Dearest Reader,
I am writing to you from Quad Cities, IL, where I am in a bunker fighting for my life looking for winners. I was on top of the world two weeks ago, but it all came crashing down after a 3-5 week last week -- with some of the most lopsided losses of the season.
Morale is low, but we must fight on and make our way to the next battle. For the picks do not find themselves, and we must continue our quest for gambling picks supremacy.
Yours Truly,
General Off The Wallace
Week 9 Review
Quad City Steamwheelers vs Sioux Falls Storm - Sioux Falls -1.5 - Loser
Quad City wins by 7
San Diego Strike Force vs Vegas Knight Hawks - San Diego +12.5 - Winner
Vegas wins by 4
Jacksonville Sharks vs Frisco Fighters - Jacksonville +17 - Loser
Frisco wins by 35 points
Tulsa Oilers vs Green Bay Blizzard - Tulsa +7.5 - Loser
Green Bay wins by 20
Massachusetts Pirates vs Iowa Barnstormers - Over 82 - Loser
Combined for 76 points
San Antonio Gunslingers vs Duke City Gladiators - Over 93.5 - Winner
Combined for 109 points
Bay Area Panthers vs Northern Arizona Wranglers - Under 89.5 - Winner
Combined for 75 points
Arizona Rattlers vs Tucson Sugar Skulls - Over 87.5 - Loser
Combined for 70 points
3-5 on the week
What a rough week. Frisco & Green Bay just pummeled their opponents and made my picks dead in the water very early on.
Arizona QB Dalton Sneed hurt himself in practice days before the game and didn't play -- so I can't help but feel like hecould have tipped the scales for the over a bit more.
We had some solid losers, some solid winners and a couple toss ups that were one or two plays away from coming to fruition. But nonetheless, we are on to Cincinnati.
2024 IFL Record: 27-28
LET'S FIND SOME WINNERS!
Iowa Barnstormers vs Quad CIty Steamwheelers (Friday 5/17, 7:05PM CT)
The Play: Over 90.5
An extra scoop of points for me as well, Dave.
Quad City played nearly perfect mistake-free football last week on offense and continued their streak of scoring 50+ points in a game for the 4th consecutive week. QB Mike Irwin *seems* to be the guy right now and has been in a groove with his offensive weapons.
The offensive cast is one of the best collections in the league and Quad City Overs are 5-2 on the season so far. Plus they are wearing THESE:
The offense is going to be clicking for Quad City, we just need Iowa to hold up their end. The Barnstormers offense looked lethargic in the first 20 minutes of lasted week's game but came alive to go on a 39-14 run to end the game.
Here's to hoping Iowa gets started quick and keeps their foot on the gas!
Prediction: 55-48 Quad City
Northern Arizona Wranglers vs Massachusetts Pirates (Saturday 5/18, 12:05PM CT)
The Play: Massachusetts -6
Mr. Smee would have loved the IFL.
This is a tough one to pick because it feels like both teams are mirror images of each other the past couple of weeks: gritty defenses keeping their team in the game with an offense trying to get things sorted.
But I think this is going to be a get right game for the Pirates. The are undefeated at home this season and it seems like their offense is a sleeping giant ready to be awakened. If they can get RB Jimmie Robinson involved early and often in both the ground and passing game, they will have a great shot at winning AND covering.
Massachusetts defense has been playing well the past couple of weeks, but they'll need consistent offensive support in order to pin their ears back and be advantageous like they have been in the past.
Prediction: 54-40 Massachusetts
Frisco Fighters vs Green Bay Blizzard (Saturday 5/18, 3:05PM CT)
The Play: Under 86.5
My own personal Groundhog Day has been constantly picking GB lines wrong.
The best Over team in the league (Frisco) vs the best Under team in the league (Green Bay). WHO'S GONNA COME OUT ON TOP?!
Green Bay's defense is so, so good - giving up just 32.6 points per game on the year (1st in the league). But Frisco's defense is no slouch either - giving up 40.4 points per game on the year (4th in the league). Many of the points that have been scored on Frisco have come in garbage time when the game was already in hand, so even that number may be a little inflated for how they have actually performed.
