Welcome back to CS-Nation's CAL-invite coverage! There are some new teams moved up from main last season and some old faces are still floating around for tonight's match on de_aztec; let's get started with predictions!
Update by rizzuh: GotFrag has posted a massive CAL-i preview for this season. Be sure to check it out. Again: And they have a new match of the night: TEC vs TSG.[break="click through for predictions and more!"]WeekEnd Warriors vs Ascension
Ascension is horribly weakened since their losses of Funk and Kimber during the off-season. Look for WEW to dominate this game.
WEW -over- a* :: 18-6
eCyberDeck vs Rival
eCD, a newcomer to CAL-invite, is facing off in their first regular season match against former CAL-invite champions Rival. Rival had a rough time last season and nearly broke up, but has instead gotten back their old starting roster and looks to be coming back together. Expect a vicious Rival team to walk all over eCD.
Rival -over- eCD :: 15-9
The Speakeasy Offensive vs vision 2 max
Team Epiniphrine took some Ascension players and renamed themselves before the season even started, and look to have a lot of pack to their punch. TSO is still hanging around, but whether they'll return to their former glory this season is still a mystery. Let's hope so, as I'm handing this game to TSO based on team experience.
TSO -over- v2m :: 14-10
Short Yellow Bus vs frag university
SYB proved CAL made the wrong decision moving them down, as they won CAL-Main Pacific again last season, and thus earned themselves a spot back in invite. Personally I think fu should have been moved down before SYB, but either way SYB should take this match with relative ease.
SYB -over- FU :: 15-9
nerve vs Gamers-X
nerve really doesn't have the players that put them on the map in the first place, but they can still make an impression as a mid-level CAL-i team. Gamers-X was insanely strong last season, winning a bye in the playoffs only to lose to a strong WEW team. GX shouldn't have too much trouble in this game.
GX -over- nerve :: 15-9
dictators 0f fate vs Excess
Excess, a team of college guys, should be fairly busy with finals coming up, so I doubt they'll be prepping much this season. d0f is an eager team, ready to get their feet wet in CAL-invite and I'm sure they won't pass up an opportunity for a win this early.
d0f -over- ExS :: 14-10
Echo 7 vs Pinnacle
This is an interesting case; e7 made a move in the off-season to be an all-local team to Atlanta, GA. However, some of their new pickups aren't necessarily up to par with some of e7's old starters (such as kaexo, for example). Whether the new e7 has the skill and teamwork necessary to beat an established team like Pinnacle is questionable, so I'm handing it to Pinnacle in a close one.
Pinnacle -over- e7 :: 13-11
3D vs Hicks With Sticks
3D shouldn't have too much trouble with the Hicks With Sticks. During the preseason [hs] actually defeated 3D 14-10, but it's likely that in preseason 3D didn't bother to practice and relied on skill over teamwork. However, it's a new season and de_aztec is an old-school match map and I don't see 3D dropping their first game.
3D -over- [hs] :: 18-6
Texas Area Untouchables vs The Unreal
The Unreal is a new moveup and so far has been impressive in the preseason, defeating 3D and performing well. TAU should have their teamwork down pat this season and I think this may be the season that they re-enter the upper echelon of CAL-invite. The Unreal could pull an upset but I don't think they're to that level yet.
TAU -over- TU :: 15-9
Gamesimplex vs Clan Crisis
Both of these teams are new moveups, though Clan Crisis has been playing in CAL for probably 5 seasons now. GSX, while picking up Funk and proving themselves on LAN, probably have their work cut out for them this season as they're finally with the big boys. I'm going to hand it to Clan Crisis based on their experience and skill, but this match could go either way.
Clan Crisis -over- GSX :: 13-11
Biodegradable Heroes vs shockwave
shock started to get their act together at the end of last season of CAL-i, while BiO was pretty impressive in the playoffs with some close call games. shock is still learning and still strengthening their roster, while BiO has been strong and set for awhile now.
BiO -over- shockwave :: 15-9
THE STOMPING GROUNDS vs TEC
TSG put on their best performance last season, actually making the playoffs and one could argue TEC did the same as they were awarded a playoff bye. TSG, however, isn't quite up to par with TEC, the clan whose letters don't currently stand for anything.
TEC -over- TSG :: 16-8
Legends vs c[h]ikara
In a biased way, I want chikara to win this match because they went the whole last season winning only a few games, along with lots of 10-14 and 11-13 losses. LgD finished last season with some strong wins, but it could have just been the schedule. Whether chikara has shaped up in the off-season or not is debatable, but I'm willing to bet Legends can still defeat them.
LgD -over- [h] :: 15-9
xeno vs MurK
It's new moveup vs new moveup in this match, though both teams have been in CAL-invite in the past, albeit different rosters. MurK is the top team of Iceland but their pings to servers in America aren't exactly the best one could get for matchplay. xeno impressed me by defeating zEx in the preseason and I fully expect them to impress me the rest of the season.
xeno -over- MurK :: 16-8
zEx vs art of eXecution
There was a time when aoX would put up a strong fight against zEx, but roster changes has only weakened them while zEx has steadily improved. zEx recently won a huge lan event called LANTactics so I wouldn't put anything past them this season, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them go undefeated again this time around.
zEx -over- aoX :: 17-7
The unknown Factor vs Green Berets
The unknown Factor made their way back to CAL-i after a season in main, but the Green Berets have gotten insanely strong since the beginning of last season. Their teamwork is much stronger, being proved in their overtime loss to zEx in last season's playoffs. I don't think TuF will tough this one out. Oh Sublyme, you're so funny.
