AAF Week 9 Betting Preview & Picks

Even as rumors start to swirl about the viability of the Alliance of American Football going forward after this season, with the league’s principal investor claiming that the AAF might fold if it cannot have access to younger NFL players, the 2019 regular season itself enters its penultimate week. Orlando still has the best record in the league at 7-1 and leads the East Division by two games over Birmingham. In the West Division, all four teams remain alive for the postseason, with Arizona and San Antonio sitting at 5-3 and San Diego and Salt Lake City sitting at 3-5. What can we expect to see this weekend? Take a look at our AAF betting preview for Saturday and Sunday’s contests.

AAF Week 9 Betting Preview & Picks

Just two weeks remain in the regular season, @cfrelund shares her latest power rankings. 📊 #JoinTheAlliance pic.twitter.com/3gFMdjlzfi

— The Alliance (@TheAAF) 1 de abril de 2019

Saturday, April 6

Memphis at San Antonio (12:00pm ET, CBS)

Memphis had a lead on Orlando at home last week. However, things fell apart for the Express. Johnny Manziel threw an interception and then tried to make the tackle — and ended up hurting his head. Then the Express lined up for a punt, still up three, and the punter fumbled the snap and fell down trying to kick the ball after he recovered it. Orlando ended up scoring to take the win — and now Memphis looks like their season is over. San Antonio had a great opportunity to move into the lead in the West Division last week but took an ugly loss at home against Arizona, ending a four-game winning streak. They will likely face Arizona in the divisional round of the playoffs, so taking that beating will either prove motivational or set the Commanders up for a one-week postseason. AAF Week 9 Prediction: San Antonio 24, Memphis 16

San Diego at Orlando (8:00pm ET, NFL Network)

It took some help for Orlando to escape Memphis last week with a win, as a fumbled snap on a punt gave the Apollos the opportunity that they needed, but dominant teams find a way to win, and Steve Spurrier’s squad came out of the Liberty Bowl with a 34-31 road victory against a Memphis team that has been improving. Orlando has clinched home field advantage for the playoff game against Birmingham. Will Orlando keep up its intensity now that home field is in the bag? San Diego was 3-2 at one point but has dropped three games in a row, including an 8-3 debacle at Salt Lake last week. The defense in San Diego remains reasonably stout, but the offense can’t move the ball at all. The Fleet need to win out to have a chance to make the postseason out of the West Division, but it’s hard to see the Apollos taking it easy on such a moribund squad at home. AAF Week 9 Prediction: Orlando 24, San Diego 6

Sunday, April 7

Salt Lake City at Atlanta (4:00pm ET, Bleacher Report Live)

Atlanta started out the season 0-3…and then went on a two-game winning streak and looked like they were on the rise. Since then they have lost three straight and are at the bottom of the East Division and the team’s power rankings. They welcome a Salt Lake City team that won last week despite putting up just eight points…but it’s still hard to favor the Legends at home. Salt Lake City has won two of three and despite their 3-5 record still have a chance to make the playoffs in the West Division. They visit an Atlanta team that doesn’t have much to play for, and so I see that Stallions defense grinding out another win. AAF Week 9 Prediction: Salt Lake City 12, Atlanta 6

Birmingham at Arizona (8:00pm ET, NFL Network)

Arizona’s roller coaster season continues as they ran to a 23-6 win over San Antonio last week. The Hotshots have now won three straight, over a San Antonio defense that can clog things up when they want to, and Rick Neuheisel’s squad needs just one more win to clinch a playoff spot. The Hotshots welcome a Birmingham team that had stayed with Orlando through much of the early going but now will settle for second in the East Division and open the playoffs at Orlando. With things set for the Iron, will they play with as much as intensity as the Hotshots, who still could mathematically be eliminated? Tailback Trent Richardson does lead the league with 11 touchdowns, but if the Hotshots control the rhythm at home, Birmingham could fall. AAF Week 9 Prediction: Arizona 27, Birmingham 23