On Friday, the 8th of November, the Bay Area Rosal travel to Turlock to take on the Express. Both the Rosal and Express play in smaller arenas with smaller goals and are both familiar with the style of play required with smaller arenas. Turlock is coming off of a win against Sacramento at home and look to establish their dominance in the Nor Cal Triangle that is Sacramento, Bay Area, and Turlock. But don't count out Rosal, who gained some valuable experience playing an experienced Legends Team. This one stays close at Turlock -2.5 over/under 15.
Texas plays it's first game against La Fiera in Hidalgo on the 10th. Hidalgo is coming off of a close overtime loss to the Flash in Monterrey and will get the win at their home opener. La Fiera -5.5 o/u 13.5.
Also on the 9th, Dallas travels to San Diego for the San Diego home opener. Read what I said about this game in "And It Starts With A Bang!" at http://theindoorouthouse.blogspot.com/2013/09/and-it-starts-with-bang.html. The best part of this game is that it's the first game of the season. The worst part is that it is the first game of the season. Both teams will not be performing at the kind of caliber they will be later in the season, and I think that frustrations will become present at the end of the game. San Diego -1 o/u 11 And for an extra bonus, o/u 1.5 ejections, o/u 1 person wins the Frisbee toss
Monterrey, who is coming off a big overtime win, will make the short trip to Saltillo to take on the Rancho Seco. The game Monterrey had against La Fiera had little offense in the first half, but Monterrey began to find the goal in the 2nd. The Flash are carrying momentum from their home performance in front of a crowd of 10,000 and will light it up in their second game. I say Monterrey -3.5 o/u 15.
Illinois Piasa, who struggled on the road last year, make the trip to Wichita for the B-52's home opener. Dallas gave the Wichita squad a sound beat down at the Allen Events Center, and I think that they will struggle against a Piasa squad that is coming off a win, and look to improve as a traveling squad. Piasa will have to adjust to the Hartman Arena's size, but will have the indoor knowledge to walk away with the win. Illinois-2.5 o/u 14.
The Detroit Waza Flo open things up at the Melvindale Arena against the Harrisburg Heat. The Harrisburg side has worked out their first year jitters and look to knock Detroit out of their position as reigning Eastern Division Champs. Detroit gets the win but in a hard fought game where both teams will be knocking the off-season dust off of their squads in the 1st of 4 games that these teams will play each other. Detroit -2.5 o/u 12.
A Chicago Mustangs Squad that is also looking to take control of the East faces off at the Tri-County Soccerplex where the Saints inched out the win against the Cleveland Freeze. The Mustangs bring a salty squad that knows how to play quality ball. Chicago -2 o/u 15.
Also in the Nor Cal Triangle, 0-1 Bay Area goes into Sacramento to take on the 0-2 Surge. Sacramento is looking to fend off going 0-3 in the first 7 days of the 2013-2014 season and will inch out the win at home. Sacramento -1 o/u 13.
On Sunday Harrisburg goes into Cleveland for an early 3:00pm game and their second game in so many days. Cleveland lost a close one in Cincinnati and will have the advantage of opening at home. Harrisburg will be playing their second game in 17 hours. Top that off with 10 hours combined travel time, and I think fatigue and stiffness will be a factor later on in the game. I will stick with Chinapoo's Squad against the Freeze. Harrisburg -2 o/u 14.
Las Vegas has their home opener against the Toros at the Orleans Arena. Las Vegas is already 2-0 and will start a two game home stand against a Tijuana side that will be seeing it first regular season game. Las Vegas -3 o/u 14.5
The week ends in Ontario when Dallas plays the Fury at the beautiful Citizens Business Bank Arena. Dallas will travel 3 hours from San Diego after playing the Sockers in their home opener the night before. I have to go with the veteran Sidekicks side on this one, but Ontario will keep it close. Dallas -2 o/u 12.5.
I like what you say about Monterrey, but I think -3.5 is a bit generous, given that Rancho Seco is a long established team which finished second in the LNFR-Pro this summer.
ReplyDeleteYou are probably right. I set it at -3.5 because of the momentum that the Flash are carrying from their last win. Also, both Monterrey and Hildago struggled to find the back of the net in the first half with only one goal between them, but opened it up with 10 goals in the second half. My guess, and that is exactly what it is, is that Rancho Seco will struggle in the first half in their first game of the season while the Flash rack up at least a 3 goal lead and then carry it through the rest of the game. I could always adjust the spread before Saturday. What do you think it should be?
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