Final Chase Preview: Singles

What’s going on folks?!? We have yet another ACL National event rapidly approaching. As I write this, I’m sitting on a beach, pounding beers…kids are napping…I can hear waves crashing in the background just over the music playing in my headphones. I couldn’t help but think two things: 1) Damn I could get used to this 2) Why in the hell am I spending my limited “quiet beach time” to write these articles? 

So thanks for reading! Per usual, no hard feelings in any predictions…I go with my gut…if you have a problem….prove me wrong…

Bracket A:

Top Left:

-I mean, at this point, how can you bet against Daymon Dennis? The guy is rock steady, down the middle and completely unphased by your “new fangled” roll shots. I think the winner between Dinges and Stranger poses some sort of challenge, more so Dinges than Stranger…but I just can’t bet against DD making it to the quarterfinals 

-This is a sub section where I expect/hope for a Clemmer and Sims match-up. Dereck Fateiger is one of those guys who always seems to win a few matches at Nationals.  Could he upset Sims and Clemmer for a match against DD?!? He most certainly could and it wouldn’t be all that surprising……BUT gimme AJ (I love Ace jack suited in poker) Sims to battle it out against and eventually lose a close one to DD

Bottom Left:

This sub section is sneaky good. The kind of matches Cornhole needs would love to watch. Kimbrell has been as solid as anyone this year in singles and I love his game. I’ve mentioned Mike Jacques in every preview article I’ve written because I really do think, in singles, this dude has crazy potential. With all that being said, there is a doubles pairing in this group who could make noise. Glen Gundle has a game very similar to DD, just not as polished. I see him losing to Jacques. Drew Brown on the other hand…he’s been below average at the first couple National events. He’s better than that. He and his wife recently welcomed a son into the world….I think Brown upsets Kimbrell, but just can’t get past a solid Jacques

-One of the tougher subsections in all 4 brackets. It comes down to Hissner, Harvey or Gustafson. The latter two have potential for days. Harvey has the type of game where he could lead the field in PPR…But Hissner just always seems to turn it up at the big events abd find himself in the mix at the end of it all. Harvey has been hot, give me a Harvey vs Jacques quarter final match up

Top Right:

-Allan Rockwell will be awaiting the winner of Groce/Finley. We have all been waiting for Finley to break out against the best…but I’m

Not betting against Groce in this situation. Groce has the talent to make a deep run…possibly win the thing…but one step at a time. I see Groce edging past the always respected Rocky

-This sub section is tricky. You have Kamryn Belvin who has sown how good she can be…but is this her ceiling? Eric Ryder always seems poised to make a deep run at 1-2 National events….and then you have Corey Morrison who has a knack at being good at Cornhole. This sectioned is lined up perfectly for another deep Belvin run…too perfectly…give me Morrison vs Groce in the quarters 

Bottom Right:

-two names jump off the page. Bret Guy and Ashton Speas are playing really well right now. Recent success doesn’t always translate into future success, but it’s really all we can go on for now. Timmy Jonas is tough in singles, but this section seems to lead to an epic match betweeen Guy and Speas. Gimme the man who cost me a bottle of bourbon last weekend (Guy)

-Brandon Jones seems motivated to make a splash. He doesn’t like when I pick against him (I know you’re reading this) so….I’m

Picking you to WIN….well

Up until he meets Baldwin…because you just don’t bet against big game James…and he’s due for a deep run

Quarters:

-AJ Sims vs Daymon Dennis

-mike Harvey vs Mike Jacques

-Josh Groce vs Corey Morrison

-James Baldwin vs Bret Guy

Semifinals:

-Daymon Dennis vs Mike Harvey

-Josh Groce vs Bret Guy

Bracket B:

Top Left:

-The last preview I correctly predicted a run by Mr. Nate Stevens. I’d love to watch the match between he and Tyler Parent…but ultimately it doesn’t matter…..the winner plays the Robot

-Jay Corley is quietly having his best season as a professional. Something has clicked snd he has been very steady. A potential matchup between he and Brevon Valdivia would provide for some excellent entertainment. Valdivia was the hot hand, but seemed to get burned at National 3….again ultimately, it won’t matter…the winner of their match loses to Trey Burchfield in the Quarters

Bottom Left;

–Eric Anderson had his skills on display during the CBS broadcast. He tasted that success and hungry dogs want to eat. I think he battles his way past the winner of Reynolds/Kitchen. If Reynolds loses does he pull Kitchens bag sponsorship?? All jokes aside, both guys are absolute killers on the boa BG rd…but Kitchens bought a Hard Drag slush shirt…so akitchens has that HDP energy boost and beats Jeff.