I think Green Bay's offense if going to have a hard time with the speed of Frisco's defense and is going to be the X-factor here. I think Frisco wins in a low scoring slugfest and controls the game with the three headed attack with QB Tripp Harrington and RBs Meatball Carter & Jimmy Smith.
Prediction: 40-32 Frisco
Sioux Falls Storm vs Jacksonville Sharks (Saturday 5/18, 6:05PM CT)
The Play: Over 83.5
Storm + Shark = Sharknado!
This is my obligatory "take the Over in the lowest point total line that doesn't involve Green Bay" pick if we are just being honest with ourselves. IFL baby!
Sioux Falls nearly pulled off the comeback win last week in Lorenzo Brown Jr's first game back as the starting QB and I would expect the Storm to come out hot again like they did last week.
Jacksonville got bulldozed by Frisco last week, but started to make some plays they could build on into this week. Sioux Falls is obviously a very different opponent than Frisco, but we will need the Sharks offense to help us out and not puke all over themselves this week.
Prediction: 49-43 Sioux Falls
Tulsa Oilers vs San Antonio Gunslingers (Saturday 5/18, 6:05PM CT)
The Play: Over 101.5
I'm hoping there are some points hidden with Peewee's bike.
Man, I hate lines that are over 100 but it just makes sense when it is San Antonio.
Sam Castronova is on a TEAR as we approach the halfway point of the Gunslingers season -- 39 TDs, 2 INTs on 72.6% completion percentage. He's the reigning IFL Offensive Player of the Week after a 7 TD outing last week vs Duke City and is showing no signs of stopping.
Tulsa's defense is a pretty good unit, but San Antonio is another animal. The risk associated with this bet lies on the ice cold Tulsa Oilers offense -- who managed to score only 22 points last week in their huge loss to Green Bay. They have a really great cast of receiving options and Jarrod Ware is back in form, and if there is ANY defense that a team can get right against -- it's San Antonio's.
Points, points, points (please)
Prediction: 58-51 San Antonio
Vegas Knight Hawks vs Tucson Sugar Skulls (Saturday 5/18, 8:05PM CT)
The Play: Over 93.5
Me on my way to Tucson if they lay ANOTHER EGG smh
Vegas' offense is a behemoth right now. They score points in bunches and they make it look pretty effortless at times. They are averaging 54.7 points per game and will be facing a defense in the bottom half of the league in points allowed and a team that is reeling right now.
Last week was the first game back from injury for Tucson QB Mylik Mitchell and had some rust to knock off, but didn't look too bad in his first game back in nearly a month. With the rust knocked off and how overly aggressive Vegas' defense can be a times, I think they can contribute to 40+ for the total -- which should be just enough to hit it.
Prediction: 56-48 Vegas
Bay Area Panthers vs Arizona Rattlers (Saturday 5/18, 8:05PM CT)
The Play: Under 88.5
I call upon T'Challa to protect the end zone.
This is one of the few picks where I hope that I am wrong, but Bay Area Unders continue to be strong this season (5-2). They've been leaning on their ground attack with Shane Simpson more and more the past few weeks.
If the injured Dalton Sneed starts this game at QB for the Rattlers, I may have a bead of sweat upon my brow at kick off. However, if Garret Kettle starts this game at QB, I will feel much better.
This entire game is going to be determined on the ground for both teams and we will likely see a game closer to what we saw last week from each of these teams -- long drives & low scoring first halves with a ramp up in intensity in the second.
Prediction: 44-39 Bay Area
Duke City Gladiators vs San Diego Strike Force (Sunday 5/19, 5:05PM CT)
The Play: Duke City +13.5
Love - Duke City // Hate - Duke.
If you have read any blog posted on this site, you'll know that I love San Diego. They are my favorite team to watch and this one will be beautifully broadcast just like all San Diego home games are. I think they win this game, but Duke City is gonna keep it closer than you'd think.
Joe Mancuso looked phenomenal last week in his season debut for the Gladiators, as he tossed 4 TDs and ran for 2 more. I think you'll see a little more focus on the ground game from Duke City this go around and they may even threaten to take the lead late.
I told myself all week that if this Duke City line was in the double digits, I would take it. +13.5 just gives us a littttttle more wiggle room.
Prediction: 47-42 San Diego
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