Football betting does not stop with the Super Bowl; the 14-game 2017 Arena Football League regular season will start on April 7th. It may be too early for football betting lines, but not too soon to have a look at the teams, including a couple of new ones.
Baltimore Brigade. The Brigade is one of this season’s expansion teams as well as a spiritual successor to previous Baltimore indoor football teams such as the Blackbirds and the Mariners. The team will play its home games at the Royal Farms Arena and will be coached by former LA Kiss head coach Omarr Smith.
Cleveland Gladiators. The Gladiators finished the 2016 season 3rd in the national conference and went on to defeat the LA Kiss in the conference semi finals but lost the conference championship game to the Arizona Rattlers.
Philadelphia Soul. The Soul finished the 2016 season first in the American Conference with 13-3 record. Philly then beat the Tampa Bay Storm in the conference semi finals, won the conference championship against the Jacksonville Sharks, and prevailed over the Rattlers to win the Arena Bowl.
Tampa Bay Storm. The Storm finished the 2016 season last in the American Conference with a 2-14 record but still made the playoffs (because all teams do). Tampa Bay lost to the soul in the conference semi finals.
Washington Valor. Another expansion team, the Valor will be the first AFL team to play in the DC market since the Washington Commandos. They will play their home games at the Verizon Center. Dean Cokinos will be head coach. The owners couldn’t get Tom Brady as QB, so they went and hired Tommy Grady instead – an original creation, like Ricky Rouse and Monald Muck.
Those are the teams that one will be able to do some Arena Football betting on. The following teams, however, you won’t be finding any football betting lines.
Arizona Rattlers. The Rattlers finished the 2016 season first in the national conference with 13-3 record, defeated the Portland Steel in the semis, won the conference championship versus the Gladiators, but lost the Arena Bowl to the Soul. The Rattlers have moved to the Indoor Football League.
Jacksonville Sharks. The Sharks finished 3rd in the American Conference in 2016, with a 7-9 record, won the semi finals to the Orlando Predators, but lost the conference championship game to the Soul. The Sharks have left for the National Arena League.
LA Kiss. The LA Kiss finished 2016 with a 7-9 record for 2nd place in the National Conference but lost the semis to Cleveland. The LA Kiss has been put on the shelf, next to a Dale Torborg action figure and a VHS copy of Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park.
Orlando Predators. The Predators went 12-4 in 2016 and finished 2nd in the American Conference but lost the semi finals to the Sharks. The Predators suspended operations following the season.
So only five teams so far to do some arena football betting on, but when it comes to football betting lines, it’s about quality and not quantity.