XFL Week 9: A Look Ahead Against the Spread
By The Masked Prognosticator
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The
Masked (4-6
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. |
(29
March 2001) --
First off, I want to thank all the XFL fans out there for their
support. This week the editors gave you the opportunity to express
your views on our 4-6 ats
record this year, including asking whether or not I should be
fired.
But
as of Thursday afternoon over 50% of you expressed
your support!
I appreciate that, and it makes me want to work even HARDER to get you the best handicapping information available!
Boy, I'd better have a good weekend, huh? Otherwise you'll see my poll numbers drop faster than the XFL's NBC ratings!
By the way, a correction to my article on the playoff races. The article was posted Saturday morning 3/24, and in it we said that the #2 and #1 teams from each division would play each other. Then later in the day it was learned that the #2 team from each division would play the #1 team from the OTHER division.
I'm not sure of the reasoning, except maybe that this tree guarantees that at least ONE playoff game will feature 2 of the three largest market teams playing each other (New York or Chicago versus Los Angeles), thus bringing in more TV viewers.
With that scenario, the other game is shaping up to be Las Vegas at Orlando. San Francisco still has a shot, but I really think the Outlaws are a superior team. If Jeff Brohm is not back in time, the Outlaws actually could beat Orlando. It's improbable that Chicago or the Hitmen can beat the Xtreme in L.A.. Right now I think the Big Game at the End will be Los Angeles vs. Orlando or Las Vegas.
On to our picks!
Road favorites in the XFL are 7-3 ats. The bottom line is that if you are getting points at home in the XFL, there's a big problem with the home team, and that the visitor is probably so much better.
Thus our pick of the week IS:
Los Angeles -3 ½ over MEMPHIS
Los Angeles has been awesome, taking advantage of the XFL rules changes and going 4-0 straight up and ats since their inception. They are looking for revenge for an embarrassing home loss a few weeks back at the hands of the Maniax. L.A. is also a sweet 3-0 ats as road favorites.
We see no reason that Al Luginbill's pass attack won't light up the Ax as they make it 4 for 4 this week!
Orlando -6 1/2 at BIRMINGHAM
Straight up winners are 29-2-1 against the spread, and the Rage should come through. However, Orlando is the only team in the XFL to win straight up and NOT cover the points. . . TWICE. Game 1 vs. Chicago and last week against the Hitmen.
Birmingham is a mess. Their quarterback Jay Barker was totally ineffective, and is now out of action. His replacement? Graham Leigh.
Yeah. "Who?". That's what we said.
And the Bolts are all but out of the playoffs.
Orlando
is without star QB Jeff Brohm, but seem to have enough weapons
to take care of business. With no quarterback and a discouraged
team, we would have to
consider a Thunderbolts win over the Rage a huge upset.
Yet Orlando's inability to cover big lines (0-2 ats), especially last week when they failed ats against New York, is troubling. Factor in they have a back up quarterback. We like Orlando as the side, but for this week we can't make the Rage a play at 6 1/2 points.
Chicago +2 1/2 at NEW
YORK
This is the biggest game of the season for both teams. If the Hitmen win, amazingly they will capture the second playoff spot in the XFL east. A Chicago victory at least forces a tiebreaker next week.
The reason to stay away from this game is that both are bad teams equally motivated to win. Don't discount revenge by Chicago for an earlier season loss and that the Hitmen are 1-3 straight up and ats at home.
But it's only 2 1/2 points for New York to cover. This game is TOO CLOSE TO CALL.
San Francisco +6 at LAS VEGAS
Earlier this season the Outlaws smoked the Demons at Pac-Bell,
12-6, and without Ryan Clement. They are the superior team but
we don't feel comfortable with the 6
points. San Francisco with a win will still be in the race and
are looking for paybacks, so motivation is on the Demons side
if that counts for anything.
At 3 or 4 points, we'd say take the Laws. But the 6 points is too high a price to pay. Las Vegas might be the gambling capital of the world, but this game is too risky. Stay away.