AFL: Turning into the Home Stretch

Now that we have looked at all four divisions, it is time to evaluate my predictions from June and make some for July!

June Evaluation

Philadelphia: "The Soul will enter July with eight wins and a comfortable lead in the east"
 - Soul enter July 9-5 having already clinched the East

Pittsburgh:  "I see them with four or five wins by July 1st and right in the mix for the four seed"
- I was a little off, as the Power have lost six of seven and enter July two games out at 3-11

Cleveland: "Cleveland will have four wins by July and be invovled in a three team battle for the final playoff spot"
- The Gladiators also failed to win a game in June and enter July 2-12

Jacksonville: "I say if Bernard Morris can lead a dynamic offensive attack they will win at least three games this month and have ten, maybe elevan wins entering the final stretch"
- Bernard Morris was injured early on, but Jacksonville still managed to reach ten wins

Tampa Bay: " The Storm, and at the very least have them at nine wins by July 1st and still within one game of Jacksonville"
- I was totally wrong on this one, Tampa Bay won one game in June and has struggled all summer falling to 7-7 and 2.5 games behind Jacksonville in the South

Orlando: " I am going out on a limb and predicting three wins for the Preds and with five wins will b right at the front of the mix for the four seed"
- The Predators took advantage of a favorable schedule and won three June games to grab control of the second A.C. wild and reach five wins

New Orleans: " I say New Orleans earns their first win since March on either the 1st or 29th and will have two wins entering July, three wins if they beat Cleveland this week"
- The VooDoo had a great month, winning three games and keeping pace in the wild card hunt

Chicago: "Chicago is staring at a challenging June that I can see them going 1-3 or 3-1 in the month. I will take the medium and say Chicago will be 7-7 entering July"
- Chicago went 3-1 in June and sits at 8-6 entering July

San Antonio: " June will either make or break the Talons, with four games being in the conference. If the "X-man" can jell immediately then look out, i see San Antonio entering July with seven wins and being tied for first in the central"
- The Talons got rolling under the leadership of Rohan Davey and are tied for first in the central with an 8-6 record

Iowa: " The Barnstormers need three wins in June, but I say they will get two and will stumble into July with six wins and be out of the central 1.5 games"
- Iowa did exactly what I expected, the only problem is that they are 2.5 games out of a playoff spot entering July

Arizona: " It's hard to pick against Arizona, but June has four potentially tough games so Arizona's streak will end some time this month but they will be alright with 12 wins entering July"
- Arizona enters July with 12 wins, but San Jose were the ones to hand the Rattlers their second loss

Spokane: " I am going to make a gutsy pick and say Spokane wins all four games in the month and enters July with 11 wins and a sweep of Arizona"
- The Shock won three of four and enters July with 11 wins, the lone loss was to Arizona

San Jose: " I see San Jose with ten wins by July 1st; even though that means losing ground in the west they could potentially secure a wild card berth"
- The Sabercats have ten wins and are one win away from a wild card berth

Utah: " I think the Blaze limp into July with six wins; but maybe surprise and win some shootouts to reach seven or eight"
- The Blaze only have five wins entering July and were blown out a couple times in June

Ten Things from June
1) The race for the four seed in the American Conference; four teams separated by two games.
- Three teams are separated by two games
2) Can the Soul finally hit their stride and create substantial distance in the east?
- The Soul have FINALLY arrived! Clinched the east with a 9-5 record
3) How many teams in the American Conference will have ten lossses by July 1st?
- Three teams have ten losses, Clevland, Pittsburgh, and New Orleans
4) Adrian McPherson, Joe Hills, and the young Storm
- Tampa Bay has faltered and enters July 7-7
5) Which Sharks will we see in June, the 6-0 ones, or the 1-3 team?
- We saw a bit of both, but injuries have taken a toll and the Sharks are in great position at 10-5
6) The wacky and streaky central division, who will emerge as the leader at the end of the month.
- Chicago and San Antonio enter July tied at 8-6
7) The Wild West, best division in Arena Football with three teams who have 7+ wins.
- Three teams now have 10+ wins
8) Will Arizona extend their win streak into July?
- No, but they got it to nine and are 12-2
9) How many teams will have 10 wins by the end of June?
- Four: Arizona, Spokane, San Jose, and Jacksonville
10) How many playoff spots in the National Conference by clinched entering July?
- Just one, which belongs to Arizona

Since July is the last month of the AFL regular season I am not going to give ten things to look for, but instead am going to give you my playoff predictions!
(Team by team predictions are in their respective "Home Stretch" reports) 

American Conference                                              National Conference
 
1 Seed - Jacksonville                                               1 Seed - Arizona
2 Seed - Philadelphia                                               2 Seed - San Antonio
3 Seed - Tampa Bay                                                 3 Seed - Spokane 
4 Seed - Orlando                                                      4 Seed - San Jose

To read the clinching scenarios entering Week 16:
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/070313aaa.html

To find more about the Arena Football League:
Home: http://www.arenafootball.com/
Stats: http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/stats/2013/CONFSTAT.HTM
Watch: http://www.arenafootball.com/allaccess/