AAF Week 8 Odds & Picks: Commanders Can Take Control of West
By Robert Duff in AAF
Updated: April 8, 2020 at 7:20 pm EDTPublished:
- Playoff possibilities should become clearer after Week 8 of the AAF season concludes
- The Arizona Hotshots face the San Antonio Commanders for first place in the West
- Atlanta, Memphis and Salt Lake could be eliminated from contention with losses
Can the San Antonio Commanders take command? Or will the Arizona Hotshots live up to their nickname?
Upsets, nail-biters, and more‼️
The TOP PLAYS from an action-packed Week 7️⃣! pic.twitter.com/zx5wegJztB
— The Alliance (@TheAAF) March 26, 2019
While it’s evident that both the Commanders and Hotshots will be part of the postseason picture, a win here would establish which team offers the best chance give the top-seeded Orlando Apollos a run for the AAF Championship.
The best mic'd up from Week 7! #JoinTheAlliance
Sound 🆙🔊 pic.twitter.com/qeBhWhZgW6
— The Alliance (@TheAAF) March 27, 2019
Meanwhile, the Atlanta Legends, Memphis Express, and Salt Lake Stallions, all 2-5, could be eliminated from the playoff chase with a Week 8 loss.
Let’s analyze all the Week 8 match-ups.
Orlando Apollos vs Memphis Express
| Teams | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando Apollos | N/A | -10 (-110) | O 42 (-110) |
| Memphis Express | N/A | +10 (-110) | U 42 (-110) |
*All odds taken 03/28/19
Kickoff: Sat, Mar 30 at 2pm EST
The 6-1 Apollos just clinched a playoff spot. Memphis is coming off the high of a 31-25 comeback overtime win over the Birmingham Iron that kept the Express in the playoff hunt.
The main attraction for the Express is 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Manziel. Fans are paying to see him. But to keep the playoff drive alive, their best hope is to go with Brandon Silvers under center.
Welcome to the Revenge Tour 😤
See you soon @aafapollos 👋
✈ | #AllAboard pic.twitter.com/ZgTV3Qy3g8
— Memphis Express (@aafexpress) March 25, 2019
Coach Mike Singletary must find that balance between playing Manziel enough to satisfy the curiosity seekers and focusing on getting the victory. The Express have proven a tough out at home. They’ve won their last two at Liberty Bowl Stadium and their only setback was a close 20-18 loss to Arizona.
CELEBRATE!🏠 in 4️⃣ days #AllAboard | 🎟https://t.co/uKPGZ2VI83 pic.twitter.com/4L5IqnOGOo
— Memphis Express (@aafexpress) March 26, 2019
The Apollos looked to be back on track, rebounding from their first loss of the season to pound Atlanta 36-6. The high-powered Orlando offense, no. 1 in the league (391.6 yards per game) scored on the first five possessions against the Legends.
Game Highlights: "Oh, yeah yer!"
🏹#TakeAim | #ORLvsATL pic.twitter.com/PymmxsGqbE
— Orlando Apollos (@aafAPOLLOS) March 23, 2019
Apollos coach Steve Spurrier even took time to respond to a playful jab from the Express, who noted on their Twitter account that the last time Spurrier brought a football team to the state, his South Carolina Gamecocks were upset by the Tennessee Volunteers.
"You can't spell Citrus without U-T." – Steve Spurrier pic.twitter.com/Uyk7SElYNG
— Orlando Apollos (@aafAPOLLOS) March 26, 2019
We think Orlando wins this one, but Memphis keeps it close. Take the points.
Pick: Express +10, Over 42
San Diego Fleet vs Salt Lake Stallions
| Teams | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Fleet | N/A | +3 (-110) | O 40.5 (-110) |
| Salt Lake Stallions | N/A | -3 (-110) | U 40.5 (-110) |
Kickoff: Sat, Mar 30 at 8pm EST
It’s one thing to note that Salt Lake might be the best of the AAF’s three 2-5 teams.
Focus on now.
🗣@palepoi95 pic.twitter.com/sqcvDtFWeX
— Salt Lake Stallions (@aafstallions) March 26, 2019
The Stallions only show a -13 point differential and have lost their five games by an average margin of 6.6 points per game. But maybe it just means that they aren’t quite good enough to get the job done.
The Stallions only show a -13 point differential and have lost their five games by an average margin of 6.6 points per game.
San Diego has lost two straight and three of four. It’s abundantly clear that the loser of this game can probably kiss the playoffs goodbye.
3️⃣ more opportunities. Finish strong! #AllHandsOnDeck ⚓️💪 pic.twitter.com/Hie2v2vPdX
— San Diego Fleet (@AAFFleet) March 26, 2019
To make matters worse, the Fleet’s leading receiver, Dontez Ford, and leading rusher Ja’Quan Gardner, were both placed on the injured reserve list.
Pick: Stallions -3, Under 40.5
Atlanta Legends vs Birmingham Iron
| Teams | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Legends | N/A | +6 (-110) | O 38 (-110) |
| Birmingham Iron | N/A | -6 (-110) | U 38 (-110) |
Kickoff: Sun, Mar 31 at 4pm EST
The Atlanta Legends are without question the worst team in the AAF.
While the Memphis Express experienced a second wind with the combination of Brandon Silvers and Johnny Manziel under center (season-high 31 points!), there doesn't look to be any kind of similar optimism for the Atlanta Legends. #AAF pic.twitter.com/ww3ABAiZaP
— Tyler Buecher (@TylerBuecher) March 27, 2019
They show a league-worst minus-117 point differential, and that includes a 28-12 loss to the Iron in Week 3. And yet, with a win over 4-3 Birmingham, they’d pull right into the playoff hunt.
The Iron can’t let the sting from last week’s OT loss at Memphis linger. They still control their own destiny.
Three.
More.
Weeks.Gonna leave it on the field ‼️ pic.twitter.com/QTDhY8GGFV
— Birmingham Iron (@aafiron) March 26, 2019
The Birmingham defense, which averaged three forced turnovers a game through the first three weeks of the season, didn’t produce a single turnover in the loss to the Express.
Pick: Iron -6, Under 38
Arizona Hotshots vs San Antonio Commanders
| Teams | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Hotshots | N/A | +1 (-110) | O 43.5 (-110) |
| San Antonio Commanders | N/A | -1 (-110) | U 43.5 (-110) |
Kickoff: Sun, Mar 31 at 8pm EST
The real Hotshots should be revealed this week. Arizona has won two straight, including a solid 32-15 win last week over San Diego.
John Wolford is writing @theaaf history! #GoShots pic.twitter.com/3BGu59hmWG
— Arizona Hotshots (@aafhotshots) March 26, 2019
Prior to that success, though, they dropped three in a row – inexplicable setbacks to Atlanta and Salt Lake, along with a home defeat handed them by San Antonio.
The Commanders are the AAF’s hottest team, with four straight wins.
The Commanders raced to a 26-0 lead in their victory over the Hotshots. They are the AAF’s hottest team, with four straight wins.
“If everybody else in the league had fans like this, this could go forever." – Stallions Head Coach Dennis Erickson on San Antonio's electric atmosphere.
210 REPRESENT. ‼️
📰 | https://t.co/oxovVvj3KZ #TakeCommand⚔️ pic.twitter.com/2ImibnwRYX
— San Antonio Commanders (@aafcommanders) March 25, 2019
The Alamodome offers the best home-field advantage in the league. The Commanders are 2-1 there – their only home loss coming at the hands of Orlando – and lead the AAF in attendance, drawing a league-record 30,345 last week.
Pick: Commanders -1, Over 43.5
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
