BUAFL Week 12 Predictions: SEC

We round off the Southern Division with the SEC

Greenwich Mariners @ Canterbury Chargers

The Mariners are coming off a demoralising 55-0 loss to the SEC Champion Hurricanes, and will be looking to regroup and get some points on the board against a beatable Chargers team that have struggled against mid-table opposition this year. The Greenwich Offense shouldn’t be judged by their shut out at Herts, they can score points, and after Canterbury surrendered 28 points to LSBU, the potential for the Mariners to score big is high.

Canterbury teams have struggled as of late, and while the Chargers are sitting in the middle of the pack with a 3-3 record, a win against Greenwich will help them jump into the top 5 of the table, and eek closer to their city rivals Kent Falcons. After a disappointing loss to the erratic LSBU Spartans, the Chargers will be have to score a lot to keep up with the Mariners O and attempt to end the season on a high note going into Varsity.
Greenwich by 1 score.

Essex Blades @ Brighton Tsunami

The Blades are firmly in control of their destiny, with a 6-1 record and playoffs in their sights, they now travel to Brighton to face a Tsunami team with just three wins this season. Their closest competitor, the Falcons, have to win away at Herts to have any chance of making the playoffs, a near impossible task. Since their own loss to Hertfordshire, Essex has developed a habit of winning, and with a victory Sunday they will be able to conclude their season a remarkable 7-1.

Brighton have been inconsistent all year, with a 3-4 record and nothing to play for but pride, they could be overcome Sunday. Now they face a Blades squad on a 4 game winning streak looking to complete what has been a marvellous season all round and gain even more momentum to take into the playoffs. Brighton have lost to 3 of the top 4 teams in the SEC, and now facing the final member of that quartet, Essex, the odds are against them turning around their fortunes this late in the year.
Essex by 3 Scores.




Hertfordshire Hurricanes @ Kent Falcons

Another week and another expected win for the Hertfordshire Hurricanes.  True to the nature of their name, the Hurricanes have wreaked total havoc across the country this season and have already claimed the SEC crown.  The Falcons really need to end the season with a flourish if they hope to secure a Challenge Trophy play off spot, but the likelihood of a win against the visiting Hurricanes is highly improbable.

The Falcons have suffered of late, a dip in form costing them against two plucky underdog teams in the shape of the Regents and the Pythons.  For Kent, this game will be more about damage limitation than snatching victory from the storming ‘Canes.

The Hurricanes have made a habit of racking up 50 points a game and we can expect the trend to continue against the out of form Falcons.
The unstoppable ‘Canes to win by 40+ points.

UEA Pirates @ KCL Regents

Could things get any more congested in the SEC?  The Kings College Regents and UEA Pirates are two of the five teams all vying for a playoff spot in the Challenge Trophy, a win critical for both teams in the quest for silver wear.

The Pirates offense has been in destructive form throughout the season, scoring double the amount of points managed by the Regents, racking up over 65 points in the past two games alone.  On the other side of the coin the Pirates defence has remained solid if unspectacular.

Had the Regents managed their win against the Kent Falcons before the Christmas break then alarm bells may have been ringing.  However, Kent seem to have hit a rut in their form recently, the underdog win therefore perhaps carrying less significance than if Kent had been at the peak of their potential.

Pirates win by two scores