Saturday, February 16th

Salt Lake Stallions at Birmingham Iron (-7)

2pm on TNT

The Birmingham Iron are coming off a dominant, shutout victory against the Memphis Express. They showed a stout defense, holding the Express to 202 yards of total offense. They were led upfront by former Falcon Jonathan Massaquoi, who had 2 sacks, and in the secondary by former UConn standout Jamar Summers, who had an interception, forced fumble, and 3 passes defended. The Iron will look to control the clock with that defense combined with a running game led by former 1st round pick, Trent Richardson. The big match-up I’ll be watching for is my preseason pick for MVP, Luis Perez, against this Stallions secondary that got torched last week by the Hotshots John Wolford.



The Stallions have a tough task ahead of them, going into Birmingham with uncertainty at the QB position. Josh Woodrum hurt his hamstring in the Stallions 38-22 loss against the Arizona Hotshots last week. If he can’t go, it will be former Idaho star Matt Linehan under center for the Stallions. This means the Stallions will most likely try to control the clock using their 3 headed monster at running back, former Northern Illinois standout Joel Bouagnon, former San Diego Charger Brandon Oliver, and former Minnesota Viking Matt Asiata.



In the end, I think the combination of Perez and that Iron defense will be too much for Salt Lake. I like the Iron to cover the touchdown, but I also like the under of 44.5.

Arizona Hotshots at Memphis Express (+11.5)

8pm on NFL Network

The Memphis Express look to rebound off that dismal loss to the Iron. QB Christian Hackenberg did not look good throwing 10/23 for 87 yards and an interception, sparking some fans to ask for backup, former Tennessee Titans starting QB, Zach Mettenberger. However Coach Mike Singletary stated this week that the Express will continue with Hackenberg. He’ll have his work cut out for him as the Express host the current #1 team in the power rankings, the Arizona Hotshots. Look for the Express to try to establish a run game early with former Rams RB Zac Stacy, to try and open things up for Hackenberg. Meanwhile the defensive will have their hands full with former Wake Forest QB, and the first Offensive Player of the Week for the AAF, John Wolford.



Wolford and the rest of the Hotshots offense will look to keep their momentum going on the road in Memphis. Look for Wolford to continue to work down field to former Redskin Rashad Ross, who had 5 receptions for 103 yards and 2 touchdowns in their first match-up against the Stallions. I think the Hotshots need to do a better job rushing the passer if they want their defense to catch up to the performance of their high powered offense. The match-up to watch for is the Hotshots starting tackles, who did not allow a single pressure in last weeks game, against the Express pass rush, led by Corey Vereen and Anthony Johnson.



In the end, the Hotshots will be too hot for the Express to handle, but I think the Express will get on the board for the first time. I like them to cover the 11.5 at home.

Sunday, February 17th

Orlando Apollos at San Antonio Commanders (+6)

4pm on CBS Sports Network

The San Antonio Commanders are coming off a close 15-6 victory against the San Diego Fleet. QB Logan Woodside will have his work cut out for him again. After throwing 2 interceptions against Fleet, Woodside faces off against a stout pass defense from Apollos, led by corner Keith Reaser and free safety Will Hill; not to mention the Defensive Player of the Week, LB Terence Garvin. However Woodside is not short on targets to throw to. The Commanders have 2 of the top 5 graded WRs from week 1 according to PFF, former Cornhusker Alonzo Moore and former Houston QB Greg Ward, as well as the most targeted WR from week 1, Mekale McKay.



The Orlando Apollos are also coming off a win, but theirs is a 40-6 routing of the Atlanta Legends. QB Garrett Gilbert threw for 227 yards and 2 TDs under the Steve Spurrier led offense. The Apollos will also try to get RB Akeem Hunt going after his 10 carry 73 yard performance against the Legends, but will have a tougher time against the stout front of the Commanders defense led by former Colts nose tackle Joey Mbu.



I think this game is headed for a shoot-out, but I think Woodside and the Commanders will have a tough time against this Apollos defense. I like the Apollos by more than a touchdown.

Atlanta Legends at San Diego Fleet (-9.5)

8pm on NFL Network

The San Diego Fleet are at home coming off that close road loss to the Commanders. Coach Mike Martz announced he’s making a switch at QB, going with former ECU Pirate Philip Nelson. He’ll have a lighter match-up this week going against a Legends defense that got torched for 40 points last week against the Apollos. The match-up I think he can exploit is former Cowboys TE Gavin Escobar against a struggling Legends linebacking corps. Also keep an eye out for the Fleets top pass rusher Damontre Moore; this could be an even bigger game than the 1.5 sack/6 QB hit performance he put on last week.



The Atlanta Legends are lucky the Express got shut out week 1 or the talk of the league would be the awful performance they put up against the Apollos. It is unclear if head coach Kevin Coyle is going to go with Aaron Murray or Matt Simms at QB. They will need to get some semblance of a run game going to take the pressure off whichever QB they go with. On the defensive side of the ball, they will need to exploit the Fleet offensive line that struggle last week and get pressure on Nelson to throw off the timing of that Mike Martz offense.



In the end, I think the Legends continue to struggle and Martz and the Fleet get it done. They will cover the 9.5 but I think in something like a 25-11 match that falls under the 44 point over/under.