ArenaFan Playoff Picks – Divisional Round
Andy Lopusnak
Saturday July 5, 2008
One week down and the ArenaFan staff are all licking their wounds from a whipping in the first week of playoff picks. No one had a winning record, though four individuals went 2-2. Six more had just one win (including yours truly) and one ArenaFan writer went winless. Being gamers, they’re back for more potential punishment with the second installment of picks for the divisional round.
Ten of last week’s eleven are back and two more contestants have joined the mix - Soul beat writer Jason Moyer is joining the fun after missing last week with the lame of excuse of not having computer access when he was on vacation (or as I suspect working on Bon Jovi’s newest album). Milwaukee’s finest, John Hoh, also has tossed his hat into the prediction game after his Wild Card picks got lost in the mail.
Of the now dirty dozen in the field, all eleven humans took the SaberCats (the Magic 8-Ball decided to be difficult and didn’t want everyone to have a complete sweep like the Dallas debacle last week). Just three took the Rampage and its laughable 6-10 regular season record to upset the top seed in the American Conference (this with both Grand Rapids beat writers going against their team). Philadelphia was nearly a unanimous choice (eleven of the twelve took the Soul). However, the game that had the most differences was the Cleveland-Georgia matchup (five chose the underdog Gladiators, while seven tooktheForce).
ArenaFan Staff
|
Record
|
COL@SJ
|
NY@PHI
|
GR@CHI
|
CLE@GEO
|
Chip Burch |
0-4 |
San Jose |
Philadelphia |
Chicago |
Georgia |
Will Burge |
2-2 |
San Jose |
Philadelphia |
Chicago |
Georgia |
Matt Eichenblatt |
1-3 |
San Jose |
New York |
Chicago |
Georgia |
Joe Kauffman |
2-2 |
San Jose |
Philadelphia |
Grand Rapids |
Georgia |
Andy Lopusnak |
1-3 |
San Jose |
Philadelphia |
Grand Rapids |
Georgia |
Adam Markowitz |
2-2 |
San Jose |
Philadelphia |
Grand Rapids |
Cleveland |
Jason Moyer |
N/A |
San Jose |
Philadelphia |
Chicago |
Cleveland |
Jeff Sims |
2-2 |
San Jose |
Philadelphia |
Chicago |
Cleveland |
John Hoh |
N/A |
San Jose |
Philadelphia |
Chicago |
Cleveland |
Randy Snow |
1-3 |
San Jose |
Philadelphia |
Chicago |
Cleveland |
Fran Stuchbury |
1-3 |
San Jose |
Philadelphia |
Chicago |
Georgia |
Guru’s Magic 8-Ball |
1-3 |
Colorado |
Philadelphia |
Chicago |
Georgia |
COLORADO AT SAN JOSE
Lopusnak: Time for the defending champs the shine and make the AFL look respectable. There is no reason a 6-10 should be playing this far in the playoffs.
Kauffman: they are playing the Crush...no brainer.
Moyer: Winning is winning and that's all Darren Arbet and the SaberCats do.
Stuchbury: The SaberCats enter the playoffs on a six-game winning streak. Last time they played, San Jose defeated Colorado 59-42, I expect a similar score.
Snow: San Jose is one of the best teams in the AFL year in and year out. They should have no problem with the Crush.
Hoh: Defending champs the pick in this game. 'Nuff said.
Markowitz: John Dutton's good for 3 turnovers.
Eichenblatt: San Jose continues to be the golden standard for quality postseason play.
Sims: San Jose plays so well this time of year. Colorado looked like they did not belong last weekend (but then neither did Utah). San Jose runs away here.
Burch: The SaberCats have the third-best scoring offense in the league. They should be able to outscore the Crush.
NEW YORK AT PHILADELPHIA
Hoh: Philly strong all year. Then again, could the Dragons repeat the cross-town Giants' feat?
Moyer: Philly's beaten them twice and I believe are still ticked off for John Nix's hit on Graziani in Week Four.
Sims: How can I not go for Philly? Matt D'Orazio has been on fire all year. You can't go against him now.
Stuchbury: Having two weeks to prepare is a big edge for the Soul because the team had several players banged up. New York is due for a letdown after the great performance against Dallas.
