Green 4
Parker Bohn III
vs
Mike DeVaney

Watch out folks it is going to happen. Parker is getting it back. He will be experimenting with a different method of following his breakdown transition and I see no reason that this will not work. I really think this week is a good opportunity for Parker to get to the show. Mike should be his first victim.

Green 3
Ryan Shafer
vs
Patrick Allen

You pick this one because I don't want to. I can't get my mind off of how bad Mike Fagan's look is. Ok I am over it. If the left is OK, If Patrick is bowling better than he did last week at the Masters, I will favor him. As far as Ryan goes. he likes to start in and then he has no place but one way to go. He will have to move left  and then left and left again. Problem for him will be carry. No right hander to help blow up a spot. Patrick should be able to hang out outside of 10 and get a couple hits a game extra. I favor Patrick

Green 2
Mike Wolfe
vs
Mike Fagan

There is no doubt who will win this match.

Mike

I am getting sick of Mike Wolfe bowling my guys. This is the first year I have worked closely with Mike Wolfe and every week he bowls one of our Staff guys in match-play. I am actually sitting down by their match right now and it is in game three and Fagan is walking back off the approach shaking his head too much. How can he expect to win when his head is shaking that much. That is suppose to be funny because right now the match is not.
 

Green 1
Rick Steelsmith
vs
Mike Scroggins

Gosh darn it I am trying to think of a way that Rick can win this match. He deserves it so much. He did make the show here last year. He is bowling well. He does see transition very quickly. He doesn't have any higher rev players tearing up the front part of the lane. He does seem to have bought into the fact that he is just going to have to rip the cover off the ball instead of looking pretty. OK I have succeeded I will pick Rick to win even though it may have more to do with my heart than my head.

 

Blue 4
Amleto Monacelli
vs
Jason Hurd

Can you say fried. Because that is what is going to happen to the heads on this pair. When that happens it is going to be a matter of who can last longer in one area than the other. Jason will go left quickly, Amleto can deal with the dry better. He will actually try and not move left as quick as Jason. That will work as long as the middles don't seem short. If this was  later day match I would definitely favor Amleto. Being the first strip and oil of the day. Jason's moves to the left might be the advantage he needs. I am going to pick Amleto because I may be thinking too much

Blue 3
Tim Criss
vs
Tommy Jones

It just isn't going to happen. I am not going to bet against Tommy Jones on anything right now. So congrats Tim on making match-play but now you and your family can go enjoy the holiday week together. Don't take that wrong it just that Tommy is
HOT!

 

Blue 2
Tom Baker
vs
Bill O'Neill

Tom knows he is the dark horse in this match-up because of the conditions. He also knows how these style of players have used his breakdown before. So he is going to try and I emphasis the word try a different strategy. This could work or it could bite him in the butt. I appreciate his efforts but I don't think he is going to be able to overcome Bill's natural advantage. If the match can get to late games Tom has a better chance.

 

Blue 1
Norm Duke
vs
Blaise Bedolla

Norm is the favorite no matter who he is bowling right now. Everybody thinks Wes Malott is bowling good this year. I won't argue that but Norm is bowling better. Wes is just a more natural match-up. Blaise is a very talented player but struggles in the versatility category. Blaise can win this match as I have seen him blow away bowlers when he has his look. But in no way is he bowling better than Norm right now. Nobody is. I will pick Norm

Black 4
Jim Tomek Jr.
vs
Robert Smith

Get out the lane machine we will have a mess after this game. These two players are going to chew up the middle part of the lane an fast. If you like to watch balls being lofted over the left gutter show up in the later games and you might get to see it. If that happens Robert will get his ball to hit better. Jim's roll is a little more sensitive to the front so I will favor Robert in this match.

Black 3
Eric Forkel
vs
Patrick Healey Jr.

Both players have a look this could be a really good match if they don't get too confused. The difference in these two is if they are not comfortable with what they are seeing. Eric has fewer options than Pat. So this could go either way. I do know one thing about this match. If the match gets very intense there will be some grumbling under the breath. Eric is sensitive and Pat likes to talk about his opponent out loud. This match could be entertaining even if you don't know anything about bowling.

Black 2
Ritchie Allen
vs
Michael Haugen

A couple things worth noting here. Ritchie is getting married and that is a shock in itself. Ritchie a family man wow!. Next Michael Haugen shot a 300 hooking the ball. Yes I said that right Michael can score hooking it, just not very often.

If this was a qualifying round Ritchie would win because this is one week where his deal is the right deal. Michael may have a better look being as they are on one pair and he can transition the lanes to his liking. I have convinced myself. I will pick Michael as a surprise pick in this round.

Black 1
Joe Ciccone
vs
Chris Loschetter

Joe has had a tremendous look so far. I am not sure he can even explain it but if his look stays the same Chris will lose. Don't get me wrong Joe is bowling plenty well but when a player starts seeing all their misses striking their confidence shoots way up. I can see that in Joe. At the same time I can see some of the tour life stresses effecting Chris a little.

Tour life requires a lot  thinking and then you have to deal with the results of that thinking. When you aren't bowling there is too much time to sit around and think more. It has an obvious effect.

Red 4
Derek Eoff
vs
Jason Couch

Derek who? you might ask. That is what I was saying when I saw the scores in the TQR. I took the time to watch him and saw some skills. I then found out he bowls for the University of Nebraska. He straps on it so he is a natural match-up for this week. Don't count him out even though he is going against a seasoned PBA veteran in Jason Couch. When a player is doing what they like, they don't have to think too much and they haven't had enough time on tour to loose confidence, they are very dangerous.

