Odds have been released for Week 2 of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) and we take a look at the lines and leans for each. If you’re planning on making AAF bets for Week 2, you might want to get your bet in early as Week 1 featured some pretty significant pregame line movements.
Salt Lake Stallions (0-1) at Birmingham Iron (1-0)
Opening Line: Birmingham - 7, 44.5
TV: Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, TNT
Birmingham’s defense was one of the big storylines of Week 1 as it pitched a shutout against Memphis, holding the Express to 202 net yards and Christian Hackenberg to 10-of-23 completions. Offensively, Trent Richardson ran for 58 yards and two touchdowns while QB Luis Perez threw for 252 yards on 33 attempts.
Salt Lake was forced to use two quarterbacks after starter Josh Woodrum (10-22, 103 yards, TD, INT) hurt his hamstring and was replaced by Matt Linehan (7-13, 56 yards, TD, INT). Coach Dennis Erickson hasn’t named a starter for Week 2, but he did comment that he had hoped his team would be better on the ground.
Lean: Birmingham's defense looked legit and it gets to play at home for the second straight week. I also think both teams are going to focus on the ground game. I like the Under.
Arizona Hotshots (1-0) at Memphis Express (0-1)
Opening Line: Arizona - 11.5, 47.5
TV: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, NFL Network
Arizona quarterback John Wolford is the talk of the league after lighting up the Stallions for 275 passing yards and four touchdowns in Week 1. Wolford seems to have developed immediate chemistry with receiver Rashad Ross, who grabbed 5 of 7 targets for 103 yards and two touchdowns.
Memphis faces quarterback questions after Week 1 starter Christian Hackenberg managed just 87 yards and an interception on 23 attempts. Coach Mike Singletary made the switch to Brandon Silvers late in the game and he managed 22 yards and an interception on 3-of-4 passing. Running back Zac Stacy (12 carries for 53 yards) was Memphis’ best player on offense and I expect him to be heavily involved to help keep Arizona’s offense off the field.
Lean: It's only Week 2 and we already have a double-digit favorite on the road. Memphis, however, opened the season tied for the longest odds to win the title at 10/1 and is now a whopping 40/1. Swallow the points and take Arizona.
Orlando Apollos (1-0) at San Antonio Commanders (1-0)
Opening Line: Orlando -6, 44.5
TV: Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network
Both teams played great defensively in Week 1, allowing just two field goals each. Orlando was led by linebacker Terence Garvin, who racked up 11 total tackles, while San Antonio’s pass rush couldn’t be stopped on its way to six sacks against San Diego.
Offensively, Orlando started slow with a scoreless first quarter but then found its rhythm and wound up scoring 40. Quarterback Garrett Gilbert threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns on 15-of-25 passing and Akeem Hunt ran for 73 yards on 10 carries. San Antonio QB Logan Woodside looked competent, throwing for 255 yards, but will need to cut down on his mistakes after throwing two picks.
Lean: I don’t expect the Apollos to move the ball as easily this week against a San Antonio defense that is at home for the second straight week. Take the Under.
Atlanta Legends (0-1) at San Diego Fleet (0-1)
Opening Line: San Diego -9.5, 44
TV: Sunday, 8 p.m. ET, NFL Network
San Diego will start Philip Nelson (5-10, 68 yards, INT) at quarterback this week after making the move to bench Week 1 starter Mike Bercovici (15-25, 176 yards, 2 INT, 6 sacks) late in the Week 1 loss to San Antonio. The Fleet also hope to have starting center Jeremiah Kolone back after he missed Week 1.
Atlanta is another team that went through two quarterbacks in Week 1 as starter Matt Simms managed just 126 yards and two interceptions on 28 attempts before being benched for former Georgia star Aaron Murray (4-of-7, 38 yards, INT).
Lean: This was the biggest surprise line of the week as San Diego scored six points in Week 1 and is now favored by 9.5. Atlanta's title odds, however, fell from 10/1 to 40/1 after Week 1, as oddsmakers obviously don't think much of the Legends. Take San Diego at -9.5.
WANT TO CHAT ABOUT THE NEW AAF? JUMP INTO OUR POSTING FORUM AND DISCUSS YOUR BETS FOR WEEK 2.
Week 2 Best Bet
Orlando looked great on offense last weekend, but was it more that Atlanta's defense was just terrible? I don't see them moving the ball so easily against San Antonio and its defensive line that racked up six sacks. The Commanders are at home for the second week in a row and remember that all home teams won outright and covered last weekend. It will be interesting to see how this week plays out but it could be that home field is worth more in the AAF than the standard three points it is usually given in the NFL. I expect a tight defensive battle and in a low scoring game, give me the points. My best bet for Week 2 is San Antonio +6.
