This is the first week of the Arena Football League Playoffs, and just like "the outdoor game," it begins with the Wild Card Round. Interestingly two games are rematches from the final week in the regular season where Orlando traveled to Philadelphia and lost to the Soul while Utah secured a must win victory on the road over an Avenger team that had already clinched a playoff berth. Another item to note is that in the American Conference the Wild Card games are both division match-ups with the visitor having won both regular season games.
Friday – June 29th – 7:30 pm – (#5) Orlando (8-8) at (#4) Philadelphia (8-8)
Head to Head - Only 2007 meeting was last week – Soul winning 63-49 which gave them the tiebreaker over Preds and this home playoff game.
Orlando as away dog: 0-3 SU, 1-2 ATS, 2-1 Over/Under – Avg Score 45-59
Philly as home fav: 4-3 SU, 3-4 ATS, 5-2 Over/Under – Avg Score 59-50
Team Comparisons:
Offense: Orlando 50.9 ppg (#14) Philadelphia 56.2 ppg (#5)
Defense: Orlando 47.9 ppg (#3) Philadelphia 52.2 ppg (#8)
Player Comparisons:
Quarterbacks: Advantage: Philadelphia
(O) Shane Stafford 64.4% comp – 4,294 yds – 76-10 ratio – 112.8 rating
(P) Toni Graziani 62.2% comp – 2,841 yds – 64-8 ratio – 117.0 rating
Soul 8-4 with Graziani starting, when he was out due to injury Philly was 0-4.
Wide Receivers: Slight Advantage: Orlando
(O) Javarus Dudley – 1,524 yds, 33 TD’s #2 TT Toliver – 1,383 yds, 22 TD’s
(P) Charles Pauley – 1,473 yds, 29 TD’s #2 Larry Brackins – 786 yds, 20 TD’s
Kickers: Even
(O) Jay Taylor – 134 pts – 101-109 XP – 11-21 52% FG’s
(P) Todd France – 132 pts – 105-120 XP – 9-16 56% FG’s
Saturday – June 30th – 12:00 Noon - (#6) Columbus (7-9) at (#3) Tampa Bay (9-7)
Head to Head - Only meeting 4/29/07 in Tampa – Storm won 34-32 as a 4 pt home dog.
Columbus as away dog: 1-4 SU, 3-2 ATS, 2-2-1 Over/Under – Avg Score 47-55
Tampa Bay as home fav: 2-1 SU, 1-2 ATS, 2-1 Over/Under – Avg Score 55-53
Team Comparisons:
Offense: Columbus 50.1 ppg (#16) Tampa Bay 50.6 ppg (#15)
Defense: Columbus 49.6 ppg (#5) Tampa Bay 51.6 ppg (#7)
Player Comparisons:
Quarterbacks: Slight experience edge: Columbus
(C) Matt Nagy 62.6% comp – 3557 yds – 75-15 ratio – 104.4 rating
(T) Brett Deitz 65.9% comp – 2395 yds – 47-7 ratio – 119.3 rating
Deitz took over for an injured John Kaleo and the Storm won 7 of their last 8 games.
Wide Receivers: Advantage: Tampa Bay
(C) Damien Groce – 1342 yds, 31 TD’s #2 David Saunders – 550 yds, 18 TD’s
(T) Terrill Shaw – 1411 yds, 24 TD’s #2 Lawrence Samuels – 1143 yds, 15 TD’s
Kickers: Advantage: Tampa Bay
(C) Peter Martinez – 134 pts – 80-97 XP – 10-20 50% FG’s
(T) Seth Marler – 140 pts – 92-99 XP – 16-20 80% FG’s
Saturday – June 30th – 3:00 pm - (#6) Colorado (8-8) at (#3) Kansas City (10-6)
Head to Head - 3/10 @ Colorado - Crush 44-40 (-8 HF), 4/27 @ KC - Crush 45-42 (+4.5 AD)
Colorado as away dog: 3-3 SU, 3-3 ATS, 3-3 Over/Under – Avg Score 48-54
Kansas City as home fav: 5-1 SU, 3-3 ATS, 3-3 Over/Under – Avg Score 57-51
Team Comparisons:
Offense: Colorado 49.6 ppg (#17) Kansas City 52.5 ppg (#11)
Defense: Colorado 53.6 ppg (#11) Kansas City 48.5 ppg (#4)
Player Comparisons:
Quarterbacks: Small Advantage: Kansas City
(C) John Dutton 61.4% comp – 4320 yds – 84-17 ratio – 102.7 rating
(K) Raymond Philyaw 69.0% comp – 4338 yds – 85-11 ratio – 124.1 rating
Dutton is the more "household" name of the two, but true AFL fans know how effective Philyaw is, and the stats back up his getting the edge here.
Wide Receivers: Edge: Colorado
(C) Damian Harrell – 1547 yds, 47 TD’s #2 Brad Pyatt – 1169 yds, 19 TD’s
(K) Charles Frederick – 1385 yds, 41 TD’s #2 Jerel Myers – 1183 yds, 22 TD’s
Kickers: Advantage: Colorado
(C) Jason Ball – 134 pts – 90-105 XP – 17-28 52% FG’s
(K) Gary Kral – 110 pts – 95-120 XP – 5-13 39% FG’s
Monday – August 2nd – 10:00 pm - (#6) Utah (8-8) at (#4) Los Angeles (9-7)
Head to Head - 4/13 @ Utah - Blaze 76-63 (-6 HF), Last Week @ LA - Blaze 47-37 (-1 AF)
Utah as away dog: 2-2 SU, 2-2 ATS, 2-2 Over/Under – Avg Score 57-66
Los Angeles as home fav: 3-1 SU, 2-2 ATS, 1-3 Over/Under – Avg Score 59-50
Team Comparisons:
Offense: Utah 59.7 ppg (#4) Los Angeles 52.7 ppg (#10)
Defense: Utah 58.3 ppg (#15) Los Angeles 53.0 ppg (#10)
Player Comparisons:
Quarterbacks: Advantage: Blaze
(U) Joe Germaine 68.4% comp – 5005 yds – 107-12 ratio – 124.4 rating
(L) Sonny Cumbie 62.0% comp – 4370 yds – 83-13 ratio – 117.0 rating
Germaine 1st AFL QB to throw for over 5000 yds in a season.
Wide Receivers: Advantage: Blaze
(U) Siaha Burley – 2129 yds, 49 TD’s #2 Tom Pace – 1198 yds, 21 TD’s
(L) Rob Turner – 1229 yds, 24 TD’s #2 Kevin Ingram – 1196 yds, 27 TD’s
Burley 1st AFL WR to have over 2000 receiving yds in a season.
Kickers: Even
(U) Steve Videtich – 143 pts – 113-127 XP – 10-19 53% FG’s
(L) Remy Hamilton – 149 pts – 101-114 XP – 16-30 53% FG’s
