As we spoke with teams this week, there was an almost universal answer to one question.

What team do you fear the most?

Alliance.

They were the most feared, but not the favorite among their peers.

How does that work? Is it because they haven’t been strong of late? That some teams are gaining momentum?

Maybe there’s another answer. With 16 teams so evenly matched it doesn’t matter what you won yesterday. Alliance’s sweep in China doesn’t matter today. All these teams have been bootcamping, it is a new season starting today.

If that is the case, Alliance is even more confident. They are ready. Ready to be more than just feared but to become everyone’s favorite as well.