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Posts Tagged ‘Utah Blaze’

May 28th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Cappers Info is back with another set of Arena Football picks for Week 9 of the AFL betting season, and the game that we are going to focus in on this week is the Friday night tussle between the Arizona Rattlers and the Utah Blaze.

Arizona Rattlers @ Utah Blaze (+8.5)
Friday, May 28th
9:05 ET, E Center, Salt Lake City, UT

Arizona Notes: The Rattlers snapped a brief two-game losing skid last week by taking out the Iowa Barnstormers on the road 52-48. Even though they are 3-3, the Rats have played all but one of their games to a deficit of a touchdown or less. Only a two TD defeat at home to the Chicago Rush stands out. QB Nick Davila has completed at least 23 passes in every game this year, and he has thrown 18 touchdowns against just one pick in the L/4 weeks. For the season, the Cincinnati product has completed 64.9 percent of his passes with 38 TDs. WR Rod Windsor is on a clip to shatter all sorts of Arena Football records. He has 70 catches in six games this year and will most likely top the 1,000 yard receiving barrier on the season this week. Arizona has only forced ten turnovers in six games on the season, but the defense has a tendency of finding ways to keep the team in games.

Utah Notes: After a couple weeks where the Blaze really appeared to be getting better, they fell apart at the seams in Week 8 against the Spokane Shock. A 77-28 loss can't make anyone feel good about this team, but it's fairly clear that this is a different squad at home than it is on the road. Utah's one victory came at the E Center, a 65-46 win over the Bossier City Battle Wings. They also stuck around with the Alabama Vipers in Week 2. We'll throw out that first loss of the year to Spokane because of the fact that QB Michael Affleck was under center to start the year. Since that point, QB Brett Elliott has looked competent. He has completed 58.7 percent of his passes for 1,254 yards with 28 TDs against four picks in five starts. WR Aaron Boone has 19 touchdown grabs on the year. KR/DB Brandon Hampton leads the AFL with three kick returns for touchdowns, and he is widely accepted as one of the best return men in the game.

The Final Word: We're going to give the Blaze the benefit of the doubt that last week's defeat was a product of four lost balls off of the net and not that the team is just that bad. In addition to this, Arizona has this tendency of playing relatively close games. Utah, back in front of its home crowd for the first time since that win against the Battle Wings on April 30th, will want to put forth a great effort. The Blaze probably aren't good enough to get their second win of the year, but staying within 8.5 points probably isn't too much to ask.

Free Arena Football Picks: Arizona 57 – Utah 51

Week 9 Arena Football Picks
Utah (+8.5) vs. Arizona
Tampa Bay (-1.5) @ Orlando

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May 13th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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If it's a Friday night, that can only mean more Arena Football League betting action for you to sink your teeth into! The Jacksonville Sharks return home to face off with the Dallas Vigilantes in one of the prime battles of the weekend.

Dallas Vigilantes (+5.5) @ Jacksonville Sharks
Friday, May 14th
7:35 ET Veterans Memorial Arena

Dallas Notes: This could be a real make or break week for the Vigilantes. Dallas is coming off of its most embarrassing loss of the season, a 70-59 defeat to the previously winless Orlando Predators. The wheels just fell apart in the second half for the Vigilantes, who were outscored 26-6 in the fourth quarter after trading scores the entire third quarter. QB Collin Drafts has completed a shade under 60 percent of his passes this year with 14 TDs against four picks. Considering the fact that Drafts has only played in three games though, the four INTs is really not great in this league. For a team that was slated to have the best defense in the league on paper, five turnovers in four games and allowing 62.3 points per game in three losses just isn't going to cut it.

Jacksonville Notes: It might've taken a tad bit of luck and some not-so-stellar officiating, but the Sharks used five Tampa Bay turnovers to walk out of the St. Pete Times Forum with a 46-43 victory. For HC Les Moss, his team is off to a 4-1 start to the year with two of those wins coming on the road. This will be the most interesting home task to date, as Dallas is most likely significantly better than a 1-3 record would indicate. For as long as QB Aaron Garcia is upright, the Sharks' offense has a very explosive side to it. Yes, throwing eight INTs is a sin in five games for the long-time AFL quarterback, but 28 touchdown passes is very solid. Keep an eye on WR Jomo Wilson, who has 39 catches for 418 yards and nine TDs on the season. The key to victory is a solid defense, though. Jacksonville has nine sacks, five picks, and seven recovered fumbles this year, and has held three of its five foes under 45 points.

The Final Word: Dallas is in a boatload of trouble on the road on Friday night. The Vigilantes are playing like a team that is disinterested week in and week out. On the contrary, Jacksonville is playing with a fire in its belly, and this seems like a road block that just won't be beaten. However, we're still going to play on Dallas for one more week out of sheer desperation. The way that Jacksonville plays football, a back and forth game that is ultimately decided by a score one way or the other is most likely in the cards. We think that home field advantage will still carry Jacksonville to a narrow victory, though.

Prediction: Jacksonville 52 – Dallas 50

Friday Night Week 7 AFL Card
Dallas (+5.5) @ Jacksonville

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April 23rd, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

On Friday night, the Utah Blaze will take on the Chicago Rush as one of the biggest underdogs in the history of Arena Football. Here at Cappers Info, we've got your free AFL picks for the game, as well as the entire Friday night card handicapped out for you to invest in.

Utah Blaze (+23) @ Chicago Rush

Utah Notes: The Blaze have clearly been one of the most disappointing teams in the AFL this year. However, they took a major step in the right direction last week with QB Brett Elliott starting in place of the owner's son, QB Michael Affleck, who was absolutely miserable in Utah's first game of the year against Spokane. Elliott's numbers aren't solid either, as 353 yards and six TDs against a pick with a completion percentage of under 60 percent still makes him arguably the worst starting quarterback in this league, but he at least gave Utah a chance in a 63-54 loss at home to Alabama. This is Utah's first road game of the 2010 campaign.

Chicago Notes: Even though the Tulsa Talons are still considered by many as the top team in the league, the Rush were voted upon as #1 in the AFL Coaches Power Poll this week, gaining that spot from a Tulsa team that held the distinction prior to Weeks 2 and 3. Chicago is scoring a hefty 63.3 points per game this season, albeit against relatively subpar competition. QB Russ Michna is a big reason for the success of HC Mike Hohensee's team, as he is completing 64.2 percent of his passes for 791 yards and 21 TDs against three picks so far this year. Coach Ho would love to see his veteran quarterback cut down on his turnovers, as he has committed seven blunders this season. All three starting wide receivers have at least five receiving touchdowns on the year. The real difference has been a defense which has combined for five sacks and an AFL-leading ten interceptions on the season.

The Final Word: We were burned last week playing against this Chicago team going into a very hostile environment. This week, we're going to go against the Rush again, but we're going to have a heck of a lot of points on our side. Catching 23 points in this league is relatively absurd, as a 64-35 game in the dying moments can be an absolute obliteration but still turn into a backdoor cover. The Blaze showed some sort of spunk and stuck with Alabama last week, and we think they can stay within three touchdowns yet again in the Windy City. Getting away from home may be the best thing that happens to this team.

Prediction: Chicago 61 – Utah 44

Friday Night AFL Week 4 Card
Utah +23 @ Chicago
Tulsa +5.5 @ Arizona

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