play into their hands, as excellent aim is required to control the map but a strong coordinated offense is needed to score. Formula 1, despite being the higher seed, could be considered the underdogs in this West vs. East matchup, and they will certainly have their work cut out for them this week.

Formula 1

F1, formerly Rival, has long been everyone's favorite team to hate in Halo. With controversial matches on Ice Fields against Echo 7 to being accused of taking advantage of lag and to supposedly having the easiest schedule this season F1 has long been a topic of conversation. However, this season they have quieted most of their critics by making it this deep into the playoffs with the chance to go even further. To do that, they will need to play to their strengths, and Formula 1's biggest strength is their individual skill. With a lineup that features many strong XBox players and accomplished Deathmatch players, F1's fragging ability is some of the best in the game. With players like WerD and chumpp F1 can field some of the top DM and 1v1 players in the game. How that skill translates to the very team-based Assault game, however, is the real question. Formula 1 has fairly strong teamwork on maps like Sidewinder and Blood Gulch, where they have more experience because of their experience on it on XBox. However, on a map like Ice Fields this week they have had some weaker results in the past. Last season they suffered a controversial loss to Echo 7 on this map when they were helpless against the duo of DeMiZe and kujax. This time around, however, F1 should be more prepared and they have a much stronger and more stable lineup after a merger with AK in the offseason. For Formula 1 to win this match they will need those new players to step it up. F1 likes to play an aggressive style even on this largely defensive map, and if they can get the key frags their aim should allow them to control the bridge with some strong sniper crossfire. From there, Formula 1 likes to be aggressive with the flag, and if the opposing team can utilize vehicle control to their advantage it could spell disaster for them. F1 will need their best players to play their best games and get the key frags on offense in order to get the scores. While being overtly aggressive, F1 probably will not be the most organized team on offense, and if they hope to have a chance they will really need people like WerD to really step it up.

Indigo

Indigo has quietly put up one of the best records in the league this season with a pretty tough schedule. This week the Eastern powerhouse takes on the West's best, and I's blend of tactics and skill should do them well on a map like Ice Fields. While many might say with the likes of d0ss and mmptr Indigo has some of the best sniper aim in Halo, they will try to keep their focus off the snipers and on the bridge during this matchup. The bridge is the key point on Ice Fields: it has an overshiled, critical to any strong offense on a low scoring match, the only rocket launcher, and a fuel rod. It also boasts unrivalled vision of the key area of the map, able to stop any bridge push or bombard a lower rush with sniper and heavy ammunition. Expect Indigo to exploit that to its fullest when they have control of the map by pushing one or two players towards the enemy sniper entrance to cut them off from bridge access while using a strong sniper and heavy specialist to control the bottom area of the map. Indigo also likes to push one or two and try to control the enemy sniper before they get bridge control, and expect one of these players to be a key pivot pushing on offense to the opposing crossroads. While Kushet may have put up the best single round K:D in the playoffs and the best overall score, he will be unavailable to play this match. Expect d0ss to replace him with some equally high frag totals but a little less regard to his number of deaths and to be a dominating force on Indigo's offensive pushes. The key difference between F1 and Indigo for this matchup will be their coordination on offense: expect Indigo to have more succesfully coordinated pushes and better chances to score than their opponents. With some strong early pushes Indigo could take F1 out of the match early and could shut them down after controlling their warthogs.

Keys to the Match

Ice Fields is a very low scoring map, and with the potential to completely shut down the enemy offense by taking control of their vehicles, the key to winning on it is simple: scoring! While that may be a Madden-esque type of analysis, I'll go out on a limb and say that the team who scores the best in this match will take the victory. Both teams are strong at holding the middle map area on Ice Fields, but the real key to the match will be which team can get the most quality pushes out of that map control.

Prediction

I mentioned above that Indigo has the more coordinated offensive pushes, and that was my Key to the Match. With strong offense, even if Formula 1's snipers play well and control the map most of the time, Indigo should be able to have the highest quality scoring chances and the best chance to win the match. I'd look for them to get a few dangerous attempts each half and to capitalize on some of them. With an early lead, Indigo will take little chances and take victory by controlling the enemy vehicles and only pushing surefire scores. If all of Formula 1's guns are on fire this week, it could turn out differently, but strong teamwork is always more consistent than strong aim and Halo is a team-based game. Indigo by a small margin.

Indigo over Formula 1 [2-0]