05-03-2023, 05:12 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-08-2023, 10:31 AM by xenosthelegend. Edited 1 time in total.)
AW Predictions:
Week 9
Matchup: Colorado Yeti (3-5) at New Orleans Second Line (1-7)
Predicted winner:
Why: Yes, NOLA has been awful this season through 8 games and has a point differential of -140 on the year so it is definitely hard to pick them or have confidence picking them in any matchup. However, I like them in this matchup for some reason. With home field advantage for the Second Line and the Yeti being most likely the worst team they have played so far this season while debatable, I think it can be a close game. New Orleans went on the road and beat San Jose earlier this season so they can win, and I detailed the punting matchup in that win and why Dos Santos was the MVP of that game. New Orleans has scored 2 more points this season than Colorado so the offenses are close in talent and while New Orleans defense has been the worst defense in terms of points this season, they get a chance to go against a weak offense. Like their win against San Jose, this matchup of two bad offenses could be a big punting matchup and I will take New Orleans' punter in the matchup and some timely scores and field position could give the Second Line a close win.
Predicted score: 23-21
Matchup: Yellowknife Wraiths (6-2) at Orange County Otters (5-3)
Predicted winner:
Why: This is a matchup of two teams that have been solid out of the gate but I think Yellowknife has been the better of the two teams here. The Wraiths sport the best defense this season giving up only 16.4 points per game which is tops in their conference and in the entire ISFL. Most importantly here, the rushing game and rush defense could be a huge X-factor in this game. Yellowknife has the best rushing offense in the entire league and NFSC best rushing defense (2nd best in the ISFL). Orange County features the best AFSC rushing offense but that may not be enough against this defense. If you include Orange County's 2nd to last pass offense in the ISFL and their 10th best rush defense against the run in the league, you can see it may be a matchup issue despite having home field in this game.
Predicted score: 31-20
Matchup: Baltimore Hawks (3-5) at San Jose Sabercats (4-4)
Predicted winner:
Why: This matchup should be extremely close and it is a bit reverse from the matchup talked about above featuring strong rushing offenses as the passing games may feature in this one. Baltimore brings the best passing offense in the league into this matchup while San Jose sports the 4th best pass defense in the ISFL which means something has to budge and the defense is what I am picking here. The reason I am picking San Jose here is because the defense should hold up enough against the Hawks pass offense but also, the Hawks carry the worst pass defense in the league which should allow San Jose's 6th best pass offense to play above their means and QB Owen Farrell should be able to sling it around on Baltimore. It will come down to 2 teams trying to stop the opposing QBs from killing them but with the better pass defense and home field advantage, give me the cats in a high scoring game.
Predicted score: 44-34
Matchup: Berlin Fire Salamanders (1-7) at New York Silverbacks (3-5)
Predicted winner:
Why: This one is not the premier matchup this week as the lowly Berlin team heads to New York to take on the Silverbacks. Berlin will attempt to slow this game down and play their football which is old school punt and play defense it seems as they have the worst offense in the ISFL. New York, while not a great team so far, with a negative point differential and below average offense and defense, they are at risk a bit here. However, with home field advantage and the ability to move the ball a bit better than Berlin, I predict they do just enough to win. I think Berlin is able to play their game but don't do enough to win it here.
Predicted score: 17-12
Matchup: Sarasota Sailfish (5-3) at Arizona Outlaws (3-5)
Predicted winner:
Why: This one was a tossup for me because I think the Arizona that people have expected vs what they have shown this season have been two very different things. Obviously, with a lot of people predicting them to be good, Arizona might be a better team than they have shown and coming off a decent win on the road against Chicago, maybe they can turn it around. I don't really have a great reason for predicting this one as Sarasota has been the better team this season with the 2nd best passing offense in the ISFL. However, Arizona needs to show up here or face further disappointment and I think they get it together for whatever reason. I don't love the pick but with home field and maybe a team that can be better than they have been, I am going with it and sticking to it.
Predicted score: 29-23
Matchup: Chicago Butchers (5-3) at Honolulu Hahalua (7-1)
Predicted winner:
Why: Honolulu proved they were human last week losing their first game with a loss against the Hawks in Baltimore. Honolulu gives up a lot of yards on defense but not many points so they rely on a bend don't break defense which can be scary and maybe volatile. However, they score the most points in the entire ISFL which is impressive as well. Chicago, at 5-3, still has a negative point differential so they might be getting slightly lucky. With home field and a number one offense, give me Honolulu in a bounce back with a big win.
Predicted score: 37-19
Matchup: Cape Town Crash (6-2) at Austin Copperheads (4-4)
Predicted winner:
Why: I am pretty tired of typing so, with apologies to these teams, no small bit of breakdown. The Crash are one of the best teams this season so far and while Austin is okay and has home field, I still like Cape Town in this matchup.
