VA Raptor - Week 2 Preview / Lines

WEEK 2 GAMBLING LINES

It takes a big man to admit when he’s wrong….so let’s focus on the Week 1 games where my lines helped the house win big. The Chubby Gangsters (-5.5) pulled off a backdoor cover in the final inning with a 12-6 victory over the Foul Balls in a fun contest that I was able to observe as the home plate umpire. Even more notable for the Chubbies was the fact that their late offensive outburst completed an opening day doubleheader sweep, equaling their win total from the fall season. In the last official NOAA report, two Chubby Gangster line drives were last seen rising over the gray horizon of the Chesapeake Bay. In an early matchup, Frosty Ballin’ (-2.0) broke an early 3-3 tie against Kick Ass and held on late for the 6-3 win. The difference maker in this game was the middle of the Vanilla Frosties’ lineup, which was able to come up with impeccably placed and clutch line drives to record several strong RKIs. So, for the Obama birthers keeping score at home, I officiated and played in the two games of the week which came closest to my predicted lines. I also reached third twice for Kick Ass without scoring. Let’s stop this dangerous train of thought before the WAKA conspiracy theorists burn my jorts in effigy on Facebook.

Well, it turns out there was a reason that the big money was moving all week on the league’s marquee showdown between my preseason championship favorites: JFK and the Peninsula Pounders. Umpiring and creeping pneumonia kept me from being able to witness more than an inning of this clash of titans, but I’m told that the JFK sideline could be heard chanting “shock and awe, shock and awe!” as their offense came out surging like a “traditional values Republican” in South Carolina. The Dead Presidents were able to hold off a late Pounders charge for a convincing 8-4 win which solidifies their position as the early season frontrunners for the inaugural Raptor league championship. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, the season remains young. On to the Week 2 matchups and gambling lines.

Foul Balls (100:1) vs. Kick Ass (15:1)

Week 2 kicks off with the game of the week on field 1 at the 1 o’clock hour. Will the Foul Balls come out firing with their new offensive toys Chas Smith and Akiro Davis to earn vengeance for “The Betrayal”? Will Wade Brock apologize for all of his past transgressions and admit he is the weak link in the Foul Balls lineup and chink in their defensive armor? Will Kick Ass Captain Manny Anderson stay for the entire game? Is there life after death? Will the Federal Reserve continue to drive interest rates down in 2012? Am I hyping this game too much? So many questions to be answered on Saturday, but at least we already know the answer to the most important one….Kick Ass (-6.5)

Peninsula Pounders (2:1) vs. All Up In the Bunt (10:1)

The Pounders look to rebound from their aforementioned Week 1 loss against an athletic All Up In the Bunt squad. AUITB was shot down in Week 1 by a skilled Foot Snipers squad and held scoreless. The Bunt will need more offense to stay in the hunt against the Pounders, but it would take a huge turnaround from their Week 1 performance to keep this close. Pound Me (-6.5)

JFK (4:3) vs. Frosty Ballin’ (8:1)

JFK’s statement win in Week 1 has been well documented by the WAKA press, but will the glare of the spotlight and their position as the lead horse in the Raptor race breed complacency or a letdown in Week 2? This isn’t Coach Freed’s first rodeo, and he has the experience and discipline to keep his team level-headed and focused on their Week 2 task of taking down an experienced Frosty Ballin’ team who is coming off an impressive win of their own. Don’t expect the Frosties to be plucked off the Dollar Menu easily as they have talent at all of skill positions and a dangerous lineup that can kick away with the best. The casinos hope to cash in big on bettors riding the hot team in a closer than expected game. JFK (-3.5)

Whiskey Kick (75:1) vs. Kick Ass (15:1)

The Whiskey Kicks looked a little limp in their Week 1 doubleheader as they fell to the Chubby Gangsters in a close contest and then came out flaccid and lifeless in their second game against Frosty Ballin’. The raw sex appeal of the Kick Ass lineup may be enough to get the Whiskeys to stand up and be recognized, but they may end up going down like a barrel-aged twenty year old blend? Kick Ass reaches their straw aaaaaall the way over to the WK sideline and drinks them up. Kick Ass (-6.5)

Chubby Gangsters (30:1) vs. All Up In The Bunt (10:1)

The Chubbies are riding high after doubling down in Week 1. The Chubby defense looked suspect late against the Foul Balls, but the sloppy play could be chalked up to two hours of hung over kickball in typhoon conditions. Week 1 didn’t give us much information about either team and the even the Vegas sharks haven’t mined much inside information from the Chubby or Bunt camp. Too close to call, let’s settle this one on the field. Pick ‘em.

Peninsula Pounders (2:1) vs. Foot Snipers (6:1)

Probably the legitimate pick for Game of the Week, from a purely kickball perspective. The house has struggled with setting the line on this clash. The Pounders pounded the casino vaults last week after a stunning loss giving up eight runs to a fired up JFK team. The Foot Snipers are still a relative unknown (to the author at least) following a decisive Week 1 victory over the Bunt. Will they be able to channel the spirit of Tom Berenger to emerge from the brush and put a well-placed bullet in the Pounders championship hopes? The odds makers still love the Pounders…for another week at least. Pounders (-0.5)

One kick, one run, no exceptions.