The Houston Roughnecks (0-0) host the Los Angeles Wildcats (0-0) Saturday at 5 p.m. ET at TDECU Stadium in the second game of the opening weekend of the inaugural XFL season. Below, we breakdown the Roughnecks-Wildcats Week 1 matchup, with XFL betting picks and tips.
Wildcats at Roughnecks: XFL Week 1 preview, betting trends and notes
- Roughnecks head coach and general manager June Jones leads his team against Wildcats head coach and general manager Winston Moss. Both bosses are loaded with experience across college and professional football.
- Both sides are sprinkled with recognizable talents from the NFL and/or college ranks. Former Houston Texans WR Sammie Coates should be an early star for the Roughnecks. QB Josh Johnson is one of the top stars in the league for the Wildcats.
- The Wildcats open the 2020 XFL season with +650 odds of winning the championship game April 26. The Roughnecks are right behind at +750 heading into the head-to-head season opener.
- Those brand new to the XFL should note a few of the league’s new, alternative rules. After touchdowns, teams will have the option of running a play from the 2, 5, or 10-yard line for either 1, 2, or 3 points, respectively. There is no kicking for extra-point conversions.
- If a team completes a forward pass behind the line of scrimmage, they may throw forward a second time, as long as the ball has not crossed the line of scrimmage.
- Overtime will consist of five single-play possessions for each team.
- The play clock will run at just 25 seconds, beginning once the ball has been spotted.
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Wildcats at Roughnecks: Key injuries
Johnson (thigh) and WR Tre McBride (thigh) are both questionable for the Wildcats.
Roughnecks WR Ray Bolden (calf) is listed as probable.
Wildcats at Roughnecks: Odds, betting lines and prediction
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Wildcats 25, Roughnecks 22
Moneyline (?)
The Wildcats will have the advantage at quarterback, but only if Johnson is able to suit up. Charles Kanoff is No. 2 on the QB depth chart. There’s no value in betting the Roughnecks at -278, and the bookmakers know little more than fans heading into this first slate of XFL games.
As is the theme of the week, blindly chase the value and back WILDCATS (+225).
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Wildcats to win as road dogs returns a profit of $22.50.
Against the Spread (?)
The Wildcats are being spotted 6.5 points in the second-smallest spread of the four Week 1 games in the XFL. There will be blowouts in this opening week of action, but it’s impossible to tell where they will come from. The Wildcats have the better odds of the two teams to win the XFL Championship Game, so we’ll again back WILDCATS (+6.5, -110) to stay within 6 points in a loss, or win outright.
Over/Under (?)
Saturday’s two XFL games are both coming with projected totals of 49.5 points. With Johnson unlikely to be at full health if he’s able to play, and the alternative being a backup quarterback under center in Week 1, we’re taking UNDER 49.5 (+105) at the more profitable number.
The totals will be riskiest bets of the week, until we – and the teams – get a proper sense of the new XFL rules and scoring system.
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