SPOILERS: The Dozen Final Four is SET!
- CoachDay
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Some are already saying it could be the best Dozen tournament of all time, & it has now set up an all-time final four with what I believe are four of the major fan favorites in the league. What looked to be setting up for all chalk tonight, the madness found the Dozen. The Markettes & Grinders found their way to the final four after two of their best matches, giving us a perfect balance of top seeds & cinderella stories Thursday night.
The two teams involved in the major offseason move proved they made the right one. The Grinders, led by Jake Malasek, with Coach Gruden, grabbed Frank the Tank from the now-dissolved Frankettes, and in the words of Malasek himself, are the "team of destiny" as they made the final four.
On the other hand, Nick Turani & KB, Frank's former teammates, grabbed Mark Titus, the 2007 Ohio State Final Four participant, with major experience of winning. After one of their worst performances yesterday, they came back with a vengeance to get the first-year team into the final four. In what was one of the best matches of all time, they took down Minihane 15-14. Now we move to the live show with two epic matches; you have to be in Chicago as they are can't-miss! Let's take a look.
Final Four Thursday
Road to the Final Four:
Experts: W v. Grinders, W v. Markettes
Grinders: L v. Experts, W v. Ziti, W v. Booze Ponies
We have a playoff rematch. Though the Experts have been cruising, the Grinders did give them a little scare early on, & right now they feel like the team of destiny. The Experts will look to be the villain this year yet again, as last year they took down crowd favorite the Booze Ponies to get their first title. Tonight they look to make Dozen Trivia history, as there has been no repeat champion (though Uptown Balls can do the same). Will the law of averages finally catch up to the Experts, as they have been invincible since February, or will Brandon Walker be trivia king yet again?
Keys to the Match:
Live Show Vibes: For the Grinders, this is their top player Jake Malasek's first taste of a live crowd. How will this affect his game in crunch time?
Double-Double: The Grinders have put pressure on their opponents with early & successful doubles. Can they continue this hot streak?
Legacy Game Brandon: Brandon Walker has a chance to be the legacy player of this league tonight. Will he live up to the pressure?
Prediction: Experts 15, Grinders 12
Road to the Final Four:
Uptown Balls: W v. Chicago, W v. Booze Ponies
Markettes: W v. Ziti, L v. Experts, W v. Minihane
In the second final four matchup, the red-hot Uptown Balls look to continue the war path of leaving no doubt. They made quick work of both Chicago & the Booze Ponies on their way to the final four. Tommy Smokes is looking to firmly grasp the Barstool Game Show crown with another title, while Rone, after years of heartbreak with the Yak, has a chance at victory.
On the other side, we have 3 guys full of game show heart. After one of the worst performances in Dozen history against the Experts, they came back with a vengeance vs. Minihane in a near-flawless match. Can Nick & KB continue to exorcise those demons all the way to a Dozen championship?
Keys to the Match:
It's Time to Make the Donuts: The Markettes have STRUGGLED in closest guess this tournament. If they want to pull off an upset, those 2 points are crucial!
Tommy Terrific: Smokes has been out of this world as he tries to stay on pace with Brandon Walker. Does he put too much pressure on himself, or will he lead them to the promised land?
Green Is Money, So Is Greg?: The bit lives on. The Markettes may live or die by the hands of Green Greg, as they almost did in their last match. Will Greg play the hero or the zero?
Prediction: Markettes 15, Uptown Balls 13
Odds VIA Dozen Trivia Network
Championship Match
No keys needed in this one, as the Markettes will look to ride purely on momentum to hopefully kick Brandon & his Experts off their game. The crowd surely will be in favor of the Markettes if this matchup is achieved. Now, if it's Balls v. Experts, it could be a pretty close split on who is favored by the stoolies. Still, with a crowd, friends on the other side, & a championship on the line, it doesn't matter the circumstances, this is yet again another year of Brandon Walker on top of the trivia world.
Prediction: Experts 16, Markettes 11
Whoever finds themselves holding the trophy when it's all said and done for season 6 of the Dozen, it is a can't-miss show. Last I checked, there were still a few tickets remaining, too, so if you are in the area or want to drive hours like Reed from Barstool Breakdown, act now! I will be there for my now 5th Dozen show. Trust me when I say they never disappoint. Season 6 of the Dozen has been another classic, & it all comes together tonight as Jeff D. Lowe crowns a new champion (or a repeat). Live in person or on YouTube, who do you got?