The Show

So it looks like the UPA have finally released the end of season rankings. Somehow the GL got 3 bids (wasn't this new system supposed to stop stuff like that?), but it also looks like UCLA was able to do well enough at Centex to give the SW a 3rd bid! And CSULB 'strategically' messed up their roster for Easterns so their 3 losses didn't end up hurting us.
That brings up a good point. In the past is was only going to be beneficial for teams to travel long distances to play quality opponents that they've never played before. But in the new system it can be a double edged sword. Now that every game counts towards the bid allocation going to tournaments in which everyone is out of region will only help the SW (in particular) if you win the games. Just a thought.

In any case, now that the SW has 3 bids, who do you think is going to make it?
I think the two easy choices are Colorado and UCSD (as long as neither chokes). That 3rd bid is going to be a dog fight between UCLA, SDSU, and UCSB. So far UCLA is 0-3 combined against the other two, but I have faith. Plus it would be awesome to see them finally go. Then again, regionals are in CO again (stupid), and even worse, they are in Fort Collins (even worse weather than Denver.) Hopefully some CO team used to the weather doesn't end up taking the 3rd bid when they don't 'really' deserve it (a la Psychoplastique, a 9 seed, at NW mixed regionals last year.) But hey, win the games that matter and you get to go to the show.

Good luck in the series.