IFL kicked off last weekend, and as is tradition, certain bettors (i.e. me) got kicked directly in the teeth:
I had Arizona-Northern Arizona O98.5, and they come out BLAZING with 63 points in the first half. Surely they wouldn't let off the gas and they would finish strong! They were more than 60% of the way there at halftime! EASY!
Woof. Arizona QB Dalton Snead got banged up before halftime and the Rattlers were just looking to hold on to their lead and get out of there with the W -- but didn't even CONSIDER those of us with the Over. Smh.
Then, I had Massachusetts Pirates -4.5, so naturally this happens:
Brutal. This is one of those games where I would rather lose outright than by half a point. But to quote the almighty Chumbawumba: we get knocked down, but we get up again.
2024 IFL Record: 0-2
We're on to Week 2!
Let's find some winners:
Now, we had a couple games already play out on Friday night, and we've already had a couple nail-biters that resulted in great games and some busted bets that I don't want to talk about.
I'm going to be honest with you guys: I'm ice cold to start the season. 0-2 in Week 1, then 0-2 on Friday night Week 2. But that just means that I am DUE. The chaos and volatility of the league is what makes it so entertaining, and as more teams make their season debuts, we'll be learning a lot about them and how we can bet them moving forward.
Reviewing the games so far, I've noticed a startling trend: Unders are 4-0 so far this year
Who is this IFL?! UNDERS?! Believe it or not, every Under has hit to start the year.
Lots of teams are knocking the rust off, and we're getting low scoring first halves as a result. Are Unders the play heading into the rest of Week 2?
Iowa Barnstormers at Green Bay Blizzard (Sat 3/23 at 6:05 PM CT)
The Play: Over 91.5 (-110)
Now I know what you are thinking -- "Didn't you just say Unders are 4-0? Why on Earth would you pick the Over literally seconds after typing that sentence?"
I get it. But so far, all of the teams in those Under games were making their season debuts and knocking the rust off. Green Bay already made their debut last week in a 44-40 loss to Massachusetts, and they had 40 points on the board in 3 quarters. If a couple different plays go their way, they easily score 50+ and cruise to a victory.
Green Bay QB Max Meylor is a true dual threat and will be one of the best players in the league in short yardage situations all year. Green Bay's ground game combination of Meylor & RB EJ Burgess Jr is going to put them in the driver's seat all game.
On the other side, Iowa QB Darius-James Peterson will be back for the Barnstormers after missing all of 2023 with an injury. In addition to looking like a created player on Madden, he's another dual threat veteran who can turn nothing into something -- which is something Iowa desperately needed last season at the QB position.
I think Green Bay puts up 50+ and Iowa will be playing catch up all game. I think we'll end up with a 56-42 type of game.
Jacksonville Sharks at Massachusetts Pirates (Sat 3/23 at 6:05 PM CT)
The Play: Pirates ML (-170)
Does last week's loss still sting? Absolutely. Half point losses are never easy. But I still like the Pirates this week, because this is going to be a very unique situation.
Massachusetts is playing in their second game of the season, while Jacksonville will be making their league debut in the IFL -- playing a different style of football than what they have played the past couple of seasons in the NAL.
The Sharks are always a contender and will get better as the year progresses, but I like the experience and continuity of this Pirates squad (not too mention they already knocked the rust off last week) vs a team that is playing their first game in a new league with a new style of play.
Mix in the blinding Massachusetts Pirates field and this one will be a TREAT.
Vegas Knight Hawks at Arizona Rattlers (Sun 3/24 at 5:05 PM CT)
The Play: Knight Hawks +13.5 (-110)
I really like the skill position players that Vegas has assembled, with former Iowa Barnstormers RB Antonio Wimbush being the biggest addition this offseason. Their level of success is going to come down to who ends up being 'the guy' at QB between Ja'Rome Johnson, Joe Mancuso & Jorge Reyna, but I think they can keep it a one score game with the Rattlers.
Arizona QB Dalton Snead is a little banged up and is a "game time decision" according to Rattler coach Kevin Guy and Arizona even signed a recently retired IFL QB as an insurance policy if Snead were to miss time... meaning he probably will.
Backup QB Garrett Kettle looked rough in the opener vs his former team last week, so I think Vegas can keep it close -- or even snag a W.
San Diego Strike Force at Duke City Gladiators (Mon 3/25 at 7:05 PM CT)
The Play: Strike Force ML (-105)
I really, really like the Strike Force this year. San Diego QB Nate Davis was playing on another level last year once he got settled in after being traded by Duke City, and I think he easily picks up where he left off.
Mix in a former All-IFL teammate of Nate Davis joining them at WR (Dello Davis) AND a revenge game narrative against Davis' former team, Strike Force are going to be a fun watch.
We don't know a lot about Duke City due to radio silence from their website and their social media about their team, but I know enough about San Diego to like them in this matchup.
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