The Orlando Apollos were 5-0 entering Week 6 and were at the top of everyone’s power rankings until they suffered an unexpected loss. Playing at home against the 2-3 Arizona Hotshots, the Apollos took the day off and paid for it. After a surprise loss, can they go on the road and earn a win against a team that they’re once again expected to easily conquer?
Orlando Apollos at Atlanta Legends
Date: Saturday March 23th, 2019 – 3:05 PM ET
Location: Georgia State Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia
Orlando Apollos
The Apollos finally stumbled in Week 6. The Arizona Hotshots came to town in a matchup of the preseason AAF favorite versus the team that was currently favored. Orlando probably could have landed the knockout punch that ended the Hotshots hopes. Instead, they gave them life and the Apollos suffered their first loss of the season.
Garrett Gilbert has been one of the better quarterbacks in the AAF but cooled off last week as Orlando averaged only five yards per play in the loss to Arizona. Gilbert didn’t make good decisions and outside of the 99-yard touchdown drive, they were regularly smothered by Arizona’s aggressive defense.
The good news is that things should go much better this week. Week 6 was just one game and through the first five weeks, they had been the best team in the league. Now they’re taking on an Atlanta Legends side that can’t get it together. They were crushed last week and are likely in line for another lopsided result.
Atlanta Legends
The Legends just can’t develop any offensive consistency. Much of that has to do with inadequate quarterbacking as Matt Simms and now Aaron Murray just haven’t cut it. They briefly showed some life in a 23-20 win over Memphis in Week 5, but their 37-6 loss to San Antonio in Week 6 revealed that the Memphis game was an aberration rather than an indicator. Murray had been a spark for the team but the three interceptions last week were ugly.
Their hope is that Orlando’s struggles from last week carry over into this week. If not, it’s hard to envision this game being close.
Trends
The Orlando Apollos are 5-1 straight up and 4-2 ATS. They were the only unbeaten team in the AAF up until last week. They went under the number in this most recent game against Arizona, scoring 17 points in a 22-17 defeat. Orlando is still the only team in the AAF to have won five games, but now everyone in the league sees that the Apollos are vulnerable. The good news for the Apollos is that they are 3-0 on the road in the league. No other team is 3-0 on the road in the AAF.
The Atlanta Legends have suffered more blowout losses than any other team in the AAF. They lost 37-6 to the San Antonio Commanders this past week to move to 2-4. Atlanta has lost to Orlando by 34 points in the season opener, 31 to San Antonio this past week, by 16 to Birmingham, and by 12 to San Diego. Atlanta has scored more than 14 points in just one of its five games. The Legends are generally a good bet to go under the number rather than over.
Apollos vs. Legends Prediction
Apollos 32, Legends 14
