Green 4
Tim Criss
vs
Tom Baker

Interesting matchup here. The fact that this is a morning match may come in to play here. Tom is starting to bowl better and Tim had a very good set last night. I like the speed matchup for these two bowlers. I would like to see a part of the lane start to hook early for Tim and force him to use angles that don't matchup. The sooner this happens the sooner Tom will be able to go to a ball in his bag that should give him a good matchup. The key for Tom will be not using too strong of a ball because he is feeling a lot of oil down lane. If Tom can stay in the match early I like his chances late.

Green 3
Doug Kent
vs
Brad Angelo

Not a good bracket for us Brunswick boys. Tom, Parker and Brad will have to bowl each other if they keep winning. They will be knocking each other out. This is an Eastern Region bracket with 6 out of the eight bowlers all coming from the eastern region. Brad had an awesome look on Thursday AM and if that look is there again I have to pick his as the favorite. If it isn't this will be a good match as both bowlers won't be fooled by the lane. It will be a matter of having the right matchup. With the amount of oil down lane and the location of the bowlers hit I think Brad should get by Doug in less than 6

Green 2
Parker Bohn III
vs
Rudy Kasimakis

I am in Parker's corner and this is going to be a pretty big test for Parker. This will be a bigger test than last week for him. one pair transition and a lot of oil at his break point is what he will see in games 3 through seven. The oil isn't thin enough to throw at from inside angles. If will take parallel moves and speed control. Parker has been using a Strike Zone this week and playing right of most of the lefties. I have liked his angles and his hand. The real difference could be what Rudy does to himself. His rev rate is a natural matchup to the amoun of oil down lane. Rudy can be dangerous in this circumstance. 

Green 1
Jason Couch
vs
Eric Forkel

I have to favor Jason on this one if the lane transition like I expect them to. When the amount of oil gets down the lane that should be there. I am not sure Eric will have any place to go that Jason hasn't already been. I expect Eric to need some good ball changes in this one. Eric's rev rate allows him to play straighter angles than Jason but he usually doesn't choose that option first. He likes a little more right to left through the front than I expect the amount of oil down lane to allow, especially after your laydown has been chewed up.

Blue 4
Joe Ciccone
vs
Jason Hurd

Joe has been getting the ball off his hand beautifully. Joe told me that he did not have to move during the entire 7 games of competition Thursday night. That is unbelievable with this much oil down lane and the type of breakdown transition that happens on the right side of the lane. Jason Hurd can't say that I am sure. There is no doubt in my mind Joe will have to move in this match if Jason plays any where near Joe. Jason knows how to break in a lane but on something like this I can't see him staying right without help from the lane. This match could be a blow out by either bowler. I have to go with Joe just because he is bowling great

Blue 3
Jason Wojnar
vs
Brian Voss

Interesting matchup. Jason has had more games in competition than anybody this week. He qualified through the TQR. Even though the lanes have played differently he has been able to attack them pretty much the same. He has a high rev rate and uses speed to keep his angles in line. On the other hand Brian had a trick between 5 and 7 that nobody else could match up to. This trick looked real good Thursday AM but not as good in the evening. I expect the difference to be Brians speed and touch vs Jason's revs and no field to help him break the lane down the same. I will pick Brian's experience

Blue 2
Dennis Horan
vs
Amleto Monacelli

I am going to pick Amleto because I drilled a couple balls for him that I expect to work in the late games. Dennis has had a good look and is very tough to beat when he is able to free up his long swing. Amleto will need for Dennis to see more transition. Bowling on one pair should be different for the left handers because there is a lot of oil at the end of the pattern. I don't think Dennis has the rev rate he will need to deal with the amount of oil he should see going to his breakpoint.

Blue 1
Pete Weber
vs
Patrick Allen

Pete just doesn't look comfortable enough to be bowling against Patrick and his ball reaction. Pete will have the opportunity to set up his own lane. I will enjoy watching this match as it could be a very intense one. I really miss the days that Patrick use to entertain us with his intensity. I would not be surprised to see it come out tomorrow if it is a close match. Pete seems to bring out the fire in all the bowlers.