Markowitz: D’Orazio has almost as many playoff wins as Graziani, Garcia and Dolezel... combined.
Kauffman: Philly’s defense should be able to stop New York just enough to win.
Eichenblatt: The upset of the week goes to a surging Dragons team that looks to win the rubber match in this divisional matchup. Look for Aaron Garcia to have upwards of 10 touchdowns.
Snow: New York pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year when they beat Dallas last week. I don't think they can do it two weeks in a row.
Lopusnak: The Dragons’ John Nix turned the Soul’s season around when he beat up on the overpaid and over hyped Tony Graziani that put Matt D’Orazio into the limelight. Without D’Orazio, the Soul doesn’t make the playoffs. Soul wins this game because of D’Orazio. Philly thanks you Mr. Nix.
Burch: I still don't really believe in the Dragons just yet, even though they have the best defense in the league. The Soul has held the Dragons' scoring down the last two games, so I say they'll do it again.
GRAND RAPIDS AT CHICAGO
Burch: The Rush have the best scoring defense in the league, which should prove trouble for the second-best offense in the league in the Rampage - especially after the Rampage scored only 48 last week.
Snow: This one should be close, but in the end I think the Rush will prevail.
Sims: This game will be closer than most people think. Chicago only won the second game between these two teams this year by three points. But the home field advantage at Allstate Arena will be HUGE for the Rush.
Moyer: Let's face it Grand Rapids doesn't deserve to be this far.
Lopusnak: As much as I’d like to see the Rush take out a 6-10 team and make the AFL not look so stupid for letting a team two games under .500 into the tournament (wait make that three 6-10 teams), I don’t think Chicago has it. If Dallas didn’t pull back the reigns in the Rush’s last game, I think the Chicago would have limped into the playoffs losing four of its last five. I’m pulling for you Windy City, but I don’t think you have enough to do it. Prove me wrong (please prove me wrong for the sake of the AFL and professional sports in general).
Hoh: Chicago finished so-so at end of season, kicking game suspect, but they had a week bye.
Kauffman: Grand Rapids barely lost to Chicago on April 20, but the Rampage has improved while the Rush has lost a step.
Markowitz: Steve Thonn is Coach of the Year
Eichenblatt: Congratulations to Steve Thonn for getting the Rampage program turned around, but the mismatches on the field plus Chicago's incredible home-field advantage will wear out the Rampage early.
Stuchbury: I think Chicago will win but it will be a close game like the last time Grand Rapids played at Chicago only losing by three 55-52. It will be very important for Rush QB Russ Michna to get his first playoff victory under his belt.
CLEVELAND AT GEORGIA
Markowitz: No matter how hard the Commish's son's boss pushes for favorable treatment, the city of Atlanta is bound to mess it up
Stuchbury: Georgia has won seven out of its last eight games. Despite having nothing to play for in the season finale, they played San Jose very tough. That game will only help them in the playoffs. Georgia will win but Cleveland will keep the game close.
Burch: The best offense in the league in the Force against the second-worst defense in the league in the Gladiators. 'Nuff said.
Sims: There has to be an underdog that comes out this weekend. Cleveland could be last year's Columbus.
Lopusnak: The Forced ended its season very strong and nearly beat San Jose (68-62) in its last game. If so, Georgia would have won its final eight contests.
Snow: Cleveland is playing with a lot of confidence right now. They have the best chance of pulling off an upset this week.
Kauffman: Georgia has enough on offense and defense to outlast the Gladiators.
Eichenblatt: This one will be the most competitive game as both come in with outstanding records in their past few games, but Georgia's newly found string of good fortune continues as they eek by the feisty Gladiators.
Moyer: The Gladiators are made for the playoffs, a strong defensive line and a ball control quarterback.
Hoh: This is my upset special. Beating Orlando gives this squad confidence.
Andy Lopusnak is an 11-year AFL front office veteran, spending time with the Tampa Bay Storm, San Diego Riptide and Grand Rapids Rampage. He works as a statistician for NFL and college sports for CBS Sports and is a freelance photographer. Lopusnak received two Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of South Florida and has been a fan of ArenaBall since its inception.