Green 4
Jason Couch
vs
Dennis Welshans

Don't just think Jason is going to win the match because he throws it better. This Welshans guy can do things that Jason can not. His rev rate is very low for a tour player and that allows him to keep his angle cut down. I expect him to compete but not being comfortable with the format and the transitions should confuse him at some point. That should give Jason the time to get matched up.

Green 3
Mike Edwards
vs
Robert Smith

Robert loves the Cheetah pattern when he can see his ball hook. He doesn't worry about using hold he creates it with his speed. Mike should find it easier to recognize hold Robert may see early transition he doesn't like but I expect him to come back late as the oil goes down the lane.

Green 2
Bob Learn Jr
vs
Jason Hurd

Bob is suppose to have the advantage in this match up but the last few times I have seen him make match play he has given away many opportunities. As the oil gets down lane Jason's chances increase because Bob can only follow the pattern right and has a tendency to over-shell to control the lane which should effect his carry.

Green 1
Mike Wolfe
vs
Steve Jaros

This will not be an easy win for either player. Mike got fooled in the late block yesterday or he would have qualified up higher. Steve is happy to see his ball hook again and looks to make another late season run if he sees this amount of hook continue.

Blue 4
Dave Traber
vs
Ray Edwards

I like the match up Dave has here. Dave said he went home and started digging through balls in his garage and brought out an Intense Inferno. He has used that ball all week so far and it has done him well. I can see that Ray has been working on his game and am not ready to give this match to Dave just yet but Dave will certainly be able to take advantage of both the early friction and the oil going down the lane.

Blue 3
Parker Bohn III
vs
Tommy Delutz Jr.

The lanes favor the left side because of the wiggle down lane on the right. The challenge will be for Parker to follow his own transition. I am hoping he is able to follow it left and realize more hold late in the match instead of looking for hook. The oil going down lane happens very quickly and has a more dramatic effect. Parker typically likes to move in off of friction instead of out.

Blue 2
Jack Jurek
vs
Mika Koivuniemi

Tough match to call. I like Mika's match up but I have watched his ball make a snap move at his break point more often than I like on this pattern. I am guessing this is by choice because we have talked about it a couple times. Jack has a good match up because his rev rate reads the shorter pattern smoother than Mika's. Mika will likely follow the pattern right while Jack will most likely go left.

Blue 1
Wes Malott
vs
Brian Voss

Voss just won on this pattern and Wes needs oil to get down the lane to compete with Brian on this pattern. If they met later in the day I would give Wes a better chance but I think that Brian is a pretty strong favorite in this match up.

Black 4
Ryan Ciminelli
vs
Dale Traber

According to the locals Ryan is doing what he likes to do best. Throw it hard at friction. His match ups have been great so far while Dales have been questionable at times. Ryan may create a different transition than he has been seeing during the early part of the week because  he will be following his own transition and has chosen to play pretty far left. I don't know if he will have any room to move further left.

Black 3
Tim Criss
vs
Pete Weber

This match up should favor Pete because they will both want to see the lane transition the same way and Pete will be more comfortable playing the middle part of the lane and getting it to hit from the same area and a little right of Tim.

 

Black 2
Mike DeVaney
vs
Rick Steelsmith

Mike and Rick have been bowling very consistently, no matter what the pattern is, lately. This pattern is a good match up for Rick and his speed/rev ratio but Mike might have a more dramatic effect on the lane transition. They both know how the pattern should transition. Mike will probably follow the pattern left Rick could go either way but his best chance against Mike would be to follow it right.

Black 1
Norm Duke
vs
Mike Scroggins

Norm is a master of playing this type of transition. Mike is not going to see what he has been using all year. Most of the year Mike has had a hold spot inside of him because he is able to lay the ball down in the early friction that other bowlers can not. This week that hold spot is not there. He will have to try and create it. If he leaves himself room to move left he might have a chance but if he doesn't Norm will show him how.

Red 4
Dennis Horan Jr
vs
Doug Kent

I like this match up and expect it to be a close match. I like the way Denny usually transitions the lanes for himself and the left side of the lane doesn't wiggle as much. Doug has all the tools he needs to follow the pattern to the right, I just don't know if he will choose to do that. He may decide to start right and go left.

Red 3
 

Eugene McCune
vs
Tom Baker

Tom is in his home town and wanting to bowl well. He put on a great show during qualifying and expect him to do the same thing today. The biggest obstacle is bowling in the morning. Tom is a little slow getting started in the morning but once he gets going on the Cheetah pattern he is like fine wine, he just gets better. McCune loves the hook and only struggles when others mess with his area of the lane. The only person messing with his area will be himself so he will be making his own bed today.
 

