Cold, colder, ice cold, warmer, warmer, WARMER!
Is this a game of 'Hot or Cold'? Nope!
This is how the 6 game slate of IFL Week 2 went for your friends at Off The Wall.
Not gonna lie, this is what it felt like picking some of these early games.
Week 2 in Review
Sioux Falls-Quad City - Sioux Falls +4.5 - Loser
Sioux Falls loses by 6 in OT
Tulsa-Frisco - Over 89.5 - Loser
Combined for 56 points
Iowa-Green Bay - Over 91.5 - Loser
Combined for 59 points
Jacksonville-Massachusetts - Mass ML - Winner
Massachusetts wins by 5
Vegas-Arizona - Vegas Knight Hawks +13.5 - Winner
Vegas wins outright by 2
San Diego-Duke City - San Diego Strike Force ML - Winner
San Diego wins by 6
Sioux Falls was a tough beat and the two Overs simply never had a chance past kickoff. In fact, Total Unders have gone 8-0 so far this season, which is a crazy run to start the season.
Would that have an impact on lines for Week 3?? (spoiler: yes, scroll down)
The good news is we got hot to end Week 2 and we are looking to roll that into Week 3!
2024 IFL Record: 3-5
Let's find some winners:
Sioux Falls Storm @ Massachusetts Pirates (Friday 3/29 @ 6:05 PM CT)
The Play: Over 77.5 (-110)
This pick is either going to make me look like a fool or a genius - nowhere in between.
Yes, Unders are 8-0, but this is the 2nd lowest total of the season so far (2nd only to SA-SD later on in the article.)
Sioux Falls managed to score 32 points last week despite their first half snapping woes that slowed them down. SF QB Billy Hall looked pretty good in his first start and really started to find his groove with things in the 2nd half. If they can simply look presentable in the first half against the Pirates, they can do their part points wise.
Meanwhile, for Massachusetts: QB Alejandro Bennifield looked really good on the deep ball vs Jacksonville, but they didn't have much else working for them on offense. Sioux Falls' secondary wasn't really tested against deep throws last week, and AB15 is going to air it out. RB Jimmie Robinson got some momentum going on the ground last week as well after signing with the team shortly before Week 1 -- so expect him to get on the scoreboard at least once in this game.
Prediction: 48-40 Massachusetts
Duke City Gladiators @ Frisco Fighters (Friday 3/29 @ 7:30 PM CT)
The Play: Under 80.5
Frisco was definitely knocking the rust off last week after they came back to edge out the Oilers in Week 2, but I have not seen enough from them to trust a -13.5 spread just yet. They will get there, but I can't do it yet.
On the other side, Duke City is such an interesting team. I think the key to this game is "Do I trust Duke City to score close to 40?" After last week, I can not confidently answer that with a yes. Their offense looked disjointed at best aside from a couple of big plays.
Combine that with Duke City's secondary playing an outstanding game vs Nate Davis last week, and we could be in for another low scoring slugfest in Frisco.
Prediction: 36-28 Frisco
Tucson Sugar Skulls @ Northern Arizona Wranglers (Saturday 3/30 @ 8:05 PM CT)
The Play: Tucson ML +110
There's a lot we don't know yet about Tucson, but there is a bit that we do know about Northern Arizona.
Yes, they did score 40 in their Week 1 loss to the Rattlers -- but 12 of those points came on Kick Return touchdowns. Their offense did not look very good and they ended up switching QBs in the 2nd half - scoring 2 other TDs when the Rattlers already had a double digit lead and the game under control. Unless they plan on scoring 2 Kick Return TDs per game, I am going to need to see more from their offense.
For Tucson, this will be Billy Back's coaching debut for the team. Billy Back coached teams historically are great at running the football, and he has a major built-in weapon that he inherited on this team in long time Sugar Skulls RB Mike Jones that will be a very, very good fit in his offense. I like Tucson here.
Prediction: 44-35 Tucson
Arizona Rattlers @ Bay Area Panthers (Sunday 3/31 @ 5:05 PM CT)
The Play: Bay Area -1.5
This will be an absolute battle and may even be a potential playoff preview, but how good this game can be ultimately hinges on who starts at QB for Arizona.
Will Dalton Sneed be healthy enough? If not, do you trot Garret Kettle out there again after meh outings vs NAZ & Vegas? Or do you send out the newly signed Lorenzo Brown Jr who made some things happen in the 2nd half and nearly led them to a comeback win?
Bay Area is returning a lot of their key starters from last year and are getting a former IFL MVP at QB this year in Daquan Neal and a big time playmaker in RB Shane Simpson from Quad City. This is probably the one game I'd stay away from on the slate, but I am a man of the people - and the people deserve picks.
Prediction: 44-38 Bay Area
Jacksonville Sharks @ Vegas Knight Hawks (Sunday 3/31 @ 5:05 PM CT)
The Play: Vegas -6.5
Vegas looked great last week. Jacksonville did not.
Prediction: 42-33 Vegas
San Antonio Gunslingers @ San Diego Strike Force (Monday 4/1 @ 8:05 PM CT)
The Play: San Diego -2.5
San Diego didn't play their best game last week, but managed to find a way to win thanks to a boost from their running game and their defense -- two things that were well documented weaknesses in 2023.
If San Diego can get their passing game going and keep their momentum on defense, they should cover -2.5 no problem.
Similar to Jacksonville, I think San Antonio is going to be have some growing pains to begin their tenure in the IFL. San Diego is a tough draw for a first ever IFL game, and putting together a brand new roster from their previously league is going to be a tough challenge against a team that has already played a game together this year and has offensive continuity from last season at QB & Head Coach.
Prediction: 48-32 San Diego
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