So, first prediction: Socal Teams win all games and outscore opponents an average of 5 goals to 0 goals. Kidding. Mostly. The top teams will likely have good match-ups but SoCal teams lower down the rankings could have a field day against the competition. We'll see.
Second prediction: Have run the numbers of the LA vs SD group matchups. Here's what I got. Good luck all! (will take a look at the other groups and see what I can do quickly) Wish there were more of these LA vs SD games.
Sunday:
11:25am SDSC 1 vs Pats 2 @ field #11 (this is suspect since FCG is a stronger team, in my view, than Pats, but the algo says it's so, so...)
Monday:
9am SDSC 1 vs FC Golden State 1 @ field #11
11:50am Strikers 7 vs Santa Barbara SC 1 @ field #6 (last year, SBSC won first match-up 3-0 and then lost 0-4)
1:15pm Real SoCal 0 vs Arsenal 1 @ field #2 (last year, RSC won 2-1 the first time and Arsenal won the 2nd time 2-1)
2:40pm LA Galaxy 3 vs SD Surf 1 @ field 5 (LAG is such a different team in 2018-19 - nine new players - that it doesn't make sense to compare outcomes from last year. Suffice to say that this year's LAG beat LAFC 3-0 in a decisive win playing one man down - on a ridiculous red card - the last 15 minutes of the game. A Friday Night Light quote comes to mind.. Coach Taylor: "What's going on out there? Player "They're big. And they're fast, coach." Coach Taylor: "Ok, Ok... But what's going on out there?" Player: "They're big. And they're fast.")
2:40pm Legends 1 vs Strikers 3 @ field #3