IFL Week 19
- Trey
- Jul 25
- 5 min read
THE REGULAR SEASON FINALE. IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS!
...well, kinda. The 8 playoff spots are already claimed heading into this week, it's just a matter of what seeds 3 & 4 look like in the West and where the dust will settle for 1-4 in the East. Gonna be an exciting weekend of action, but before we dive into that let's take a look at our picks from Week 18:
6-1!
LET'S ROLL Y'ALL. Are we back? Like, back-back? Idk, but we'll take it.
An unbelievable miracle Over cover by Northern Arizona & Vegas was the cherry on top of a tremendous weekend of picks. Let's see if we can replicate that success for the final week of the regular season.
LET'S FIND SOME WINNERS!
2025 IFL Record: 51-47
Bay Area Panthers vs Massachusetts Pirates (Friday 7/25 - 7:05pm ET)
The Play: Under 78.5
The poor Bay Area Panthers are making the longest trek possible in the IFL, going from San Jose, CA to Lowell, MA in the final week of the regular season, all for a game that (for all intents and purposes) means nothing. Panthers have the number one seed in the West locked up regardless of the outcome of this game, so that makes me think we see a more conservative approach on offense and not as much Josh Jones at QB.
These are two of the best defenses in the league and it seems like this is gonna more of a drawn out slugfest than if the game was happening in Weeks 1-17. The spread feels like a trap with the uncertainty of who's gonna play for how long, so give me the Under here.
Prediction: 40-35 Bay Area
Iowa Barnstormers vs Fishers Freight (Friday 7/25 - 7:05pm ET)
The Play: Over 92.5
Death. Taxes. Iowa Overs.
Iowa Overs are hitting at an astonishing 80% clip this season and I will be damned if I go against it now. All time bad defense vs a Fishers offense that has been lighting it up as of late? Points, points, points.
Prediction: 52-45 Fishers
Green Bay Blizzard vs Jacksonville Sharks (Saturday 7/26 - 7:05pm ET)
The Play: Green Bay +1.5
This game features two teams that have had very different final 4 weeks of the season. Green Bay's stock continues to rise behind future IFL MVP Max Meylor at QB, while the Sharks have had a lot of trouble getting the passing game going.
Green Bay has a shot at the number one seed with a win and this offense is more than capable of laying in on teams -- in fact, the last time these teams squared off, the Blizzard won emphatically 75-43 and made some Jacksonville Sharks really, really mad! (boo fucking who)
Green Bay is hot and has a lot more to play for, and depending on how this weekend shakes out we could get a rematch in the first round of the playoffs between these two teams. Give me Blizz ball!
Prediction: 54-41 Green Bay
Northern Arizona Wranglers vs San Antonio Gunslingers (Saturday 7/26 - 7:05pm ET)
The Play: Over 79.5
Now, this game on paper does not look that great. These two teams are a combined 6-24 on the season and 2025 simply has not been kind to them. These offenses haven't been great throughout the year (ranking 13th & 14th in PPG -- out of 14 teams) and are kinda limping across the finish line.
So why take the over? Because science is liar sometimes! Walk with me.
Are these offense not great throughout the season? Yes. But those year long statistics include the early portions of the season where there were entirely different QBs running the show for each team. Since QB Ramon Atkins has been in the mix, NAZ is averaging 41.6 PPG (+5.7 on their year long average), while SA is averaging 38.1 PPG since QB Joaquin Collazo got the starting nod (+5.5 on their year long average).
These offenses have been performing much better in the back half of the season and these defenses are prone to getting lit up. Also, gonna be a major 'tryout game' for a ton of these guys to get tape for free agency for this offseason. Point, points, POINTS!
Prediction: 54-50 Northern Arizona
Tulsa Oilers vs Quad City Steamwheelers (Saturday 7/26 - 7:05pm ET)
The Play: Tulsa +4.5
As a starting QB in the year 2025, Sam Castronova is 14-0. This Tulsa offense is getting into gear and looking really great to perfectly compliment their defense that has been playing really great football for most of the season.
Quad City is a damn good football team that is capable of making a run, and they need a win to secure the number one seed. But it feels like the Oilers have all the moment on their side at the moment.
Quad City was able to come back against a toothless Iowa team last week after falling in an early double digit hole. If they fall behind at all in this one, it's gonna be a much different story. I like Tulsa plus the points.
Oil 'em up!
Prediction: 49-43 Tulsa
Tucson Sugar Skulls vs Vegas Knight Hawks (Saturday 7/26 - 7:05pm ET)
The Play: Vegas -6.5
I can't quit Vegas. I just can't. I love the roster and love the direction they are headed on offense heading into the playoffs.
A win here to potentially get the 3 seed would put and I think we get a full 60 from the Vegas starters to put themselves in a position to get a rematch of the first round of the 2024 playoffs against Arizona. QB Jayden De Laura is a great passer and really facilitates this offense and I think we see them keep their foot on the gas to keep building.
Tucson has just fallen off big time the past couple weeks after being in a spot to potentially clinch a playoff spot, and we probably see a rotation of different guys to get PT and film heading into the offseason. Vegas to cover, let's ride.
Prediction: 53-40 Vegas
Arizona Rattlers vs San Diego Strike Force (Sunday 7/27 - 9:05pm ET)
The Play: Under 85.5
This game is a tricky one. Arizona has nothing to play for while San Diego clinches the three seed with a win. It feels like this is going to a be run heavy game for the Rattlers and only a handful of drives in the first half, resulting in a lower scoring first & second quarter -- then the pace picks up in the second half.
Do we see Dalton Sneed on a pitch count, with Drew Powell making an appearance? Do we see Nate Davis on a pitch count, with Rudy Johnson spelling at QB?
This game probably goes Over in Weeks 3-16, but this feels like an Under game to close out the regular season. Let's go defense!
Prediction: 43-40 Arizona
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