-this little section is loaded with potential! How quick we forget who has an epic run at National 1…Tyler Poythress….but which one shows up? I’m not sure how much he has been playing and he drew an absolute assassin on the board. Poythress loses to Michael Lucas Jr who faces off against the reigning player of the year, Jamie Graham. Watching Jamie recently….he looks comfortable and is throwing aggressively….that’s trouble for everyone else. Graham vs EA in a match I’d just have to see

Top Right:

-The casual fan would look at this bracket and see Ryan Smith at a 2 seed and just advance him without thought. I look abd I see a 15 seeded Jordan Power who is just primed and ready for a “breakout”. Smith was underwhelming on the CBS broadcast last weekend. Every time I watch Power I’m impressed. Give me the young gun to advance passed Smith 

-An underrated match to look for would be a second round pairing of Batson vs Grube. Batson is 15 and very well could be the future of the sport…but Grube is solid. I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if an “upset” happened, but Batson rolls into a match vs Geary. Geary is starting to look like the Geary from

Last year…if that’s the case, Batson vs Geary will be a must watch match

Bottom Right:

-I sit here…I take a sip of beer and try to picture scenarios….Windsor wins this subsection….just don’t see anyone topping him.

-Tae Harris made noise at National 1 when he came back and beat Matt Guy (personally, I would have retired after that match). He’s been, well, just Ok since then. I think he falls ro Doss who is one of those rock steady players that always seems to end the day with a winning record. I think Kissel makes Bernacet earn a win, but Steve wakes up in time to win that match and to play Windsor in the Semifinals

Quarterfinals:

-Burchfield vs Valdivia

-Eric Anderson vs Graham

-Jordan Power vs Kaleb Batson

-Ryan Windsor vs Steven Bernacet

Semifinals:

-Burchfield vs Jamie Graham (gotta see EA beat him before picking that upset)

-Jordan Power vs Ryan Windsor

Bracket C:

Top Left:

-Cody Henderson doesn’t strike me as a guy who is doing a ton of research on opponents. As a 1 seed, he didn’t get an easy path. Keith Perry and Timothy Pitcher is one of the more intriguing match-ups of the opening round. The winner could go on a run snd challenge Cody Henderson, but first they would have to get passed Storm Hogg. Storm has been playing very well as of late in singles. When it’s all said and done, I’m confident Henderson will be standing….but don’t be shocked if one of the other three makes a big time splash

-Each National it seems like a female makes a deep run. I’m on the Renner bandwagon. She can go bag for bag with the best of them, but is polished enough to hit big time, professional

Level shots consistently. Fuentez could give her a match as they have similar games…I just think Renner is THAT good. She earns a match-up against Cody Henderson…stylistically it’s a Cornhole nerd’s dream. I’d be interested to see if Cody ramped up the chatter…if he went the nice guy route (remember we always finish last)

Bottom Left:

-Isidro Herrera is having a silent yet very successful singles season. This seaon basically sums him up. He shows up…doesn’t make a peep…commits Cornhole murder…and leaves without anyone realizing the carnage he left behind. In theory his biggest threat is Matthew Sorrells, but I’m not sure if Matthew has been slinging more bags or Caddy’s recently. Chad Braun is sneaky and most people probably don’t realize that he won like 7 straight losers bracket games last National to finish with a very respectable bracket finish. When it’s all over…I think Isidro is standing

-This bracket is an odd one. Based on seeding and previous performance, I should pick Mfer. But I’m feeling Leston Allen here. I think Leston gets hot, finishes in the top 10 in PPR and has an epic match against Isidro in the quarters 

Top Right:

-Jay Rubin had all the tools to win a National. The hard part? Predicting when (not if) it will happen. I would really like to see a match between Tony Smith and Scott Lane. Young Tony has all the talent and Scott Lane reminded everyone just how damn good he is  at the last National. If he brings the hulk bags….hide your wives. I think at this point Rubin is just too polished and finds a way through this tough sub section

