Week 15 was a tough one for your boy. I got in my own head on a pick, we had teams scoring with no time left with no impact on the game, we had offenses DOA, we had clearly better teams playing down to their competition.
It was a tough week picks-wise, but it is always WHY we watch.
Week 15 Review
Massachusetts Pirates vs Jacksonville Sharks - Over 82 - Loser
Combined for 74 points
Tulsa Oilers vs Iowa Barnstormers - Iowa +1 - Loser
Tulsa wins 54-48
Green Bay Blizzard vs Quad City Steamwheelers - Under 90.5 - Winner
Combined for 64 points
Bay Area Panthers vs Duke City Gladiators - Bay Area -14 - Loser
Bay Area wins 34-32, Duke City covers
Sioux Falls Storm vs Frisco Fighters - Under 91.5 - Loser
Combined for 95 points… Sioux Falls scoring a garbage time TD with no time left
Arizona Rattlers vs Vegas Knight Hawks - Over 98.5 - Winner
Combined for 105 points
San Diego Strike Force vs Tucson Sugar Skulls - San Diego - 11.5 - Loser
San Diego wins 41-40, Tucson covers
San Antonio Gunslingers vs Northern Arizona Wranglers - San Antonio +6.5 - Winner
Northern Arizona wins 74-68, San Antonio covers
3-5 week that would have been 4-4 if I stuck with my original Tulsa-Iowa pick.
5-3 if Sioux Falls doesn't screw me in garbage time.
6-2 if Jacksonville has a pulse on offense.
It's hard to win in this league, folks! But we press on. I'm going to manifest finishing the season above .500, as that would make me look like I at least kind of know what I am talking about. But enough of the jibber jabber.
2024 IFL Record: 43-46-1
LET'S FIND SOME WINNERS!
Frisco Fighters @ San Antonio Gunslingers (Saturday 6/29 @ 6:05 PM CT)
The Play: Over 109.5
This is going to be a battle.
A total of 109.5 is ABSURD. The highest total of the year by far featuring 2 of the most dynamic offenses in the entire league. I have to take it. I must do it.
Frisco Fighters offense has been CLICKING with their ground game with TJ Edwards, Martez Carter & Justin Rankin -- and will be going against the worst defense in the league.
San Antonio Gunslingers offense is always finding a way to score and future league MVP Sam Castronova will keep San Antonio in it. This is going to be a goddamn shootout.
Prediction: 64-57 Frisco
Tucson Sugar Skulls @ Duke City Gladiators (Saturday 6/29 @ 7:05 PM CT)
The Play: Duke City -1.5
Just pretend there is a 'City' in there
Duke City being favored in Week 16 at 1-11?!
Believe it or not, this is one of the most reasonable lines of the week. Duke City has been playing very well over the past couple of weeks and keeping it close with some good teams (Bay Area & San Antonio). QB Hasan Rogers has been efficient with the ball and lethal on the ground.
Love Duke City in this spot against a struggling Tucson team that is seemingly switching things up personnel wise every week to end the season. GO GLADS!
Prediction: 45-33 Duke City
Jacksonville Sharks @ Sioux Falls Storm (Saturday 6/29 @ 7:05 PM CT)
The Play: Under 88.5
D-fence clapclap D-fence clapclap
I hate this game. Jacksonville has a new QB in the mix this week, while there is a nonzero chance Sioux Falls starts their younger QB as they are all but out of the playoff chase. Both defenses are pretty good against offenses that have seen better days in years past.
I just can't trust Jacksonville's offense and I am not going to overthink this one. Under.
Prediction: 40-36 Sioux Falls
Green Bay Blizzard @ Tulsa Oilers (Saturday 6/29 @ 7:05 PM CT)
The Play: Tulsa +9
Big E is a biggggg Oilers guy
I've been burned by Tulsa before and I might get burned again, but this is the best underdog spot of the week. Tulsa has been hot on offense the past couple of weeks, have tremendous home support and are making a push for the final playoff spot in the East.
Green Bay is still very, very good and will probably win this game, but the Oilers are spicy enough to keep this one within 9.
Prediction: 44-41 Green Bay
Bay Area Panthers @ Vegas Knight Hawks (Saturday 6/29 @ 8:05 PM CT)
The Play: Bay Area +3
Panthers are just having themselves quite a year
I've picked against Bay Area far too many time this season. I've learned my lesson.
Any time I get a chance to get Bay Area AND the points, I'm going to take it. This is going to be a tremendous game between 2 of the top teams in the West and will be a crucial game for playoff seeding.
This is not a pick against Vegas, as they are one of the most exciting teams in the league getting hot at the right moment and can very well win this game at home after dominating Bay Area earlier in the season.
I would just take Bay Area in this spot (+3) against anybody at this point.
Prediction: 49-48 Vegas
San Diego Strike Force @ Northern Arizona Wranglers (Saturday 6/29 @ 8:05 PM CT)
The Play: Over 99.5
Pew pew pew points points points plz
Northern Arizona might be the hottest offense in the IFL after posting 74 last week against San Antonio, and we all know how I feel about San Diego.
The Wranglers will start off strong, but this total will be dependent on how well San Diego starts this game -- as we know they will finish the game strong.
Prediction: 55-52 Northern Arizona
Iowa Barnstormers @ Arizona Rattlers (Saturday 6/29 @ 8:05 PM CT)
The Play: Arizona -10.5
Give me the snakes, baby!
Yet another QB change for Iowa for this game, as QB Daniel Smith was released earlier this week and they signed new QB Jairus Grissom. To me, that is a sign of throwing in the towel by Iowa as they go up against an Arizona team fighting for their playoff lives in the West.
Arizona needs this one badly and has a top notch QB-RB combo that should have themselves a DAY.
Prediction: 55-40 Arizona
Quad City Steamwheelers @ Massachusetts Pirates (Monday 7/1 @ 6:05 PM CT)
The Play: Under 88.5
Let this be the most threatening pirate we see this weekend
Both defenses have been playing VERY well the past couple of weeks, while both offenses have been doing just enough to win games. This is a MASSIVE game in the East for playoff implications and one both teams need badly.
I'd expect a VERY physical game between these two that will heat up in the second half, but hopefully stay under
Prediction: 40-38 Massachusetts