Black 4
Dave D'Entremont
vs
Chris Johnson

Chris is my favorite because Dave just doesn't seem to have the right look to match up to the breakdown transitions we are seeing on the PBA tour. Chris may struggle if the middle of the lane doesn't push as well as it did today but he is becoming more versatile and he is bowling one of the least versatile on tour. I have great respect for Dave but he needs more options. He looks stuck right now.

Black 3
Mike Machuga
vs
Norm Duke

Here they go again. I love to watch this matchup. Two of the most gifted players on tour. I am not very comfortable in guessing what the conditions are going to play like tomorrow but I have no problem guessing who is bowling better than anybody on tour right now. Norm Duke is the favorite in almost every match up right now. I can see a couple match ups favoring Mike but if I am asked to guess how they will play tomorrow I think they will be attacking the lanes right of 10 and with Norms speed control and touch I will pick him to win this one.

Black 2
Mike DeVaney
vs
Ryan Shafer

Tough match up here. Mike won't like the way Ryan breaks down the lane and I have seen these two have some very good matches. Everyone of them have ended up very close to the left gutter. The only way they won't happen here is if the hook to the right is more obvious than it was today. There is a chance that it could happen because the lanes were playable around 10 but I doubt either one of these two want to be the one right of the other one. I think I will take Mike because I think his head belly and tilt will match up to the breakdown better. That is if this match gets into games 6 and 7 like all there other matches

Black 1
Tommy Delutz Jr
vs
Mike Scroggins

Tommy was in some serious pain today and in no way is it going to get better by tomorrow morning. I don't see him having a chance against one of the hottest bowlers on tour. I am sure there are many who think the look on the left is going to take a drastic change some time in the near future. Having watched Mike bowl the last three years I don't think there is anything they can do to slow him down enough to not be the favorite against an injured Tommy Delutz.

Red 4
Brian Kretzer
vs
Andres Gomez

Two foreigners bowling here. One from Colombia and the other from another planet. Just teasing but Brian bowls like no body else on tour. When he has his thing there is nobody who can stay with him. The key in this match will be if there is enough push in the middle of the lane on the fresh. If so Brian will have a good look early if not Brian will struggle early and late. I watched Brian's strategy last week and it made a lot more sense than normal. I don't expect there to be a lot of push in the middle of the lane, so I am going to favor Andres because he doesn't need as much push. They never have it in Colombia

Red 3

Robert Smith
vs
Wes Malott

Good thing these two are not bowling on a wood surface. We would need to have a fire extinguisher ready. I can hardly wait to see the strategy these two bowlers use against each other. I am going to favor Robert because I think his arsenal makes more sense once the lanes get torched.
 

Red 2
Tommy Jones
vs
Michael Fagan

This is becoming a pretty common match. Tommy and Michael are very good friends and have had some very good matches before, with Tommy coming out on top most of the time. Michael and I had a discussion about his strategies tonight and I suggested he use strategies that are to his advantage instead of Tommy's. My guess is that will really chew up the middle part of the lane when these two high rev rates butt heads early on. Don't expect a high scoring match and I wouldn't say either bowler is going to be able to take advantage of the other one. Making more quality shots and staying ahead of the moves is going to be the difference.

TV

Green
Round of 8
Brad Angelo
vs
Jason Couch

Brad and Jason both made the show here last year. And since they have completed 2 games at the time I am typing this I am going to say the favorite in Brad Angelo. Jason doesn't seem to have the same look he had in his earlier matches. The hook doesn't seem to be as defined. Brad seems to be back to his form. His speed and touch are his strengths and he will need them both because I doubt Jason is going to be held down for the entire match. 