-This sub section has two players that I have been big fans of all year. Tyler Cobb was introduced to the world via CBS broadcast a few weeks ago, showcasing his smooth throw. Stout has just been a killer at these events. Because the recent success Cobb has had, I initially found myself leaning toward Cobb in a potential match-up, but O just think, in singles, Stout is closer to being “there”. He earns a rematch against Rubin in the quarters

Bottom Right:

-I really want to write Erick Davis and save myself time, but that’s boring. Ricky Gonzalez has been solid recently and pairs up against DK. I have zero idea how much DK has played…abd until I see it, I give the nod to Gonzalez. At the end of this subsection I see Beamer vs Davis. I don’t want to say Beamer is the “poor man’s” Davis….but their styles are similar. Give me Davis

-This is a section that could go a few ways. You could see William Smith vs James Washington or Derrick Mentzer vs James Washington…..James Washington meets Erick Davis in the Quarters

Quarterfinals:

-Cody Henderson vs Cheyenne Renner

-Isidro Herrera vs Leston Allen

-Jay Rubin vs Matthew Stout 

-Erick Davis vs James Washington

Semifinals:

-Henderson vs Allen

-Rubin vs Davis

Bracket D:

Top Left:

-Matt Guy moves on to the quarters. He beats the winner of Tucker Stills and Bradley Powers.

-Frank Modlin is coming off a very nice showing at the Pro shootout. I’d love to watch the match between he and Kevin “Kyle” Allen. It will be a classic battle of Reynolds vs GameChangers. I think Frank will use this recent momentum and it propels him forward. Matthew  Morton has a really nice draw as an 8 seed and is set up beautifully for a matchup against Modlin. I want to see Morton win a big match before picking him again. I’m rolling with Frank the tank here to earn a must watch match against Matt Guy in the Quarters

Bottom Left:

-A sneaky entertaining game to watch will be James Reschke vs Rosie Streker. If James has his airmail, he plays fearlessly and isn’t afraid to put up blockers. The winner of this match plays Dillon Turpin who has been quietly playing lights out recently. At the end I think Turpin plays Justin Lang (perhaps the most underrated 4th seed?). Lang is just a really tough out….But let’s mix things up and  Turpin rolls on.

-If I told you Noah Wooten, Devon Harbaugh and Kyle Malone were all at the same tournament t you’d think “damn that’s pretty tough”. This time they are all in the same sub section. It’s a flip of the coin Bc I truly think any one of those three could win it all. But I’m going Wooten. Kid is jut too talented and he’s due for a big run. 

Top Right:

-Looking at the sub section as a whole I think Camba got a solid draw…perhaps the best of the 2 seeds. Chuckie Love or David Morse could cause issues, but Camba is having an MVP type season so far. I think he comes in focused.

-I’m a big Eddie Grinderslev fan. I think he has the potential to be a top 5 player, but has some consistency issues. I’m

Not saying it’s an easy draw…but I think he out lasts the others. Hudson vs Schultz will be a great match to watch, I just think Grinderslev can handle both

Bottom Right:

-Dave Sutton, who is an excellent Twitter follow BTW, benefits from a first round bye but I think makes a solid run. The highlight of the second round could be the potential game between Jimmy Youmans and Kaylee Hunter. I know people, me included, are excited about Hunter and her future….but Youmans has been getting better every tournament . I think he grinds his way past Hunter and Sutton

-Eric Stowe is a player most people haven’t heard of….but the dude is a killer on the boards. He doesn’t mess around, he puts bags in the hole. But sometimes a bye can be a detriment…Chad Mayberry, coming off a win against Doug Rippy, uses the momentum and sneaks past Stowe to face off against Mcguffin

Quarterfinals:

-Matt Guy vs Frank Modlin

-Dillon Turpin vs Noah Wooten

-Jordan Camba vs Eddie Grinderslev

-Jimmy Youmans vs Chad Mayberry

Semifinals:

-Matt Guy vs Noah Wooten

-Jimmy Youmans vs Jordan Camba 

Bracket Winners:

-Daymon Dennis

-Jamie Graham

-Erick Davis

-Jordan Camba