XFL Playoffs: A Look Ahead Against the Spread
By The Masked Prognosticator
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The
Masked (6-9
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. |
(14 April 2001) -- Last week our two Saturday picks went bust as San Francisco got smoked by L.A. and Vegas laid down and died against Memphis in a game that was a throwaway anyway.
However we were totally on the money on Sunday as the New York-New Jersey Hitmen smoked Birmingham in a must win game, forcing Chicago to step up to the plate and destroy Orlando and make the playoffs.
We finished 6-9 ats in the regular season, which is a disgrace. However that is all but forgotten as we start our march to the $1,000,000 game!!!!
San Francisco +6 ½ at ORLANDO
This is a game I would stay far, far away from if I had a choice.
Both teams are in horrible situations here. Orlando is still without Jeff Brohm, while San Francisco is in their third straight road game and may be without QB Mike Pawlawski.
You really can't pinpoint any positive trends here. Orlando is 0-4 ats without Jeff Brohm. San Francisco playing back to back road games which is a 2-9-1 ats role in the XFL.
What it comes down to is the line. While XFL teams are a 90% ats play when they win straight up, we may have an exception to that rule here. Orlando is the only team in the league to win but not cover THREE times this year. In addition the Rage are 0-3 ats as favorites of 6 or more points, which, you guessed it- were those three games where they won but did not cover! (XFL teams are 3-7-1 ats in that -6+ role by the way).
Clearly without Jim Brohm, Orlando has no business laying this many points. Brian Kuklick's interception to touchdown pass ratio is a pathetic 9 to 5; his colleague from SF, back up Pat Barnes is an okay 2 to 3 in his 4 games.
On the other side of the ball San Francisco has the better defense, allowing 240 yards per game as opposed to Orlando's questionable "D" at 276.
We are going against the Golden Rule of the XFL which says "Picketh thy Winner". We think Orlando will win, but with all these questions, the game should be closer than 6 ½ points.
This is certainly far and away NOT what we would call a "Game of the Year Five Star Stone Cold Mortal Lock", but it is a playoff game, so we are forced to make our
FIRST PICK OF THE WEEK: San Francisco +6 ½ over ORLANDO
Chicago +7 ½ at LOS ANGELES
The handicappers are being very clever with this contest. As most of you remember, L.A. beat Chicago by 7 points in week two in the only overtime and the only push in XFL history.
In
that game Chicago come out gunning, blowing out the Xtreme.
Later, many Los Angelinos shot themselves in their cars as the
X made one of the greatest comebacks
ever to win the game in overtime.
The untold story of the game was on the field: Los Angeles lit up Chicago 448 yards to 275, including a 389-yard passing assault. If you figure in yards and take away turnovers, the real score of the game should have been 27-18.
And that 389-yard number was back when defenders were still allowed to bump and run. Since that rule was changed, the Xtreme are 5-1 ats, all as favorites.
This season the Enforcers have allowed an average of 213 passing yards per game, the worst in the XFL.
What does this all mean? With Tommy Maddox's 17 to 9 touchdown passes to interception ratio, lots and lots of passing as the Xtreme light up Chicago like a California brush fire.
No doubt that the Enforcers have been impressive at 4-1 SU since McDougal took the helm, and L.A.'s injuries do concern us.
But other things going against the Enforcers are a hurting John Avery and the fact that the Xtreme simply have a better defense.
While Chicago is 4-2-1 ats as dogs, the Xtreme are 3-1-1 ats at home and 3-0-1 ats vs. the XFL east.
Unless this upstart Chicago team can knock Tommy Maddox out of action, this Cinderella story will be a pumpkin come Sunday around 10 p.m. EST.
PICK: LOS ANGELES -7 ½ over Chicago