NAMPA, Idaho ― Look for this to be a big night of bull riding. There are a lot of great matchups both in Round 1 and in the 15/15 Bucking Battle.
Round 1 Matchups:
Brady Sims on 965 King Buck:
Sims had this bull at the ABBI Wild Card event in Las Vegas during the 2013 Built Ford Tough World Finals. He didn’t make the whistle there, but statistically this matchup favors Sims. King Buck has good, even timing and has been ridden more often than not at this level. Sims has ridden pretty well since coming on to the Built Ford Tough Series, but it’s been seven weeks since he’s turned in a score of 86 points or better. This bull can give it to him.
Cody Nance puts up 87.5 points on King Buck in Round 2 of the 2014 PBR BFTS Monster Energy Buck off at the Garden in New York City.
Guilherme Marchi on 2W Duck Butter:
Marchi should be favored here, but this bull can test anyone. Duck Butter is fairly unpredictable and he’s only been ridden by the best riders he’s faced. Marchi is a strong rider, and this is a strong bull, which should make for a good match.
Cody Nance on 525 Die Hard:
Die Hard has been ridden in his last three outs. He should spin to the left and keep the pressure on, but he will be into Nance’s hand. Nance is coming off an event win and has ridden well in the past month.
Kasey Hayes on 97 Black Friday:
Can Hayes stay on a bull spinning into his hand with great timing? That’s what this bull is going to do. He’s one of the better long-round draws at this event for a lefty, and Hayes can place in the money and finish high in the event average if he can hang on.
J.W. Harris on 634 Team Paige:
Bull riders are always looking for a fat little muley bull with curly eyelashes and rubber feet. Harris got one here. This is a Canadian bull, and all the history we have on him is from Canadian rodeos and PBR Canada events. He’s been ridden roughly half the time. When the gate opens he’s going to spin to the left like a figure skater until the whistle blows. Harris is one of the best in the world at riding bulls that go away from his hand and we saw him ride a more difficult bull away from his hand just last week.
Mike Lee on T74 Hang Time:
We haven’t seen Hang Time since the World Finals, where he was one of the 15 highest-marked bulls. He was the second highest-marked bull here in Nampa last season, and he turned in a spectacular 46.25-point bull score against Eduardo Aparecido. He’s been ridden once in six career outs, but he’s got the potential to be one of the rankest bulls we’ll see here this weekend. Lee could have his hands full.
Hang time throws Eduardo Aparecido in .90 seconds, earning him a bull score of 46.25 points in the championship round of the 2013 PBR BFTS DEWALT Guaranteed Tough Invitational in Boise, Idaho.
Valdiron de Oliveira on 51 Night Rider Six:
Oliveira hasn’t done well in the last couple of events, but he’s drawn well in Nampa. This bull has been dominated by the better riders and at the Built Ford Tough Series level overall. He should spin to the right and Oliveira should be able to ride him easily.
Marco Eguchi on 984 Rainy Nights:
This is another Canadian bull. Ty Pozzobon rode him for 88 points at the Calgary Stampede last summer. He should spin to the left, which will be away from Eguchi’s hand, but he’s got steady timing and is rideable.
Fabiano Vieira on 982 Celling Bioscience’s Jukebox Hero:
Vieira got on three bulls in Fresno and didn’t get a single score, but he should right the ship on Friday night. Celling Bioscience’s Jukebox Hero is as nice as they come on the BFTS and any left-handed rider here would be a heavy favorite against him. Vieira has struggled with injuries, but he’s one of the best riders on tour – on par with Silvano Alves and J.B. Mauney.
Kasey Hayes puts up 87.5 points on Celling Bioscience’s Jukebox Hero in Round 2 of the 2014 PBR BFTS St. Louis Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires, in St. Louis.
Joao Ricardo Vieira on 906 Boo-Ray:
In three outs on tour, Boo-Ray has been ridden three times. Vieira will probably make it 4-for-4 as he will be the best rider Boo-Ray has faced.
L.J. Jenkins on 030 Grinder:
This bull doesn’t have much history. He’s making his Built Ford Tough Series debut here. He saw action just once at the Touring Pro Division level last season, and, as it happens, in that one out Jenkins rode him for 88.5 points and a round win in Prescott Valley, Ariz.
Click HERE for the Round 1 daysheet
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