Beat the Guru: AFL Week 8

Adam Markowitz
Thursday May 20, 2010

What a wild week of Arena Football action we had in Week 7! Two major underdogs (Orlando and Iowa) found ways to win their games and win them outright by huge numbers, while several teams were left trying to pick up the pieces from a disappointing and unexpected effort.

I'm honestly still stewing over my lackluster efforts in recent weeks as well. With the Spokane game ending as a push on the spread that we used of -5, I only managed to go 3-3 against the spread in this crazy game. Even though he's floating around in Jolly Ole England right now, props definitely need to go all the way across the pond to Andy Lopusnak, who posted the first perfect week at 6-0, and even picked a perfect final score in the Spokane/Oklahoma City game! Damn, I can't even say that I'm coming in first on the ArenaFan staff for the season and longer... Honorable mentions go out to fluence21, Thrash13, kryscio23, and rattlersforever for all posting 4-2 weeks.

Disclaimer: This information should be used for entertainment purposes only.  Should you choose to actually lay real money on these games, that’s purely your choice, and neither I nor ArenaFan are responsible. Lines courtesy of Bookmaker Sportsbook as of Thursday afternoon.

Milwaukee Iron (-7) @ Orlando Predators: Nothing like playing your second home game in Week 8! For those of you that have been close to me, you know my feelings on this game. QB Chris Greisen is infinite times better than anyone that Orlando has seen at quarterback since Week 3 against Jacksonville. I wouldn't be overly shocked to see records fall on Friday night in the Jungle, as the Preds' defense is just overmatched beyond belief. Hope to have to eat some crow next week, but I know what's coming in this one... Milwaukee has to be angry with even remotely coming close to losing to Utah last week.

Guru's Pick: P.O.'d Iron by 31

Arizona Rattlers (+1) @ Iowa Barnstormers: The NFL Network crew has to be tired of traveling to the cornfields of Iowa, as this is their third visit there this season. Arizona comes to town off of a bye week. It's pretty clear that the Rats are good enough to be 4-1 right now, while Iowa has maxed out its potential at 3-3. The oddsmakers know what they're doing with this one. The Pillsbury Dough Boy, aka QB Ryan Vena, could struggle against this defense all night long.

Guru's Pick: Upset Special, Zona by a tuddy

Cleveland Gladiators (+3) @ Jacksonville Sharks: Toughest game on the board of the week. The Sharks are red hot right now, and if not for HC Dean Cokinos coming up with that onside kick strategy for Alabama, they may be undefeated. Still, Cleveland has sort of started to figure it out, as QB John Dutton can no longer take the nickname of "Four Pick." Could it be four in a row for the Glads? It's very possible, but we're still inclined to think that J'Ville is where it's at right now.

Guru's Pick: Shark Attack by just 1

Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (+6.5) @ Tulsa Talons: Spokane HC Rob Keefe nearly was outcoached by the un-outcoachable last week, as OKC HC Sparky McEwen nearly pulled off a huge comeback in what would've been an improbable victory for the Yard Dawgz. But as it is, another game, another loss for Sparky and the gang, and now they're hitting the road. Even though the Talons feel like they play every game down to the wire, the ultimately equalizer has been put into play: Sparky's two career road victories.

Guru's Pick: Talons by 12

Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings (+7.5) vs. Alabama Vipers: If QB Kevin Eakin can't play, is there any hope for Alabama. In a word: Nope.

Guru's Pick: Not-such-an-upset, Upset Special, Wings by 6

Chicago Rush (-5) @ Dallas Vigilantes: Word on the street in Dallas is that things are a mess. Word on the stat sheet seconds the motion. The Vigilantes are just a train wreck right now, and the only team that they have the ability of beating is Oklahoma City. However, Chicago isn't exactly smelling like roses right here either. What was up with that loss at home to Iowa? No matter how hard of a time I have backing Chicago laying points on the road right now, there's no way that I'm getting in the way of this avalanche that's spilling all over the place in Dallas either.

Guru's Pick: Rumblin' Rush by 6

Utah Blaze (+12) @ Spokane Shock: How appropriate. The coaches that both qualified for Dubious Distinctions this week get to face off in Spokane on Saturday night. I can just picture Keefe going up to Utah HC Ernesto Purnsley and saying to him before the game, "Man, you really screwed that one up last week, didn't ya?" Difference here: Purnsley probably learned his lesson. Keefe still beat Oklahoma City and probably didn't learn his. Upset much?

Guru's Pick: Upset Special, Fire Dawgz by 1

Recap

Milwaukee -7
Arizona +1
Cleveland +3
Tulsa -6.5
Bossier-Shreveport +7.5
Chicago -5
Utah +12

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