Posted by Matt Field
The spotlight of Super Bowl Sunday will be shining bright on Los Angeles and Chicago as they take to the gridiron for the annual Super Bowl halftime championship game, Lingerie Bowl VII. Both teams come into the game with expectations of hoisting the LFL championship trophy in South Florida.
Los Angeles Temptation (4-1) will feature an incredible defense while Chicago Bliss (4-0) will try to capture the championship behind their blue-collar running game. With both teams having deep rosters, the difference in the game will be each team’s ability to play on the big stage of Super Bowl Sunday.
Temptation Nation will showcase an offensive attack featuring the Brunette Bandits which includes running backs Alisha Lucik, Stephanie Psick and Monique Gaxiola. Los Angeles’ Head Coach David Bizub’s play calling will include misdirection running and screen passing. Although Los Angeles struggled earlier in the season with inconsistent play, the Temptation are finally cranking on all cylinders behind their quarterback Ali Eastlake and an improved offensive line anchored by Nicole Jahnke and Reese Mathews.
Defensively, Los Angeles is ranked No.2 in the league and that is because of their All-Fantasy linebackers in Monique Gaxiola and Michele Jacot. Both Gaxiola and Jacot will need to have career games against Chicago’s two-headed monster, running backs Tasha ‘The Tank’ Pryor and Saran Dunmore. The late season addition of corner back Kristina Coker will help against Chicago’s run game, Coker is a fierce hitter.
While Los Angeles is fortunate to be playing in the Lingerie Bowl behind a late season resurgence, the Chicago Bliss expected to be in South Florida in early February. The Bliss will have an opportunity to finish a magical inaugural season being the only undefeated team in the LFL. While they have not been dominant this season, they have found ways to win. Head Coach Keith Hac has developed a championship blue-print that includes a great running game complimented by a good defense. Look for Chicago’s offense to feature The Tank and spell her with Saran Dunmore. While quarterback Elle Cartabiano has shown signs of becoming a franchise quarterback, at this stage in her career Chicago cannot count on her to win the game with her arm. Much like LA, Chicago will also use a lot of screen passing. Look for wide receiver Deborah Poles to be the recipient of most of those screens.
The Lingerie Bowl championship will ultimately come down to one phase in the game for both teams, can Chicago run on LA’s front three and can LA stop Chicago’s 1-2 punch of The Tank and Dunmore?
LINE: Chicago -3.5 37 Over/Under
INJURIES: None
Arena: Hard Rock Live (Hollywood, FL)
Kickoff: 8pm EST Sunday
Broadcast: Webcast at LFLUS.com & LINGERIEBOWL7.COM