Red 2
Paul Fleming
vs
Bill O'neil

This is a more natural match up for Paul than it is Bill as the transition creates more hold than hook. Paul seems to have a clear picture of what he wants to do as long as he leaves himself room to move right. Bill has a good match up for a high rev guy but I expect him to see quicker and more dramatic transitions. He will  have to be on top of those and his ball choices
 

TV

Green
Round of 8
Mike Edwards
vs
Steve Jaros

The two highest averages left in the tournament. Both Mike and Steve are averaging over 240 so how are you suppose to pick a favorite. I am going to pick it by who I think is making the best shots under the gun. Mike has had to make more shots under pressure than Steve and has more games over 250 so I am GUESSING Mike.

Blue
Round of 8
Parker Bohn III
vs
Wes Malott

This will be the first time Wes will have to break the lane down himself. Wes is the only bowler left averaging less than 230. The pair they are bowling on 47-48 have not had a left hander on the pair. Bob Learn and Jason Hurd bowled on that pair in the Round of 32 and only had 2 games over 220 let alone 230. If that is any indication of the scoring pace on the right I like Parker's chances.

Black
Round of 8
Norm Duke
vs
Tim Criss

These two bowlers will be no where near to each other. Norm is using firm speed up the lane while Tim is using soft speed and arcing the ball around the corner. Norm seems to have the better match up as a rule but Tim has had a little trick. Tim's low games are lower than Norm's probably because of transition. I expect those low games and the more frequent transition to be the difference.

Red
Round of 8
Patrick Allen
vs
Doug Kent

Patrick and Doug are very good friends. Doug regularly helps Patrick out with his game and equipment options. I am sure Doug doesn't regret it one bit but I don't remember the last time they had to bowl each other either. Dougy has bowled on the high end of the house both matches. I don't expect him to see as much hook that he had in his first two matches. The left isn't that much different.

Green
Round of 16
2
Jason Couch
vs
Mike Edwards

Eddie might have a good enough look to take out Jason. It might get a little scary after Jason blows open a hook spot and the oil down lane starts to effect Eddie's carry.

Green
Round of 16
1
Bob Learn Jr.
vs
Steve Jaros

Nobody on the planet wants a win more than these two. Since both of these two are on the same side of the planet I think this match will be very intense until Steve shows his superior reaction.

Blue
Round of 16
2
Dave Traber
vs
Parker Bohn III

Dave will play any yank they give him while Parker will look for any kind of hook he can find. I am a fan of the yank no matter what side of the lane a bowler is on. The low end of the house plays tighter on both sides. That means less hook to start. Maybe Parker can get the hook he is looking for late in the match

Blue
Round of 16
1
Jack Jurek
vs
Wes Malott

Wes may have Malott of revs but Jack has a lot of Jurek. Right now I would rather play the Jurek than have Malott of revs.

Black
Round of 16
2
Tim Criss
vs
Ryan Ciminelli

I never like to say the pro is the underdog but so far this week Ryan hasn't had to think much and he is licking his chops watching his ball go down the lane. I don't blame him... it looks realllllllllly gooooood.

Black
Round of 16
1
Norm Duke
vs
Mike DeVaney

Norm is suppose to win this match. Mike is going to try and do some things that will allow him to square up to the lane and maybe effect Norm's look. That is a long stretch considering the two parts of the lane the two have been playing. Norm is outside of 5 while Mike is closer to 10. It would take a lot of guts to make that kind of move with his rev rate.

Red
Round of 16
2
Eugene McCune
vs
Doug Kent

This will be an interesting match because Doug likes friction as much as Eugene. The biggest difference is Doug likes to see it further down lane than Eugene. He is liable to get that early in the match but won't be able to go right against Eugene. If Eugene has to move left the favorite in the match changes

Red
Round 16
1
Patrick Allen
vs
Paul Fleming

A hopeful match for Paul Fleming and a probable match for Patrick Allen. I like Paul's pictures and he seems to have a clear understanding on how to deal with the transitions. Patrick has been bowling great and seems to be getting the hits he needs. Paul has not. Hopefully Paul can turn that around. But Probably won't on his side of the lane.

 

Red 1
Patrick Allen
vs
Brad Angelo

Brad is not a natural match up on the Cheetah pattern because his natural angles and tilt don't match up to the shorter pattern when the oil goes down the lane as fast as it does. Patrick has the advantage in this match. I will suggest to Brad to stretch the pattern around 10 using balls that make a mellow move and switch to something in the medium range in game 3 from further in.