IFL Week 8 Picks
- offthewallfbpod
- May 10
- 5 min read
We are in the mid-season stretch in the IFL, where some teams are starting to break away from the pack, some teams are starting spiral and others are still trying to figure out how the pieces of their puzzle go together.
We have some very interesting matchups this week, with a CLEAR game of the week on our hands, but before we dive into this week's slate, let's see how we did last week.
IFL Week 7 Review
Steamwheelers -6.5 - Winner
Quad City wins 55-48, covers
Barnstormers +2.5 - Loser
Jacksonville wins 53-22
Green Bay-Tulsa Under 87.5 - Winner
Combined for 76 points
Rattlers -11.5 - Loser
Tucson wins outright 42-35
Northern Arizona-Vegas Under 87.5 - Winner
Combined for 80 points
San Diego-Bay Area Under 85.5 - Loser
Combined for 91 points
3-3 week isn't the end of the world, but we can do better. The San Diego-Bay Area Under had a fighting chance after a 31 point first half, but Bay Area just exploded in the second half. San Diego just not fielding a kick off in the second half and letting the Panthers recover it for a TD, all of the dropkick XPs... ugh. That was the one that could've pushed us to a winning week.
But nonetheless, we fight on. We've got a six-game slate coming up this weekend.
LET'S FIND SOME WINNERS!
2025 IFL Record: 22-15
Quad City Steamwheelers vs Green Bay Blizzard (Saturday 5/10 @ 3:05PM CT)
The Play: Under 85.5
With the rumor of QB Daquan Neal possibly missing time with an injury in this one, it feels like the Under or even Green Bay ML is the play here. Neal has taken the majority of snaps at QB this year and the offense is due for a stepback if he isn't playing.
Meanwhile, Green Bay is bringing back RB Jalyn Cagle from last season and seems like they are going to go back to having an emphasis on running the ball with Meylor, Cagle & Clarke in the mix.
Quad City's defense is still impressive this year, so I can see this being a game that stays in the 30s for both teams. If Quad City wins, it will be because of the running game and that is going to mean fewer, longer drives for points.
Prediction: 39-36 Green Bay
Iowa Barnstormers vs Tulsa Oilers (Saturday 5/10 @ 7:05PM CT)
The Play: Tulsa -6.5
When this line was first posted by the IFL, it was supposedly at -3.5 -- which is crazy. I still like this line at -6.5 based on the recent run of form for both teams.
Tulsa's defense has been playing great the past couple of weeks and has been able to create turnover opportunities for their offense to capitalize on, while Iowa's offense has shown that they can and will throw multiple interceptions per game.
It feels like this is the early stages of a midseason run for Tulsa and I think we see a big game from TJ Edwards here.
Oilers by double digits.
Prediction: 49-33 Tulsa
Bay Area Panthers vs Arizona Rattlers (Saturday 5/10 @ 8:05PM CT)
The Play: Bay Area ML
Heading into this week, the Rattlers had ELEVEN changes to their roster heading into the biggest game of the year. Arizona is coming off a let down game against Tucson where Dalton Sneed didn't look his best, but he does get a chance to redeem himself against his former team.
Bay Area is just riding a high right now and looking like the most complete team in the league. The defense is swarming and the offense is able to methodically push the ball down the field both on the ground and through the air.
This game should be an absolute banger, but I see the Panthers going home with the W.
Prediction: 48-40 Bay Area
San Antonio Gunslingers vs Vegas Knight Hawks (Saturday 5/10 @ 8:05PM CT)
The Play: Vegas -4.5
The last time these two teams played, it was a 35-28 slugfest in San Antonio where the Gunslingers were in the midst of an identity crisis and figuring things out. They are starting to get there, but I just think they won't have enough to overcome Vegas.
The Knight Hawks are getting WR Caleb Holley off the IR for the first time this year and the WR group from 2024 the 'Flight Club' (Holley, Windham, Randolph) will see the field together for the first time.
Assuming Ja'Rome Johnson gets the start, this should be a comfortable win for Vegas at home.
Prediction: 46-39 Vegas
Massachusetts Pirates vs Tucson Sugar Skulls (Saturday 5/10 @ 8:05PM CT)
The Play: Under 78.5
Both Massachusetts & Tucson come into the year with their games being 4-1 for the Under, and the Sugar Skulls at home turn every game into a mudslinging fist fight -- I don't expect that to change here.
It is also sounding like RB Davonte Sapp-Lynch will miss some time for the Sugar Skulls, so their offensive output might take a hit without their veteran RB.
The Pirates will be playing their first of two consecutive games in the state of Arizona, I'd expect them to get the win here but if we've learned anything about Tucson this year -- it is to expect the unexpected.
Strong defenses + underperforming offenses = Under
Prediction: 40-33 Massachusetts
Northern Arizona Wranglers vs San Diego Strike Force (Sunday 5/11 @ 8:05PM CT)
The Play: Over 81.5
Alright, this is the game that defies conventional logic and I might regret it but HEAR ME OUT DAMNIT:
Northern Arizona Overs are 0-5 on the season -- that is true, but I really liked how the offense started to look last week with new QB Kaleb Lowe at the helm. Give him another week in the system and I think they can break 40 in this game and make this a lot more high scoring than we expect. (I wouldn't be mad at NAZ +10.5 either)
For San Diego, they've had some wideouts trickle back into the lineup after getting hurt early and are realistically in 'now or never' mode to get their offense in gear. This is one where they have to get points on the board and get their offense going in the right direction.
This Strike Force team has yet to break 50+ points and this Wranglers team has yet to break 40+. I think both of those things change this week.
Prediction: 51-43 San Diego
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