Red 3
Chris Johnson
vs
Brad Angelo

This is always an entertaining match-up. Two intense players who just don't like to loose.  If both players are feeling an excessive amount of oil at their breakpoint the match favors Chris. If Brad can get a spot blown open on the lane he should be able to hang with Chris and then it will just be a matter of who makes better shots and get the breaks. Getting Chris to work with him early should help Brad.

Brad has really picked up performance the last couple weeks and is starting to peak. Once that happens he is always a threat.

Red 2
Brian Kretzer
vs
Paul Fleming

This may be the first time I think Brian is the favorite. Paul's scoring pace should be effected by what Brian does to a lane just like every other week. The difference is I think Brian can get away with what he does this week. Paul has a new trick he has been working with that really helped out this week. I think I will go with the guy who has more experience on where and how to move with their tricks. Paul definitely has a chance in this match but will have to stay up with the moves.

TV

Green
Round of 8
Parker Bohn III
vs
Mike Scroggins

I already said I thought we would see Parker on the show this week and this is the type of test I am anxious to see. I want to see how he reacts to lefty transition. So far he has passed the test with flying colors. His moves are correct and on time. The likely result of this match will be Parkers ability to stay inside of Mike and still get his ball to hit while Mike's ball loses carry because of the added friction in the front part of the lane. When a bowler is confident it is hard to count them out and Mike is one of the most confident on tour right now.

Blue
Round of 8

Tommy Jones
vs
Norm Duke

It is very possible that this could be Norm Duke and three lefties again. But when you have Tommy Jones in your way it is not going to be easy. Norm needs to get the early games so he won't have to come from behind late in the match. It will be very difficult to get more than a couple from Tommy late in the match. Every week bowlers seem to struggle with the way Tommy breaks the lane down. Two of the hottest bowlers on tour. This has potential to be a great one.

Black
Round of 8
Joe Ciccone
vs
Eric Forkel

Based on ball reaction Joe doesn't stand much of a chance if his look was anything close to what it was in the Round of 16. Eric is doing what all good lefties have to do. Taking advantage of what they give you when they give it to you. Because it can disappear just as fast as it showed up.

I have to be honest with you I had Ritchie winning the match against Joe in the round of 16. When I went back to read this I saw all I really needed to do was change the name. Joe better look for something a little better

Red
Round of 8
Brian Kretzer
vs
Jason Couch

This could be Brian's chance. If I had to guess I think Brian will get mowed over in this match.  for the first time in a long time, I like Brian's match-up but I think he may struggle in a match that he has to strike a lot in to win. Jason's look doesn't seem to slow down. This is probably going to come down to the pair they bowl on. Some pairs are much better than others.

Green
Round of 16
2
Parker Bohn III
vs
Patrick Allen

(guest commentator  Mika Koivuniemi)

Interesting match. PA will use much more surface. That might help Parker if he makes the right moves. I think Parker has learned his lesson and will win this match.

Green
Round of 16
1
Mike Scroggins
vs
Mike Wolfe

(guest commentator  Mika Koivuniemi)

Mike will win. I will think Mike Scroggins will win. He has been bowling great and last weeks win at the Masters will give him the confidence he needs.

Blue
Round of 16
2
Amleto Monacelli
vs
Tommy Jones

(guest commentator  Mika Koivuniemi)

High rev match here. Really difficult to pick. Lanes will change a lot during this match. I will think Amleto will beat Tommy in 7games.

Blue
Round of 16
1
Tom Baker
vs
Norm Duke

(guest commentator  Mika Koivuniemi)

Match of the old hands. I will pick Norm Duke because he has been bowling so good every week. He will need to keep bowling good to beat Bakes.

Black
Round of 16
2
Eric Forkel
vs
Jim Tomek Jr.

(guest commentator  Mika Koivuniemi)

One of those lefty/right matches. My instincts say to go with the lefty but I don't like them.  Jim will be have a couple big games, hopefully his other games will be high enough to make it a match. If Eric can keep his focus on bowling he will win.

Black
Round of 16
1
Joe Ciccone
vs
Ritchie Allen

(guest commentator  Mika Koivuniemi)

I think Joe will win, his look as been great all week. But Ritchie will not give up easy. I will still go with Joe.

Red
Round of 16
2
Brad Angelo
vs
Jason Couch

(guest commentator  Mika Koivuniemi)

This is a difficult one. Brad had a good look this morning. Hopefully he will have the same thing and make it a tough match. I think Brad will win.

Red
Round 16
1
Wes Malott
vs
Brian Kretzer

(guest commentator Mika Koivuniemi)

I will pick Wes he will dominate the first couple games and he will be able to move left with Kretzer and still strike.

 

Red 1
Wes Malott
vs
Mike Edwards

Unless something is different Mike is not going to stand much of a chance in this match. Wes averaged almost 20 pins per game higher. With the amount of oil down lane carry is definitely in Wes's favor. The difference in this match should be the number of times the head pin takes out the back row. The wrong ball and Wes could send the head in front of the 10 real easy. The ability to get the pins going sideways is very obvious. Mike's breakdown transition should not effect Wes. I really can not think of any reason to pick Mike in this match.