Some people are saying that Off The Wall is starting to get loose and feeling good about their picks -- I'm not saying this, but people are saying this.
Week 3 we turned in a 3-3 card, which in itself isn't great but showing some progress!
It's hard to win in this league, and with the curse of the Unders finally being broken, we may be on the verge of a scoring renaissance these next couple of weeks as teams start to find their groove on offense.
Week 3 in Review
Sioux Falls-Massachusetts - Over 77.5 - Winner
Combined for 90 points
Duke City-Frisco - Under 80.5 - Loser
Combined for 89 points
Tucson-Northern Arizona - Tucson ML - Loser
Northern Arizona wins by 6
Arizona-Bay Area - Bay Area -1.5 - Winner
Bay Area wins by 6
Jacksonville-Vegas - Vegas -6.5 - Loser
Vegas wins by 6
San Antonio-San Diego - San Diego -2.5 - Winner
San Diego wins by 8
Overall 3-3 on the week, with Vegas barely missing by half a point and San Diego covering in all time classic on the very last play of the game. Duke City-Frisco had some quick scores in the first half that immediately put the Under in danger, but if me falling on the sword of an Under pick is what it took to break the curse -- YOU'RE WELCOME EVERYONE ELSE!
Let's keep up this momentum and head into Week 4.
2024 IFL Record: 6-8
Let's find some winners:
Northern Arizona Wranglers @ San Antonio Gunslingers (Saturday 4/6 @ 6:05 PM CT)
The Play: Gunslingers +2.5
I am not passing up an opportunity to include a Sam Elliott gif.
Sam Castranova & the San Antonio offense looked fantastic in Week 1 against San Diego and simply ran out of time. If they had 20 more seconds on the clock, they are probably walking into this matchup 1-0. Most teams in the IFL this year looked rusty in their first game of the season, but the Gunslingers looked to be in midseason form already.
This will also be the first road trip of the year for the Northern Arizona Wranglers & the home debut for San Antonio, so I love taking the homedog in this spot.
Prediction: 52-46 Gunslingers
Bay Area Panthers @ Jacksonville Sharks (Saturday 4/6 @ 6:05 PM CT)
The Play: Sharks +8.5
Man, these out of context gifs are wild.
On paper, this seems like Bay Area should absolutely roll the Jacksonville -- which is why I am picking Jacksonville to cover. The Sharks are currently 2-0 ATS this season thanks to a tough defense and an offense that is finding its groove. Sharks WR Kamrin Solomon made his season debut last week and he was a huge difference maker for that offense that couldn't get much going in their first game.
Sharks are in a unique spot where they are homedogs in their home debut in a new league with a great home field atmosphere. Albeit the Panthers are likely to still win, but it may be closer than you think -- dare I say sprinkle a little bit on the Sharks ML at +235??* Hmmmm
*not an official pick and will not count towards the IFL Record for the year but you gotta admit it is an interesting spot
Prediction: 48-45 Panthers
Tucson Sugar Skulls @ Duke City Gladiators (Saturday 4/6 @ 7:05 PM CT)
The Play: Sugar Skulls -4.5
ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNO-SKULL
This is probably the toughest game of the week to pick. Duke City is so close to breaking through and putting it all together, but they will need to get out of their own way for 4 full quarters in order to beat Tucson.
Sugar Skulls QB Mylik Mitchell looked great running the ball in his IFL debut last week, but will need to make plays through the air in order to keep defenses honest against him in coverage. The first game rust has been knocked off the Sugar Skulls, and I think they go into Albuquerque and cover against the Gladiators.
Prediction: 48-41 Sugar Skulls
Green Bay Blizzard @ Quad City Steamwheelers (Saturday 4/6 @ 7:05 PM CT)
The Play: Over 85.5
We like points and we don't care who knows it!
Both teams are coming off of a bye this past week and will be looking to have their first offensive explosions of the week. Green Bay was able to score 40 in 3 quarters in Week 1, but the wheels fell off towards the end and they couldn't sustain drives or get in the end zone in the 4th, while Quad City managed to escape Week 2 with a victory in overtime.
I expect both teams to look improved on offense -- with Green Bay QB Max Meylor probably getting in the end zone a couple times and Quad City WR Jarrod Harrington to get involved early and often.
Prediction: 53-46 Steamwheelers
Iowa Barnstormers @ Tulsa Oilers (Saturday 4/6 @ 7:05 PM CT)
The Play: Over 77.5
Keep drilling for points! Drill baby drill!
There's a couple reasons why I like this play:
It's the lowest point total on the board this week.
These teams played twice last season when both offenses were quite frankly not very good and they scored 102 in their first matchup in Iowa & 88 in their second matchup in Tulsa.
We've also go a revenge game narrative at play here -- Oilers QB Daniel Smith started five games for the Barnstormers last season before coming to Tulsa in the offseason. Idk if there is bad blood here but for the purposes of this narrative I am declaring that there is!
I think Tulsa -7 is a little high, but both offenses can achieve the Over 77.5 if they continue to build off of their season debut performances.
Prediction: 45-40 Oilers
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