IFL Week 9 Picks
- Trey
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Chapter Nine of #TheIndoorWar is upon and we have a lovely little five-game slate that features some pretty important Eastern Conference matchups that we may look back as turning points for teams as the season progresses.
But before we dive into the picks for this week, let's review the week that was in Week 8:
IFL Week 8 Review
Fishers -4.5 - Loser
Green Bay wins outright 57-52
QC-Iowa Under 88.5 - Winner
Combined for 60 points
Jacksonville -18.5 - Loser
Jacksonvile wins 43-32, New Mexico covers
SD-TUL Over 88.5 - Winner
Combined for 93 points
Tucson -1.5 - Loser
San Antonio wins outright 35-17
Arizona +10.5 - Loser
Vegas wins & covers, 56-42
The hot streak comes to a screeching halt as we turn in a 2-4 card on the week. Tucson was probably one of the worst picks of the season in hindsight looking at how the week transpired leading into that one. Hand up, that one's on me.
But the success of a season does live or die with one singular week, we gotta put the L behind us like we're MNOP and look to Week 9.
The good news is we are starting off 1-0 already, so let's keep the momentum flowing and LET'S FIND SOME WINNERS
2026 IFL Record: 27-14
Quad City Steamwheelers @ Green Bay Blizzard (Friday 5/8 @ 8:00PM ET)
The Play: Over 89.5
"But Trey, this game already happened. What are we doing here?" Yes that is correct, but may I present you with the following:
To get back on the right football, sometimes you just gotta see one through go through the hoop to get hot again and we're off to a 1-0 start.
Fishers Freight @ Orlando Pirates (Saturday 5/9 @ 6:00PM ET)
The Play: Orlando +8.5
Orlando is coming off of a bye week in which they've made some wholesale changes to the tune of 12 roster moves and 4 coaching staff additions, which is a little wild but very on-brand for the Pirates as an organization historically.
Fishers is undefeated this year against teams not named the Blizzard are going to be a very tough matchup for Orlando, but I think the Pirates are a little better suited to keep this one close than people may think.
Has the Pirates offense been awful? Yes, but where they have been awful is in the secondary. Fishers is a team that is very heavy on running the ball and that works in the Pirates favor because the defensive front is a strength for them. Fishers doesn't pass nearly as much as other teams in the leagues and that might be what keeps Orlando in this game.
I think Fishers still wins, but have the feeling that Orlando can keep this one within one possession and could potentially steal this one at home.
Prediction: 48-44 Fishers
San Antonio Gunslingers @ Northern Arizona Wranglers (Saturday 5/9 @ 9:00PM ET)
The Play: San Antonio -7.5
San Antonio's defense has been playing really good football the past few weeks, but it kinda begs the question is because of who they are or who they played?
I think it's a combination of both, but lucky for them they get a NAZ team that they held to 14 a few weeks back and will be going back to the drawing board with a flurry of moves including some changes at the QB position.
QB Fred Payton has been playing pretty good the past few weeks and will look to build on that success in this one to get their 3rd straight win. GunzUp!
Prediction: 41-33 San Antonio
Tulsa Oilers @ Jacksonville Sharks (Sunday 5/10 @ 4:00PM ET)
The Play: Tulsa +4.5
I hate how much I like this spot for Tulsa. The Oilers offense has looked really great this season with TJ Edwards throwing it all over the yard and WR Jerminic Smith catching double digit balls seemingly every other game.
This feels like a major turning point in the season for Tulsa and this might be the most important game of the season. The difference between 3-3 & 2-4 is massive in a crowded Eastern Conference and is teetering on the edge of must-win to keep up with the pack.
For Jacksonville, I'm still not 100% sold yet. They narrowly beat out New Mexico last week and clobbered Orlando within the past month, but their inability to get a running game going with Jimmie Robinson is concerning.
We'll be in the building for this one and I am sure I will hear it from certain people picking against the ol' Sharks, but gimme TJ & the Oilers plus points. Maybe sprinkle a little change on the +145 ML.
Prediction: 53-46 Tulsa
Tucson Sugar Skulls @ Arizona Rattlers (Sunday 5/10 @ 7:30PM ET)
The Play: Under 87.5
This Arizona team is going to be coming in with bad intentions after how last week unraveled in Vegas and this is a tough spot for this Tucson team that is looking for an offensive identity with a new QB in the mix.
Arizona is going to dictate the tempo of this game with their running game trio of Meylor-Clarke-Brown and it seems like we're gonna see some long drives out of them, but this Tucson defense has been playing really, really well despite the shortcomings on the Sugar Skulls offense.
Feels like Tucson's defense will give them a chance early, but it will be on Taz Wilson's ability to get the ball to their playmakers that will determine their fate. Gimme the Under in a run-heavy affair that has Arizona winning by double digits.
Prediction: 45-35 Arizona
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