A: Which team do you support this year?

B: The Warriors of course. They are the team to beat.

Note: “The team to beat” is a cliche in sports circles describing a team that is favored to win a match or a tournament. It means the team is one that everybody has to beat if they want to win the championship. This is a common expression that comes up again and again in sports report and commentary. Whatever the context or situation, “team to beat” means the team in question is the best. Likewise, the best player is often described as “the player to beat.”