XFL Week 8: A Look Ahead Against the Spread
By The Masked Prognosticator
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The
Masked (4-5
ATS XFL Record WHO IS THIS MASKED MAN? Once a worldwide jet setting playboy gambler, the Masked Prognosticator lived the life of fast cars, fast women, and fast money in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Monte Carlo. He was forced into hiding when he broke a connected bookie from New Jersey in 1997. The loss of the Masked Prognosticator's freedom is your gain: now he gives his picks up for FREE. |
(23 March 2001) -- From the penthouse to the outhouse. After going 2-0 we suffered a humiliating 0-2 last week. We tried to ride our 7-1 ats XFL road favorites trend with Memphis and San Francisco, and got burned. Thank God I wear this mask!
San Fran was a total bust (which we did warn you about) and the Hitmen squeaked by 16-15 to beat Memphis straight up. We are going to lower ourselves and praise Rusty Tillman. He pulled some rabbits out of his hat and called fleaflickers to get the job done. Who would have thunk it?
Las Vegas became the first XFL team to ever cover a 7-point spread in a game we told you to steer clear from, hile Los Angeles killed Orlando. We told you to take L.A. in the game, but had no idea it would be that lopsided! In the process Orlando's dream season was put in jeopardy as All-Extreme QB Jeff Brohm was knocked out for the rest of the regular season.
Believe it or not, if the Hitmen win their next 3 games, and Orlando losses all their remaining games, the lowly Hitmen could move from "jobronis" to "tutti di capo tutti" status in the XFL East!
There truly is no justice in this league.
On to Week 8!
This is a weird week. It is the first time teams will be meeting for a second time. It will remain that way for the rest of the season, as the XFL has cleverly held off on 2nd divisional games until the last three weeks of the season. That totally wipes out our East vs. West angle which went up in flames last week anyway so good riddance; also, no road favorites are posted this week.
This
is a tough card. The 3 things you need to ask is:
-Which team needs the win more?
-Which team is looking for revenge?
-Who will win (Straight up winners are now a sickening 26-1-1
against the spread in the XFL!!!!)the game?
Las Vegas +3 1/2 at LOS ANGELES
This is the game for the XFL West title. The Outlaws are coming off a "let's sack Jay Barker" party to take on Al Luginbill's high flying Xtreme. They are now one game behind in the XFL West, and with a win over the Xtreme they can both get revenge for their first loss of the season and force a tie for the division lead!
In week three X came to Vegas and beat the Lawz in the last second with a cheesy Cortez especial to take a thrilling 12-9 battle of the field goal kickers. In that game Vegas' clunky offense was lead by third stringer what's his name- oh yeah Mike Cawley.
Those days are long gone as 2nd string but competent Ryan Clement
is back, and Vegas features a better rushing game and a superior
defense. Los Angeles now benefits from the new "no bump
and run rule" (3-0 straight up and ATS since its inception)
but is off that huge win against Orlando, and we think that
a slight letdown is probable.
If the Outlaws can shut down Los Angeles' passing game, they have all the motivation in the world to win this game straight up.
It's very possible that if the Outlaws can't stop the pass, they will get lit up big time, and we will look like even bigger puds than we do now. But when you consider Las Vegas' situation and that they are playing with a better offense, we think the Desperados are the best value this week. We wish it were more points though.
This
game is our PICK OF THE WEEK:
Las Vegas +3 1/2 over LOS ANGELES
New York-New Jersey +7 at ORLANDO
Motivation: NY-NJ is seeking revenge for a last minute chokefest at the Meadowlands earlier this season.
Motivation:
Orlando already is in the playoffs. Believe it or not the Hitmen
are in the drivers seat for the second spot in the East. Rusty
Tillman in the playoffs? Something needs to change next season.
Imagine the Bengals or the Cardinals making the NFL
playoffs because they finished second. An absolute outrage.
No pun intended.
Trend: XFL teams are 1-7 ats as favorites of 7 points or more.
Big problem for Orlando: No Jeff Brohm.
SO our SECOND pick of the week IS . .
New . . .
New Y . .
I can't do it.
PLEASE . . .I'm BEGGING someone . . .give me ONE reason to NOT take the Hitmen as a side!!!!
How about THREE reasons?
1.With a win, Orlando will clinch the XFL east. And they were totally punked for the first time ever last week. How is THAT for motivation?
2.
Now that they are no longer undefeated, Orlando has THAT monkey
off their backs. Loosened up, they can concentrate on playing
football and not answering the
dopey media's questions about going 10-0.
3. The straight up winner of XFL games are 26-1-1 ats. To take New York, you are saying they will the game straight up. Even without Jeff Brohm, were not sure that is going to be the case. Orlando still has a few weapons, and you need to consider the reasons above. That's actually a shame, since the 7 points represents a nice value, and Orlando's defense still has question marks. Too bad this is isn't the NFL.
That's good enough for us! This game is TOO CLOSE TO CALL.
Birmingham +6 at CHICAGO
Believe it or not, thanks to the XFL playoff system that automatically awards second place teams, both the 2-5 Bolts and Enforcers are ONE GAME OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS. Is that ridiculous or what?
I don't think the Enforcers should be 6 point favorites against ANYBODY. But Birmingham comes into their second straight road game (a 2-4-1 ats play in the XFL) without star QB Casey Weldon. Backup Jay Barker was totally impotent against the Outlaws awesome defense. Birmingham also has a totally pathetic run game at 2.97 yards a rush.
But to go against Birmingham, you have to take the Forcers and 6 ticks. Chicago is the revenge team (by the way revenge is only about a 50-50 proposition in the NFL. Remember those NFL trends?). Both teams have equal motivation to win. But again, I repeat, it's Chicago and 6 points.
You'd be making a wiser investment buying an XFL expansion team in Shreveport, Louisiana than spending a dime in Canadian money betting on this yukfest.
Stay far, far, away from this game.
Memphis +3 1/2 at SAN FRANCISCO
First, we would like to take the opportunity to thank BOTH of these crummy teams for their OUTSTANDING performance last week. Memphis had the Hitmen well in hand, then blew it in the last minute to lose to the wanna be wise guys, 16-15. No wonder the NFL keeps passing up Graceland for an expansion team. But hey, at least they showed up. Unlike the Demons who laid a huge egg in Chicago, losing 25-19.
By doing this both of these losers messed up our 4-3 ats record, dropping us to an embarrassing 4-5 ats in the XFL. Even worse, they almost ruined our road favorite angle by dropping it to 7-3!
These teams are losers, and frankly, JUST ON PRINICPLE, we are not taking a side. Both are 3-4, and desperately need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Memphis is looking for revenge for an embarrassing loss earlier this year I guess, but are playing their second road game.
Our recommendation? Stay away from this game. Everyone keeps talking about the "Hellhole" in San Francisco. That's exactly where this game belongs.
Better yet, speaking of "hell", who the HELL cares???????
>>>>>>> If I can add my 2 cents about XFL expansion. Despite low ratings, the XFL continues to draw nice crowds in several cities. The XFL is an attendance disappointment in Memphis and Birmingham, but the league has had terrific success in Orlando, Las Vegas and San Francisco.
The XFL is a disaster as a profitable TV product, however when you set that aside there has been terrific interest in several of the cities (can you read $90 for season tickets?).
Talking expansion also sends a clear P.R. message to doomsayers who claim that the league won't be around much longer.