Fans will no longer need to go into hibernation after the final seconds tick off the clock at the Super Bowl. Cancel your weekend plans this spring because the new XFL is here and betting lines have been revealed.
It took a few days for the fog of the Super Bowl to clear up, but here they are, fresh new odds for the first week of XFL action. We’ll have a look at each game, breakdown the matchups for week one, and give you all the information that you’ll need to bet on the XFL.
XFL opening weekend odds provided by Bovada Sportsbook.
Saturday Games
Seattle Dragons +7.5 (-110)
DC Defenders -7.5 (-110)
TV: ABC, 2 PM
Head Coach Jim Zorn is eager to get off on the right foot for week one of the XFL season. Twenty years ago, his offensive scheme would have seemed pass-heavy, but today it is considered a balanced attack due to current football trends.
Quarterback Brandon Silvers will be the opening day starter for the Dragons. He is looking to show fans his skillset after a stint with his previous team in the AAF was cut short when the league folded. He’ll look to target Austin Proehl, son of former NFL wide receiver Ricky Proehl, early and often.
The DC Defenders are 7.5-point favorites, largely due to the promise shown by the Jones to Rogers connection. Former Ohio State Buckeye standout, Cardale Jones, has looked sharp so far this preseason. His most-targeted receiver so far has been Eli Rogers, who most recently spent time with the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers.
This DC squad isn’t just Defenders in name only. Safety Matt Elam has been hitting hard this preseason and is anxious to get the pads popping against another team. Seattle wide receivers will need to think twice before venturing across the Defenders’ defensive backfield.
Defenders head coach Pep Hamilton is a bit of a mystery. He has never been an offensive coordinator, so it will be difficult to determine what his overall approach to the game will be based on his coaching tenure. One thing is for sure, Coach Hamilton has got the Defenders jacked-up and ready to prove who the best team in the eastern conference is.
Los Angeles Wildcats +5.5 (-110)
Houston Roughnecks -5.5 (-110)
TV: FOX, 5 PM
The Los Angeles Wildcats find themselves on the road in Houston for week one of the XFL season and are 5.5-point dogs. First-time head coach Winston Moss has his defense at the ready for this opening week matchup and looks to prove the oddsmakers wrong.
Moss has employed former University of Southern California offensive coordinator Norm Chow to bring his west coast style of offense to the Wildcats. Expectations are high for Wildcats QB Josh Johnson as he and Coach Chow plan to use precise, short-yardage passing to march up and down the field. Josh has had success in the past with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and now he brings his veteran leadership to the City of Angels in hopes of a 2020 XFL title.
Head coach June Jones leads the Houston Roughnecks into week one with his offensive aerial assault. His offensive scheme leaves little room for running the ball, and that suits quarterbacks Connor Cook and PJ Walker just fine. Both quarterbacks are worthy of mention because Jones has not declared a week one starter yet.
Regardless of who starts at quarterback, they’ll be looking to throw the ball to NFL veteran Sammie Coates. He is a speedy and shifty receiver that has sure-hands and is not afraid of a collision. The Wildcats are ready to either put up a lot of points or die trying.
Sunday Games
Tampa Bay Vipers -2.0 (-115)
New York Guardians +2.0 (-105)
TV: FOX, 2 PM
The Tampa Bay Vipers and Coach Marc Trestman are two-point favorites heading into Sunday’s matchup against the New York Guardians. Coach Trestman is known for his inventive style of offense that he has used in both the NFL and the Canadian Football League.
Tampa will feature Aaron Murray under center for week one. Murray previously excelled at the University of Georgia, where he set numerous passing records. He never managed to get a foothold in the NFL, and now he has his opportunity to show everyone that he’s still got a golden arm.
The Vipers were hoping to throw the ball to wide receiver Antonio Callaway, a former standout for the Cleveland Browns, but a leg injury has him placed on injured reserve with no timetable for his return.
Matt McGloin has won the starting quarterback job for the New York Guardians and looks to establish a connection with wide receiver Joe Horn early. Joe’s name may sound familiar. His father, also named Joe Horn, played wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints for several years.
Regardless of who is under center, the Guardians’ offense will be throwing the ball — a lot. Coach Kevin Gilbride was part of the original coaching staff that installed the run and shoot offense in the early 1990s. Look for a tweaked version of that offense for the Guardians, with a few new wrinkles added in.
Guardians defensive coordinator Jim Hermann looks to install a hard-nosed defense similar to his years with the New York Giants, where he won a Super Bowl title in 2012. Expect a formidable pass rush to be accented with an occasional inventive blitz.
St. Louis BattleHawks +10.0 (-110)
Dallas Renegades -10.0 (-110)
TV: ESPN, 5 PM
Sunday’s showdown between the St. Louis BattleHawks and the Dallas Renegades will mark the head coaching debut for the BattleHawks’ Jonathan Hayes. He is certainly offensive-minded, but which direction his offense takes is anyone’s guess as he has never been an offensive coordinator
Based upon the current roster, it appears that the BattleHawks will be running the ball with their two-headed monster at running back in the form of Christine Michael and Matt Jones. Both backs are massive, imposing figures that defensive players will quickly become tired of tackling. Michael and Jones have had recent success in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Redskins, respectively.
The Dallas Renegades are a 10-point favorite for week one, which seems odd for a league that has yet to play any games. The reason could likely be that Dallas is coached by Bob Stoops, who had great success, including a national championship, at the University of Oklahoma.
Stoops is joined by his former OU quarterback, Landry Jones. Together, they’ll look to pick up where they left off and continue their high-level of success. Oddsmakers agree as they’ve not only made them a huge opening weekend favorite, but the Renegades have also been listed as the odds-on favorite to win the XFL championship at +300 odds. A wager of $100 placed on Dallas to win the XFL title will earn a payout of $300.