Arizona Rattlers' head coach Kevin Guy is only six week removed from saying that championships are won in August, not in April.
Still, the three-time defending ArenaBowl champions will be in a lot of trouble if they can't figure out how to take care of business against the Spokane Shock on Saturday.
RECENT FORM
The Rattlers have been playing without Nick Davila of late thanks to a foot injury. He might be back in this game, and if he is, it will be a huge boost to an offense which might also be without backup B.J. Coleman in this one.
Arizona has averaged just 47.0 points per game since Davila's absence, a far cry from the 59.0 points per game it averaged with the man they call the "Latin Laser" in the saddle.
Two weeks ago, Shock head coach Andy Olson said that he "deserved to be canned" if his squad ever played as poorly again as it did against San Jose in an 83-28 defeat, tied for the sixth worse loss in the history of the AFL. His team got back on track last week with a 63-56 win in Las Vegas, though it should be noted that that game was 56-21 early in the fourth quarter before things got a little bit out of hand and matters got closer.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I wouldn’t say the offense is patched up. Nick is out. But Coach Guy prides himself in bringing in guys where you don't miss a beat. Everybody on this team is capable of making plays." – Arizona defensive back Jeremy Kellem on his team's offense without Davila in the saddle
KEY STATS
20: The number of turnovers which the Rattlers have forced this season. With Spokane still rolling with the inexperienced Warren Smith under center, there could be some problems for the hosts in this game. Arizona's defense has had some injury issues as well, but for the most part, this is where Guy and defensive coordinator Dave Ewart have truly excelled.
88.5 percent: The scoring percentage for the Spokane offense with Smith under center if you take out that horrid game against San Jose. It's really tough to ignore the rookie's efforts against the SaberCats, who are the most comparable group to this Arizona team in the AFL, but aside from that, Spokane has had its best three offensive performances, scoring 63 twice and 68 against Los Angeles with Smith under center.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
We're actually a little surprised that the opening spread of this game features Arizona a favorite by less than a touchdown. The Spokane defense has played very well for most of the season, but these Rattlers will end up being ready to go if Davila is in there.
We should note that the Rattlers' third option, Shane Boyd, is one of the worst quarterbacks the AFL has seen in recent history, so we don't want any part of the three-time champs if he is the one stuck playing the role of pivot. If it's Davila in there, Arizona should legitimately be favored by more than two touchdowns. Coleman should see this spread by at least eight or nine.
The bottom line is that the Spokane offense looks nothing like it did at the beginning of the year, and without his top target, Mike Washington in the lineup, we really see Smith struggling in this game. Don't be surprised if the champs make quick work out of this game.
Arizona 61, Spokane 45
The AFL odds for this Saturday contest will be released on game day by BookMaker. Now you can wager in-game while the action unfolds with BookMaker's live betting option.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The matchup between the Arizona Rattlers and the Spokane Shock is set for Saturday, May 30, 2015, at 10:00 p.m. ET at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, WA. The contest will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