Blue
Round of 8
Joe Ciccone
vs
Pete Weber

Peter found something to his liking in the round of 16 and took advantage of it to get by Amleto. The middle of the lane provided more friction and it was just enough to help his ball read and carry better. Amleto struggled to follow the difference. Joe had little problem dealing with Brian Voss. This will be a totally different match for Joe as Pete and Brian are playing different parts of the lane. I am struggling to make this pick so I will let my girlfriend pick this one. Sara picks Joe because she wants Pete to win

Black
Round of 8
Ryan Shafer
vs
Norm Duke

Duke keeps answering the call by playing a part of the lane that only a few can control. His slower speed and amazing touch allows him to create ball reaction that others dream of. He seems to be able to use this almost every week. Ryan got by Scroggins when Mike struggled to find a ball reaction. Neither one of these two had a great look in the round of 16 but based on what I saw I would have to favor Ryan on this one. As the outsides get tighter Norms chances diminish.

Red
Round of 8
Tommy Jones
vs
Robert Smith

The two highest rev rates made it out of this bracket.  Robert got the win in an exciting match over Andres Gomez. While Tommy handled Chris Collins without much of a problem. I expect Tommy to continue his rein as the hottest high rev player on tour.

Green
Round of 16
2
Tim Criss
vs
Brad Angelo

Tim Criss just put out Brad's room mate (Tom Baker) in the round of 32. I know Brad is bowling very well right now and seems to be very comfortable with transition. This match will probably be decided on who has the better angle to carry. As long as Brad isn't forced too deep I think he will have the advantage he needs.

Green
Round of 16
1
Jason Couch
vs
Parker Bohn III

This should come down to whether it is better to stay left or go right. Parker can not move in and hook it with Jason and Jason can't stay to the left and hang with Parker. Jason is suppose to have the advantage and it proved to be the case in his first match with Eric Forkel. I hate to not pick Parker but Jason is the favorite in this matchup this week. If Parker can keep the pressure on Jason anything can happen because Parker historically has Jason's number

Blue
Round of 16
2
Joe Ciccone
vs
Brian Voss

Joe is as confident as I have seen him and Brian seems to have a pretty good matchup. This is not an easy match to pick I don't see any particular reason to favor one over the other. I guess I will just go with breakdown characteristics and go with the player who can stay left of the other. Even though that is not an easy way to pick em because that trick around 5-6 that Brian has looks pretty good.

Blue
Round of 16
1
Amleto Monacelli
vs
Pete Weber

When I see this matchup I think of Rhinos and Angles. Boy those were some good matches back then. Well this may be a decade later but these guys are still entertaining crowds with their unique skills. I have been watch Amleto very closely and he really has control of his ball reaction, Carry seems to be the only issue. I don't get the same feeling when I watch Pete. Because of that I will go with Amleto

Black
Round of 16
2
Norm Duke
vs
Chris Johnson

Not an easy choice this week. I know Norm is bowling great but I don't see his ball reading all that great. On the other hand Chris is much more in his comfort zone. I am going to go with Chris in this match and it is nothing against Norm I just like Chris's match up.

Black
Round of 16
1
Mike Scroggins
vs
Ryan Shafer

As good as Ryan is I am not comfortable with how he will match up without more breakdown help. Scroggins is hot and if he catches the right pair could eliminate Ryan pretty quickly. I never count Ryan out because he is that good but I think he is overmatched in this one.

Red
Round of 16
 

Robert Smith
vs
Andres Gomez

Andres just won his first match as a professional now he has to go against a PBA powerhouse in Robert Smith. I will take Robert in this match if he can keep his cool. He seems very intense as of late. Andres is one very cool customer. It will be interesting to watch the different personalities in this match.

Red
Round 16
Chris Collins
vs
Tommy Jones

Tommy sure bowled good this morning against Michael and I think he is going to effect Chris Collins reaction in a way that he effects every other bowler who bowls against. Tommy is just that good, I don't see any reason to pick Chris over Tommy. As intense as Chris can get I hope he doesn't catch Parker who is bowling next to him.

 

Red 1
DJ Archer
vs
Chris Collins

As I was leaving the bowl I walked out to the parking lot with DJ. He was curious about what I was going to write about him. I was honored to hear him say that he read this every week. That being said I am feeling a little pressure in what I should write about him. Well DJ I may not be the smartest guy in the world but after watching your ball reaction today. There is no way I would bet against you. I would like to add a word of advise if I may. Start with Chris the first couple games and then get left of him. There is plenty of games to take advantage of your skills but you need to build the hook spot first.