A Look at Arena Bowl 21

The Arena Football League, or AFL as it is commonly known as is set to go into the 21^st annual championship game between the Columbus Destroyers and the San Jose SaberCats. The Destroyers are making their 1^st appearance in the big championship while the SaberCats are making their 3^rd appearance. Based on experience the clear edge would go to the SaberCats. However Columbus has actually proven that they can play in a big team situation and beat favorites. Going into the playoffs, they had defeated the Dallas Desperados, despite the fact that the Desperados were a heavy favorite to go to the Arena Bowl with an impressive 15-1 record. To prove that the team wasn't a fluke team, they went on ahead and beat Georgia in the NC Conference reaching the Arena Bowl.

Advantages for the San Jose SaberCats

Experience is always an advantage over any team. It does come to play whenever a new team has never been to the big championship game. Also the team itself has won division championships and has made more playoff berths than their opponents. They have a quarterback who has leaded them to the Arena Bowl so that does bring an advantage to them. The coaching has been solid so the edge on that goes to them since there coach has been able to lead the team to the big game when the lights are on bright and it's all on the line. Going into the match with Columbus, they are a heavy favorite to win due to experience, dedication, and keeping themselves together as a whole.

Advantages for the Columbus Destroyers

The team did have a losing record going into the playoffs and not given much of a chance, they have that Underdog spirit within them. When they faced off with Dallas, that game was to be the end of Columbus's run but to everyone's surprise, they continued and then beat Georgia. The team is not expected to win but the key to this team is that Underdog mentality and proving they can win. They are the 1^st team in AFL history to go into the big game with a losing record, a rare feat in any professional sport. As long as the team looks at adversity in the face and takes it to them, they can take their 1^st AFL Championship in franchise history.

More or less this is going to be a battle of experience vs. inexperience. Heavy favorite will go into the game against a team that has never been involved. Columbus will have a lot of work ahead of them if they expect to win the championship. Can they make the city of Columbus proud of their effort by bringing them the Arena Bowl title or will it go to San Jose for the 3^rd time? One thing for sure, it is going to be a game that will have people thinking and it will be enjoyable in the end.