The Larkspur Bowl: First Quarter

It was hardly an auspicious start for the defending champions, who stumbled out of the gate, expending their first player LB Avery Williamson, and netting only 2.5 points. It brings the live projection very close:

#1 Phoenix Uprising vs #3 New York's Finest
Live Projections: PHX 202.78 over NYF 196.88

The Larkspur Bowl should see some early action Saturday, as three players are currently rostered between the two teams. Phoenix has to hope they can recoup some of their initial failures, and will depend on WR Anquan Boldin to reestablish their advantage. Boldin started his year with his opponent, New York, where he was a dependable possession WR. Following the Uprising's acquisition of JJ Watt, they moved RB Trent Richardson to help replace dismissed Brandon Marshall; In Boldin's first four games with his new team, he scored 70.8 points, hearkening back to his prime. However, in the past three games, he's only mustered 14.5 in three tough matchups, including his two worst games of the season, twin 3.3's. His degree of difficulty is merely average this week- he'll need to transcend it to restore the Uprising's early confidence.

On the other side of the ball, it appears that New York will once again wait on its haunches, instituting a rope-a-dope policy and unleashing their main salvo on Sunday. LB Perry Riley and WR Eddie Royal will both be playing Saturday, but it remains unlikely that either hears their number called by the Finest for the big dance. Riley spent some time with the Hill Valley McFlys this season, while Eddie Royal made some early noise, (mostly for the Indiana Turbanators) before settling into an auxiliary role. While they have yet to deploy any weapons yet, the Finest do have the final strike capabilities, as number one overall pick Peyton Manning will play on Monday, along with the Uprising's kicker, Connor Barth.