The Sideline Whisperer

Predictions for 1/9/2016

By The Sideline Whisperer

Happy New Year to all of my loyal followers. The rest of you, well, I hope you last to see 2017! Maybe by then you'll have jumped on my bandwagon. Posted on 1/8/2016 3:47:12 PM		Happy New Year to all of my loyal followers. The rest of you, well, I hope you last to see 2017! Maybe by then you'll have jumped on my bandwagon. Like the Miami Tridents (and Jax, who are actually in first place, but haven't played anyone useful yet), I finished 2015 in style by going 4-for-4 in D2 action. Let's see if I can keep that going in 2016. Oh, and only one more week until D3 officially starts! Sure, we have one game this weekend, but that really doesn't count as it's a rescheduled fixture. Hopefully the D3 players all remember you can't pass forward in this sport. Been a while since they've seen the field for a matrix game.... As usual, email me with anything useful you might have to say at sidelinewhisperer@rugbyfl.com. Division II (Schedule and standings on RugbyFL.com) Naples (1-1) at Orlando (1-1) - Postponed due to funeral of long-serving Naples rugby figure Reed Jarvi No new date announced yet. Boca Raton (0-2) at Fort Lauderdale (2-0) - Thanks to the Buccaneers losing their first two games of the season, this always-engaging local battle takes on even more meaning this week, if that's possible. Boca are getting a little healthier, but will have to score more than the 7.5 points they're averaging through two games if they're going to compete in this one. Lauderdale is averaging 29 in their first couple of contests and scored 30 against Boca in their first matchup last season. However, Boca scored 32 in that game. The Knights though, did win the second meeting 9-3 to even up the season series. Will the desperate Bucs have enough to knock off the Knights, or will FTL continue their unbeaten start to the season. I have a feeling Boca might just be able to sneak this one and give their playoff hopes a much-needed early boost. Boca Raton 30, Fort Lauderdale 27 Miami RFC (0-2) at Miami Tridents (2-0) - The Bumblebees were surely hoping coming into this contest that Tridents would be 2-0, so they could knock their bitter rivals from the unbeaten ranks. However, I think they might be rethinking that thought process once the game is over. Tridents smashed Orlando in week 1 and then knocked off Boca before the holidays. Miami, meanwhile, played FTL close before getting mauled by 20 at home by Jacksonville, who surely enjoyed that five-hour ride home. Tridents romp here. Tridents 42, Miami RFC 7 Jacksonville (2-0) at Tampa (0-2) - Another rout here? Probably. Jax won 48-17 when these two teams met last month and 80 points is the magic number. That's how many points Jax has scored in two games, and funnily enough it's also how many points Krewe have allowed. Jacksonville 42, Tampa 20 Division III (Schedule and standings on RugbyFL.com) Pelicans (0-0) at Brevard (0-0) - The Pelis looked slightly improved at All Florida Weekend, but Brevard beat Boca in the group stages and should be in the thick of the playoff race as per usual. Red Eye should be able to handle this contest at home with relative ease. Brevard 28, Pelicans 17 Last Week: 4-0 Season: 7-1 (87.5%) All-Time: 159-52-1 (75.0%)

Code updated: 02/09/2023 2:48 18.189.13.43/Content/Articles/Article.asp