Big day today! I hope everyone comes ready to play. Week 2 should really start heating up the teams. We saw several roster changes between Week 1 and Week 2, so it's time to discuss those additions. Additionally, the confirmed KD cap for this tournament is a combined 10 KD across all three players. In Week 1, the only team with a KD above a 9 was Team KFC Radio and they led the tournament with a whopping 238 points. I expect other teams to be able to come closer to this number with recent FA signings.
From Week 1 of the BGL, Team Balls and Chicago were both eliminated. Smitty made sure to note that if WSD got a single more kill in one of those games that his team would have at least tied Foreplay pod for 10th place.
You also have to remember how the scoring works for this tournament. This is important because it will factor into my Power Rankings. AKA, this is where I expect the teams to finish after combining their week 1 and week 2 scores. The current standings are:
KFC Radio 10 pts
Spittin' Chiclets 9 pts
Zero Blog Thirty 8 pts
Starting 9 7 pts
Team Smitty 6 pts
Spinnin Backfist 5 pts
Pardon My Take 4 pts
Lights Camera Barstool 3 pts
The Rats 2 pts
Foreplay Pod 1 pt
If you would like to see how the Week 1 BGL Power Rankings held up - checkout that blog here.
Also, my top 3 most underrated slayers can be found here.
MRags' Power Rankings (Week 2)
10) The Rats
I like the chemistry that this team brings and the past competitive gaming experience (Meph is a former Gears of War National Champion). They were able to secure a few dubs, but I think this squad is really lacking in firepower to compete with the newly added Warzone slayers. If they can live up to the name, I am hoping they can rat their way through the top 8.
9) Lights Camera Barstool
I hate betting against an absolute stud like HelpfulEvil, but I didn't see the performance I was expecting in Week 1 out of this squad. LCB decided to substitute Himicane (now Head Coach) out for f2McGiv. Whereas they certainly added more slaying ability into the squad, I do fear that they lost their in-game General. This team is packed with players that can rack up eliminations like it's nothing, but they have to learn to play together and secure wins. If this squad can secure the dubs, they'll easily advance. However, that is easier said than done. Furthermore, I fear that the pressure of having to qualify considering their 8th place finish last week (only 3 pts), will impact their gameplay and not allow them to play loose.
LCB was one of the hottest starting teams last week, but faded shortly thereafter. We're going to keep a close eye out for them tonight.
8) Team Smitty
Easily the largest fall from grace compared to the Week 1 Power Rankings, I truly thought their 3rd teammate was going to pack-a-punch. That being said, I do think Jerry Ferrara couldn't have played better. He also hit the most casual collateral I've ever seen.
Their 3rd teammate this week will be......WSD. That's right, WSD is getting redemption via the good graces of the General. The one positive I see to this addition is that Datboytmatt plays with WSD virtually every single night. They have tremendous team chemistry, but I do not think this team will be able to compete with the Top 3 teams of the tournament.
You can never forget, this team is lucky enough to have the CoDfather on their team. May the Gabagool be with Skullface tonight
7) Starting 9
Starting 9 had a great performance in Week 1 of the BGL. However, they have decided to add back YoungLeg and remove Will Rub. YoungLeg is a good friend of mine and KOTN, but I truly do not think this team improves significantly by adding the youngest leg onto the roster. Kid Fluent and McNasty will still be fragging out, so I am expecting a few 20 bombs from them tonight. This unit plays much better than their stats led you to believe, so I am looking for them to bring the fire tonight.
6) Foreplay Pod
Even though I believe this team will finish top 4 for week 2, the lack of points they earned in week 1 really hinders this team from being higher up on the rankings. Give credit to Broboken, where he was able to secure 100T Tommey, aka the human anti-cheat in Warzone, for week 2 of this tournament.
If Hossr is able to achieve his peak form, this team is dangerous. Broboken really needs to play the support role here and constantly carry minimum $4k and let his teammates do the dirty work. If he really wants to fit the role of the gel guy, he's gota understand his strengths and weaknesses. Tommey is one of the top Warzone players in the world and Bro has to enable him to frag out at will by staying alive and always have $4,000 on him for a potential buy back.
5) Pardon My Take
Ripkowski, Toolijian, Joben. Hank and PFT made the executive decision to add some firepower by subbing out Hank for Toolijian and it certainly adds some more pop onto this squad. I stand by that Ripkowski is probably the most underrated slayer throughout the entire Barstool Gaming League, so I'm excited to see the plays he's able to make tonight. Toolijian and Joben have great chemistry between them and should be much more used to the Warzone meta this time around. I'm expecting several 20 bombs from PMT.
4) Spinnin Backfist
Full CMC, multiple Warzone kill race champs and a Bonzer revenge tour? This team is here to compete. As much as it pains me to hype up a team featuring Bonzer, Cole and Justy deserve that. They both rep roughly 2.6-2.8 KDs but they play like 4s. I am really looking forward to this squad turning up tonight. They were ripping dubs last night during their practice runs.
Thankfully, Bonzer passed his physical and GM Blake Zona will provide his squad with anything they need to guarantee their peak performance.
3) Zero Blog Thirty
ZBT was home to 2 of the 5 top slayers in Week 1 (Wh2ezy - 63 + TouchPapa - 56). They finished 3rd last week and I expect them to remain in this spot. This team is fully of three slayers with a ton of competitive Warzone experience and two former CMC Champs. Wh2ezy's stats proved to be true as this kid is an absolute beast in Verdansk. Their key to victory is getting a little more production out of Sahvage and securing the high kill wins.
2) Spittin' Chiclets
Last week, this squad absolutely blew away my expectations. XSet Kekoa is an absolute slayer and he dominated the scene, finishing with the 2nd most elims (72 total) throughout the entire competition. This week, Kekoa will sit out for XSet Frozone, who is the 13th highest earner in Warzone with a whopping $55,454 (esportsearnings.com). Frozone is easily one of the best Warzone players in the world and I can't wait to see his kill totals at the end of week 2. Gracious will continue to lowkey frag out, providing Fro with great support.
I'm going to fire up the Mop a little bit here, but I think KFC Radio is more well rounded in the fact that Seeb (with a 2.4KD) is a better third support player than our boy Trevor (roughly 1.5KD). That is why I am giving KFC Radio the slight advantage here. However, never count out the intangibles that the Mop brings.
Spittin' Chiclets has what it takes to de-throne our #1 seed, but they'll really have to bring their A game.
Note: If KFC Radio finishes 2nd and Spittin' Chiclets finishes 1st, they will both be TIED with 19pts.
Frozone is also slowly becoming a hero of mine.
1) KFC Radio
Tough to say otherwise, this squad is truly built different and they showcased that last Thursday. It is a little bizarre to me to see Sasquatch being the second best slayer on a squad, but that proves how much gun skill this squad is bringing to Verdansk.
Ebatez led the entire tournament with 74 total elims in his top 3 Week 1 games. That number is literally insane. Will he be able to keep it up? From watching him in the Barstool College Gaming Championship, my money is on yes.
Hard to disagree with you Mr 1K
Incredible content, MOP GANG will continue to surprise and EBATEZ will be great as always