GB -over- TuF :: 16-8
I'll be sure to update this post when (if) HLTV ips are posted.
Update by rizzuh: GotFrag has posted a massive CAL-i preview for this season. Be sure to check it out. Again: And they have a new match of the night: TEC vs TSG.[break="click through for predictions and more!"]WeekEnd Warriors vs Ascension
Ascension is horribly weakened since their losses of Funk and Kimber during the off-season. Look for WEW to dominate this game.
WEW -over- a* :: 18-6
eCyberDeck vs Rival
eCD, a newcomer to CAL-invite, is facing off in their first regular season match against former CAL-invite champions Rival. Rival had a rough time last season and nearly broke up, but has instead gotten back their old starting roster and looks to be coming back together. Expect a vicious Rival team to walk all over eCD.
Rival -over- eCD :: 15-9
The Speakeasy Offensive vs vision 2 max
Team Epiniphrine took some Ascension players and renamed themselves before the season even started, and look to have a lot of pack to their punch. TSO is still hanging around, but whether they'll return to their former glory this season is still a mystery. Let's hope so, as I'm handing this game to TSO based on team experience.
TSO -over- v2m :: 14-10
Short Yellow Bus vs frag university
SYB proved CAL made the wrong decision moving them down, as they won CAL-Main Pacific again last season, and thus earned themselves a spot back in invite. Personally I think fu should have been moved down before SYB, but either way SYB should take this match with relative ease.
SYB -over- FU :: 15-9
nerve vs Gamers-X
nerve really doesn't have the players that put them on the map in the first place, but they can still make an impression as a mid-level CAL-i team. Gamers-X was insanely strong last season, winning a bye in the playoffs only to lose to a strong WEW team. GX shouldn't have too much trouble in this game.
GX -over- nerve :: 15-9
dictators 0f fate vs Excess
Excess, a team of college guys, should be fairly busy with finals coming up, so I doubt they'll be prepping much this season. d0f is an eager team, ready to get their feet wet in CAL-invite and I'm sure they won't pass up an opportunity for a win this early.
d0f -over- ExS :: 14-10
Echo 7 vs Pinnacle
This is an interesting case; e7 made a move in the off-season to be an all-local team to Atlanta, GA. However, some of their new pickups aren't necessarily up to par with some of e7's old starters (such as kaexo, for example). Whether the new e7 has the skill and teamwork necessary to beat an established team like Pinnacle is questionable, so I'm handing it to Pinnacle in a close one.
Pinnacle -over- e7 :: 13-11
3D vs Hicks With Sticks
3D shouldn't have too much trouble with the Hicks With Sticks. During the preseason [hs] actually defeated 3D 14-10, but it's likely that in preseason 3D didn't bother to practice and relied on skill over teamwork. However, it's a new season and de_aztec is an old-school match map and I don't see 3D dropping their first game.
3D -over- [hs] :: 18-6
Texas Area Untouchables vs The Unreal
The Unreal is a new moveup and so far has been impressive in the preseason, defeating 3D and performing well. TAU should have their teamwork down pat this season and I think this may be the season that they re-enter the upper echelon of CAL-invite. The Unreal could pull an upset but I don't think they're to that level yet.
TAU -over- TU :: 15-9
Gamesimplex vs Clan Crisis
Both of these teams are new moveups, though Clan Crisis has been playing in CAL for probably 5 seasons now. GSX, while picking up Funk and proving themselves on LAN, probably have their work cut out for them this season as they're finally with the big boys. I'm going to hand it to Clan Crisis based on their experience and skill, but this match could go either way.
Clan Crisis -over- GSX :: 13-11
Biodegradable Heroes vs shockwave
shock started to get their act together at the end of last season of CAL-i, while BiO was pretty impressive in the playoffs with some close call games. shock is still learning and still strengthening their roster, while BiO has been strong and set for awhile now.
BiO -over- shockwave :: 15-9
THE STOMPING GROUNDS vs TEC
TSG put on their best performance last season, actually making the playoffs and one could argue TEC did the same as they were awarded a playoff bye. TSG, however, isn't quite up to par with TEC, the clan whose letters don't currently stand for anything.
TEC -over- TSG :: 16-8
Legends vs c[h]ikara
In a biased way, I want chikara to win this match because they went the whole last season winning only a few games, along with lots of 10-14 and 11-13 losses. LgD finished last season with some strong wins, but it could have just been the schedule. Whether chikara has shaped up in the off-season or not is debatable, but I'm willing to bet Legends can still defeat them.
LgD -over- [h] :: 15-9
xeno vs MurK
It's new moveup vs new moveup in this match, though both teams have been in CAL-invite in the past, albeit different rosters. MurK is the top team of Iceland but their pings to servers in America aren't exactly the best one could get for matchplay. xeno impressed me by defeating zEx in the preseason and I fully expect them to impress me the rest of the season.
xeno -over- MurK :: 16-8
zEx vs art of eXecution
There was a time when aoX would put up a strong fight against zEx, but roster changes has only weakened them while zEx has steadily improved. zEx recently won a huge lan event called LANTactics so I wouldn't put anything past them this season, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them go undefeated again this time around.
zEx -over- aoX :: 17-7
The unknown Factor vs Green Berets
The unknown Factor made their way back to CAL-i after a season in main, but the Green Berets have gotten insanely strong since the beginning of last season. Their teamwork is much stronger, being proved in their overtime loss to zEx in last season's playoffs. I don't think TuF will tough this one out. Oh Sublyme, you're so funny.
GB -over- TuF :: 16-8
I'll be sure to update this post when (if) HLTV ips are posted.
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