EMPIRE 2024-2025 SEASON TOUR STOP #3 & 4 PREDICTIONS

This Sunday, the Empire Division travels to Towne Bowling Academy. Not from South Canada and that name still sounds familiar to you? You’ve probably seen a few Facebook Live videos streamed from here as there’s at least a handful of 300’s thrown in this house on a weekly basis. Perhaps you know a bowler or two who bowls leagues here… or maybe you bowl in one yourself – I know at least one guy hardcore enough to make the 2+ hour commute every Monday to compete in what I still believe to be the most ridiculously stacked scratch league I have ever seen. Calling this one team or another’s “home” gets tricky as well – to my knowledge at least two thirds of the teams in this district have Towne league bowlers on their rosters to varying degrees. All of this adds up to some potentially explosive matches, where I fully expect there to be some truly monstrous numbers put up. Let’s dive in!

STOP #3: 10AM

Da Royalty vs Area 51-8

This is always a fun one. Last season these two teams split their matches against each other, so walking away with the dub in this one will definitely set the tone for the rest of the season. Area 51-8 started off the season hot and would like to continue that trend, while Da Royalty will be looking to gain some ground back this weekend.

Prediction: I spent the entire 23-24 season establishing how I predict my team’s matches… you already know what I think will happen here. Aliens. Every single time.

Devilz Rejects vs # Beastmode

This is actually quite a lucky draw for both of these teams. The two rosters most unfamiliar with Towne Bowling Academy are matched up with each other in the early match, meaning whoever figures it out first will probably take this one. It also means both of these teams will have three games under their belts before they gotta face down that home field advantage in the afternoon.

Prediction: On paper there is a clear choice here. # Beastmode has 42 points after the first two stops… and Devilz Rejects only has nine. Sorry Rejects, you’re the underdogs again until you prove otherwise. I’m taking # Beastmode in this one.

Towne Assassins vs KPA Kingpins

In the outro I will set an overall number for the amount of honor scores that will be thrown this weekend… but I think a large portion of these will come out of this match. Two powerhouses, both with scratch-heavy rosters… matched up on the high-scoring end of the house? The over/under for honor scores in this one is set at 3.5. And I think that might actually be a little low.

Prediction: The Towne Assassins take this match, but it will be close enough that this might be the prediction I get wrong this time around. This one has some 20-20 split potential for sure.

STOP #4: 2PM

Devilz Rejects vs Towne Assassins

Unlike the prediction above, I’m a little more confident in this pick. Towne, at Towne, might be just a little too much for the Rejects to handle. Especially if they only send 8 bowlers again. Please don’t do that, guys.

Prediction: I’m predicting a blowout here. I’d love to be proven wrong… I just don’t think it’s gonna happen.

KPA Kingpins vs Area 51-8

The sequel to an extremely tight match at Tour Stop 2. Last month, Area 51-8 was able to eek out a win, but barely. This one will probably be just as close. What kinds of adjustments have these two teams made for their rematch? Tune in Sunday – this will be a good one.

Prediction: The Aliens are pretty good at Towne. Yeah, probably even better than we are at Sportsmans. I know KPA also loves bowling here but… Aliens, man.

Da Royalty vs # Beastmode

This is a pretty even matchup, in my opinion. I think a few things will determine the outcome of this one. Whichever team makes the correct adjustments after the reoil – as well as whichever squad is fresher after that long break – will more than likely be the team that walks away with the win.

Prediction: I think home field advantage comes into play here, and that Da Royalty will monopolize on that advantage. I also believe the tables may be turned in the second half of the season when the majority of the division’s matches will take place further South and closer to home for these traveling teams.

So… what’s the over/under for honor scores this Sunday? Being conservative (yes, conservative) I predict that we’ll see 3-4 perfect games, and one or two 800 series thrown between these two stops.

6.5. And again, I think I might be actually a little low on that. Guess we’ll see in a couple days!

-Emperor Gabrius Urethanos Protest I