ArenaFan Playoff Picks

Andy Lopusnak
Friday June 27, 2008

Not to let the Guru and Magic 8-Ball have all the fun, the ArenaFan staff will be joining these two seers of seers and prognosticators of prognosticators. It’s time for these ten heroic members of the ArenaFan family (and a round black piece of plastic) to show that they’re not just pretty faces that can write elegant prose about the world’s best sport, but have the mad skills to pick some games.

But first, let’s meet the eleven Arena Football legends that will put their necks on the line each week during the playoffs for entertainment purposes only.

Chip Burch – Grand Rapids beat writer since 2005 and local radio reporter.

Will Burge – works at the flagship home of the Cleveland Gladiators and is the team’s beat writer.

Matt Eichenblatt – Georgia beat writer and Force season ticket holder since the team moved there in 2002.

Joe Kauffman – the Hugh Hefner of ArenaFan. And yes, he does wear the smoking jacket.

Andy Lopusnak – San Jose beat writer, Getty Images photographer and Breaking it Down author. 

Adam Markowitz – he’s the Guru and the Predators’ beat writer.

Jeff Simms – Chicago beat writer since 2004.

Scott Smithey – Dallas beat writer since the team’s inception.

Randy Snow – the senior ArenaFan writer with over 100 articles posted on the site and a Grand Rapids beat writer since 2003, and season ticket holder since 2001.

Fran Stuchbury – Host of ArenaZone and was an original host of ArenaFan Radio.

Magic 8-Ball – a strangely correct inanimate object. 

Here’s a little breakdown of how these eleven AFL giants did in their selections.

·         All eleven said Dallas would win.

·         Seven selected Cleveland, Arizona and Utah as winners.

·         Five of the ten writers involved were team writers for teams playing this weekend – two picked that their respective teams would lose (Burch, Markowitz).

 NEW YORK AT DALLAS

Simms: Is Aaron Garcia healthy enough to make an impact? Dallas still wants a playoff win and will get one here.

Burch: The Dragons back-doored their way into the playoffs with uninspired offensive performances the last two games. A third game against Dallas should be no different than the first two.

Markowitz: The losing coach of this game might end up being the third coach shown the door by his team already this season, and I just can’t imagine that Will McClay and the Desperados will fold under this pressure.

Eichenblatt: While I don't think they are championship material, the talent on the Desperados roster far exceeds that of the Dragons.

Lopusnak: Once, twice, three times a Dallas win! Dallas is too strong and too hungry. The Desperados have been the best team in the regular season for the past three seasons and need to prove they can win when it matters.

Snow: Dallas has too much talent not to win

ORLANDO AT CLEVELAND

Markowitz: Even though I’d love to think that my Preds can find a way to get it done and march one step closer towards the ArenaBowl, I just don’t see it. 

Eichenblatt: The Cinderella season for the Gladiators ends before it really starts. Orlando has playoff experience, and matches up well against the Glads.

Burch: Even though the Predators couldn't stop the Gladiators in their previous meeting, experience should win out here, as the Preds have been to the playoffs every year since 1992.

Lopusnak: Since most of the Preds’ games have come down to the final play this season, this will be no different; however, the Glads will win it in thanks to Raymond Philyaw and Otis Amey.

Simms: Orlando has to beat itself first. You can't do that come playoff time. Cleveland wins.

Snow: Too much playoff experience for Orlando

GRAND RAPIDS AT ARIZONA

Burch: The Rattlers have the defense to stop the Rampage, but the Rampage doesn't have the defense to stop the Rattlers, despite what happened in their meeting earlier this season.

Eichenblatt: Setting up to be the most boring AFL playoff game of all time, Arizona runs away from Grand Rapids who are just excited to be in the playoffs for the first time in years.

Markowitz: There’s got to be one upset in the first round, and though this is probably the trendiest of the picks, it’s where I’m going. 

Simms: Does the team that has put up over 70 points per game show up? Yes it does.

Lopusnak: The Rampage was the only team to make the playoffs without a win against an opponent with a winning record and has never won a playoff game on the road. This trend continues.

Snow: If Grand Rapids plays like its capable of, the Rampage can beat the Rattlers.   

UTAH @COLORADO

Lopusnak: What a thrilling moment for the sport! Two 6-10 teams batting it out in the playoffs! Colorado was lucky to even make it, while Utah won six of its last seven to squeak into the dance after starting 0-9. Utah gets this one. Watch out Chicago!

Markowitz: Utah may be the best “sleeper pick” out of the American Conference to unseat Chicago and San Jose.  They’re hot, winners of six of their last seven games, and have the third best offense in the conference (4th in the AFL). 

Simms: Just like Grand Rapids, the team that can put up the points will win here too.

Snow: Home field is the difference in this game

Burch: While I don't expect the Crush to turn the ball over three times like they did against the Blaze earlier this season, the Blaze is rolling with four straight wins and should make it five.

Eichenblatt: For a 6-10 team, Colorado is looking pretty darn good right now. For now their 'hot-streak' should run to three, but for the sake of league credibility, pray they don't advance past round two.