2013 AFL Season Midway Report: Final Analysis

Now that we have taken a look at all four divisions its time to see how my predictions for May went and make predictions for June!

American Conference

What I thought we would see in weeks 6-10:
- Will Jacksonville and Tampa Bay runaway as the best two teams in the conference, or can things tighten up? 
The Sharks are 7-3 and Tampa Bay is 6-4 through ten weeks. These two have runaway in the south division and are slightly above Philadelphia, who leads the east. The American Conference has a major split between the top three and the bottom four.
- Can the Philadelphia Soul find their form and hand the Sharks their first loss of the season?
No, Jacksonville held on to win a close 55-53 game in week six.
- Which of the four teams in my "The Bad" zone will be able to become competitive and make any/some noise?
Well, all four of these teams are within two games of each other but if I have to pick the obvious choice is the Power. Pittsburgh has pulled in front with three wins, but only has a one-game cushion over Orlando and Cleveland.
- Adrian McPherson's case for AFL MVP.
The numbers don't lie, look at south division midway report.
- Joe Hills' breakout season.
The numbers don't lie, look at south division midway report.
- The Sharks continued chase at a four-peat in the south division.
The Sharks are 7-3 and have remained in first in the south, but they must look better in order to hold off a young Storm team.
- How long until the Predators win their first game in 2013, will it be in the next month?
They won their first game in week seven, 52-38 over Pittsburgh.
- Can Cleveland beat Utah in week 6 and become a young team who catches fire?
No, the Glads got crushed 57-40 in their own home; sit at 2-7.
- The record of the first-place team in the east division by the end of May.
Philadelphia is first in the east with a 5-4 record.
5 Things I looked for in weeks 6-10
1) Jacksonville and Tampa Bay to distance themselves from the rest of the south.
Yes, they have. Check out the south midway report to see by how much.
2) The east division to remain close and for all the three teams to be within 2 games of each other.
Close, Philadelphia leads Pittsburgh by two games and Cleveland by three.
3) Adrian McPherson to emerge as the front-runner for AFL MVP.
In my book he has, look at the stats!
4) The Sharks to win in Philadelphia in week 6 and stay unbeaten.
The Sharks won in week six, but lost three of four to be at 7-3.
5) The Power will emerge from the bottom of the pack in the conference.
Barely, Power are in fourth with a 3-6 record, one game above Orlando and Cleveland.

National Conference

What I thought we would see in weeks 6-10:
- The wild west division continuing to make noise at the top of the AFL.
Yes, yes, yes! Arizona (9-1), San Jose (7-2), Spokane (7-3) have the three best records in the AFL
- The battle between Spokane and Arizona for supremacy in the west, can San Jose or Utah fix things enough to put themselves in the mix?
Arizona has won six straight to reach 9-1, San Jose has won 5 straight to reach 7-2, and Spokane is 7-3 to really make it the wild west.
- Will Chicago continue their winning ways and runaway with the central division or can Iowa rebound and go toe-to-toe with the Rush?
The Rush have lost two of three since their four-game win streak; Iowa has won two of three after a four-game losing streak. All three teams in central are within one-game.
- Can the Shock keep up the offensive efficency that has lead them to a 5-0 record?
The Shock offense sputtered a little in May, but has looked to refound its form that has lead to two consecutive wins.
- Tommy Grady to return to his elite form sooner than later.
Tommy Grady has thrown 21 interceptions, but turned things around enough to lead Utah to three wins in their last five games.
- Russ Michna to keep the Sabercats in contention.
Yes! San Jose is 5-0 with Michna as the starter and has separated themselves from the bottom half of the conference.
- In order for San Antonio to turn things around they need to find a consistency with Nick Hill on offense and start scoring past 50 points/game in this next part of the season.
Nick Hill's numbers don't suggest it, but he has led the Talons to a 4-2 record in his six starts. He was injured in week ten and has been put on IR. San Antonio has only scored 50+ points three times this year, only once in May (weeks 1, 4, and 9). They average 43.6 ppg.
5 Things I looked for in weeks 6-10
1) The wild west to be in full-force and turn into a four-team race.
Three teams have 7+ wins, all four teams was probably too much to ask.
2) Spokane and Arizona to both remain in the League's top 3.
Yes, Arizona is 9-1 and Spokane is 7-3.
3) Chicago to keep winning and build a comfortable lead in the central.
The Rush have won to get to 5-5, central is all within one-game of each other.
4) Iowa to turn things around by week 6 or 7 and get themselves back in the mix.
Iowa lost in overtime in week six, but beat San Antonio in week seven. Have since lost two of three and are in last at 4-6.
5) If San Antonio loses at the Pittsburgh in week 6 then they could be in for a long season, if they win on the road then they could potentially pass Iowa in the central.
San Antonio won in Pittsburgh, 42-37, and has moved ahead of Iowa with a 4-5 record. The Talons even held sole possession of first place in the central entering week ten, but a loss knocked them back into second.


10 Things to watch for in the month of June
(Gave my predicition for each team in their respective midway reports, please check any/all them out to read them!)
1) The race for the four seed in the American Conference; four teams separated by two games.
2) Can the Soul finally hit their stride and create substantial distance in the east?
3) How many teams in the American Conference will have ten lossses by July 1st?
4) Adrian McPherson, Joe Hills, and the young Storm.
5) Which Sharks will we see in June, the 6-0 ones, or the 1-3 team?
6) The wacky and streaky central division, who will emerge as the leader at the end of the month.
7) The Wild West, best division in Arena Football with three teams who have 7+ wins.
8) Will Arizona extend their win streak into July?
9) How many teams will have 10 wins by the end of June?
10) How many playoff spots in the National Conference by clinched entering July?

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