The Great Interstate Bracket Challenge

[Henry]

Well, here we are near the end of the tourney, and these are the final results:

EAST
95 vs. 81

While I-95 faces its toughest challenge to this point, it does move on with a 14-11 win over I-81.

SOUTH
10 vs. 75

By a single point (13-12), I-75 manages to eliminate I-10 and advance to the Final Four.

MIDWEST
90 vs. 70

The Breezewood and bizarre ending at a parking lot finally do I-70 in, as it falls to I-90, 14-11.

WEST
80 vs. 40

While the other three contests were close, this one was not, as I-80 clinches the last spot in the semifinals with a 17-8 victory over I-40.

And now,  the moment you've been waiting for...the Final Four! As noted on the first post in this thread, East takes on Midwest, and South goes up against West. So these are the matchups:

SEMIFINAL #1
95 vs. 90

Which of these 2di's will be the King of Boston?

SEMIFINAL #2
75 vs. 80

Here's a Toledo Special for you...

Results will come next week, along with the finals matchup.

[NWI_Irish96]

SEMIFINAL #1
95 vs. 90

SEMIFINAL #2
75 vs. 80

[CoreySamson]

How did all the interstates I picked last round lose? 
Whatever.
95 vs. 90
75 vs. 80

[Bickendan]

90
80

[SkyPesos]

95 vs. 90

75 vs. 80

[vdeane]

SEMIFINAL #1
95 vs. 90
90; gotta vote for my hometown 2di (and one I really want to clinch).

SEMIFINAL #2
75 vs. 80
I-75; this was a somewhat tough decision to make, as I don't feel as strongly about either one, but I already voted for one east-west transcontinental, so I'll give this vote to the north-south one.

[jmd41280]

SEMIFINAL #1
95 vs. 90 - In an upset, I-95 narrowly defeats I-90. I-90 came in with the better overall record, but I-95 had superb efforts from Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington. Upstart Miami sunk in a buzzer beater to clinch the victory.



SEMIFINAL #2
75 vs. 80 - I-80 defeats I-75 based on a superb 1st half from San Francisco and 2nd half from Chicago. For I-75, Detroit and Atlanta both put in valiant efforts, but it wasn't enough to pull off a victory.

[Great Lakes Roads]

90
80

[I-55]

75
95

[dlsterner]

95 and 75

[JayhawkCO]

90 & 75.

I feel like those of you voting 80 have never driven it between central PA and UT where it's pretty horrible.

Chris

[Ketchup99]

I'm voting for I-95 and I-80. Maybe it's favoritism because those are the roads I take to visit family every (normal) Christmas, but their national significance gives them the wins.

[US 89]

I feel like those of you voting 80 have never driven it between central PA and UT where it's pretty horrible.

Or maybe the other portions are good enough to make up for the boring parts through the center of the country?

Also, I actually like I-80 through Wyoming. Sure, the western US has better roads...but there's something to be said about driving an interstate through open country where it's just you and the road (and the truck traffic, sure). Even if you're looking for scenery, the mountains east of Laramie are pretty memorable, as is the segment west of Fort Bridger where you're heading dead straight for miles. Plus the tunnel in Green River is cool.

[Scott5114]

I vote for all four to lose.

[CNGL-Leudimin]

I predict the final will be 95 vs 80. 80 in compliance of not picking an Interstate that wasn't picked in the previous round (I picked 10 over 75); and 95, well, it was hard to decide between that or 90, but eventually 95 wins because 90 has a whole lot of nothing West of Wisconsin, while 95 still goes through somewhere South of the Northeast Corridor.

[thspfc]

Other than I-75 making it while I-70 didn't, it's hard to disagree with the final four. My picks:

I-90. I-95 wins the importance and urban categories, I-90 wins everything else.
I-80. I-80 beats I-75 in pretty much every metric imaginable.

[thspfc]

90 has a whole lot of nothing West of Wisconsin

That's false. Badlands, Homestake Pass, Lookout Pass, Spokane, Snoqualmie Pass, Seattle. I'll take that lineup any day against Richmond, Jacksonville, south Florida, and a whole lot of nothing in terms of secnery.

[webny99]

SEMIFINAL #1
95 vs. 90

Which of these 2di's will be the King of Boston?

SEMIFINAL #2
75 vs. 80

Here's a Toledo Special for you...

Gotta go with I-90, and I never considered myself a big I-75 fan, but I really can't find too much to dislike about it.

[wanderer2575]

SEMIFINAL #1
95 vs. 90:  I think overall I-90 gives a more enjoyable and diverse scenery experience.

SEMIFINAL #2
75 vs. 80:  Hometown favorite, I-80 through Nebraska and Iowa is like being stuck in the doldrums, and I think this all needs to come down to an east-west route squaring off against a north-south one.

[Big John]

90
75

[Konza]

SEMIFINAL #1
95 vs. 90

Which of these 2di's will be the King of Boston?

While I-90 is the longest Interstate, from Richmond north I-95 is the conduit that connects the East Coast.

SEMIFINAL #2
75 vs. 80

Here's a Toledo Special for you...

New York to San Francisco (much of it supplanting or paralleling the Lincoln Highway) wins out over Mackinac to Miami.

[bassoon1986]

90 and 75 are my winners.


iPhone

[CtrlAltDel]

Both of my favorites to win have been knocked out, so I am sad.

SEMIFINALS
95 vs. 90
I-95 has the population going for it, but I-90 has had some of my favorite drives, so despite the long concurrency, it wins.

75 vs. 80
I-75 is the one I've driven more on, and so it emerges as the winner here.

[FrCorySticha]

95 vs. 90
75 vs. 80

[M3100]

95
80