Home Dog for Sunday in ARENA

KennyB · Feb 6, 2004

Can't figure out why Georgia is catching 6' points at home vs. New York. I know that New York won by 7 last year in Georgia and I know that Garcia was the hot qb last year but I like Georgia's defense and I look for them to open up strong at home.

Playing Georgia +6'

Also teasing them in my 6 and 10 point teasers.

Colorado should cover a teaser tonite.

olddog · Feb 6, 2004

I agree that Georgia +6.5 offers good value. Its probably that high mainly because NY won at Ga last year by 7. Leon Murray had his first start ever in that game. He played Q4 the previous week when starting QB Davis got hurt. Georgia's defense held NY's excellent QB Garcia (34 pts) in check and they return their top two DBs ("Defensively, the veteran secondary duo of Kevin Gaines (52.5 tackles, 9 INTs) and Cliff Green will carry a unit that ranked first in total defense (238.4 ypg.) and third in scoring defense (43.8 ppg.) last season"). Georgia did lose a vg pass rusher (J Smith). Georgia's offense should be better with a more mature Murray throwing to two good WRs picked up from Dallas. NY's def improved a bunch last year in the 2nd half of the season under new head coach, Todd Shell, who assumed the position about midway through the season (New York gave up 59.3 points per game during their first nine contests of 2003, but allowed just 41.5 ppg. over their last seven regular season games).

I see a fairly close, low-scoring affair.

boltgirl · Feb 7, 2004

i like arena football. if tampa bay is the defending champion why are they 1 pt dogs at home on a day thier raising thier championship banner and getting rings? if i bet tb+1 and under would that be a smart pick?RG

KennyB · Feb 7, 2004

I like Tampa to win but I think it will be a close game. I have done Tampa +10 in my teasers. I also teased Georgia +16' with Colorado.

olddog · Feb 8, 2004

TB lost a ton of good players and Orlando was very compettive last (although they are going with new QB-Joey Hamilton to replace Jay Gruden who is now coach).

TB lost sts - QB John Kaleo and a pair of DSs on defense, also lost 2 key offensive/defensive linemen B.J. Cohen and Al Lucas via FA, but ex-st-QB-Shane Stafford(UConn)returns. Stafford quarterbacked the Storm to a 6-8 record in 2002 and passed for 2,164 yards and 39 TDs w/ 7 INTs in 12 games (he spent the 2003 season in NFL Europe). Storm returns their top 4 receivers from 2003, along with their leading rusher in FB/LB David White. OS Freddie Solomon is their go-to receiver – he grabbed 106 passes for 1,553 yards and 28 TDs last season.

Tampa Bay won the title last season with a consistent offense and a good pass rush – the Storm had arguably the best offensive-defensive line in the AFL in 2003. Kelvin Kinney (5.0 sacks) returns in 2004.

I still lean to TB with Stafford over AFL rookie Joey H.