Pick Ems

Pick Ems…

There is a lot of action this weekend. So much that it spills over into a rare Monday night clash.

A lackluster week last week with no one dominating.

Ross held steady with his 5-3 mark.

The only one with a winning record.

Kevin, Muffler and Gary came it at 4-4 with Shawn posting a 3-5 mark.

So, updated standings have Ross at 62-30.
Gary sits at 58-34, Shawn right on his heels at 56-36.

Kevin is chasing Shawn with his 55-37 and Muffler Mike stays on the sunny side of .500 with a 47-45 mark.

From Drive-By City, Kevin Neibauer, fresh from getting a pedicure and subsequently being asked to never come back …checks in with his prognosis.

Buffalo-Philadelphia

Buffalo

The Bandits are the best team in the league and Philadelphia has not beat a team with a winning record.

They won’t start with this one…

Rochester-Halifax

Halifax

Four straight losses for Halifax so, this could be just what the doctor ordered.

The fiasco to start the Rochester game against Philadelphia may have been brought about by frustration…

Toronto- Georgia

Toronto

The Rock got rocked like Chris Rock last week.

That had to leave a bad taste in their mouths.

Georgia seems to have found their game so this shapes up as a classic.

Vancouver-Calgary

Vancouver

The Warriors have been inconsistent.

Calgary still trying to solve offensive woes.

Both teams need this one but, the Vancouver defense makes a statement.

San Diego-Toronto

San Diego

Toronto will have tired legs and a long plane ride.

Even with the best conditions, San Diego would win this.

The Rock keep it close but come up short.

Philadelphia-New York

New York

One team struggling, the other, putting it together.

New York finds a way to stay alive in playoff hunt.

Buffalo-Colorado

Colorado

With the Division locked up, Buffalo let’s off the accelerator and, Colorado simply needs it more.

Albany-:Vancouver.

Vancouver.

Despite the fact that Albany has a hex on teams with winning records, Vancouver’s defense is the difference.

New York-Colorado

Colorado takes the rare Monday game..
The Mammoth have the luxury of home cooking. With the Riptide having to travel.

Next up, “Muffler” Mike Kostiuk.

Mike has had a bit of a resurgence now that he abandoned the 1/2 off Magik 8 Ball…We all thought it was odd that he was using a Magic 4 Ball…

BUF @ PHI
Philadelphia. The Wings hold the last playoff spot by just a half-game. Playing their last home game before finishing with four road games, it’s time to step up and show that they are a playoff-caliber team.

ROC @ HFX
Halifax. Thunderbirds badly need to right the ship – they are 0-4 since making that flurry of trades at the deadline, putting them in danger of falling out of the playoff picture (or worse, into a first round game against Buffalo).

TOR @ GA
Georgia. Not to put the cart before the horse, but look at the standings and this weekend’s matchups, and realize the Swarm could move from 4th to 2nd place in the East with a win and some help from San Diego and Rochester.

VAN @ CGY
Vancouver. After shelving the “desperation” takes for a month and a half, I’m bringing them back. This time it’s for the Warriors, who must salvage at least a split doubleheader this weekend while Panther City is on a bye.

SD @ TOR
San Diego. Seals capitalize on a tired Rock team to clinch the West Division title (more on that shortly…)

PHI @ NY
New York. The Wings’ 4-game road trip starts out in the worst possible way: on the back end of a doubleheader against a team that can still “Surge” into the playoffs.

BUF @ COL
Buffalo. The Bandits get a day’s rest between their doubleheader games and will be anxious to shake off a close loss to Philly. Bad timing for a Mammoth team struggling to hold on in the West after looking like legit title contenders entering the month of March.

ALB @ VAN
Albany. Taking advantage of Vancouver being on the back end of a doubleheader (albeit at home), the FireWolves stay in the hunt for a playoff spot. But it may be too little, too late.

NY @ COL
New York. The Riptide continue to “Surge” (why didn’t they name their mascot Surge instead of Eddy???) towards a possible playoff spot as other East teams falter down the stretch.

We turn our attention to the West and sunny San Diego. Ross “The Boss” coming off a week where he posted the most losses in one week in the time he has been doing this…is it a down turn or, is the warranty expired on his mystical.eight ball?

I couldn’t get a confirmation but, rumors from his favorite beach are, he went to the questionable, Magic Cue Ball.

Buffalo vs Philadelphia
Winner – Buffalo
Wings face a uphill battle in this game and dont have the firepower to match Buffalo

Rochester vs Halifax
Winner – Halifax
Halifax got bushwacked last week, this week they will be the bushwackers.

Toronto vs Georgia
Winner – Georgia
Swarm have been on a roll and are going to continue to roll on the Rock. The Rock won’t be focused in this game and the Swarm are looking at extending that win streak to 5.

