This is the match up both SoA and Cairo have been looking forward to (or dreading) as it will pretty much decide the number 2 in Elephant. Both teams are 12-1 and have had an impressive run for the season and both had close losses to Dakar (SoA by 6, Cairo by 4).
SoA has a very impressive offense that has just been kicking the snot out of opponents early and often all season long. They present a lot of different threats to a opponents defense. Cairo has lived and died with the running game pretty much most of the season, but have rediscovered their passing game about 1/3 of the way through the season. (Rumors of a locker room revolt led by the QB and some WR's can't be confirmed as the reason for the changes). Advantage SoA.
Defensively, both teams have had it pretty easy as SoA simply outscores opponents to the point their defense can afford to be aggressive against opponents as they try to play catch up. Cairo's defense has spent most of their games on the sidelines drinking gatorade as the offense simply rolls over opponents and wins time of possession. When on the field, their defense has been in the same mode as SoA and that is they can afford to be aggressive against an opponent who is usually down in score. Advantage even.
I think this game could go either way and could go from a SoA blow out of Cairo to Cairo winning a squeaker. Each teams defense will be asked to step up big this game because the defense that plays better (and gets the turnovers) is likely to be on the winning side. SoA needs their defense to get Cairo off the field so time of possession is not too one sided and Cairo needs to keep SoA out of the end zone and not allow them to get the early big lead.
As much as I would like to pick Cairo on this one, I think the SoA offense is going to be a bit much for the defense, so SoA wins in a fairly close game.
SoA has a very impressive offense that has just been kicking the snot out of opponents early and often all season long. They present a lot of different threats to a opponents defense. Cairo has lived and died with the running game pretty much most of the season, but have rediscovered their passing game about 1/3 of the way through the season. (Rumors of a locker room revolt led by the QB and some WR's can't be confirmed as the reason for the changes). Advantage SoA.
Defensively, both teams have had it pretty easy as SoA simply outscores opponents to the point their defense can afford to be aggressive against opponents as they try to play catch up. Cairo's defense has spent most of their games on the sidelines drinking gatorade as the offense simply rolls over opponents and wins time of possession. When on the field, their defense has been in the same mode as SoA and that is they can afford to be aggressive against an opponent who is usually down in score. Advantage even.
I think this game could go either way and could go from a SoA blow out of Cairo to Cairo winning a squeaker. Each teams defense will be asked to step up big this game because the defense that plays better (and gets the turnovers) is likely to be on the winning side. SoA needs their defense to get Cairo off the field so time of possession is not too one sided and Cairo needs to keep SoA out of the end zone and not allow them to get the early big lead.
As much as I would like to pick Cairo on this one, I think the SoA offense is going to be a bit much for the defense, so SoA wins in a fairly close game.
