SaberCats Top AFL Media Poll for Sixth Straight Week
June 24, 2015 - Arena Football League (AFL) News Release
LAS VEGAS - The San Jose SaberCats (12-1) remained in the top spot of the AFL Media Poll for the sixth straight week following a 63-31 victory over the Las Vegas Outlaws (4-8) in Week 13.
The back-to-back Pacific Division champions will look to maintain the distance between themselves and the red-hot Arizona Rattlers (10-2) in the National Conference playoff standings this week as the SaberCats take on the Spokane Shock (4-8) at 10:00 p.m. ET Friday night on ESPN3.
Arizona, meanwhile, will vie for their seventh straight win this week to lock up their fifth West Division crown in as many years when they travel to Anaheim for a 10:00 p.m. ET matchup with the LA KISS (2-10) on ESPN3 Saturday night. The Rattlers held onto the No. 2 spot in the Media Poll for the second consecutive week after dismantling the No. 4-ranked Orlando Predators (7-6), 55-35, in front of a national television audience last week.
A 56-48 road win over the LA KISS in Week 13 was not enough to propel the East Division-leading Philadelphia Soul (11-2) higher than No. 3 in this week's Media Poll. The Soul will look to remedy that and punch a ticket to the playoffs this week as they host the Tampa Bay Storm (6-6) on Friday night. A Philadelphia win will send the Soul to the postseason for the fourth consecutive year, while a Philadelphia win coupled with a Cleveland Gladiators (7-6) loss would clinch the Soul's third East Division title in the last four seasons. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN3.
Despite suffering a 20-point road loss in Phoenix last week, the Orlando Predators stayed put at No. 4 in the latest AFL Media Poll. With their South Division lead now narrowed to only half-a-game, the Predators will need to get back in the win column this week against the New Orleans VooDoo (2-10) to hold off the surging Tampa Bay Storm and Jacksonville Sharks (6-6) in the playoff race. Kickoff from the Amway Center in Orlando is set for 7:00 p.m. ET Saturday night on ESPN3.
A bye in Week 14 appears to have helped the Jacksonville Sharks, who moved up to No. 5 in the latest Media Poll without having played a game. Winners of six of their last eight contests, the Sharks will look to break above .500 this weekend when they host the defending American Conference champion Cleveland Gladiators. The sixth-ranked Gladiators will attempt to right the ship and remain in the heart of playoff contention in front of a national television audience on CBS Sports Network this Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET.
The AFL Media Poll consists of voters from television, radio, and newspaper outlets who regularly cover the League in their respective markets, along with national personalities from ESPN and CBS Sports, who provide game and studio commentary about the Arena Football League.
June 24 AFL Media Poll
Rank Team (1st Place Votes) W-L Points Last Week
1. San Jose SaberCats (15) 12-1 191 1
2. Arizona Rattlers (1) 10-2 175 2
3. Philadelphia Soul 11-2 162 3
4. Orlando Predators 7-6 134 4
5. Jacksonville Sharks 6-6 123 6
6. Cleveland Gladiators 7-6 115 5
7. Tampa Bay Storm 6-6 108 7
8. Spokane Shock 4-8 72 9
9. Las Vegas Outlaws 4-8 66 8
10. LA KISS 2-10 46 10
11. Portland Thunder 3-9 39 11
12. New Orleans VooDoo 2-10 17 12 _--
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Arena Football League Stories from June 24, 2015
- SaberCats Top AFL Media Poll for Sixth Straight Week - AFL
- Game Preview: Soul Look to Quiet the Storm - Philadelphia Soul
- San Jose SaberCats at Spokane Shock Game Preview - San Jose SaberCats
- The "Witching Hour" Returns to Union Station Pub & Grill - New Orleans VooDoo
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