The 2010 AFL betting Playoffs have been entertaining up to now, but on Saturday, August 14th at 7:30pm ET, the War on I-4 continues in Tampa, Florida; when the Orlando Predators (9-8, 10-7 ATS) make their way into the St. Pete Times Forum to take on their “hated rivals” the Tampa Bay Storm (12-5, 8-9 ATS).

This match-up is sure to be the highlight of the Playoffs thus far. The War on I-4 has been the nickname for this rivalry dating all the way back to the original Arena Football League with the Predators leading the all-time series with a 23-22 advantage. They have also met in the playoffs five times and the ArenaBowl with each team winning once.

Orlando’s offense was amazing in the first round scoring an awesome 73 points. Starting QB Nick Hill was the leader of the scoring attack racking up 246 yards through the air to go with a TD/INT ratio of 6/0. The main star of the Predators offense was WR Bobby Sippio who was supposed to be suspended for the game, but was able to play and he didn’t disappoint. He hauled in nine receptions for 113 yards, four TD receptions and two rushing TD’s including the game winning catch with 8.7 seconds left. Dion Byrum also added an INT on defense for the Predators in their impressive win over the #1 seeded Jacksonville Sharks.

The Storm had several contributions on offense in their blow out win over the Tulsa Talons. QB Brett Dietz threw for 263 yards along with a TD/INT of 7/0. WR’s Sedrick Robinson and Tyrone Timmons combined to haul in 13 receptions, 147 yards and five touchdowns. RB Eric Ortiz added two rushing TD’s and returned a kickoff for a score. Erick McIntosh had two INT’s on defense for the Storm.

In the two previous AFL betting match-ups this season, the road team won each game. The second meeting was held in Tampa Bay in both clubs regular season finales. The Predators defeated the Storm 75-60 as 7.5-point underdogs, while the Storm took the first game in Orlando as 1.5-point underdogs.

The host Storm currently sits as 7.5-point home favorites with the game ‘total’ set at 109.5.

AFL betting Playoff Divisional Round action concludes on Saturday, August 7th at 8:00 ET when the Tampa Bay Storm (11-5, 8-8 ATS) burst their way into the BOK Center in Oklahoma to duel with the Tulsa Talons (10-6, 10-5-1 ATS). The visiting Storm enter into this matchup having lost their regular season finale 75-60 to Orlando as 7.5-point favorites while the Talons won their final game 74-61 as 2.5-point underdogs.

While the Storm’s offense was a huge part of their success this season, their defense played a major role to punch their playoff tickets. The unit’s allowed only a shade over 50 PPG, while giving up under 290 YPG. Their feistiness caused opposing QB’s to throw 16 INTs, accumulate 22 sacks, and force 12 fumbles during the year. The Storm finished up the regular season with an 11-5 SU record but pulled even for AFL bettors splitting their 16 games against the closing AFL odds (8-8 ATS). They won five of their eight road games while posting a 4-4 ATS tally.

Though the Storm’s defense was rock solid this year, Tulsa’s defense was even better. Though they surrendered just over 56 PPG, the Talons gave opposing QB’s fits forcing them into 24 INT’s while accruing 36 sacks; the unit also forced 20 fumbles and scored five defensive TDs. The offense also held up its end of the bargain averaging 62.1 PPG while churning out over 302 YPG. Tulsa ended their regular season with a SU record of (10-6) while pleasing AFL bettors with a 10-5-1 ATS tally. The Talons defended their house well going 6-2 SU & ATS on the year.

In their only meeting during the regular season in Oklahoma, the Talons took care of business and overcame the odds at home defeating the Storm 69-58 as nine-point underdogs. The Storm were favored in all but one of their games this season and posted an 8-7 ATS record. Tulsa came up huge against conference opposition in its inaugural season in the AFL posting impressive 8-2 SU & 9-1 ATS marks.

HC Tim Marcum’s  Storm are currently sitting as two-point home favorites with a game ‘total’ set at 113 for tonight’s AFL Playoff betting battle.

The 2010 AFL playoffs are starting on Friday! Today, we are ranking the teams left standing from #1 to #8 in the quest for ArenaBowl XXIII!

Mike Rose is coming off a fabulous month betting Arena Football going 13-6-1 ATS 68% in July. That makes him 40-24-1 ATS 63%  with a ROI of $5090 on the year. Join him as he looks to close the 2010 AFL Betting season out in style with a fantastic run through the Playoffs!
Click Here To Buy Mike Rose’ Arena Football Playoffs Picks Package

Spokane Shock (13-3, #1 in National Conference) – The Shock started the season at 2-2 and rolled off 11 straight victories, one of the longest winning streaks in AFL history. Losing the last game of the regular season in Jacksonville was incredibly inconsequential, as the road to the ArenaBowl is going to run through Spokane regardless.

