Breakdown: The Dozen Trivia 1st Round Matchups
- CoachDay
- Jun 14
- 4 min read
Do you find yourself missing the playoffs now that the NBA Finals are finished? NO WORRIES! The Dozen Playoffs are here! On Monday, the first round of the double-elimination tournament gets underway, leading up to Thursday's final four live show to crown the Season 6 champions. Also to get the playoff capsules for each team, check out this blog [https://www.barstoolbreakdown.com/post/dozen-trivia-playoff-capsules-odds-predictions], but you are here for the matchups & keys to victory in Monday's first round.
3:00 PM ET
Previous Matchup: Minihane 15, Ponies 13
Leading Scorer: Kirk Minihane (Team Minihane)
We have a first-round banger to start the tournament, this is like when we get a 7-10 matchup at noon on Thursday of March Madness. As you saw above, they faced each other in 2026 in a hard-fought battle, not to mention last year's Final Four. These two are all too familiar with one another. Both feel they are able to make a run at the whole dang thing, so jumping into the winners' bracket will be the all-important first step.
Keys to The Match:
Is Klemmer Klutch?: Last year, Chris Klemmer fell short of expectations, but now he is in a groove heading into the playoffs. Will he continue to shine or clam up?
Beersy Magic: Dana Beers will need to be sharp in college basketball & NBA. Points here will be at a premium for the Ponies.
College Compton: Willy C, the captain, will have to provide support, especially in college football, as it is Minihane's weakest point.
Prediction: Booze Ponies 14, Minihane 11
4:00 PM ET
Previous Matchup: 1st meeting in 2026
Leading Scorer: Tommy Smokes (Uptown Balls)
The fight for their first playoff win will not be an easy one, to say the least, as Chicago faces the former champs, Uptown Balls. Now, while Cheah has transformed this squad, you could say his former teammate Rone has done so for Balls as well. They didn't suffer a single regular-season loss, only falling in the Regular Season Championship to the Experts. Balls are one of four teams looking to become the first repeat champions in this tournament.
Keys to The Match:
Cheah Mojo: Steven Cheah will be riding high off his Knicks championship. Will it be enough to help provide a major upset?
MLB Showdown: White Sox Dave will be very important, as MLB could be a sweep or even a three-point swing if they miss, given that Balls usually doubles baseball.
Music Motion: Both teams are very strong in music. A miss on either side could prove to be a game-changing moment.
Prediction: Uptown Balls 15, Chicago 7
8:00 PM ET
Previous Matchup: Big Game Classic – Ziti 15, Markettes 10 (w/out Clem)
Leading Scorer: Eddie (Ziti)
Next up, we have another rematch, though this one is more difficult to measure considering it was the first night of the season. At that time, the Markettes were playing their first match together & Ziti was without Clem. Either way, it was dominated by Ziti. While the Markettes have crushed some teams this season, they haven't found a signature win yet. Ziti is known for taking it to another level in the playoffs, so the boys better be ready or else they will be quickly heading toward the losers' bracket.
Keys to The Match:
Is Green Greg a Go?: The phone-a-friend fiend from early in the season has fallen short in the latter half of the year. Will the boys stick with their man?
Double Order of Ziti: What will Captain Dave Portnoy double up? This year, they have been very much all over the place with their double categories.
KB Muppeteer or Hometown Hero?: Are we going to see a game-changing moment with KB showing some Muppets or geography love?
Prediction: Markettes 15, Ziti 14 (OT)
9:00 PM ET
Previous Matchup: 1st meeting in 2026
Leading Scorer: Brandon Walker (Experts)
The Experts always play the most matches, yet they managed to avoid Coach Jon Gruden & his Grinders until now. While Brandon Walker & his squad wrapped up a dominant regular season with a championship, the Grinders put on their own show in the play-ins, going nearly perfect in back-to-back matches. So, can they take down the giants and defending champs? This will be a VERY big ask for the first-time playoff contenders, though I will say this is a team you won't want to face in the losers' bracket with your season on the line.
Keys to The Match:
Fleming Curse Lifted?: The Knicks won a championship, so will Frank's magic now spill over into the trivia world?
Mash-Up Heroes: Fran is the undisputed champion of the mash-up, but quietly sitting in second has to be Jake Malasek. If there's a historic slip by Fran, Malasek could flip this match around very easily.
Defending Champ Fatigue: Two long seasons in a row of getting to the championship, and you can't forget the parade afterward. Does the fatigue catch up to them?
Prediction: Experts 14, Grinders 11
Round one has four very intriguing matchups you won't want to miss. If you are in the Chicago area, make sure to check if tickets are still available for Thursday's Final Four. Before we get there, though, this first round is oh-so-important to stay out of the losers' bracket and avoid potentially facing elimination.
Who do y'all think is heading to the winners' and losers' brackets? Comment below & tune in Monday!
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