Vancouver vs Calgary
Winner – Vancouver
Hammer-jackson is going to be the difference in this game.

San Diego vs Toronto
Winner – San Diego

The Rock are going to be so tired they will drop 2 in a row. Seals will have a lot more firepower in this game than they did in the last.

Philadelphia vs New York
Winner – New York

Riptide are showing off at this point that everyone is sleeping on them, the Wings are getting to the point that they will fall apart.

Buffalo vs Colorado
Winner – Buffalo

Colorado does not have the guns to take on the Buffalo team.

Vancouver vs Albany
Winner – Albany

Albany has the fresh legs, they have also gotten a good knack of beating teams with +.500 records.

New York vs Colorado
Winner – New York
Riptide are going to be big winners this week. Moving up in the standings.

We stay on the left side of the globe..and onto Canada with our first of two Canucks eh

Shawn Slaght. Shawn has been suffering thru a loooonnnggg Rush season. Shawn has opted to change his routine and, for good luck, will not change his socks until the Rush get a win….His poor wife is heavily involved in prayer…

Buffalo vs Philadelphia
Pick – Buffalo
Buffalo is the top dog in the league. I don’t think anyone can deny that. Philly at this point is playing for pride. I don’t think Buffalo will run away with it, but I could see them holding a consistent 2-3 goal lead throughout the game.

Rochester vs Halifax
Pick – Halifax
Where do you even start with Rochester? At this point they may as well take the losses as shoot for a high draft pick. Halifax is still in a tight race in the East, so they won’t lay down.

Toronto vs Georgia
Pick – Georgia
I’m going with the underdog. Toronto has been Rock solid (see what I did there?) but Georgia has picked up their game in the second half of the season. The talent is there for the Swarm to win.

Vancouver vs Calgary
Pick – Vancouver
It’s hard to gauge the Roughnecks after a game where the refs really took over. This will be a statement game for the Warriors that they are contenders in the west.

San Diego vs Toronto
Pick – Toronto
Without a doubt the game of the week. Needless to say the East Division is the better division this season and this game will prove it. Toronto may be tired but they will be motivated.

Philadelphia vs New York
Pick – New York
The pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together for the Riptide. They are gelling as a team, which is bad news for the rest of the league. Philly will continue to lick their wounds.

Buffalo vs Colorado
Pick – Buffalo
I would not be surprised if this ends as a one-goal game. The Mammoth are a team that, if you aren’t careful, can put up points. However, I have no reason to believe Buffalo won’t continue to put “W”s on the board.

Vancouver vs Albany
Pick – Albany
This is a tough one to call. I feel like these two teams are about equally talented. I’m going to give the edge to Albany as they’ll have the fresher legs.

New York vs Colorado
Pick – Colorado
Coming off of what (I’m predicting) will be a loss to Buffalo, I’m thinking you’ll see a desperate team out of Colorado to round out the week. They need this win badly to stay in the playoff race in the West.

On to Toronto and Mr. Lacrosse, Gary Groob who, along with Frank Stanisci, will have Lax Legend and Head Coach of the Arena League West Champions, the Sea Spray, Russ Heard, on their podcast Thursday at 4 PM Eastern…

Buffalo vs. Philadelphia
Buffalo wins.

Buffalo is white hot & Philly still hasn’t beat anyone with a .500 record or better.

Rochester vs. Halifax
Halifax wins.

After four losses in a row, the Thunderbirds will right the ship vs. a depleted Knighthawks squad.

Toronto vs. Georgia
Toronto wins.

The Rock offense was absent last week. They will be present for this game. The Rock’s stingy defense will hold the Swarm at bay (Lyle Thompson if he plays, will get points, but not at the clip we are used to seeing).

Vancouver vs. Calgary
Vancouver wins.

The Warriors finally got back on track last week, and will make a struggling Roughnecks defense have a long evening.

SD vs. Toronto

SD wins

A tired Rock squad against a fresh Seals team. Wes Berg is supposed to be back in the lineup as well. Look for the Seals to pull away in the second half.

Philadelphia vs. New York
New York wins.

Although the Riptide have a sub .500 record, they are playing like they are a playoff team. Philadelphia has trouble scoring, and will need more than 12 to beat this Riptide team.

Buffalo vs. Colorado

Buffalo wins

The Bandits team is the class of the league, and deep in every position. Colorado has struggled at times this year. If they stumble, Buffalo will pounce!

Albany vs. Vancouver

Vancouver wins.

Albany has shown signs of greatness, but also of collapse. This atmosphere in BC will have the Warriors pumped and ready!

New York vs. Colorado
New York wins

The second game for both teams. I like the New York team and have liked them all year. A few tough breaks early, or this team would be fighting for a playoff spot. Look for them to set a quick pace against the Mammoth.

The boys are back…The Weekly or, maybe, Weakly Pick Em’s.