Tampa Bay Storm (11-5, #3 in American Conference) – Few teams in the second half of the season played as well as the Storm did. QB Brett Dietz set a franchise record by throwing for 106 TD passes this season. Tampa Bay finished second in the conference in total defense, and only because it gave up 75 points in a meaningless final game of the regular season.

Jacksonville Sharks (12-4, #1 in American Conference) – Give Jacksonville credit for surviving essentially two games without QB Aaron Garcia. This team played hardnosed ‘D’ all season long and ended up with the best numbers in the game at just 50.4 PPG allowed. The Sharks also went an AFL best 7-1 at home this year, and with the rest of the American Conference coming to play in their home, Jacksonville could be well on its way to the ArenaBowl.

Milwaukee Iron (10-6, #2 in National Conference) – The Iron scored the most points in AFL history this year at 1,043, and a lot of that was thanks to an offensive line that gave up just one sack all season long. Just like Jacksonville, Milwaukee went 7-1 at home this year, but it won’t be able to play in the Bradley Center due to scheduling conflicts. This week’s game against Chicago will be “at home,” but it might not feel that way.

Arizona Rattlers (10-6, #4 in National Conference) – The consummate dark horse to win the ArenaBowl, Arizona is a trendy selection having played Spokane tough twice this year. The Rats have probable Rookie of the Year WR Rod Windsor, who rewrote the record books for receivers on the season. This is a tall task to face the Shock and come away with a win, but ‘Zona is capable.

Tulsa Talons (10-6, #2 in American Conference) – We aren’t high on Tulsa’s chances of winning the ArenaBowl, but what is certainly on its side is the fact that it already knows it can beat Tampa Bay having done it earlier in the year. Still, playing six games in a division which only won a combined 12 games amongst the other three teams isn’t a ringing endorsement.

Chicago Rush (10-6, #3 in National Conference) – If HC Mike Hohensee is winning another ArenaBowl, it’s going to have to come without QB Russ Michna under center. The Rush is in big trouble right now with QB JJ Raterink calling the shots, as they lost their final two games of the season with him under center.

Orlando Predators (8-8, #4 in American Conference) – The Preds are going to have to face Jacksonville this weekend without OL Julius Wilson and WR Bobby Sippio after their role in a fight in the stands last week in Tampa Bay. This team already had enough problems, as QB Nick Hill is probably the worst signal caller in the conference’s playoffs. It should be a short stay in the second season for the black and red.

The AFL betting season enters its fifteenth week of play this week with a full slate of games. Check out how we’re ranking the clubs through the first 14 weeks of the season!

1: Spokane Shock (10-2 SU, 6-6 ATS) (LW: 1) – The Shock laid the smack down on Arizona last week, which effectively clinched up the #1 seed in the National Conference barring a major slip up. It was a shame to not cover the spread after holding the Rats to just 36 points, but the backdoor was wide open in the closing moments.
Up Next: Away @ Cleveland

2: Tampa Bay Storm (9-3 SU, 6-6 ATS) (LW: 4) – The Storm have hit their highest point in the AFL betting power poll all season long, and they are on the verge of locking down a playoff spot. The key game is going to be in two weeks in Jacksonville, so a letdown in Dallas is something that must be avoided, particularly after the huge ‘W’ over Chicago last week.
Up Next: Away @ Dallas

3: Chicago Rush (9-4 SU, 7-5-1 ATS) (LW: 3) – What a miserable week for the Rush! Spokane won, Milwaukee won, they lost, and their fullback, Robert Boss left the team to become an assistant coach for an FCS school. The initiative in the division can be lost this week if Chicago isn’t careful, which could send it on the road for the postseason.
Up Next: Home vs. Arizona

4: Arizona Rattlers (8-4 SU, 8-4 ATS) (LW: 2) – The Rattlers aren’t in any sort of playoff trouble at this point, but the loss at Spokane ended any hope of winning the West and earning a home playoff game. This should be a playoff preview this week, as we expect to see Arizona and Chicago duking it out in the Windy City again in a few weeks.
Up Next: Away @ Chicago

