Which team will win the Co-Ed Division title?
CO-ED DIVISION
Group A
V&M Construction
Vitals: Based in Livermore, Calif.; Claim to Fame – Past projects include a 40,000 square foot building for a Tenant Improvement in Oakland and Market Ready Clean-ups for several locations in San Leandro.
Analysis: Should be a fit group. Time on the construction site is no easy job, so would expect this group to include some athletes. Will those athletics skills translate to the soccer field is the question.
Odds of Winning: 6-1
Zynga
Vitals: 2,000 Employees; Based in San Francisco, Calif.; Claim to Fame – Encouraging “Play,” Zynga is responsible for popular games such as FarmVille, CityVille, Zynga Poker, Mafia Wars, Empires & Allies, and Words With Friends.
Analysis: Large employee base could mean trouble for the rest of the group. Zynga is fielding three teams in the tournament so you know there’s some soccer interest on their campus.
Odds: 3-1
TPG Capital
Vitals: Based in San Francisco, Calif.; Claim to Fame – Have acquired many major companies including Petco, Neiman Marcus, and Alltel Wireless.
Analysis: Does TPG Capital’s immense wealth of assets include talented soccer players? Could be top pick to upend favorites from Zynga.
Odds: 4-1
Peoples Associates Structural Engineers
Vitals: Based in Milpitas, Calif.; Claim to Fame – Projects include Facebook, Stanford, Hitachi and Apple.
Analysis: One of the largest engineering firms in the Silicon Valley will try to put its resources to good use on the field. Completes what should be a loaded field for the Co-Ed Division.
Odds: 6-1
Which team will win the Men's Open Division
MEN'S OPEN DIVISION
Group A
Futsal Kingz
Vitals: Based in Los Altos, Calif.; Claim to Fame – The official Futsal Providers for the San Jose Earthquakes
Analysis: This isn't a futsal court, but one would expect a soccer-based organization to have some talent on its side. Short field length for this tournament might be just right for the Kingz.
Odds of Winning: 6-1
UK International Camps
Vitals: Based in Redlands, CA; Claim to Fame – Official camp provider of the San Jose Earthquakes.
Analysis: With a bevy of young talent, this might be the fittest group in the field. British outfit out to prove the English reign supreme in footy.
Odds: 6-1
UVMG
Vitals: Based in San Francisco, Calif.; Claim to Fame – Clients include San Jose Earthquakes, Stockton Soccer Complex, and Soccer United Marketing.
Analysis: Earthquakes partners have plenty of soccer ties, indicating the organization has some talent tucked away. Would expect UVMG to be among the favorite to advance from Group A.
Odds: 5-1
Menlo Park AYSO
Vitals: 60 Employees; Based in Menlo Park, Calif.; Claim to Fame – One of the premier AYSO outfits in the Bay Area.
Analysis: Team completes what is easily the most soccer-centric group in the tournament. Will have hands full against two commodities that promise to be very competitive.
Odds: 10-1
Group B
Almaden Brit 'A'
Vitals: Based in San Jose, Calif.; Claim to Fame – 18 beers and ales on drought and 18 large screen HDTV’s make this bar a local favorite to watch the San Jose Earthquakes, San Jose Sharks, and other major sporting events.
Analysis: Sister squad took home the title last season, but let’s not write off the ‘A’ team. Posted solid results in the run up to a semifinal appearance in 2010.
Odds: 4-1
Zynga 'B'
Vitals: 2,000 Employees; Based in San Francisco, Calif.; Claim to Fame – Encouraging “Play,” Zynga is responsible for popular games such as FarmVille, CityVille, Zynga Poker, Mafia Wars, Empires & Allies, and Words With Friends.
Analysis: Tough draw in a small group, but if Zynga plays soccer as well as they do social gaming, expect good things.
Odds: 10-1
Fighttheflop.com
Vitals: Based in San Francisco Bay Area, Calif.; Claim to Fame – A grass-roots movement to reduce the occurrence of simulation or “diving” taking place on the soccer pitch. They hope that a united world can #fighttheflop and #save the game. Website launch for fighttheflop.com coming in August.
Analysis: If there’s one certainty in this tournament, it’s that there will be no diving from this outfit. Will be the people’s choice based on team name following the Earthquakes’ result on Saturday.
Odds: 8-1
Group C
Almaden Brit 'B'
Vitals: Based in San Jose, Calif.; Claim to Fame – 18 beers and ales on drought and 18 large screen HDTV’s make this bar a local favorite to watch the San Jose Earthquakes, San Jose Sharks, and other major sporting events.
Analysis: The defending champs will have a target on their backs. With more teams in the competition this season, a two-peat seems unlikely. Still the team to beat.
Odds: 4-1
Cupertino Brit
Vitals: Based in San Jose, Calif.; Claim to Fame – They carry the NLF Sunday ticket, MLB Extra innings package, and Fox Soccer Channel, as well as the Setanta Sports Channel to air access to European soccer and international rugby.
Analysis: Stunning development seeing Cupertino and Almaden ‘B’ drawn into the same group after the duo played in the 2010 Corporate Cup Championship. Will undoubtedly be out to avenge title-game loss.
Odds: 5-1
Gordon Biersch
Vitals: Based in San Jose, Calif.; Claim to Fame – With 3.1 million gallons of authentic, German-style beer sold a year, Gordon Biersch Brewing Company is the largest brewery in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Analysis: Dark horse candidate if the brewers can steal points in either of their matches against Cupertino or Almaden. Still, up against the wall in what is certainly the Group of Death.
Odds: 15-1
Zynga 'A'
Vitals: 2,000 Employees; Based in San Francisco, Calif.; Claim to Fame – Encouraging “Play,” Zynga is responsible for popular games such as FarmVille, CityVille, Zynga Poker, Mafia Wars, Empires & Allies, and Words With Friends.
Analysis: CEO Mark Pincus has used soccer as a metaphor for business success and team building. The organization digs the beautiful game and expects to show well. Big question is which of the two teams from Zynga will be the most competitive. Will they field true ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams or balance the talent levels out?
Odds: 10-1
