By Will Helms
We’re coming off a successful week of XFL betting and we’re using a similar strategy this week to build on last week’s 3-0 record. Like last week, I have a spread, a total and a parlay so you’ll have a piece of the action during every game this weekend. Jump on these quickly, because it looks like a few of our lines may move.
Sea Dragons (-3.5) @ Vipers (+100 on FanDuel)
I grabbed this one when it was -3, but in fairness to my readers, I’m posting the current line. We get a bit more juice on FanDuel at even money, so head there first.
While both teams are 0-2, I don’t feel nearly as poorly about the Sea Dragons as I do the Vipers. In fact, I think the Sea Dragons are much better than their odds as the 7th-most likely league winner suggest. Some bad turnover luck and fourth down breaks have gone against them in the early going against two of the top teams in the league, leading to two losses by a combined 6 points.
The Vipers, on the other hand, benefitted from an uncharacteristic Defender fumble on the first drive of last week’s game. They capitalized with a short touchdown drive and then never sniffed the red zone the rest of the game. I trust Seattle’s offense far more than Vegas’.
Prediction: Sea Dragons take this one, 22-10.
Battlehawks @ Defenders- u36.5 (-110)
The Defenders are good at one thing: defending. The Battlehawks have struggled on offense outside of a few minutes of inspiration in Week 1. But it’s not like the other sides of the ball have put up big scoring numbers either.
Last week, the Battlehawks held a strong Sea Dragon offense in check while the Defenders kept a stranglehold on the Vipers. Neither team is particularly aggressive, preferring to play field position and trust its defense. Because of this, I expect a hard-fought, low-scoring affair.
As an aside, I expect the Battlehawks’ run of luck to peter out as the Defenders establish themselves as a top two team in the league but I’m not as confident in that, especially with the Defenders favored.
Prediction: Defenders survive a slobberknocker, 16-14.
Sunday Parlay: Renegades -8.5 + Roughnecks -3.5 (+264 on DK)
If you’re parlaying this, head over to our green friends for standard -110 odds on each pick. If you’re playing these separately, take the Renegades on FanDuel (-105) and the Roughnecks on DK (-110).
The thought behind these is simple: We’re riding with the Roughnecks and the points until it’s no longer profitable and we’re fading the hapless Guardians until the numbers get too big to tail.
The Guardians don’t belong in this league and it’s hard to find a win on the schedule. They’re last in points scored and have given up 20 more points through two games than the seventh-ranked defense. In the six other games, the most a team has scored is 23 points. The Guardians have given up 30 and 33.
Logically, taking the over doesn’t sound bad, but. I have no faith in Orlando’s offense to put up anything to help.
On the other side, I’m of the opinion that the Roughnecks (and maybe the Defenders) are in a league of their own. I’m riding with the Roughnecks at any number under seven or eight, regardless of the opponent.
Prediction: Renegades roll, 30-10. Roughnecks stay hot, 24-15.
