Week one of the new XFL season provided some surprises while other games went according to the oddsmakers’ predictions. Week two is just a few days away, and our preferred sportsbooks have now begun offering odds on the game lines.
XFL Betting Odds, Week 2
Via Bovada
New York Guardians at DC Defenders (-6.5)
- Straight: Guardians +210, Defenders -290
- Total: O/U 48.0
After an impressive debut against the Seattle Dragons in Week 1, the DC Defenders are big favorites at home against the New York Guardians. The Cardale Jones to Eli Rogers connection has been potent for DC, and they’ll try to establish that trend early and often against the Guardians.
It is no surprise that the Guardians are underdogs on the road, but the spread is a bit peculiar since they destroyed the Tampa Bay Vipers by a score of 23-3. Both offenses feature similar balance without much pizzazz, but the Guardians have shown that they can get after it on defense. Kickoff is this Saturday (Feb. 14) at 2:00 p.m. on ABC.
Tampa Bay Vipers (-3.0) at Seattle Dragons
- Straight: Vipers -170, Dragons +125
- Total: O/U 45.0
After last Saturday’s pathetic performance, I am surprised that the Vipers are favored against the Dragons, and I doubt that they’d have the edge on any other team in the XFL. Seattle at least had some offensive performances that they can build upon. The Vipes offense suddenly looks to be without hope, and fans in Tampa Bay are already calling for the ousting of head coach Marc Trestman.
The Dragons had a great week from Austin Proehl and perhaps depended upon him too heavily as the game-clinching touchdown came on an interception that was intended for him. The Dragons were still within striking distance late in the fourth quarter in a highly competitive game. I recommend betting on the Dragons to not only cover the spread but to win the game!
Dallas Renegades (-4.5) at Los Angeles Wildcats
- Straight: Renegades -200, Wildcats +150
- Total: O/U 48.0
Coach Bob Stoops and the Dallas Renegades look to bounce back after a disappointing Week 1 loss to the St. Louis BattleHawks, a defensive struggle where the Renegades failed to find the end zone. With no offensive performers to depend on so far, Dallas will need to establish a go-to-guy to put some points on the scoreboard. The probably return of QB Landry Jones from a preseason injury should make things considerably easier for Stoop and Co.
Los Angeles is also off to a poor start in year one, so maybe they’ll provide the perfect team for Dallas to rebound against. There’s still no word on whether starting quarterback Josh Johnson will be healthy enough to go in week 2, but the Wildcats could sure use him.
LA backup QB Chad Kanoff had a decent first half last week against the Houston Roughnecks but was unable to duplicate those efforts in the second half. Wide receiver Nelson Spruce went off for a great game, and they’ll need more of the same if the Wildcats can hope to hang with the Renegades.
St. Louis BattleHawks at Houston Roughnecks (-8.0)
- Straight: BattleHawks +255, Roughnecks -360
- Total: O/U 50.5
You read it first here, folks: The St. Louis BattleHawks are getting no respect. The Houston Roughnecks were arguably the most impressive team in the XFL during Week 1’s schedule of games, blowing out the Wildcats 37-17. Quarterback PJ Walker was impressive, spreading the ball around to his wide receivers, with five of them receiving five targets or more.
The BattleHawks played to their strengths in Week 1, handing the ball off to their two big running backs and forcing the other team to come up with an answer. Although Christine Michael didn’t have a very productive game carrying the ball, Matt Jones picked up the slack, gaining 85 yards on 21 totes. The St. Louis defense was able to stifle all efforts of the Renegades offense.
We’ll see if the BattleHawks can repeat the effort versus the Roughnecks’ potent offense. Either way, I expect St. Louis to cover the eight points, but that’s what makes XFL betting so tricky. The league is new, and the personnel has spent so little time together. The complete picture of the XFL should begin to come into focus during this second weekend of action.
Odds To Win The 2020 XFL Championship
Via Bovada
- D.C. Defenders +325 (+400)
- Houston Roughnecks +375 (+600)
- New York Guardians +450 (+700)
- Tampa Bay Vipers +550 (+400)
- St. Louis BattleHawks +600 (+650)
- Dallas Renegades +650 (+350)
- Los Angeles Wildcats +1000 (+650)
- Seattle Dragons +1600 (+1000)
The DC Defenders have leaped to the top of the XFL championship odds with a strong performance against the Seattle Dragons during the first weekend of XFL action, moving from third to first in the list of predicted champions.
After a 15-9 loss to the St. Louis BattleHawks in a defensive struggle, Bob Stoops and the overrated Dallas Renegades suffered a massive drop for odds of winning the XFL title in 2020.
Speaking of the BattleHawks, after an impressive showing against the Renegades, they are still getting no respect and find themselves with only slightly better championship odds than last week.
The Los Angeles Wildcats have dropped to the penultimate position, and appropriately so. After firing their defensive coordinator and having their defensive team captain depart the team, things don’t look so good in LA.
Seattle is still bringing up the rear, and their odds have actually gotten worse. I don’t have any rationale as to why Seattle will overcome these odds, but they showed much more promise than the Vipers and were involved in a competitive game.
After this telling week 2 of action, there’ll be plenty of XFL news, and I expect these championship odds to shift drastically.