San Francisco Shock vs Florida Mayhem

This is where things get a whole lot more interesting. Heck, we're putting it mildly! San Francisco Shock vs. Florida Mayhem is every inch a premier match-up, and you'd be wise to clear out your schedule and tune in! Fireworks are basically guaranteed.

Coming into 2021, most of us thought San Francisco would once again retain top billing. And, frankly, there's a very good reason why -- they're the two-time back-to-back OWL champions, after all. They've seen it all, been through it all, and have mental fortitude and mechanical prowess for days. Still, in true SFS fashion, they haven't been the quickest of starters. In fact, they've been somewhat slow, sloppy, and out of sync when it mattered most.

Regardless, they *will* ascend to the very top in due time, much like they did in years past. These dips in performance and moments of asynchronous play are par for the course. Then again, we can no longer bet on them without thinking about it first -- they're no longer the de facto favorites, at least not at this point in time. No one's all too sure how well they'll perform, which is why this one match feels so darn important. It is a litmus test of sorts as it'll give us a better read into their current strength and overall power level. No one's doubting their long-term potential, but realizing it invariably takes time. And until they can get on the same page and execute to the best of their ability, we might witness a slew of mind-boggling upsets, much like last year.

Florida are by no means the most dangerous team in the world, but they can definitely pack a punch and will punish San Francisco with ease should they be given an opening. At this level of play, it's the small nuances that matter most, and everyone knows it.

It's also been a hot minute since we've last seen the Shock play -- two whole weeks in fact. They're entering this match with a chip on their shoulders, as their 2-3 upset loss to the Houston Outlaws probably stings a lot more than we could ever imagine. So, while it might not be the most advisable thing in the world, we're going to give them our benefit of the doubt on this one. A motivated San Francisco is, quite literally, the best team in the world, and if their recent upset loss to Houston hasn't motivated them then nothing else will.

In any case, expect and absolute spectacle that'll be decided by the slimmest of margins!