5: Jacksonville Sharks (8-4 SU, 6-6 ATS) (LW: 5) – The Sharks got back on the boat by crushing Alabama last week. A de facto bye week is ahead before the big one at home against Tampa Bay that will probably determine the winner of the South.
Up Next: Away @ Utah

6: Milwaukee Iron (8-5 SU, 7-6 ATS) (LW: 6) – Ho hum – 82 more points on the board this week for the Iron. Milwaukee knows that two more wins will lock down a playoff berth regardless of who they come against. It will enjoy its final bye this week.
Up Next: Bye

And the rest…
7: Tulsa Talons (7-5 SU, 8-4 ATS) (LW: 8 )
8: Iowa Barnstormers (6-6 SU, 6-6 ATS) (LW: 10)
9: Cleveland Gladiators (6-7 SU, 8-5 ATS) (LW: 11)
10: Alabama Vipers (6-6 SU, 5-7 ATS) (LW: 7)
11: Orlando Predators (5-7 SU, 6-6 ATS) (LW: 9)
12: Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (5-7 SU, 7-5 ATS) (LW: 12)
13: Bossier City Battle Wings (3-10 SU, 6-7 ATS) (LW: 13)
14: Dallas Vigilantes (1-11 SU, 3-9 ATS) (LW: 14)
15: Utah Blaze (1-11 SU, 2-10 ATS) (LW: 15)

The AFL betting season enters its thirteenth week of play this week with a full slate of games. Check out how we’re ranking the clubs through the first 12 weeks of the season!

1: Spokane Shock (8-2 SU, 5-5 ATS) (LW: 2) – At this point, it is absolutely undeniable that the Shock are the top rated team in the AFL. They absolutely steamrolled past Tulsa 63-42 in Week 12, which sets up a fantastic duel with the Iron at the Bradley Center this coming Saturday.
Up Next: Away @ Milwaukee

2: Arizona Rattlers (7-3 SU, 6-4 ATS) (LW: 4) – The Rattlers have done nothing but move up the charts in recent weeks thanks to this three game home stand that has done wonders for the club. Still, AFL betting fans need to be weary of this schedule. Starting this week, the stakes go tremendously up, as games at Jacksonville and Spokane are on deck.
Up Next: Away @ Jacksonville

3: Jacksonville Sharks (7-3 SU, 5-5 ATS) (LW: 1) – Shame on you, Jacksonville! The Sharks were down 22-2 before you could blink in the first quarter against an Orlando team that has been up and down all season long. This was perhaps a curse of coming off of the bye week, which has bitten three straight teams in the backside with ATS defeats.
Up Next: Home vs. Arizona

4: Chicago Rush (8-3 SU, 6-4-1 ATS) (LW: 5) – The AFL odds were stacked against Chicago all week last week. Not only were QB Russ Michna and WR Samie Parker not with the team because of their UFL tryout, but they watched as they went from two point favorites all the way up to nearly double digit underdogs! Needless to say, a 63-56 win over the Iron not only helped defy the odds, but it also moved the magic number to clinch its division to just four.
Up Next: Home vs. Orlando

5: Tampa Bay Storm (7-3 SU, 4-6 ATS) (LW: 6) – It was rough for just a bit, but the Storm did their job and disposed of Utah without much trouble. Tampa Bay is back at home this week, where it has played well all season long. HC Tim Marcum definitely has himself a contender this year.
Up Next: Home vs. Bossier City

6: Milwaukee Iron (7-4 SU, 6-5 ATS) (LW: 3) – Milwaukee has to be wondering whether there are some serious problems right now. The team has now lost twice this year after double digit point spread moves, which has crippled AFL betting fans. The Midwest Division has basically already been lost barring a collapse by the Rush, and if they’re not careful, the Iron will fall out of the playoffs entirely as well.
Up Next: Home vs. Spokane

And the rest…
7: Orlando Predators (5-5 SU, 6-4 ATS) (LW: 9)
8: Alabama Vipers (6-5 SU, 5-6 ATS) (LW: 8 )
9: Tulsa Talons (6-5 SU, 7-4 ATS) (LW: 7)
10: Cleveland Gladiators (5-6 SU, 7-4 ATS) (LW: 11)
11: Iowa Barnstormers (4-6 SU, 4-6 ATS) (LW: 10)
12: Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (3-7 SU, 6-4 ATS) (LW: 12)
13: Bossier City Battle Wings (3-8 SU, 6-5 ATS) (LW: 13)
14: Dallas Vigilantes (1-9 SU, 2-8 ATS) (LW: 14)
15: Utah Blaze (1-9 SU, 2-8 ATS) (LW: 15)