Premiership Predictions, Week 12

Premiership North

East Kilbride Pirates vs. Sheffield Predators

It’s the battle of the undefeated teams this weekend as the Sheffield Predators travel across the border to take on the East Kilbride Pirates. Despite two high scoring offences partaking in this game, the winner will most likely be decided on whose defence plays better. With EKP currently conceding an average of less than 5 points per game, it’s hard to predict anything other than a home win.

EKP by a couple of scores

Doncaster Mustangs vs. Tamworth Phoenix

If the EKP – Sheffield game isn’t game of the week, then this one definitely is. When these two teams played in Doncaster last year, it was the Mustangs who game away with the victory. Should that happen again this season, the Premiership North title race will be blown wide open. For the Phoenix to win this one, they’ll need to stop Mustangs star receiver Martyn Lee from finding the endzone more than once.

 Close one. Tamworth to power through and win by a score

Lancashire Wolverines vs. Nottingham Caesars

After conceding more than 60 points in their previous two games, the Caesars will be hoping for a better performance when they take on the 2-2 Lancashire Wolverines (Lancashire currently average 10 points per game). This is a must win game for both teams. If the Wolverines win, their changes of a playoff spot will open while a victory for the Caesars will move them off the bottom spot of the table.

Lancashire by two scores

Coventry Jets vs. Birmingham Bulls

After their first encounter two weeks ago, the Bulls will now travel to Coventry to try and gain revenge over their Midlands rivals following the Jets 20-0 victory. For the Bulls to win this one, their offence will need to find the endzone instead of settling for FG’s or turnover on downs.

Coventry to complete the double and win by a score

Premiership South

Ipswich Cardinals vs. East Kent Mavericks

Despite being in a number of close games this season, the Mavericks should be confident of a comfortable victory this weekend when they take on the Cardinals. When you look at the Cardinals points average (5 points scored, 52 points conceded) it’s easy to think they’ve not been competitive in a number of games this season, but when you see their schedule so far (Blitz, Aztecs, Warriors, Thunder and Cats), it’s easy to see why they’ve struggled so far this season.

Mavericks by three scores

Berkshire Renegades vs. Peterborough Saxons

Now that we’re twelve weeks into the season, this game is officially a relegation battle. Despite being 0-5, the Renegades have put in some impressive performances this season including their 14-15 loss to East Kent, and their 7-27 loss to the London Olympians. If the team has healed up from their heavy loss to the Blitz, they could pip this one and join the Saxons in the one win club.

Close one; wouldn’t be surprised if either team won this one, but we’ll go with Renegades by a score.

South Wales Warriors vs. Bristol Aztecs

If this game wasn’t already competitive, it is now that former South Wales Warriors QB Gareth Thomas has joined the Bristol Aztecs, who despite being 3-3 should be favourites to make the playoffs now that they’ve completed all of their games against the big 3. Expect the Warriors to come out strong to prove a point to their former QB, before the Aztecs experience and depth takes over to win the game.

Aztecs by four scores

London Olympians vs. London Blitz

When the London Warriors played the Olympians, they won 35-0. With the Blitz trying to equal or outscore the Warriors in every game, we imagine the Blitz will fly out the gate and try to put 40 on the scoreboard for the fifth time this season.

Blitz by five scores

London Warriors vs. Sussex Thunder

Twelve weeks into the season and the Warriors will be playing their eighth game of the regular season before playing two games in the next eight weeks (ridiculous, we know). With the Thunder’s last game being a four score loss to the Cambridgeshire Cats, we don’t seeing this being close at all.

Warriors by five or six scores