Beat the Guru: AFL Week 7

Adam Markowitz
Thursday May 13, 2010

So it seems as though it's a bye week for most of us here at ArenaFan, as oh, probably about half the staff is going to be on vacation this weekend. That's why we've got "Beat the Guru" coming out in the middle of the week with no betting lines to be able to digest. Alas, the competition must, and will go on!

Last week was yet another one in which the Guru had an epic fail, as 3-4 just isn't going to cut it. Seven of you in Guru world went 4-3 on the week and should pat yourselves on the back, but the man of the hour was dstrimple, who posted the best week of us all at 5-2.

Apparently, I'm no longer worthy.

On to this week!

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.

Dallas Vigilantes @ Jacksonville Sharks: Geez, remember when we all thought that this Dallas team was good? Guess that all went out the window in a hurry. Funny what happens when you lose to Orlando straight up at home when you're an 11 point favorite and the Guru picks you to win by three touchdowns. Whoops. The Sharks were impressive last week, nailing down a great victory in Tampa Bay. No choice but to back them again this week.

Guru's Pick: Shark Attack by 9

Utah Blaze @ Milwaukee Iron: Goodness knows how many points the oddsmakers are going to make Milwaukee lay to Utah this week. My guess is that it'll be around three touchdowns or so. There's just no stopping the Iron offense right now, as once it got rolling against Chicago, the lights were just out for the rest of the game. The Blaze have had a week to somehow try to figure out how to prepare for this game, which is a task that just won't come easily. There's no way that the Iron lose, but maybe there's a way that the Blah-zay can hang around.

Guru's Pick: Iron by "just" 16

Tulsa Talons @ Cleveland Gladiators: Toughest game of the weekend. The Glads have won back to back games, which is impressive, but the bigger accomplishment is that QB John Dutton finally went through an entire game without throwing an interception. He only threw five touchdown passes, which was his lowest total of the season, but going 31/39 for 355 yards without a pick is phenomenal. See what happens when you take care of the football, my man? You drop 70 points on the board! Here's a fun fact, though. Dutton has only had one stretch of two games in every season in which he didn't throw an INT in both games. Is this the one? ........ probably not....

Guru's Pick: Talons by 1

Iowa Barnstormers @ Chicago Rush: Get ready for an avalanche, Iowa. The Rush have got to be furious with the way that they lost to Milwaukee last week. It's not like these two teams didn't already prove that they were on different planets in Week 1 when Chicago absolutely blasted the Barnstormers in the Barn to open up the year. Expect a very similar result on Saturday night in the Windy City.

Guru's Pick: Rush by 17

Tampa Bay Storm @ Bossier City Battle Wings: Here's another really tough game. The Battle Wings successfully found a way to score 79 points in a game and not cover a spread as a three point underdog, which still baffles my mind. Is this defense really just that bad? Probably. Tampa Bay still feels to me like a team that could be 5-0 right now. The offense (hopefully) won't get screwed over as badly as it did against the Sharks last week.

Guru's Pick: Storm by 4

Orlando Predators @ Alabama Vipers: Congrats to HC Pat O'Hara for nailing down his first win as a coach in the AFL. Much deserved. However, the black and red are still, in my opinion, the worst team that this league has to offer. Alabama's defense plays well in this one, and even though QB Kevin Eakin might not be able to suit up, I have confidence that 45 points could be enough to send my Preds packing.

Guru's Pick: Vipers by 10

Spokane Shock @ Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz: Of all the teams in the world that could put 88 points on the board... Oklahoma City??? The Ground Munchers had it all going on in the second half against Bossier last week, but this isn't a team coming in that is just going to roll over and die like the Battle Wings did. Spokane has already proven to be a competent road team this year, and the Shock will prove it again on Sunday.

Guru's Pick: Shock by 8

Recap

Jacksonville by 9
Milwaukee by 16
Tulsa by 1
Chicago by 17
Tampa Bay by 4
Alabama by 10
Spokane by 8

Beat the Guru's Top 10 (Must have 18 games selected to qualify)

For all of your AFL betting information and to get a look at the Guru's best plays for the weekend, check out his forum at Sports Prescription.

See how well you can do against the Guru. Make your picks here. Winners will be recognized weekly.