(GotFrag) - CEVO season 2 is at its halfway point and a lot has occurred including the standard team drop-out, though not as bad as in Season 1. However, the worst is already over and the better half of CEVO-P should be all the more competitive as a result.

In case you haven't already noticed on the CEVO-P match schedule pages, TF2 head Aschow has informed me that CEVO has deleted the "dead-team" matches and has rescheduled them which are to be completed within the next two weeks.

With Pandemic holding the only noticeable lead at 6-0 and the match rescheduling, CEVO-P is definitely not out of reach for the other big dawgs like Eximius, Dev, and X6.

Anyway, with more comments to come at later time from CEVO's Aschow, here are Merlino's week 4-1 predictions..




Start the Reactor! v Northern Resistance

Northern Resistance has been taking a beating in the Pro division but with this latest matchup to sR I expect..probably another beating-but its Gravelpit and I'm confident NR will score a round.
NR [ 1 : 2 ] sR

Veneration v United Gamers

I haven't had the time to check out much with United Gamers before so I am not sure how their team chemistry works just yet; however, I do have some experience with Veneration as I know a bunch of them from the early TF2 scene and notice their long-lasting standard roster. With that said, Veneration will pull through on this one on the grounds of chemistry.
Ven [ 2 : 1 ] UG

Sway Gaming v Eximius Sports MOTW

If this wasn't Gravelpit I'd give this one to Eximius easily. Sway's loss to sR in the first week has really damaged my confidence in Sway a lot. However, Gravelpit has been known to be an "anyones game" kind of map and I think Sway's less-organized roster and niche lineup will actually help them. To put this in perspective, I believe Eximius excels at medic-abusement via Scouts. At the same time, I believe Sway's strongest asset is their medic, Casey. With that said, I'll give this one MOTW with a clutch-win by Sway. Look for a good-handling of Eximius' Medic-abuse by Sway and more than one major uber-flop by Eximius. Or look for Sway to completely blow it and get throroughly dominated..either way, Sway-I'm putting it on the line for you. You better deliver.

Eximius [ 1: 2 ] Sway

Pandemic v Xensity

Not too much to say here. I've played Xen a good amount in scrims before I became starting-backup-med and every time playing with them they had a different excuse for losing..Lag, roster, bathroom, Natural Selection Finals..the list goes on. But on a positive note, gravelpit has usually been Xen's strongest map- for their old roster anyway..and yes they have had a roster-butchering..so I sympathize for you - but Pandemic won this matchup in the last tournament and is going to roll this one quickly.
Pandemic [ 2 : 0 ] xen-

Check-Six v 4Ever Gamers

I'll be dangerous and call my team's match. 4Ever Gamers has done a good job at weathering CEVO-P's storm and even proven themselves against Xen..but Gravelpit is probably x6's strongest map. Definitely look for x6 to lose a round because of Tech.
x6 [ 2 : 1 ] 4G

Apoplexy Industries v Devastation

Apoplexy Industries is one of the lower tier teams in CEVO-P that I believe could rise to the upper tier with more match experience and perhaps a few roster changes. With that said, Devestation has always been a capable team but also a very beatable team. Nevertheless, Devestation has loads more match experience and should take this one.

AI [ 1 : 2 ] DEV