[Willie Bee]

Bet Colorado +6½ at Kansas City

Game Time: 06/30/2007 03:00 PM
By: Mike Rose | who2beton.com

It's playoff time in the Arena Football League. Both Colorado and Kansas City limp into their match with concerns, but the Crush and the points are the play at the Brigade.

Both clubs head into the playoffs limping. Kansas City got crushed last week in Chicago, while the Crush dropped their fourth straight to Dallas on MNF.

I got to see the Brigade live and in person last weekend at the All State Arena, and I wasn’t impressed whatsoever. The defense, the main staple to their success this season, was non-existent, and the offense really seemed to struggle with the absence of stud rookie WR Charles Frederick. On top of that, QB Raymond Philyaw hurt himself like he usually does when it’s all on the line in a big game. He’ll most likely give it a go this week, but the word on the street is that he fractured a small bone in his foot and won’t nearly be playing at 100%.

Colorado has to be the ugliest playoff team I’ve seen in recent years, but I’m still of the belief that it will take the playoff lights to really get this team going. They have playmakers on both sides of the ball and an AFL HOF coach in Mike Dailey who has won the whole enchilada on a couple of occasions. Colorado just seems to get what KC tries to do as they beat them both times they faced the Brigade this season. Granted, it was by a combined seven points, but a win is a win any way you look at it.

The biggest factor in backing the Crush today is the simple fact that the Kansas City is one of the few teams Colorado QB John Dutton performed well against this season. He knows a good showing here and in the postseason might set him up for a contract extension in Colorado, so I expect another good showing from him Saturday afternoon.

I just think the Brigade come into this one limited with injuries at the QB and WR position, and their defense has faltered badly of late. That isn’t a good sign when going up against one of the leagues premiere offensive specialists in Damian Harrell. This will be a bloody battle, and I just see this as being too many points for the Brigade to have to cover while looking to beat the Crush for the first time this year.

Free Pick: Crush +6½

[Checkerboard]

I took KC myself in this one, good luck. At least one of us gets to win.