Article:AFL Week 16 Picks

This week’s AFL picks are sponsored by Tim Donaghy Casino, where our games are always rigged!

Now I know how Big Brown felt. But I am not going to have a pity party. Nope. Too much to clean up afterward and there’s no cake or booze. That being said, it was a bad week. Dreadful, I will admit. The worst I’ve had since I’ve started picking AFL games.

2 and 6 for the week put me at 77 and 40 for the season. I wanted to smash a water cooler but Carlos Zambrano beat me to it.

So much for wanting to smash poor defenseless water coolers to smithereens. Here are this week’s picks.

New Orleans VooDoo (8-6) at Orlando Predators (8-7) - Both teams are coming off road losses. Both teams are in the playoff hunt. Both teams are 2-3 in the National Southern. It’s here that the similarities end. New Orleans was held to 193 yards in total offense in their loss to New York last weekend and went 2 for 8 in third down tries. This is not winning football. Are they still smarting from the loss to Georgia a few weeks ago? Could be. Orlando only mustered seven points in the third quarter against Tampa Bay. Again, not winning football. Right now, if the playoffs were today, New Orleans would be the fifth seed and Orlando would be at home. I see the VooDoo getting their mojo back and beating Orlando in the land of the Mouse.

Kansas City Brigade (3-11) at Los Angeles Avengers (4-10) - Two really bad teams that are at least entertaining. Kansas City got their heads handed to them by Arizona last week at home, throwing two interceptions in the loss to the Rattlers. Los Angeles is also coming off the loss hangover, losing to a 4-10 Utah team in Salt Lake City. This could either be an entertaining game to watch or a dud (and I‘m not talking Milk Dud.). Guys, you might want to give the remote to the wife or significant other and let her watch a chick flick. Going with Los Angeles to right their ship.

Chicago Rush (10-4) at Georgia Force (9-5) - A pair of division leaders meet in the Atlanta suburbs. Cleveland held the Rush to 17 points in the first half en route to their win last Sunday. Georgia won their contest with Columbus by holding the Destroyers to 14 second half points last week. Chicago’s seeded number one in the American Division, while Georgia is seeded second. It is possible that these two could meet in New Orleans for the championship. But Georgia takes the Rush at home.

Cleveland Gladiators (3-11) at Philadelphia Soul (11-3) - Cleveland and Philly are both coming off wins last week. Cleveland took a 38-17 lead into the intermission against Chicago and never looked back afterward. It’s a shame they’re eliminated from postseason consideration. Philadelphia played a decent game against Dallas, sweeping the season series between the two clubs and putting the Soul in the top spot of the National East. They’re seeded at the top as far as playoff seedings is concerned in the National. The Soul push Cleveland one game closer to tee time on the golf course and win at home.

Grand Rapids Rampage (4-10) at Columbus Destroyers (3-11) - The Rampage took Colorado apart last week at home and got 392 total yards in the process. That’s the good news. The bad? They’re 4-10 and not going anywhere this season when it ends, despite being 3-3 in their division. Columbus could only muster 34 points against Georgia at home last week. Another dud? It could happen or this could be an entertaining game. Columbus takes this one but I look for Grand Rapids to have some fight in them.

New York Dragons (8-6) at Dallas Desperados (11-3) - If I’m New York, I would not want to tick off Dallas, especially at home. The Dragons managed to hold New Orleans to 14 second half points and then hold on for dear life. Dallas is going to have fire in their eyes and I don’t see them losing at home again, even though they got swept by Philly this season. Dallas takes the battle of the three seed vs. four seed.

Tampa Bay Storm (7-7) San Jose Saber Cats (9-5) - Tampa Bay took it to Orlando last week and improved their slim chances at a playoff berth. Brett Dietz did well enough to win, despite having one interception in the contest with their in-state rivals. Still, Tampa Bay needs to be better stewards with the football. San Jose was off last week. The SaberCats are a three seed right now and will look to defend that ranking or improve. SaberCats win a close one at home.

Colorado Crush (4-10) at Arizona Rattlers (8-6) - The Crush are fighting to stay out of the cellar in the American Central and looked horrid against Grand Rapids. 9 net yards rushing… horrid. Can’t say enough. The Rattlers was in battle mode against Kansas City and never let up against the Brigade. This week, they’re at home, where they are tougher than a $3 steak. Despite being 1-3 in the conference, they’re a three seed if the postseason started today. Arizona takes care of business and takes down the Crush.

Idle - Utah (5-10)