posted July 4, 2008 at 19:32 in Other Articles

A pair of Central Division rivals hook up in the Divisional Round of the Arena Football League playoffs giving online sports bettors a chance to wager on the action when the #6 Grand Rapids Rampage (7-10, 9-8 ATS) head to the “Windy City” to take on the #1 Chicago Rush (11-5, 8-7-1 ATS). Playing in their first playoff game since 2003, the Rampage took out the Arizona Rattlers with a last-second goal line stand to steal a 48-41 victory in the desert. They are 4-4 SU all-time in postseason play, but had only advanced past the first round of the playoffs once back in 2001 when they won the ArenaBowl. The Rush earned a well-deserved bye-week with their #1 seed in the American Conference. They sport a 9-6 SU mark in their post-season history, and have qualified for the second season in each year of their existence dating back to 2001.

The Rampage played a methodical game against the Rattlers, scoring points on each one of their possessions. The defense only held Arizona scoreless twice, but their 1st quarter interception and 4th quarter goal line stand were enough to pull out the victory. Their AFL bettors had to sweat it out as slim one-point underdogs, but the Rampage never found themselves trailing in the game. Grand Rapids led the American Conference scoring 59.5 PPG, and though the defense has been suspect at times (allowing 60.5 PPG), the team certainly one of the more exciting squads the AFL has to offer.

Chicago got a chance to rest up during Wild Card weekend following their Week 17 triumph over the Dallas Desperados that guaranteed them the top spot in the American Conference. If there’s a knock on the Rush, it’s the fact that their offense is young and inexperienced. Second year QB Russ Michna played half of a playoff game last year, but this will be his first postseason start at any professional level. His favorite target, WR Donovan Morgan, led the team with 111 receptions, but he too will be making his first AFL playoff start on Sunday.

The betting trends seem to favor the Rush in this one. Chicago is 47-18 SU in their history at home, including a 34-27 ATS mark. The Rampage is just 5-20 SU in their L/3 years on the road, and is only 4-16 SU against teams over .500 during that stretch. The Rush are 5-1 ATS in playoff games the past three seasons and have only been eliminated in their first playoff game once in team history. Grand Rapids is 5-3 ATS in eight playoff games. The season series was all Chicago, as the Rush won both games, but the road team covered the spread in each outing. The Rush holds a 9-8 ATS advantage over the Rampage in the history of the rivalry, but hasn’t lost to Grand Rapids in four seasons.

Oddsmakers tagged the Rush as 9.5-point home favorites in this Divisional showdown. The ‘total’ now sits at a lofty 114. Betting trends suggest a lower scoring game. Twelve of the 17 games between these teams have gone under the posted ‘total,’ including under’s in each of the past seven meetings. The under is 10-5 ATS in Chicago’s 15 career playoff games. The 89 points that Grand Rapids and Arizona combined for easily went ‘under’ the closing total of 119 last week, and was the lowest scoring game of Wild Card weekend.

BetUS.com offers all the Arena Football playoff betting lines your heart desires, so be sure to login and get your wagers down in what should be a great match-up between David and Goliath of the American Conference.

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