Predicted score: 22-16
Week 9
Matchup: Colorado Yeti (3-5) at New Orleans Second Line (1-7)
Predicted winner:
Why: Yes, NOLA has been awful this season through 8 games and has a point differential of -140 on the year so it is definitely hard to pick them or have confidence picking them in any matchup. However, I like them in this matchup for some reason. With home field advantage for the Second Line and the Yeti being most likely the worst team they have played so far this season while debatable, I think it can be a close game. New Orleans went on the road and beat San Jose earlier this season so they can win, and I detailed the punting matchup in that win and why Dos Santos was the MVP of that game. New Orleans has scored 2 more points this season than Colorado so the offenses are close in talent and while New Orleans defense has been the worst defense in terms of points this season, they get a chance to go against a weak offense. Like their win against San Jose, this matchup of two bad offenses could be a big punting matchup and I will take New Orleans' punter in the matchup and some timely scores and field position could give the Second Line a close win.
Predicted score: 23-21
Matchup: Yellowknife Wraiths (6-2) at Orange County Otters (5-3)
Predicted winner:
Why: This is a matchup of two teams that have been solid out of the gate but I think Yellowknife has been the better of the two teams here. The Wraiths sport the best defense this season giving up only 16.4 points per game which is tops in their conference and in the entire ISFL. Most importantly here, the rushing game and rush defense could be a huge X-factor in this game. Yellowknife has the best rushing offense in the entire league and NFSC best rushing defense (2nd best in the ISFL). Orange County features the best AFSC rushing offense but that may not be enough against this defense. If you include Orange County's 2nd to last pass offense in the ISFL and their 10th best rush defense against the run in the league, you can see it may be a matchup issue despite having home field in this game.
Predicted score: 31-20
Matchup: Baltimore Hawks (3-5) at San Jose Sabercats (4-4)
Predicted winner:
Why: This matchup should be extremely close and it is a bit reverse from the matchup talked about above featuring strong rushing offenses as the passing games may feature in this one. Baltimore brings the best passing offense in the league into this matchup while San Jose sports the 4th best pass defense in the ISFL which means something has to budge and the defense is what I am picking here. The reason I am picking San Jose here is because the defense should hold up enough against the Hawks pass offense but also, the Hawks carry the worst pass defense in the league which should allow San Jose's 6th best pass offense to play above their means and QB Owen Farrell should be able to sling it around on Baltimore. It will come down to 2 teams trying to stop the opposing QBs from killing them but with the better pass defense and home field advantage, give me the cats in a high scoring game.
Predicted score: 44-34
Matchup: Berlin Fire Salamanders (1-7) at New York Silverbacks (3-5)
Predicted winner:
Why: This one is not the premier matchup this week as the lowly Berlin team heads to New York to take on the Silverbacks. Berlin will attempt to slow this game down and play their football which is old school punt and play defense it seems as they have the worst offense in the ISFL. New York, while not a great team so far, with a negative point differential and below average offense and defense, they are at risk a bit here. However, with home field advantage and the ability to move the ball a bit better than Berlin, I predict they do just enough to win. I think Berlin is able to play their game but don't do enough to win it here.
Predicted score: 17-12
Matchup: Sarasota Sailfish (5-3) at Arizona Outlaws (3-5)
Predicted winner:
Why: This one was a tossup for me because I think the Arizona that people have expected vs what they have shown this season have been two very different things. Obviously, with a lot of people predicting them to be good, Arizona might be a better team than they have shown and coming off a decent win on the road against Chicago, maybe they can turn it around. I don't really have a great reason for predicting this one as Sarasota has been the better team this season with the 2nd best passing offense in the ISFL. However, Arizona needs to show up here or face further disappointment and I think they get it together for whatever reason. I don't love the pick but with home field and maybe a team that can be better than they have been, I am going with it and sticking to it.
Predicted score: 29-23
Matchup: Chicago Butchers (5-3) at Honolulu Hahalua (7-1)
Predicted winner:
Why: Honolulu proved they were human last week losing their first game with a loss against the Hawks in Baltimore. Honolulu gives up a lot of yards on defense but not many points so they rely on a bend don't break defense which can be scary and maybe volatile. However, they score the most points in the entire ISFL which is impressive as well. Chicago, at 5-3, still has a negative point differential so they might be getting slightly lucky. With home field and a number one offense, give me Honolulu in a bounce back with a big win.
Predicted score: 37-19
Matchup: Cape Town Crash (6-2) at Austin Copperheads (4-4)
Predicted winner:
Why: I am pretty tired of typing so, with apologies to these teams, no small bit of breakdown. The Crash are one of the best teams this season so far and while Austin is okay and has home field, I still like Cape Town in this matchup.
Predicted score: 22-16
Former players:
QB Joliet Christ Jr. (HON/BER) (1x Ultimus Champ)
WR Deondre Thomas-Fox (SJS) (2x Ultimus Champ)
QB Joliet L. Christ (SJS) (Hall of Fame) (1x Ultimus Champ)