ArenaFan Staff & Experts Weigh in On ArenaBowl XXVI
Adam Markowitz
Saturday August 17, 2013
ORLANDO – There have been 21 weeks of grueling Arena Football League action, and it all boils down to what we have on Saturday afternoon at the Amway Center, as the Arizona Rattlers and the Philadelphia Soul duke it out in ArenaBowl XXVI. Kickoff for today's game in Orlando is set for 1:00 p.m. ET, and it will be broadcast on CBS, marking the first time that the ArenaBowl has been played on network TV since being on ABC in 2008.
After a wild week of announcements and a heck of a lot of talk about the first rematch in consecutive years in AFL history, we're down to just this.
Personally speaking, I'm a believer in the Soul in this game. Though there is a first time for everything, there has never been such a thing as a team that has swept a three-game series against a team that has had a record of at least four games above .500, and I think that is going to hold true today. Dan Raudabaugh and the Soul know what they are up against, having faced these Rattlers three times over the course of their last 21 games already, and though all of those games have ended in defeat, today is the day that it all changes. Tiger Jones goes for 180 yards and four TDs, winning Offensive Player of the Game honors along the way, as Philly claims its second Foster Trophy in franchise history, 55-51.
However, don't just take my word for it! We have plenty here in Orlando that we have spoken to which think they know who is winning this game as well. Remember to vote on our front page poll before the game starts, which currently features 66.3 percent of all voters picking the Rattlers to win their second straight title. Below is a list of all of our experts who have weighed in with their predictions for ArenaBowl XXVI.
Adam Markowitz, ArenaFan.com: Philadelphia Soul
Joe Kauffman, ArenaFan.com: Philadelphia Soul
Tim Capper, ArenaFan.com: Philadelphia Soul
Jeff Sims, ArenaFan.com: Arizona Rattlers
Richard Obert, Arizona Republic: Arizona Rattlers
Dave Isaac, Breakthrough Sports Radio: Arizona Rattlers
Jim Robinson, Hall of Fame Advisory Committee Member: Arizona Rattlers
Vaughn Johnson, Philly.com: Philadelphia Soul
Pat O'Hara, Head Coach of the New Orleans VooDoo: Arizona Rattlers
Ryan Eucker, Director of Media Relations of the Spokane Shock: Arizona Rattlers
Ron Selesky, Assistant Coach of the Cleveland Gladiators: Philadelphia Soul
Jeff Bouchy, Owner of the Jacksonville Sharks: Arizona Rattlers
Adrian McPherson, Quarterback of the Tampa Bay Storm: Philadelphia Soul
Aaron Garcia, Quarterback of the Orlando Predators: Arizona Rattlers
Just a reminder once again, for wall-to-wall coverage of ArenaBowl XXVI, you're definitely in the right place here at ArenaFan.com. Be sure to Follow Us On Twitter or join us on our Facebook Page for live updates all night long on scoring, turnovers, stats, notes, quotes, and news.
ArenaFan.com has been covering the Arena Football League for 15 seasons, and personally speaking, this is my 13th ArenaBowl. There are well over 30 ArenaBowls of experience covering this game between all of our ArenaFan staffers at the ArenaBowl, and on behalf of myself, Joe Kauffman, Tim Capper, and Jeff Sims, we can all state that we have had a blast bringing you coverage of ArenaBowl XXVI, and we are looking forward to a great game on Saturday afternoon.
